2006

ONLY three horses have ever won both the Grand National and the Irish Grand National since the latter came into being in 1870. One hundred years ago [1906] Ascetic’s Silver became the first to accomplish the double.

Bred and raced by P.J. Dunne of Carrollstown, Trim, Ascetic’s Silver was a seven-year-old entire when he was sent off joint-favourite for the 1904 Irish Grand National. By leading sire Ascetic and the last produce of a Ben Battle mare, Silver Lady, Ascetic’s Silver was trained at home, whereas P.J. Dunne’s flat runners were entrusted to his unrelated namesake James Dunne in Osborne Lodge on the Curragh.

Off the course in 1903, Ascetic’s Silver had previously displayed his ability to cope with Fairyhouse’s drop banks when successful in the 1902 Dunboyne Plate. Now he rewarded his owner’s patience when delivered with a well-times run to win by less than a length from Mr E Taaffe’s Le Petit Pere. A faller at Punchestown, Ascetic’s Silver atoned at Leopardstown in November and was then aimed at the 1905 Grand National.

Ascetic’s Silver actually passed the post in front in that Grand National, though unfortunately without his rider, the race going to Kirkland [the only Welsh-trained winner to date]. Wroughton trainer and amateur rider Aubrey Hastings had been sufficiently impressed by Ascetic’s Silver’s virtuoso display that he was determined to buy him.

Executors’ sale

However, after persuading wealthy Austrian patron Prince Franz Hatzfeldt that this was the horse they must secure, P.J. Dunne died. Hastings duly bought Ascetic’s Silver at the executors’ sale in September, deaf to persistent rumours that he was ‘wrong of his wind’. Closer to the truth was the horse’s propensity to burst blood vessels.

When Ascetic’s Silver finished at Sandown in February 1906 with blood pouring from his nostrils, it really did look as though the rumours of his infirmity were true. Consequently he drifted in the Grand National betting market, despite winning his final preparatory race at Hurst Park in March.

Nonetheless, ridden by his hard-wasting trainer, Ascetic’s Silver not only won the Grand National by 10 lengths, but he also set a record time for the race that was to stand for over a quarter of a century. Curiously, his immediate victim Red Lad had won the 1905 Irish Grand National.

Despite being burdened with 12st 7lb a year later, Ascetic’s Silver shared favouritism with Red Lad, but could finish no nearer than sixth to Eremon [whose rider Alf Newey broke s a stirrup leather at the 18th fence]. Two years later he failed to finish behind the French-owned and bred, and Belgian-ridden, Lutteur III and was promptly granted an honourable retirement.

Double up

It was to be almost 80 years before Rhyme ‘N’ Reason [1988] became the next horse to complete the Irish National-Aintree National double. Bobbyjo [1999] has since joined them. [In 2006 Bernard Carroll’s Numbersixvalverde, trained by Martin Brassil and ridden by Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden became the fourth and last winner of both races]

Irish-born Aubrey Hastings [who was blind in one eye following a childhood accident] went on to win further Grand Nationals as a trainer with Ally Sloper (1915) and Master Robert (1924). He died suddenly after a game of polo in 1929, aged only 51.

His Grand National record as a trainer is officially recorded as having saddled three winners, though his Ballymacad won the substitute race in 1917 at Gatwick Racecourse. Fred Rimell and Ginger McCain won the race four times.

Though Ascetic’s Silver, Rhyme ‘N’ Reason, Bobbyjo and Numbersixvalverde have achieved higher accolades in racing, they still cannot match the most famous loser for celebrity.

Devon Loch

Sixty-five years ago, having always been in command, the Queen Mother’s Devon Loch went clear at the last. As he drew level with the water jump he appeared to shadow jump, sprawled, slithered on his stomach and came to a halt.

Meanwhile, an incredulous Dave Dick galloped by on E.S.B., arguably the most fortunate winner in Grand National history. When Devon Loch got to his feet, apparently unscathed, a shattered Dick Francis accompanied him back amid stunned silence.

Bred in Ireland by Willie Moloney of Charleville, Devon Lock was bought as a yearling for 550gns by Colonel Stephen Hill-Dillon, for whom he won a Naas bumper in January 1951 in the hands of Dick Hoey. Peter Cazalet, who trained the royal jumpers at Fairlawne, sought a replacement for the injured Manicou, and Hill-Dillon proposed his own strapping son of Devonian.

Contingencies

The horse changed hands with two contingencies - £1,000 extra should Devon Loch win a Gold Cup, and £2,000 should he win the Grand National. This was limited to a maximum payment of £2,000 should he emulate Golden Miller and win both races.

Placed over hurdles in the royal colours, Devon Loch ran the subsequent Gold Cup winner Mont Tremblant close on his first foray over fences in January 1952.

Tendon trouble necessitated firing, and it was not until February 1955 that Devon Loch, ridden by Bryan Marshall, scored over fences at Hurst Park. His rider felt his mount had faltered quite alarmingly before recovering to win.

Chase wins at Lingfield and Sandown at the end of 1955 prompted Dick Francis to identify Devon Loch as a Grand National candidate. Reunited with the royal chaser in the King George VI Chase, Bryan Marshall once again experienced that fleeting ‘cut out’ before his mount rallied, finishing a well-beaten fifth. Marshall thought it might be a heart problem, or spasmodic cramp.

Spooked

Dick Francis always contended the wave of cheering spooked Devon Lock at Aintree. Bryan Marshall, recently retired due to injury, thought it was a recurrence of cramp. Arthur Freeman, who won on him subsequently, experienced similar faltering when Devon Loch ran his last race in the 1957 Mildmay Memorial Chase.

Loaned to Noel Murless as his hack, Devon Loch was later pensioned off at Sandringham where he was put down in 1962.

Peter Cazalet warrants the last word, related to Ivor Herbert. “The BBC sent a photographer down here on the Monday [after the race] to take pictures of him. That was alright, but you can imagine the strain and reaction we had all been going through.

“The photographer asks me, you’d never believe it, ‘now will you make him lie down like he did in the Grand National?’ Can you imagine what I said?”