Numbersixvalverde - 2006 Grand National Winner

A novel way to remember your address is to name a racehorse with it. This is what Portuguese Villa owner Bernard Carroll did with Numbersixvalverde!

Grand National punters should note the route trainer Martin Brassil took ahead of Aintree, as Numbersixvalverde would prior to Liverpool scoop the Irish National (as per Bobbyjo). Numbersixvalverde took the big race at Fairyhouse whilst still a novice, and would race his next seven outing’s without doing better than third. In a classic game of cat and mouse with the National Handicapper the majority of these would be over hurdles!

On the day of the big race the horse was a well supported 11/1 chance in what was then viewed the strongest ever renewal of the race (all 40 runners in the handicap). Jockey Niall Maden stalked them through the first circuit and from the 17th fence onwards began picking the opposition off.

The horse made his charge for victory over the last and held off Hedgehunter by six lengths. Having only raced in ten chases before the National, he was one of the more unexposed types in recent years, though as noted pay attention to hurdling subterfuge to protect the horses handicap mark!