Grand National 2008

JOHN SMITH’S GRAND NATIONAL 2008

1 Comply Or Die (T J Murphy) 7-1 Jt Fav
2 King Johns Castle (P Carberry) 20-1
3 Snowy Morning (D J Casey) 16-1
4 Slim Pickings (B J Geraghty) 10-1
(40 ran)

Joint favourite Comply Or Die held off a strong challenge from King Johns Castle to take victory by four lengths in the 2008 Grand National at Aintree.

Irish jockey Timmy Murphy rode the David Pipe-trained nine-year-old for his first Grand National win after 11 previous attempts.

Snowy Morning claimed third place, while Slim Pickings took fourth.

Cloudy Lane, who started as 7-1 co-favourite, finished sixth but was never really in contention.

The pre-race attention had largely centred on Cloudy Lane, trained by Donald McCain, but many gamblers on and off the course took a fancy to Comply Or Die on the day as his odds tumbled from 10-1.

And the money that went in Comply Or Die’s direction proved a shrewd investment as Murphy gave his mount a trademark ride, cruising along with something to spare before asking for an extra effort off the last fence.

Several horses, with Chelsea Harbour, Bewleys Berry and Hedgehunter joining the first four home, were vying for the lead as the race reached its closing stages, but it was Murphy who found the extra gear to claim the victory.

“I can’t believe it yet, it’s the best ride I’ve ever had over these fences,” Murphy told BBC Sport.

“He got into a lovely rhythm and he jumped fantastic, he picked up again when Paul (Carberry, on King Johns Castle) came at me.

“It’s not sunk in, I’m delighted for David Pipe and my boss David Johnson – it’s a race he’s always wanted to win.”

It was a fairytale victory for Murphy, with the popular Irishman having to battle back from alcoholism and a short spell in prison to claim the most famous race in the sport.

The victory was also a memorable one for the Pipe family, as David followed in the footsteps of his father Martin by training a Grand National winner.

“I had slightly better ammunition than what he started off with,” said David Pipe, in reference to his father taking 19 years to train a Grand National winner compared to his success in his second season.

“I can’t really describe it. It’s great for everyone, for the whole team. We couldn’t do any of it without them.

“I’ve had a great teacher in my father, David Johnson has been brilliant and Timmy gave him a fantastic ride – there’s no feeling like it.”

Owner David Johnson was equally delighted with his first Grand National winner.

“I’ve probably run 20 in it before and it’s a thrill,” he said. “Timmy did nothing wrong and it was a typical Timmy ride really, he showed how good he really is.”

But Tony McCoy’s wait for a Grand National winner goes on after his horse Butler’s Cabin fell at Becher’s on the second circuit. Champion trainer Paul Nicholls will also have to wait another year to find a winner in a race that continues to elude him.

Nicholls had three runners, with Mr Pointment giving his backers a good run for their money until being pulled up at the very last fence.

“They’ve all come back safe, that’s the main thing and I’m not complaining,” said Nicholls.

“Turko fell, Mr Pointment was leading for a long way but ran a bit free, while Cornish Sett gave Nick Scholfield a great ride round.”

Milan Deux Mille, who led for much of the first circuit, was the final horse to complete the four-and-a-half-mile course in 15th place, with 25 horses failing to get round the 30 fences.

McKelvey, who finished a brave second in last year’s race, had to be put down after unseating jockey Tom O’Brien at the 20th fence.

The nine-year-old then ran on but collided with a barrier and proved unable to regain his feet.

“Any death is very regrettable and we can’t defend them, but as an animal welfare organisation our duty is to work with the organisers to improve things,” said RSPCA equine consultant David Muir.

“If you look at the National in the last eight years and compare it to the eight years before there has been a massive reduction in fatalities and injuries.”

Mick Fitzgerald was taken to hospital with back injuries after falling from L’Ami in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

The Irishman, a former winner of the race, lasted no further than the second fence.

Ireland’s trio of placed horses will all be aimed for Aintree again in 2009. King Johns Castle, Snowy Morning and Slim Pickings chased home David Pipe’s winner, and their respective connections are keen on another crack.

The striking grey King Johns Castle loomed menacingly from out of the pack under Paul Carberry, but could not get past Comply or Die passing the Elbow.

“For a few strides after the last I thought we might do it, but the winner kept battling and had more reserves than us,” reflected trainer Arthur Moore.

“Paul has given him a real peach of a ride. He always had the leaders in his sights and came through with the perfect challenge.

“There will be nothing else on his agenda apart from coming back here again, although that may have been his best chance today.”

Timmy Murphy…

Winning jockey Timmy Murphy said his Grand National victory on board Comply Or Die was the best result of his 15-year professional career.

The 33-year-old’s win in the sport’s most famous race caps a superb comeback in what has been a turbulent career.

“This would be the highlight of anyone’s career,” said Murphy, who has battled alcoholism and been to prison.

“You only have to think of the people who have not even got round, never mind those who have won.”

Murphy gave his mount a masterful ride, waiting until the final fence to make the decisive move.

“My main worry was the first fence as he can jump big, but he has been much better with the blinkers on,” said Murphy, who also rode Our Vic to victory over Kauto Star in the Totesport Bowl earlier in the week at Aintree.

“He did come up a bit at the first but he settled down after that.

“The plan was to ride him handy, get him into a rhythm and settle him. I hung on for as long as possible as I didn’t want to get there too soon.

“He came out of my hands at the last and when I got to the Elbow I thought I would let him go.

“I could feel Paul Carberry (jockey on second-placed King Johns Castle) behind me but when I got to the Elbow my fellow picked up again and went away.”

Murphy took over from Tony McCoy as owner David Johnson’s number one jockey – in association with the Pipe stable in 2004 – and the move has ultimately proved a huge success for all concerned.

His Grand National win is the crowning achievement in a life and career that have seen more than their fair share of ups and downs.

Murphy served three months in prison in 2002 for an indecent assault on an airline hostess while under the influence of alcohol, and he also spent five weeks in the Priory Clinic battling alcoholism.

And despite wins in the Irish Grand National and the Hennessey Gold Cup, Murphy’s life in the saddle has also suffered several setbacks.

He was sacked from Kim Bailey’s yard for persistently bad time-keeping and lost his job as Paul Nicholls’s stable jockey twice, while two drink-driving convictions did little to improve his image.

But his talent has never been in doubt, and his Grand National triumph confirms his place among the elite jockeys plying their trade on the National Hunt circuit.

“He is a very good jockey and on his day he is up there with the best of them,” Comply or Die’s trainer David Pipe, who won the race in just his second season as a trainer, told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek.

“He is a real horseman, and you couldn’t ask for anyone better on your horse in the Grand National.

“He has done amazingly well to come back and all credit to him. It has been a hard road, and he probably never dreamed this was going to be at the end of it for him.”

Murphy will not be resting on his laurels, however. He was due to travel to Southwell for two rides on Sunday.

But Pipe confirmed that Comply or Die will not run again this season.

“He will have a nice long holiday, out to grass, before he comes back in next season,” he added. “Obviously the long-term objective is the Grand National again.”

• Irish jockey Mick Fitzgerald, who was taken to hospital with back injuries after falling from L’Ami at the second fence in the National, was reported to be “comfortable” on Sunday.

The 37-year-old was undergoing further assessment at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

His boss Nicky Henderson said: “He’s very battered and very sore, but comfortable.

“The main thing is he is able to move everything, but they are just keeping an eye on him and I think they are taking some more X-rays.

“We are all very concerned, but the important thing is everything is working OK.

“He’s had a fair old battering and I would have thought that he will be staying in tonight also.”

Mick Fitzgerald retired from riding as a result of this fall.