Corach Rambler provided trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Derek Fox with their second Grand National triumph at Aintree on Saturday after the race was delayed due to a number of animal rights activists storming the track.
Successful in 2017 with One For Arthur, Russell and Fox repeated the trick with Corach Rambler, who had enough in reserve to hold off the fast-finishing Vanillier in a race where Sandy Thompson's Hill Sixteen suffered a fatal fall at the first fence.
A winner at the past two Cheltenham Festivals, Corach Rambler was sent off an 8-1 favourite in a race that was delayed by over 15 minutes due to the protests that led to Merseyside Police arresting nine people.
Russell said, “Those guys that went out to protest on the course, they think it's about horse welfare but that horse loves the sport. He loves everything that he does. He's kept in the best condition and I'm just so delighted that he can run in a race like that and perform like that.
“He has got greatness and it's what he deserves. Corach Rambler, in our hearts, is just the best horse. Now in the public hearts he is as well. To win the National, I know how important it is, I know how it changed my life with Arthur–for Corach to achieve that too is just fantastic.
“It's all about the horse, for me it's not about the betting–though I did back him and quite a lot actually!”
She added, “I hope those guys who were protesting will look at our website and our Facebook posts and see how they are looked after. It is so important they understand how we care for them every inch of the way.
“It is about Corach, he is just amazing. He took to those fences brilliantly, he understood them, he worked them out–he loved it.”
Fox had sat out the first two days of the meeting in order to recover from injury in time to ride Corach Rambler.
The jubilant rider said, “He is just the most wonderful thing ever, he deserved to win this. I got a fall last week and banged my shoulder, it was far from ideal. I was worried all week. I thank God I was back in time because it was the thrill of my life to ride him.
“It's thanks to the support of Lucinda and Scu [Peter Scudamore, assistant trainer and Russell's partner] for having the faith in me to put me up after not riding all week. I feel very lucky to be working for these great people.
“I think he'd the profile and he's loads of class–I just can't believe it.”
Animal Rising had threatened to disrupt the Aintree showpiece and were protesting from early on Saturday morning outside the track.
As the National runners were in the parade ring, a number of people breached security fences around the venue and ran on to the course, with at least two people affixing themselves to a jump using glue and lock-on devices
All of the intruders were apprehended, and the Merseyside Police commented afterwards, “We can confirm that nine people have been arrested at Aintree Racecourse today.
“Just after 5pm, a large number of protesters attempted to gain entry on to the course. The majority were prevented from breaching the boundary fencing, but the nine individuals who managed to enter the course were later arrested by officers.”
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