Market Niche 2009

Market Niche was a 33-1 outside for this Irish National although memories in the future may remember this race due to the very unfortunate fatalities. Wichita Lineman, ridden by Tony McCoy fell fatally at the first and Drumconvis was sadly put down after the race.

Many will remember Wichita Lineman for the thrilling win on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival in the Trophy Handicap Chase.

The actual race finished with 3 outsiders in the top three with favourite, Rare Bob coming in 4th at 8-1. A nice tri-cast if you can pick that one out.

Hear The Echo 2008

The wonderful jumper and a 33-1 outsider won this National by a very impressive 12 lengths to favourite Royal Country Star at 6-1.

Something of a shock win as the form had been pretty awful leading up this race.

Sadly Hear The Echo, at the very young age of 8 years old collapsed at the Grand National and later died. Hear The Echo 2001-2009.

Memory of O. Sorenson - May 3rd 2009 - UK

This was the first Irish National I had watched and my first impression was that it was nothing like the Grand National. It was fun to watch though, and I remember Hear The Echo just getting this massive bit of pace from somewhere and rincing the other horses, but he was 66-1 I think when he won. Do odds go down after the win?

Butler's Cabin 2007

Ridden by Tony McCoy in a fantastic race, Butler's Cabin fought and fought to beat Nine De Sivola by a length. At 14-1 McCoy always had a chance although having run and won the 4 mile National Hunt Chase 25 days earlier it may not have been.

The first to do a double on this since Omerta in 1991, Butler's Cabin remains to be a strong favourite in most chases and has since competed in more Grand Nationals.

Point Barrow 2006

Another close race in which 20-1 shot POint Barrow managed to hold off 10-1 chancer Oulart by one length.

Jockey Phil Carberry has now added to the family hall of fame by becoming the third in the family to win the Irish National after father Tommy and well respected jockey Paul Carberry also having victories in this great race.

Numbersixvalverde 2005

This impressive horse had to retire early in January 2009 due to a leg injury but not before winning some great races. These included the obvious 2006 Grand National where he was able to beat another winner Hedgehunter by almost 6 lengths.

Numbersixvalverde was also able to win the Irish National in 2005 so one of these horses (and there are not many) that have managed to win more than one national. Total winnings for Numbersixvalverde exceed the half a million mark.

My memory goes back to 2006 where I was lucky enough to be an employee at Chepstow Racecourse. We had a race meeting the same day but had the big screen outdoors for all Chepstow punters to watch the National.

I remember the atmosphere that day was amazing and I have never felt such a buzz while working. Although I did not back the winner that year or neither was I lucky enough to pick a decent horse in the sweepstake, some people obviously did get lucky, many of whom celebrated by poppping open the champers and others celebrated in private!!! As I remember a colleague of mine doing her rounds on the private boxes just after the race and she accidently walked in on a couple celebrating in there own preferred style! To say the least a few blushes were spared.

Granit d'Estruval 2004

Irish National winner by half a length, Granit D'Estruval was a 33-1 with jockey Brian Harding onboard.

As with all Irish National winners it needed to be a good run with jumping made easy, which he did and slowly jumped well enough to get himself into first place, just in front of Marcus Du Berlais.

Amongst the other runners were the joint favourites at 9-1 each with Direct Bearing and Hume Castle. 2003 winner Timbera had an impressive race and came in fifth.

Timbera 2003

Jim Culloty was the anchorman on Timbera adding to his recent successes on the wonder horse Best Mate and Bindaree, winner of the 2002 Grand National.

Having fallen the year before it was always going to be a tough task for the third favourite but was able to compete bravely against Winning Dream and 2001 winner Davids Lad.

The Bunny Boiler 2002

An allround ace in The Bunny Boiler who won its previous race at Uttoxeter by 20 lengths almost let the Irish National slip when making a mistake at the last fence.

This field was unprecedented with horses such as Commanche Court, Mini Sensation and Rathbawn Prince to contend with.

Davids Lad 2001

A late burst of speed gave David's Lad this victory after Rathbawn Prince was leading into the last furlong. After this thrust of power kept him going into the lead to win by a hair raising half length. Favorite Sheltering managed a respectful third place.

Commanche Court 2000

2000 Irish National winner is not only remembered for this win but also a host of other greats that this horse participated in.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup and other Nationals were made for this horse, not the other way round and in one way one would have wished Commanche Court had won more of the bigger meetings.

Glebe Lad 1999

The 7 year old at the time was at a good weight when victorious in the Irish National. Ridden by one time National winner Tom Rudd, Glebe Lad was apparently reared for 3 mile races.

Bobbyjo 1998

Bobbyjo ridden by Paul Carberry, won the 1999 Grand National and is remembered specifically because he was the first Irish trained horse to win the National in an astonishing 25 years. Incredible when you think of all the great Irish trained horses over that period of time. The jockeys father, Tommy Carberry, was the last jockey to ride an Irish trained National winner when L'Escargot won the 1975 National. The fact Bobbyjo won the Irish National the previous year in 1998 makes the story of this horse even more fascinating.

Bobbyjo died at the very early age of 11 due to the non-recovery of a broken bone in his knee.

This was the first Grand National I was legally allowed to bet on. Everyone at school was going on about Bobbyjo because we had a girl there that shared the same name. Unfortunately I didn't listen and as a Michael Jackson fan I went for Double Thriller who fell at the first!

The thing that sticks most in my mind is that back then we had to pay tax before or after the race depending on the result. I suppose I was lucky in one way because I didn't pay tax on the stake, saved me 90p!

Mudahim 1997

Trained by Jenny Pitman, Mudahim was the horse that gave her the full set of National victories. This was a breathtaking race with it going right down to the wire. Result - Mudahim wins by a nose!

Feathered Gale 1996

The 8-1 chance was renowned for not having much spurt, but also renowned for never stopping. It was this that won him the Irish National after Cool Dawn and Jodami could give no more in the final furlong.

Flashing Steel 1995

At top weight this 10 year old ridden by Jamie Osborne was a surprise winner to say the least.

Son Of War 1994

At the young age of 7, Jockey Francis Woods rode bravely to take Son of War past the finishing line.

Ebony Jane 1993

Jockey Charlie Swan was better known for riding the great Istabraq. The 10 times Champion Hunt jockey surprised most when victorious with Ebony Jane in 1993.

Vanton 1992

This 8 year old was ridden by the same winning jockey in 1997 on Mudahim, Jason Titley.

Omerta 1991

Another Martin Pipe trained horse in Omerta,who, ridden by Adrian Maguire was Irish National Champion in 1991 at 11 years old.

Desert Orchid 1990

Rated as the 4th best Hunt Horse of all time, Desert Orchid will always be remembered for his front running. A quality horse with over 30 victories in an illustrious career.

Desert Orchid actually fell on his maiden hurdle in 1983. Desert Orchid died in November 2006.

Maid Of Money 1989

Heavily weighted Maid Of Money was still only 7 years old when this race was won with jockey Anthony Powell in the saddle.

Perris Valley 1988

Brian Sheridan rode this gallant 7 year old to glory in 1988.