Lambourn's racing superstars give reaction to Grand National

TWO of Lambourn’s most successful sporting figures -Tony McCoy and Nicky Henderson - have given their reaction to their performances in last Saturday’s Grand National.
Trainer Henderson’s long wait for a National winner continued as three of his four horses failed to finish the race.
Lambourn resident and champion jockey McCoy fared considerably better, but could not quite repeat his heroics of winning the National in 2010 (pictured right) - finishing third on Double Seven - six lengths behind surprise winner Pineau De Re.
Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News after the race, McCoy said: “It went very well, but it is a difficult race to win.
“He (Double Seven) jumped well but unfortunately found two horses that were just that bit better than him on the day.
“He made a couple of small mistakes, but most horses make mistakes. He coped with it well and gave me a fantastic ride.
“It went pretty much according to plan. He was in a good position throughout and didn’t give me too much trouble at all. I can’t really fault his performance.”
On the winner, McCoy said: “To be truthful the winner did surprise me, it certainly isn’t a horse I would have picked out before the race, but that’s the National for you, it’s exciting and unpredictable.”
McCoy was the first man to congratulate winning jockey Leighton Aspell after crossing the line.
He added: “Leighton is a very nice lad and it could not have happened to a better bloke. I’m glad he was lucky enough to win it.”Henderson sent out the hotly-tipped Long Run – as short as 12/1 with some bookmakers, the Hennessy Gold Cup winner Triolo D’Alene, Shakalakaboomboom and 66/1 outsider Hunt Ball.
The latter was the only one to make it around the gruelling four and a half mile trip, finishing 17th - with Long Run falling at the ninth fence and Triolo D’Alene and Shakalakaboomboom both being pulled up.
Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News, Henderson, who had high hopes of all four horses last week, reflected on the race.
“The ground definitely didn’t help and none of our horses particularly like soft ground,” he said.
“They always water the ground at Aintree beforehand and then we got a bit of rain on Saturday, which was the last thing we wanted.
Speaking about Long Run, he said: “He got a bit too excited, a bit carried away. He took his eye off the ball and thought it was a bit too easy I think.
“Shaka and Triolo were both pulled up because of the ground.
“Hunt Ball ran a good race and managed to get round, but the distance was too much for him – we are going to put him back to three miles.”
Speaking about the Grand National winner, Henderson said: “He’s a horse I know nothing about and the result was a surprise to a few people - but that’s the beauty of the National.”
Although he didn’t get the result he was hoping for in the National, Henderson did have an overall successful Aintree festival, with a total of four winners over the three days, including a hat-trick on Friday.