Pineau de Re wins the 2014 Crabbie’s Grand National to send the bookmakers into rapture as an outsider takes the title for the second year in a row.
When it comes to win-wins the 2014 Crabbie’s Grand National was a wonderful case in point for so many.
The first £1m Grand National created a nice windfall for the Pineau de Re owner Dr. Richard Newland; the 25/1 odds meant the UK bookmakers could breath a collective sigh of relief, and all 40 horses and jockeys survived the day with just bodily and prideful bruises for show.
Things didn’t start well for the 167th Grand National as a false start brought memories of the 1993 ‘race that never was’ flooding back, and 39 of the 40 jockeys refused to attend a stewards’ inquiry into the incident in an unprecedented show of loyalty amongst the little men.
Once the race got underway the world once again got to see why it is the toughest race there is after only 18 of the original starting compliment of 40 horses made it over the 30-jumps and passed the finished line.
Fortunately, for the UK bookmakers the unfancied French-bred and British trained Pineau de Re managed to hold off the much fancied Balthazar King (2nd), and Double Seven (3rd). Alvarado (4th) and Rocky Creek (5th) finished off the placing’s.
It was a remarkable achievement for the jockey, Leighton Aspinall, who was only given the ride after the original jockey Sam Twiston-Davies opted to ride Tidal Bay.
It was a sweet moment for the man who retired in 2007, only to return in 2009, and came so close to Grand National success in 2003 when he finished second on Supreme Glory.
It’s the second year on the trot that the UK bookmakers have had a smile on their faces after Auroras Encore took the 2013 race at odds of 66/1.
