2008 Aintree Grand National

This was the year that the powers to be got together and adopted a new strategy to eliminate the possibilities of false starts. Getting he jockeys to approach the tapes at walk and not like a cavalry charge and it worked as there were no fallers at the first fence.

Not that this measure is foolproof but it was a notable improvement. The tapes went up and they were off. With a maximum of field of forty starters the bookmakers were laying odds on how many fallers there would be but all cleared it with ease. Going to the second all punters were glad to see their fancies still on their feet but that was short lived as two of the four fallers were highly fancied(the Irish trained Black Apalachi and the ex French trained L’ami)the other two were outsiders.

Over the third the reliable jumper Fundamentalist was a casualty with another two outsiders. Just another went at the fourth. With no fallers at the fifth the jockeys were getting into a good rhythm and they knew they would need it as the next fence was the most famous fence in national hunt racing Beechers Brook but surprisingly only one faller the joint leader No Full. The horses were still relatively fresh and with Beechers out of the way for now some of the well fancied horses started making their way to the front ranks notably Snowy Morning, Chelsea Harbour, Cloudy Lane, Comply Or Die and A.P.McCoys mount Butlers Cabin.

The jockeys started tacking to the right as to save ground at the next which was the Canal Turn and at ninety degrees the more angled the horse approaches the more ground will be saved for the later stages, only two fallers Madison De Berlais and Philson Run. With most of the remaining field jumping fluently all jumped the tricky fence known as Valentines Brook adequately no fallers as with the next the tenth. There were gaps starting to appear by now and with only a third of fences jumped the punters were starting to realise their fate.

The leading contenders still standing started to make their move to the front ranks at the eleventh where another outsider(Contraband)was the only faller. The horse that was in the front rank from the start(Milan Deux Mille)was showing signs of fatigue but was still running a fine race and it was here he was joined by Mr Pointment, Comply Or Die, Simon and the grey D’argent looked as fresh as a daisy as they jumped the twelfth. Up ahead two lose horses looked as if trouble was a sure thing and memories of the Foinavon debacle started flooding back the crowd in anticipation all simultaneously took a sharp intake of breath but trouble was avoided as both loose horses jumped the thirteenth fence only to be joined by a group of about twelve horses.

The field started to narrow on their approach to the next fence because of the nature of the course the tallest fence in the race(THE CHAIR)was in sight and courageously they all jumped it impeccably. The last on the first circuit to go(THE WATER JUMP) and it was here that previous winning jockey TONY DOBBIN took a tumble on Point Barrow (which turned out to be his last GRAND NATIONAL). Passing the winning post for the first time Comply Or Die, Mr Pointment, Idle Talk, Simon, Chelsea Harbour, Bewleys Berry, Snowy Morning, Butlers Cabin and the tiring Milan Deux Mille led with Hedgehunter, Mon Mome, Slim Pickings, Joacci, King Johns Castle and the favourite Cloudy Lane in close proximity.

At the seventeenth and eighteenth only one faller at each and they were out of contention at the time (Bob Hall, Vodka Bleu). The usual suspects started to turn the tap on and more horses started to tail off, with Comply Or Die sitting just behind Idle Talk, Simon, Chelsea Harbour and Mr Pointment McCoy decided to take closer order on Butlers Cabin knowing that the race was on in earnest. Two more bit the dust(Joacci,Naunton Brook) at BEECHERS for the second time was next and McCoy on Butlers Cabin landed too steeply crumpled on landing and paid the penalty just as he looked to be going as easy as any other in contention.

Mr Pointment and Chelsea Harbour swopped the lead at the couple of fences. What remained standing made their way to Valentines for the second time Simon put in a short one and paid the ultimate this time, another two of the stragglers came to grief at Valentines out of what must be said was fatigue. Snowy Morning took up the running just ahead of seven or eight others, Chelsea Harbour, Bewleys Berry,Comply Or Die, Mr Pointment, D’argent, Cloudy Lane,Hedgehunter and the improving King Johns Castle were the winner was going to come from. The grey D’Argent was the first of the leaders to make a mistake and fell and out the back of the field the disappointing Dun Doire was pulled up.

At the 28th the field were grouping up with another couple of horses joining the fray(MonMome,SlimPickings)At this stage with the amount of ground he has made up King Johns Castle looked the likely winner but around him were some very sound stayers.They all crossed the Melling Road only two to go any one of them could win it was all down to class and stamina from here on.

The penultimate fence loomed both jockeys and horses were down to the last of their strength six of them took the second last almost beside each other with different degrees of fluency Chelsea Harbour tired first and between the last two it was here that Comply Or Die made his way for home King Johns Castle went after him Snowy Morning dug deep after nearly falling at the last Timmy Murphy pulled his whip on Comply Or Die and went about four lengths clear and this was the winning move he held on to win by four lengths from Kings Johns Castle second and a further length back to the gallant Snowy Morning. Slim Pickings ran on for fourth place, Bewleys Berry back in fifth with the favourite Cloudy Lane back in sixth. This was one of the best GRAND NATIONALS for a long time with any of amount of horses looking at different times to be the winner.