Saturday, April 7, 2001

FINAL RESULT - RACE 4 MARTELL GRAND NATIONAL
4m 4f (CLASS A) (Showcase Handicap) (Grade 3) Total prize fund £500,000.

THE 33/1 WINNER - RED MARAUDER

After another long absence of over 14 months, he made it five wins from five starts over fences, when making a comeback at Wetherby last February in the John Smith’s Handicap Chase. He then suffered his first reversal over the bigger obstacles in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton later in the same month, disappointing when 50 lengths behind Gloria Victis. He would have been entered for the 2000 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Norman Mason’s assistant trainer and stable jockey, Richard Guest, failed to make the entry deadline, and subsequently took full responsibility for the error but believed it might have been a blessing in disguise as the horse would be fresh for Aintree. However, Red Marauder lasted only until the sixth fence when falling in last year’s Martell Grand National and he was a distant tenth in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

He reverted to hurdles for his first start this season, winning a handicap at Market Rasen in September, and back over fences finished a creditable fourth to Lady Cricket in the Thomas Pink Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November. He was then fifth in two high-class events, the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury and the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham, where he returned on January 27 to finish runner-up to the progressive Young Spartacus in a handicap chase. Most recently he fell at the first in the De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock on February 24. He wins the Martell Grand National by a distance.

Race Record: Starts: 20; 1st: 9; 2nd: 3 ; 3rd: 1; Win & place prize money: £299,268

Norman Mason

Born November 13, 1936, and based in Crook, County Durham, Norman Mason is both trainer and owner of Red Marauder. In the 1998/99 season, Mason was leading permit holder, winning 26 races with total win and place prize money of £166,463. Last year he beat that figure, securing 30 victories, and £190,846 total prize money, and up to March 28, Mason had accrued 24 victories and £184,239 of prize money this season.

Richard Guest is the assistant trainer and stable jockey at Mason’s Brancepeth Manor Farm Stables which has 40 boxes, and after regular conversations with his boss, Guest gets virtually a free hand with the 20 or so horses currently in training, one of the largest private strings of jumpers in the country.

Mason has owned horses for 30 years, including useful animals such as Centre Attraction, Music Be Magic, and Clever Folly, who won 16 races for the late Gordon Richards. He first got involved with horses through his children, who were attending lessons at the local riding school.

Mason originated from humble beginnings, but has become a multi-millionaire businessman. He made his fortune through extensive interests in the leisure industry in the North-East, including bingo halls, amusement arcades, nightclubs, and public houses.

Grand National Record (since 1980): 1992 Radical Lady (19th); 2000 Red Marauder (Fell 6th); 2001 Red Marauder (1st)

Richard Guest

Born in Andover, Hampshire on July 10, 1965, Richard Charles Guest spent time as a schoolboy with Newmarket Flat trainers Jeremy Hindley and Sir Michael Stoute, riding work on the 1981 Derby winner Shergar for the latter.

He announced his retirement from race-riding after being found guilty of breaching the non triers’ rule (Rule 151) at Perth in April, 1998 - his third such offence that season - but had a change of heart and returned to the saddle two seasons ago.

Having spent eight years with Toby Balding and been stable jockey to Sue and Harvey Smith at High Eldwick near Bingley in West Yorkshire, he now rides as first jockey and acts as assistant to Co Durham-based-trainer Norman Mason, for whom he won the First National Bank Gold Cup in November 1998 on Red Marauder. Another notable success for Mason came on Red Ark in the Perrier Jouet Novices’ Handicap Chase at the 2000 Aintree Festival.

Guest considers Beech Road, on whom he won the 1989 Champion Hurdle (at 50/1) and Martell Aintree Hurdle, to be the best horse he has ridden in a race. Other big race victories include the 1994 Tote Becher Chase on Into The Red over the National fences. He has one of the best Martell Grand National records of current riders, finishing the course on three out of seven attempts.

Richard Guest’s mount in last year’s Martell Grand National, Red Marauder, may previously have run in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in March but Guest failed to make the entry deadline in time, accepting full responsibility for the error. After no such problems with Red Marauder’s entry for the National, his charge fell at the sixth obstacle.

Last season Guest recorded 23 successes, eight fewer than the previous campaign.

Grand National record: 1992 Romany King (2nd); 1994 Romany King (Fell 4th); 1995 Into The Red (5th); 1996 Into The Red (15th); 1998 Yeoman Warrior (PU bef 19th); 1999 Frazer Island (Fell 22nd); 2000 Red Marauder (Fell 6th); 2001 Red Marauder (1st)

INITIAL MARTELL GRAND NATIONAL JOCKEY QUOTES

Two finished when Tipperary Tim beat the re-mounted Bill Barton in 1928.

The winning rider and assistant trainer Richard Guest said: “I have never run in worst conditions. We were really lucky to get away with it. I was in two minds about whether we should have gone out there.

“Red Marauder nearly fell on the far side but he wouldn’t go down. On that ground he stands up. He was awful at two or three fences but others were worse, weren’t they?

“I’ve won the Martell Grand National and now I am hoping for the Gold Cup.”


Thierry Doumen, brought down on Djeddah at the eighth, has a leg injury, having hurt a heel. All the 40 horses have returned without any major injuries.

THE WINNING OWNER/TRAINER - NORMAN MASON

“Oh God, what, oh what a race. I prayed. I have never seen a race like that in my life - in my 25 years in racing.

“The thing is that Red Marauder seemed to be enjoying himself - his ears were pricked and he was going along like a real old veteran.

“Richard Guest is a miracle worker and I love him to death.”

Richard Guest said: “When I arrived three years ago the goal was to be leading permit holder and to win the Martell Grand National. We’ve done both and I can go now!”

AINTREE RACECOURSE STATEMENT

“The main problem was caused by loose horses and not by horses falling. Furthermore, the two horses that re-mounted to finish the course were hacked around at cantering pace, with no attempt made to push their horses along.

“The Martell Grand National is a unique event which produces unique situations and the 2001 renewal, the 154th running, was an exciting and thrilling spectacle, with another wonderful story surrounding the brave winner Red Marauder.”

MORE WINNING OWNER AND TRAINER NORMAN MASON

“My heart was in my mouth all the time, just wanting Red Marauder to come home safely. It was more important for him to come home safely than to win, I just did not want there to be an accident and for him to get hurt; the thing was for him to come home safe and sound.

“But he seemed to be really enjoying it. I name a lot of my horses Red after a time when I was in Toronto about ten years ago and we went to the Chinese quarter of the town where all the buildings were painted red. I was told it was for luck. Not all of my horses are Red, but lots of them are.

“I backed Red Marauder at 40-1 and this is much better than winning the Lottery, forget that, I’ve just hit the jackjpot,

“It is marvellous for the North East where we live. I get very fed up with people talking about that part of the country being depressed, after all we have three teams from up there in the premiership and it is wonderful for our part of the country to have a win like this.

“I made my money in the leisure business and I would like to thank all those who have gone to my bingo halls and places like that,

“We are due to be going to a birthday party this evening, which is pure coincidence that it is on the same day as the Grand National, and I expect we shall have a glass or two of champagne.”

MORE WINNING JOCKEY RICHARD GUEST

“I think he is probably the worst jumper ever to win a Grand National; he just is not a natural jumper. I kept making him go short into his fences, if he had ever gone long he would have been on the floor.

“But he was very clever and when we were so badly hampered at the Canal Turn on the first time round he did marvellously to get over the fence at all, he really landed on his hind legs. He is a survivor.

“Timmy (Murphy on runner-up Smarty) and I were talking to each other all the way round, and it was a question of keeping my horse on his feet. I was always going better than Smarty and it was just a question of getting him over .”

Looking back at the time that he gave up his riding licence when he was suspended by the stewards under the non-triers ruile, Guest said: “That is how I have always ridden my horses; I ride Mr Mason’s in the same way as I did on those over which I was suspended.

“Mr Mason is a great man to work for and very, very patient. He has 25 horses in training and he wants them to be looked after and come back year after year; that is the sort of man he is.

“Although we made a mistake four out and let Smarty take the lead, I was always going the better of the two of us and I was sure that I would win as long as I could keep him on his feet.

“He made five or six mistakes on the way round, he really ploughed through the second last and the last. I really had doubts beforehand as to whether we should be racing at all.

“I have now won a National and a Champion Hurdle (on Beech Road), but I don’t know about winning a Gold Cup !”

JOCKEY QUOTES

She said: “It was no disgrace and Ruby couldn’t help what happened to him. He made the best of a bad deal and God willing we’ll be back next year.”

Jockey Ruby Walsh added: “Myself and Tony (McCoy) decided to remount and go on again. I wouldn’t have got round without him and he wouldn’t have survived without me. We said we wouldn’t race against each other until after the last and he was grand.”

Rodi Greene, on board Tresor De Mai, said: “He landed bloody steep and I don’t know if he fell or unseated. I came down and ended up running.”

Rodney Farrant, who rode Kaki Crazy, said: “He fell at the third and was in a lovely position at the time. He’s only a small horse and got in too close.”

Robert Thornton, rider of Supreme Charm, said: “He unseated at the Chair and was hating the ground. The horse is fine. It was different class, giving me a great spin until he banked the chair and unseated me. It wasn’t his fault.”

Fran Flood, on Hollybank Buck, said: “We went at the third but seemed to be going all right at the time!”

Earthmover’s partner Joe Tizzard said: “We were unlucky but just got a bit close at the fourth. We jumped the first three fine. It was really soft ground but we went at a sensible pace. We’ll go for the Scottish National now.”

Brian Crowley, who rode General Wolfe, said: “I went at the Canal Turn and we seemed alright although he only jumped seven. The horse has come back fine.”

Carl Llewellyn on Beau said: “It’s very disappointing as he was going very well. I was shouting at a policeman to stop the horse so that he wouldn’t get to the next fence. I’d have got back on him and we’d have been alright then.”

Dean Gallagher, on Unsinkable Boxer, said: “He gave me a great spin, he just got very tired and I pulled him up at the first ditch second time around.”

Noel Fehily on Moral Support said: “I just had to pull up by the Canal Turn first time around. He’d been going and jumping fine up to then.”

Richard Johnson, Edmond’s rider, said “He loved the fences and gave me a great ride for as long as it lasted. He just couldn’t get high enough at the Chair and hit the top of it but he loved it and let’s hope we can be back again next year.”

Rupert Wakley, You’re Agoodun’s pilot, said: “He was going really well, giving me a great ride on the inner but I had no chance of avoiding the loose horses.”

Jim Culloty, on Village King, said: “He was going great up to the pile up. It was weird - I could see it was going to happen and tried to pull him away but horses often want to follow other horses and he ended up hitting it and landing on top of the fence.”

Jamie Goldstein on Spanish Main said: “He went at the first fence, just hit it and sent me over his head.”

Addington Boy’s jockey, J P McNamara, commented: “He jumped the second - then I took another stride and went into the back of Hanakham. I don’t know if we fell or unseated rider, but we parted company and I got kicked on the arm.”

Jimmy McCarthy, the rider of Noble Lord, said: “I got to the second last on the first circuit - he gave me a brilliant ride, he’s a small horse and he got a bit close and we got caught on top of the fence and tipped over.”

Warren Marston, who rode Amberleigh House, who fell at the 8th, said: “I was carried out at the Canal Turn but I was going very well.”

Exit Swinger fell at the sixth and jockey Chris Maude said: “We got knocked over at Becher’s - I was going brilliant. We should bring him back here next season for the John Hughes.”

Kieran Kelly partnered the Martin Pipe-trained Dark Stranger, who was brought down at the eighth obstacle. He commented: “He tried to refuse early on but I was going okay.”

Tony Dobbin, who had earlier ridden Barton to victory in the Martell Aintree Hurdle, was on board Listen Timmy in the Martell Grand National. He quipped: “My horse didn’t like the ground. He got to the Chair and we landed over the top and I ended up on the Mildmay course.”

Tom Scudamore, at 18 the youngest rider in the race, rode Northern Starlight. He said: “It was a great thrill. I went well to Becher’s, but landed a bit steep and I overcompensated and that was that. But at least we’re both back in one piece.”

Andrew Thornton on Lance Armstrong said: “He was popping away nicely until he got brought down at the Canal Turn. I caught him straight away and joined up with AP and Ruby but I’m afraid he refused early on the final circuit.”

Brian Harding, rider of Feels Like Gold, said: “I got badly hampered at the Canal Turn and had no chance.”

Adrian Maguire, Paddy’s Return’s rider, said: “He just fell at the third and that was it. He jumped the first two well, travelling well. He got a bit close to the first ditch, hit the top, shot me out of the saddle, I landed on his neck and could not get back on. I was definitely unseated, I would have to admit it, and I think it was my horse that took them all out.”

Philip Hide, Brave Highlander’s jockey, said: “He was giving me a lovely ride, he always does, and he was still travelling OK when a horse refused at the ditch.”

Art Prince’s jockey Jim Crowley said: ”He tipped up at the first.”

Mark Bradburne, who was on Mister One, said: “He enjoyed himself for a good way but hit the Foinavon fence very hard and then unseated me at Valentines.

Merry People’s jockey Garrett Cotter said: “He jumped super and fell at the fence after Becher’s.”

Thierry Doumen, who rode Djeddah, said: “We went to the Canal Turn trying to avoid trouble on the outside but it was getting tight even on the outside. I thought I would avoid the trouble then a horse shot in front of me.”

The Last Fling’s rider Seamus Durack said: “There’s nothing much to be said.”

Robert Widger, who rode the well-backed Inis Cara, said: “I just fell at the fourth.”

Tom Doyle, Esprit De Cotte’s jockey, said: “He ran a great race, gave me a super spin but then we had different ideas and parted company.”

Moondigua’s jockey Shay Barry said: ”I was having a good ride and he was jumping great. He got as far as the Chair but up until then he was enjoying himself.”

Barry Geraghty, who was on Hanakham, said: “He jumped across it and fell heavily and gave me no chance.”

David Casey, rider of Strong Tel, said: “We did not get very far. He jumped the first well, was hampered at the next two and got a long way behind. He lost his confidence and lay down at the back of Becher’s. I was disappointed he didn’t get any further.”

Norman Williamson on Mely Moss said: “I dropped out and took my time going very, very well. He jumped absolutely brilliantly, came to the Canal Turn and there were four horses in front of me - it was all too late and I could do nothing about it. It was very disappointing but it was a typical Grand National I suppose. But I would have been a lot more upset if I had been Carl Llewellyn the way he was going.”

Beau’s rider Carl Llewellyn said: “The reins were too short. When he put his head down I went for the buckle but the reins were so short that he just pulled them out of my hands and over his head. It was my fault, I just should have had longer reins.”

Jason Maguire, on No Retreat, said: “We got left and were behind early on. He’d just started to creep into the race, jumping well and going well but then there was a pile-up at the Canal Turn and he got badly hampered and had been jumping like a buck so I carried on until pulling him up after the first circuit.”

TODAY’S CROWD

Tattersalls advance sales were down by 9,000, entirely as a result of the uncertainty with the foot and mouth outbreak, and without that there would have been a crowd of more than 60,000.

In view of the bad weather over the three days, this has to be considered highly satisfactory.

Aintree managing director Charles Barnett said: “Naturally I am disappointed that the crowd figure is down on last year’s, but in view of the circumstances surrounding the meeting, and, in particular, the very unfortunate weather this week, I have to say that I am delighted with the way in which the meeting has been supported.”

DAILY TELEGRAPH LEADING JOCKEY AT THE END OF THE MEETING

LEADING TRAINERS AT
END OF 2001
MARTELL GRAND
NATIONAL MEETING

LADBROKES - The Biggest Punt Of All Time

Ladbrokes has been gearing up for a busy day all week. The Telephone lines have been open for 24 hours, shops have seen more business than ever before and of course this year punters have been steaming in from all over the world via the internet.

"We predicted on Friday that this would be the biggest betting weekend of all time and with the climax of the Masters and two FA Cup semis to come we see no reason to revise our opinion" said spokesman Sean Boyce.

"As for the result I didn't know that there was a patron saint of bookmakers, but there clearly is and I'll be lighting a candle for him tonight in thanks for a fantastic day!"

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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