Grand National: what the vanquished had to say

Gordon Elliott again had to give best to the “thorn in his side” that is Willie Mullins, with

Delta Work

finding only I Am Maximus too good for Delta Work in the Randox Grand at .

The two powerhouse trainers have long matched strides at the top of Irish racing, with Elliott having to settle for second in the Irish trainers’ championship on multiple occasions as well as on some of the biggest of British stages, including when Gerri Colombe chased home Galopin Des Champs in this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Elliott fielded seven in his bid for a fourth Grand National following Silver Birch (2007) and dual hero Tiger Roll (2018 and 2019), with particularly high hopes for Delta Work who was having a third crack at the race having finished third in 2022 and unseated his rider last year.

But as has been the story for much of the season, Mullins was a cut above the rest, with I Am Maximus coming home seven and a half lengths ahead of Delta Work, with fellow Elliott runner Galvin a further length back in fourth.

While disappointed to be denied, Elliott hailed the both the efforts of his runners and the “exceptional” winner.

He said: “It just didn’t happen for us. No one remembers second, I don’t anyway.

“Delta Work was awesome and Galvin is a warrior, I’m so proud of him and I’m so lucky with the horses I have.

“Delta Work was flying come here and I thought this was his year. He ran his race and just got beat by a better horse, that’s it.

“The winner is exceptional and Willie Mullins remains a thorn in my side.”

Jack Kennedy was aboard Delta Work and added: “He ran a cracker, delighted with him. He made a couple of mistakes but travelled well and ran a great race.”

The gelding did not return to the winner's enclosure and Elliott explained: "Delta Work didn't come back in, but he's fine, he just has a cut on a hind leg."

It briefly looked as though Rachael Blackmore was going to add a second National to her historic first win aboard Minella Times three years ago when Minella Indo jumped the last in front, but she was overhauled on the run to the line, eventually coming home third aboard the 2021 Gold Cup winner.

She said: “It was a massive run, he’s some horse. He gave me a great ride around there and I felt for a split second we were going to do it, but then I blinked and I could see the green and gold (colours of owner JP McManus) flash by me in a shot.

“He was in against younger legs, but it was a brilliant run and congratulations to Paul Townend, JP and Willie.”

Minella Indo’s trainer Henry de Bromhead admitted he believed another famous success could be on the cards – but he was nevertheless thrilled in defeat, with future plans for the 11-year-old yet to be discussed.

De Bromhead said: “He’s a warrior, isn’t he? Just brilliant. I’m delighted with him.

“I thought we were going to win it there for a second, he travelled so well for Rachael, she was brilliant and they were both brilliant together.

“To get horses like him is incredible, we’ve had so much fun with him.

“We’ll see about next year, we’ll enjoy today and see – he obviously owes us nothing and all we want to do is look after him. But I tell you what, the way he jumped round there he looked like he loved every minute of it.”

De Bromhead also saddled Ain’t That A Shame to finish sixth for amateur rider and owner David Maxwell, who purchased the horse last month specifically to ride in the National.

He added: “David gave Ain’t That A Shame a super ride, he was brilliant on him the whole way. I’m delighted for him as he got such a thrill from it.”

Maxwell thoroughly enjoyed his National spin and said: "That was as much fun as you can have with your trousers on!

"Crossing the Melling Road I couldn't believe I was still in touch, but I could also see so many going well. It wasn't like there was just the three of us travelling well. I thought 'bloody hell, I'm going to finish the Grand National', then I thought 'I'm going to finish somewhere near the frame'. I've never thought it would go like this. It was such a thrill.

"Damn right I'll be back here next year. The horse is going to have to run in the race until he is 15!"

Kitty’s Light fared best of the numerically limited British-trained challenge among the 32 starters, coming home a 10-and-quarter-length fifth for trainer Christian Williams and jockey Jack Tudor.

Trainer Christian Williams said: "It was great, it was wonderful to watch him. He finished fifth. We are very proud of him. It was a nice clear round, and we hoped he was in the shake up and we were very privileged to watch him there and see him jump around. It's great.

 "He took to it early and he enjoyed it then. I thought we had a chance. A long way out he was travelling sweet and jumping well.

"I was trying to be calm, but I was getting quite excited. He's a wonderful horse - he's great. We're very lucky to have him."

Asked how his daughters Betsy and Tilly felt watching Kitty's Light run in the Grand National:

"They were great. I didn't actually watch it with them, I watched it in the Parade Ring but we all ran over to see him after the race.

"It was great to get to him and have a few pictures. I think he was pleased to see us."

Asked if Kitty's Light could come back to the National next year:  "Maybe, he might struggle to get in off ratings. It's tricky now, where do we run him in the Scottish Nationals and Bet365s that he's capable of winning, or come back to the Grand National, where he might finish fourth, fifth or sixth."

Jockey Jack Tudor said:"He ran an unbelievable race, he jumped really well. It was great fun, he just wasn't quite good enough to win a Grand National. He ran brilliantly. No hard luck stories, he's just not good enough to win the Grand National.

Last year’s National winner Corach Rambler got no further than the first fence this time, with Derek Fox unseated on landing after the Lucinda Russell-trained runner had cleared the obstacle.

The horse carried on running loose with the field and fell at the next fence but was reported to have returned unscathed

Russell said: “It was obviously disappointing what happened, but I was more worried when I saw him come down at the second. Thankfully he’s fine, no problems and the owners are just delighted that he has come home safe and sound.”

Derek Fox said: “I hit the first and he unseated me. That is the long and the short of it.”

Danny Mullins, rider of Meetingofthewaters (7th), said: “I had a great run. He travelled into it well enough but he just flattened out, but I Am Maximus is a very good winner.”

Jack Kennedy, rider of Delta Work (2nd), said: “He ran a cracker and I’m delighted with him. He made a couple of mistakes, but he travelled into it well enough.”

Donagh Meyler, Farouk D’Alene (PU), said: “I got a great spin off him. He jumped and travelled well, but unfortunately he just ran out of a bit of steam late on.”

Sam Ewing, rider of Galvin (4th), said: “He ran a blinding race. He jumped, and travelled, and I had a lovely position the whole way around. I was very happy with his run. I was staying, but I was never getting to the first couple.”

Mark Walsh - Limerick Lace (10th) "She ran OK, she didn't jump it well enough. She was a bit too long in the air, and she got waved out. No chance after that."

Keith Donoghue - Capodanno (16th "We had a good run, just don't think he could get home."

Harry Cobden - Noble Yeats (19th) "Very pleased. He never travelled, never helped me out too much, but jumped well. Thought I'd run OK halfway. I had Paul on the favourite in front of me and Vanillier. I just think the ground being tacky stopped him."

Sean O'Keeffe - Adamantly Chosen (21st)  "Ran well, jumped really well, just got a bit tired in all that distance."

Brendan Powell - Eldorado Allen (20th) "He gave me a good spin for three and three-quarter miles and then got tired."

Darragh O'Keeffe - Eklat De Rire (15th) "I got a good spin, jumped well. Happy enough."

Danny Gilligan - Chemical Energy (PU) "I got a great spin off him for a long way. He jumped well for his first run over those fences, and he hadn't run in a long time, so hopefully they'll be some improvement off that, and hopefully back again next year."

James Reveley - Roi Mage (9th) "Ran well, just didn't quite get home over the excessive trip. Made one little mistake. Ran well, he's a 12 year old."

Sean Bowen - The Goffer (13th) "It travelled and jumped great and I thought he'd run a big race, and then didn't stay. Big run."

Gavin Brouder - Foxy Jacks (PU) "Ran a brilliant race. If the ground was nice, good ground I would've been able to let him roll away and he would've got farther. When the pace started increasing on that ground he lost confidence and he was done."