Hedgehunter was the horse that got me proper hooked on jumps racing what a horse his record is brilliant been placed in a 2miler & won the national brilliant horse great memories
This was Hedgehunter's shing 9 minutes. In the USA where few races are more than 12 furlongs, on dirt, in an oval track. these horses and trained to run 4.5 miles, jump over 30 high hedges, keep up with the other horses and not fall. The key is not simply speed, but endurance. It is quite rremarkable to watch Hedgehunter jump over the final hedge, and not simply gallop to the finish line, but pour it on, wiping out the field, and not winning by a length, but by 20 to 30 lengths. The close ups of him running the last 50 meters is an awesome display of the kind of endurance, stamina, these horses have. This is the difference between American and Continental racing. Just one man's opinion.
McCoy taking out by a loose horse in the 2001 National, when going the best out of the remaining horses in my opinion, and again in this race, going so well on Clan Royal. So glad he got to win this race 5 years later. So unlucky in 2001 and 2005.
When it comes to Grand National performances by women jockeys Carrie Ford's brave display aboard the unfancied Forest Gunner is often overlooked - she ran pretty much the perfect race, jumped the last as well as anyone, steered the right course around The Elbow and basically did everything she could to keep him in contention on that notoriously punishing run-in...
Agree with all of that apart from the 'unfancied' part. Forest Gunner went off 8/1 second favourite behind Hedgehunter. Great ride from Carrie Ford though.
Backed HH the previous year when I thought he'd killed himself at the last fence. If I remember he won at 7 or 8/1 but I'd got on him at 16s. Only other winner I had was Miinnehoma.
Had Hedgehunter 1st national winner then had numbersixvalverde year after with hedgehunter e/w only winners until the tiger last 2 year’s! Meant to be there today gutted it’s off 🙁 bet McCoy thought it was never going to happen after this 🙈
Even if macoy hadnt been unseated on clan royal i dont think he would of beaten hedgehunter one of the easiest grand national winners you will ever see
