Mon Mome was a shock winner of the John Smith’s Grand National 2009 at Aintree, coming home an impressive winner at 100-1.
It was trainer Venetia Williams’ first success in the £900,000 race — and jockey Liam Treadwell’s first National ride.
Listen to Liam Tredwell talk to Rupert Bell about the race
Mon Mome jumped well throughout the race in the middle of the pack, and took the lead two fences out. He galloped away from his rivals to canter past the post with his ears pricked.
Venetia, who is only the second woman to trainer a winner of the National after Jenny Pitman, said: “I’m so proud of the horse, and everybody in the yard. It really is a team effort.”
Listen to Venitia Williams talk to Rupert Bell about the race
Mon Mome, 10th in 2008, equalled Foinavon’s record as the biggest-priced winner of the Grand National. The nine-year-old carried 11st, and is the first French-bred horse to win since Lutteur III in 1909. He is owned by Vida Bingham, whose love for National Hunt racing is only equalled by her passion for bridge.
Last year’s winner, Comply Or Die, ran a great race to finish second under Timmy Murphy, while 8-1 favourite My Will, ridden by Ruby Walsh, was third. Fourth was the Welsh-trained State Of Play, while another 100-1 shot, Cerium, finished fifth. Big Fella Thanks was sixth, while champion jockey AP McCoy ended up in seventh on Butler’s Cabin. Seventeen horses finished.
Hear The Echo, trained in Ireland by Mouse Morris and ridden by Davy Russell, collapsed and died after the race. Butler’s Cabin also collapsed, but recovered after being given oxygen.
H&H columnist Robert Thornton pulled L’Ami up before the last fence.
Results
1. Mon Mome (Liam Tredwell) 100-1
2. Comply Or Die (Timmy Murphy) 14-1
3. My Will (Ruby Walsh) 8-1
4. State Of Play (Paul Moloney) 14-1
Don’t miss H&H’s full Grand National report and analysis, on sale Thursday 9 April, ’09
