2016 Grand National

The last fourteen Grand Nationals have been run on either good or good to soft ground but persistent rain in the run up to the 2016 race meant that the race was run on soft ground for the first time since Rad Maruader’s infamous victory back in 2001.

The deeper going suggested that the race was going to test stamina even more than usual but the number of horses finishing the race (16) was very much in line with other recent renewals so perhaps the ground was not too much of a defining factor.

The race was won by Rule The World, trained by veteran Irish trainer Mouse Morris. The horse was technically a novice but the most unusual aspect of his victory was that this was actually his first ever victory over fences and he is the first maiden over fences to win the race since 1958. That is not to say that Rule The World didn’t have some experience or decent form as he had run well without winning in thirteen races over fences and had previously finished runner-up in an Irish National. The nine-year-old gelding had also recorded placings in Graded Novice Chases but the fact that he had yet to get his head in front over the larger obstacles was enough to put off the majority of punters. Owned by the powerful Gigginstown House Stud operation, Rule The World had been a general 50/1 shot in the run-up to the race and was eventually sent off at a very attractive starting price of 33/1. With the benefit of hindsight those odds were probably disparaging considering that he had been a top class saying hurdler having finished second to The New One in the 2013 Neptune Novices Hurdle and finishing 6th the following year in the World Hurdle.

The places were filled by The Last Samuri, Vics Canvas and Gilgamboa. A special mention has to go to thirteen-year-old Vics Canvas who became the first horse of his age to be placed since 1969. The Dermot McLoughlin trained gelding slithered to his knees after stumbling following a mistake at Bechers Brook first time round where he almost came to a halt. Vics Canvas lost many lengths with that mistake but bravely fought back and was in front halfway up the run-in before his earlier exertions finally took their toll as he was overtaken by the strong finish of the winner.

Rule The World was ridden by the nineteen-year-old David Mullins, who is the nephew of Irish Champion Trainer, Willie Mullins. The young jockey was amazingly having his first ever ride in the Grand National but he gave the horse the ride of a veteran, only making one serious mistake at the fourth last fence.

Mouse Morris had described Rule The World early in his career as the best horse he had trained but the horse has suffered a fractured pelvis twice and those injuries had obviously previously restricted the horse’s progression. To have suffered such a serious injury not once but twice is all the more testament to his achievement in winning the Grand National.

Finishers
1	Rule The World	9	10-7	Mouse Morris	David Mullins	33/1
2	The Last Samuri	8	10-8	Kim Bailey	David Bass	8/1JF
3	Vics Canvas	13	10-6	Dermot Anthony McLoughlin	Robert Dunne	100/1
4	Gilgamboa	8	11-1	Enda Bolger	Robbie Power	28/1
5	Goonyella	9	10-8	Jim Dreaper	JJ Burke	12/1
6	Ucello Conti	8	10-8	Gordon Elliott	Daryl Jacob	25/1
7	Vieux Lion Rouge	7	10-5	David Pipe	James Reveley	66/1
8	Morning Assembly	9	10-9	PA Fahy	Davy Russell	16/1
9	Shutthefrontdoor	9	10-11	Jonjo ONeill	Barry Geraghty	12/1
10	Unioniste	8	10-8	Paul Nicholls	Nick Scholfield	28/1
11	Le Reve	8	10-8	Lucy Wadham	Harry Skelton	50/1
12	Buywise	9	10-10	Evan Williams	Paul Moloney	33/1
13	Pendra	8	10-5	Charlie Longsdon	Aidan Coleman	50/1
14	Triolo DAlene	9	11-0	Nicky Henderson	Jeremiah McGrath	25/1
15	Just A Par	9	10-6	Paul Nicholls	Sean Bowen	40/1
16	Many Clouds	9	11-10	Oliver Sherwood	Leighton Aspell	8/1JF
Did Not Complete:
PU	Silviniaco Conti	10	11-8	Paul Nicholls	Noel Fehily	12/1
PU	The Druids Nephew	9	11-0	Neil Mulholland	Denis ORegan	16/1
FELL	On His Own	12	11-1	Willie Mullins	Patrick Mullins	33/1
PU	Double Ross	10	10-9	Nigel Twiston Davies	Ryan Hatch	80/1
UR	Ballynagour	10	11-2	David Pipe	Tom Scudamore	50/1
PU	Rocky Creek	10	10-13	Paul Nicholls	Andrew Thornton	66/1
FELL	Sir Des Champs	10	10-13	Willie Mullins	Nina Carberry	20/1
FELL	Holywell	9	10-12	Jonjo ONeill	Richie McLernon	11/1
UR	Rubi Light	10	10-9	Robert Alan Hennessy	AE Lynch	50/1
FELL	Gallant Oscar	10	10-8	AJ Martin	Mark Walsh	16/1
UR	Onenightinvienna	7	10-8	Philip Hobbs	Tom OBrien	33/1
PU	Wonderful Charm	8	11-3	Paul Nicholls	Sam Twiston Davies	40/1
PU	Kruzhlinin	9	10-7	Philip Hobbs	Richard Johnson	33/1
PU	Soll	11	10-11	David Pipe	Conor OFarrell	40/1
FELL	First Lieutenant	11	11-4	Mouse Morris	Brian Cooper	50/1
FELL	Katenko	10	10-6	Venetia Williams	Will Kennedy	40/1
PU	Boston Bob	11	10-10	Willie Mullins	Paul Townend	25/1
PU	Black Thunder	9	10-6	Paul Nicholls	Sam Waley Cohen	50/1
UR	Ballycasey	9	10-6	Willie Mullins	Katie Walsh	50/1
UR	Hadrians Approach	9	10-6	Nicky Henderson	Nico De Boinville	50/1
PU	Aachen	12	10-10	Venetia Williams	Henry Brooke	50/1
PU	Saint Are	10	10-5	Tom George	Paddy Brennan	16/1
PU	Home Farm	9	10-4	Henry De Bromhead	AE Lynch	50/1
UR	The Romford Pele	9	10-4	Rebecca Curtis	Trevor Whelan	33/1