2006

NUMBERSIXVALVERDE, a proven stayer but untried over the Aintree fences, ran out a convincing winner of the John Smith’s Grand National at Liverpool last Saturday.

Given an ice-cool ride by Niall Madden, the 11/1 chance came from some way off the pace, and proved too strong for big guns Hedgehunter and Clan Royal on the run to the line. It was so nearly an Irish 1-2-3, with 33/1 outsider Nil Desperandum nailed right on the line for the minor berth.

The world now knows that Numbersixvalverde is named after Bernard Carroll’s holiday villa in the Algarve. This was his first runner in the National, the first time that trainer Martin Brassil had sent one over, and 20-year-old Madden’s first ever winner in Britain. It is quite an extraordinary story, but there was certainly no fluke about the result.

Madden punched the air with delight after coming home six lengths clear of last year’s winner Hedgehunter, sent off the 5/1 joint-favourite with Clan Royal. However, he remained totally calm throughout the race, following his father ‘Boots’ Madden’s advice to take his time. Numbersixvalverde was virtually last on the first circuit, but gradually crept closer without being asked any serious questions at all.

Hedgehunter ran a mighty race under 11st 12lb, and made the best of his way home from the 25th where the free-running Ballycassidy’s merry gallop came to an end.

Hedgehunter was still in front coming to the last, and had taken Clan Royal’s measure, when Numbersixvalverde, receiving 18lbs, joined him and went on, gradually forging clear.

Frances Crowley’s Nil Desperandum, running a blinder for Tommy Treacy, keeping on at one pace as Clan Royal, who made two uncharacteristic mistakes, found some hidden reserves. Even a 12lb pull with Hedgehunter was not enough, and he was just over a length behind him at the line.

Nina Carberry

It was a distance back to Risk Accessor, with Puntal, Joes Edge, Inca Trail and Forest Gunner the only others to finish, very surprising on ground no worse than good to soft. Forest Gunner does not stay the trip, but Nina Carberry did well to get him home, albeit last of nine.

The race is all about handicapping, and the ability to jump these unique fences. Numbersixvalverde had no problem at all with the latter, and 10st 8lb was hardly an excessive burden for a horse that had won the Irish Grand National as a novice last year.

Very sensibly, Brassil had given him two runs in handicaps leading up to the big race, leaving Phil Smith the bare minimum to work on.

“That was just unbelievable. If you had written the script it could not have been better”, exclaimed the trainer. “You would never have thought that this was Niall’s first ride over the fences. He’s ridden the perfect race. I thought the horse was just the type to go well around Aintree, and that he’d go all the way to the line if he didn’t fall.”

Brassil trains just 25 or so horses at Dunmurry, Co Kildare, and will surely be back next year with Numbersixvalverde, who will be 11.

Hunt around

“It’s a dream come true, just magic,” Madden added. “Dad said to hunt around, and not be in any rush because, with the ground on the soft side, the horses could struggle to get home. When I saw the two in front of me were Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy, I thought I must be doing something right!”

A reluctant interviewee, Bernard Carroll described himself as a “small-time” owner with a “cheap holiday home”. The latter bit was taken with a fairly large pinch of salt but, warming to his audience, he added that he’s backed the winner at 25/1. “That was to pay for the shampoo, and now I suppose I’ll have to buy a pair of slippers!” he added.

Ruby Walsh normally rides Numbersixvalverde, but was committed to Hedgehunter. He said of the runner-up: “He was never going quite as well as last year after the rain.” McCoy, still looking for his first winner of the great race, pointed out that Clan Royal had only been beaten by British and Irish Grand National winners, which wasn’t a bad effort.

Resurgence

More than anything else, and following another highly successful Cheltenham, the race emphasised the tremendous resurgence of Irish National Hunt racing. This was Ireland’s fifth success in the last eight runnings of the race.

It was a great race with a thoroughly deserving winner, and, even if the first two days of the meeting failed to generate the sheer passion that is Cheltenham, Saturday on Merseyside more than made up for it.

[The following year Numbersixvalverde finished sixth behind Silver Birch, with Hedgehunter ninth and Clan Royal, this time ridden by JT McNamara, in 11th place. AP McCoy rode L’Ami who finished tenth]

2011

NEVER before has the performance of state bodies come under more scrutiny. Never before has there been a need for these bodies to be fully accountable. No one knows this better than the chief executive of the Irish National Stud.

The recent bombshell dropped by the Report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities, otherwise known as the McCarthy Report, that the Irish National Stud should be disposed of beggars belief, given that the same group acknowledges the critical role it has played in the development of the Irish thoroughbred industry.

The report also recommends that Horse Racing Ireland dispose of Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan Tipperary racecourses and the Tote, with the rider that this should happen only if commercially satisfactory terms become available. Surely the sale of the Tote would see it swallowed up into some major betting firm, depriving racing of any profits it makes.

Retention

The case for retention of the Irish National Stud is strong, and few in the industry would call for its closure. Since its acquisition it has contributed much to the improvement of Ireland’s thoroughbred sector, and to its image at home and abroad.

The Irish National Stud is not just about the stallions its stands and the horses it breeds. The success of the stud and its sires has run parallel with that of the industry, and it has played a major role in that success.

The report acknowledges that the industry here is mature and a world leader. This has not happened by chance, with many of our industry leaders being graduates of their management course.

The influence of graduates is not confined to these shores, and these men and women have brought their expertise around the world,

The huge numbers of visitors to the Irish National Stud must also be considered – the various gardens and Irish Horse Museum bring numbers ranging from upwards of 110,000 annually to Tully, an endorsement of its economic value to the county of Kildare, and to the country.

In a previous report Colm McCarthy called for the disbanding of the Army Equitation School. This recommendation was not, thankfully, followed through with. What he and his team do not seem to consider is the added value that such bodies bring to their sector, far above mere figures on a balance sheet or a set of accounts.

The Irish National Stud compares more than favourably with its counterparts in other countries. It is run by a commercially aware chief executive [John Osborne]. Now is certainly not the time to consider its sale.