From Tiger Roll to Neptune Collognes – what are these Grand National winners up to now?

The Grand National is set to take place for the 176th time this weekend (13 April 2024), but what does life hold for these outstanding equine athletes who are Grand National winners after they have triumphed in the world’s most famous steeplechase? While some, like last year’s winner Corach Rambler, will return to Aintree in an attempt to repeat their impressive achievement, others are retrained for new careers as riding horses or are otherwise enjoying their retirement away from crowds. Many will make occasional appearances in special parades of legends for fans on major race days. We find out what some recent Grand National winners are up to now…

Grand National winners: where are they now?

Tiger Roll (winner 2018 and 2019)

Tiger Roll, who is now 14 years old, was retired from his prolific National Hunt career in March 2022. He was trained for most of his career by Gordon Elliott in Ireland and clocked up over £1.35m in prize money. He retired to his owner Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud in Ireland, and has since been retrained for the show ring.

He was first seen out in his new career at Tullamore Show in Ireland in August 2022. Ridden by Ted O’Leary, Tiger Roll won a racehorse to riding horse class, qualifying for the prestigious Dublin Horse Show later that month.

He was recently caught on camera being ridden by Davy Russell, who rode him to win the Grand National, as Davy talked about what makes a National horse.

Crowds at Aintree Racecourse will be able to see Tiger Roll in the flesh when he takes part in a winners’ parade on Saturday 13 April. He will be joined by Minella Times (2021 winner), plus senior veterans 21-year-old Pineau De Re (2014 winner), Neptune Collonges (2012 winner), Mon Mome (2009 winner) and Silver Birch (2007 winner).

Minella Times (winner 2021)

Minella Times, who was trained by Henry De Bromhead, was responsible for carrying Rachael Blackmore to her history-making success in 2021, when she became the first woman to win the race.

The now 11-year-old was retired from racing in February 2023 and has since been enjoying his retirement at Martinstown, his owned JP McManus’ Irish stud.

Rule The World (winner 2016)

The 17-year-old provided his connections and trainer Mouse Morris with a “fairytale” triumph in the 2016 Grand National.

He was retired quite young at the age of nine in 2016, following his big win. Although in good health when retired, the decision was made based on his previous pelvic injuries and that he deserved a happy retirement.

He is now enjoying his retirement at his owner Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud.

Pineau De Re (winner 2014)

The 2014 Grand National winner, who provided Leighton Aspell with the first of his back-to-back wins, has enjoyed his second career as an eventer.

The French-bred 21-year-old made his eventing debut in 2017 in an unaffiliated BE90 class at Aston-Le-Walls in Northamptonshire, under Lizzie Doolittle (pictured, above), and has since gone on to be placed in BE100 classes and has completed at BE novice too. Lizzie has also credited Pineau De Re for helping her rediscover her joy for eventing.

Auroras Encore (winner 2013)

Auroras Encore’s preparation for the 2013 Grand National may have been held up by snow drifts on the Yorkshire moors where he was trained, but didn’t stop him storming to a memorable nine-length victory.

The 66-1 hero was retired in January 2014 after sustaining an injury in a race at Doncaster. He is enjoying life to the full at his trainer Sue Smith’s stables.

Neptune Collonges (winner 2012)

Neptune Collonges became only the third grey horse to win the Grand National when he got his head in front by just a nose to deny Sunnyhillboy.

Now 23, “Nipper” has been kept busy — training for dressage competitions ridden by Lisa Hales, daughter of owner John Hales.

He often takes part in the annual Aintree parade of champions and has also visited the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool during the Grand National meeting.

Don’t Push It (winner 2010)

Don’t Push It gave record-breaking champion jockey AP McCoy his elusive Grand National win at the 15th attempt. He was third in the race 12 months later and retired in 2012.

Always a somewhat quirky character who preferred the company of sheep to racehorses when in training with Jonjo O’Neill, 24-year-old Don’t Push It is now settled in retirement at Martinstown Stud in Ireland.

Mon Mome (winner 2009)

The 24-year-old retired aged 13 in 2013 and remained in the familiar surroundings of his trainer Venetia Williams’ Herefordshire yard.

Only the fifth 100-1 chance in history to win the race, who was ridden by the late Liam Treadwell, Mon Mome loves to be kept busy and, since his retirement, has taken part in shows, including winning a novice thoroughbred-in-hand class.

Silver Birch (winner 2007)

A spell cross-country chasing sharpened up Silver Birch for a 33-1 surprise win under jockey Robbie Power.

Now aged 27, Silver Birch’s racing career didn’t finish until he was a teenager, when he was retired in 2010. He then went on to take part in racehorse-to-riding-horse events at venues such as the Royal Dublin Show.

Numbersixvalverde (winner 2006)

Named after his owner Bernard Carroll’s holiday home in Portugal, Numbersixvalverde gave jockey Niall Madden a thrilling win on his first Grand National ride, aged just 20, in 2006.

The 28-year-old past Grand National winner took successfully to other disciplines since his retirement in 2009, including dressage. He still lives in the same racing yard in County Kildare where he was trained for his Aintree victory by Martin Brassil.

Ballabriggs (winner 2011, pictured right)

Twenty-three-year-old Ballabriggs is enjoying his retirement at his owner, the late Trevor Hemmings’ stud on the Isle of Man.

Ballabriggs enabled trainer Donald McCain to follow in his illustrious father Ginger’s footsteps when winning in 2011. He was retired in April 2013 after pulling up in the Grand National — he had run 28 races and won seven.

Grand National winners since 2000

2000: Papillon, ridden by Ruby Walsh, trained by Ted Walsh, owned by Mrs J. Maxwell Moran
2001: Red Marauder, ridden by Richard Guest, trained by Norman Mason, owned by Norman Mason
2002: Bindaree, ridden by Jim Culloty, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, owned by Raymond Mould
2003: Monty’s Pass, ridden by Barry Geraghty, trained by Jimmy Mangan, owned by Dee Racing Syndicate
2004: Amberleigh House, ridden by Graham Lee, trained by Ginger McCain, owned by Halewood Int. Ltd
2005: Hedgehunter, ridden by Ruby Walsh, trained by Willie Mullins, owned by Trevor Hemmings
2006: Numbersixvalverde, ridden by Niall Madden, trained by Martin Brassil, owned by Bernard Carroll
2007: Silver Birch, ridden by Robbie Power, trained by Gordon Elliott, owned by Brian Walsh
2008: Comply or Die, ridden by Timmy Murphy, trained by David Pipe, owned by David Johnson
2009: Mon Mome, ridden by Liam Treadwell, trained by Venetia Williams, owned by Vida Bingham
2010: Don’t Push It, ridden by AP McCoy, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, owned by J. P. McManus
2011: Ballabriggs, ridden by Jason Maguire, trained by Donald McCain Jr., owned by Trevor Hemmings
2012: Neptune Collonges, ridden by Daryl Jacob, trained by Paul Nicholls, owned by John Hales
2013: Auroras Encore, ridden by Ryan Mania, trained by Sue Smith, owned by Douglas Pryde, Jim Beaumont and David P van der Hoeven
2014: Pineau De Re, ridden by Leighton Aspell, trained by Dr Richard Newland, owned by John Provan
2015: Many Clouds, ridden by Leighton Aspell, trained by Oliver Sherwood, owned by Trevor Hemmings
2016: Rule The World, ridden by David Mullins, trained by Mouse Morris, owned by Gigginstown House Stud
2017: One For Arthur, ridden by Derek Fox, trained by Lucinda Russell, owned by Deborah Thomson & Belinda McClung
2018: Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell, trained by Gordon Elliott, owned by Gigginstown House Stud
2019: Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell, trained by Gordon Elliott, owned by Gigginstown House Stud
2020: Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021: Minella Times, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, trained by Henry de Bromhead, owned by J. P. McManus
2022: Noble Yeats, ridden by Mr Sam Waley-Cohen, trained by Emmet Mullins, owned by Robert Waley-Cohen
2023: Corach Rambler, ridden by Derek Fox, trained by Lucinda Russell, owned by The Ramblers
2024: I Am Maximus, ridden by Paul Townend, trained by Willie Mullins, owned by J. P. McManus

Read the full report from the Grand National in the 18 April issue of the magazine

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Gemma Redrup

H&H features, racing and point-to-point editor

Gemma is an experienced journalist, having been part of the H&H team since 2014, who is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at in August 2018. Gemma’s reporting talents have taken her to numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.