April 9, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

LIVERPOOL, April 8: Numbersixvalverde (11-1) denied Hedgehunter back-to-back Aintree Grand National victories on Saturday, the Irish raider scooting home by six lengths to seal a first success for trainer Martin Brassil and jockey Niall Madden.

The winner, named after the Portuguese holiday home of owner Bernard Carroll, led narrowly over the last of 30 fences in the four and a half mile (7.2 km) slog and outstayed Hedgehunter, who ran a gallant race off top weight to take second under Ruby Walsh.

“I didn't see much of it, my hands were shaking too much,” said Brassil. It's brilliant. I had a dream run the whole way round and he jumped super,” added Madden. “I wasn't sure I'd won until I crossed the line though. This means everything to me. It's magic.”

Clan Royal, second in 2004 and sent off 5-1 joint favourite with Hedgehunter, was third, leaving champion jockey Tony McCoy still seeking a first National victory after 11 attempts.

A false start when the tape was charged and broken evoked memories of 1993, the year the race was declared void after the majority of the field failed to realise they had been recalled.

On this occasion jockeys were able to pull up their mounts after 200 metres and only a slight delay was incurred.

An eventful race on rain-softened ground produced plenty of spills and there were only nine finishers from the 40 horses that set out.

But the 20-year-old Madden, nicknamed “slippers” because his father was nicknamed “boots,” escaped the trouble to stalk the leading runners.

Ballycassidy's fall at Valentines on the second circuit left Hedgehunter and Clan Royal duelling at the front but Numbersixvalverde, last year's Irish Grand National winner, had them in his sights and pulled away for a famous victory.

Brassil, sending out his first National runner, said: “It was like a movie out there. Niall gave him a fabulous ride. He never panicked, he took his time.”

The last horse home was Forest Gunner, ridden by Nina Carberry who was bidding to become the first woman to win the great race.—Reuters