Earth Summit: 1998 Grand National

7-1F Earth Summit gave a skilled and powerful performance at the 1998 Grand National to take victory in just under 11 minutes. Fans were ecstatic to see the favourite win twice in the past three years.

Earth Summit was clear on its tactics. At the starting line he was behind the front line. He slowly but surely made his way just behind the leaders and made his push with only a few fences to go. Jockey Carl Llewellyn was in control the whole way.

Suny Bay had a great race finishing second while carrying a hefty 12 stone. 8-1 Samlee finished third while St. Mellion Fairway (20-1) took fourth but both were way back.

Most of the race was dominated at the front by Green Hill Tare Away, Decyborg and Ciel de Brion. This allowed Earth Summit to tactically position himself behind the leaders.

The first circuit saw the main three leaders battle amongst themselves. Him of Praise put himself in a position to lead early but it did not last long. Go Universal also looked to challenge but nothing ever came from it.

The 14th fence was a little disrupted by a loose horse, but Decyborg and Green Hill Tare Away remained out in front. The 16th saw Ciel de Brion take back the lead over the water, Earth Summit suddenly emerged in the picture.

As the horses started the last circuit, the race followed the same path as before. Earth Summit and Suny Bay remained inconspicuously just behind the leaders. Ciel de Brion did made a small mistake just after, a sign of things to come.

It was only with 5 fences left that Earth Summit and Suny Bay’s pressure finally got to the leaders. Ciel de Brion fell and Green Hill Tare Away lost his lead. Eventually he unseated his jockey with three fences to go.

As Earth Summit and Suny Bay fought it out, there was a distinct roar from crowd because a lot of money had been put on the favourite. The roar grew louder as Earth Summit surged in the lead. Sun Bay, carrying that extra weight, had nothing in response as Earth Summit thundered to a comfortable win.

Owned by Tummit Partners two and trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, Earth Summit was controlled beautifully by Carl Llewelyn as he always seem in control of this race. Pure professionalism in my opinion.

He was a product of Celtic Cone and Win Green Hill (National Trust I). Earth Summit did have a nice career. Although he never had similar success as his Grand National win, he managed 8 more victories throughout his career.