2009 Grand National
The 2009 Grand National was the 162nd running of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 4 April 2009.
A 100/1 outsider, the French-bred Mon Mome, ridden by Liam Treadwell, won the race by 12 lengths from the previous year's winner Comply or Die in a time of 9 minutes 34 seconds. Mon Mome became the first 100/1 shot to win since Foinavon in 1967. He also became the first winner of the race to have been bred in France for 100 years.
Mon Mome was trained by Venetia Williams at her Herefordshire stables and was owned by Vida Bingham of East Sussex.
Seventeen runners completed the 4-mile 4 furlong course over Aintree's National circuit. Hear The Echo collapsed during the latter stages of the race and later died.
Race card
Note: Trained in Great Britain unless otherwise stated in brackets.- 1: Cloudy Lane,
- 2: Chelsea Harbour
- 3: Snowy Morning
- 4: Knowhere
- 5: Comply or Die
- 6: Ollie Magern
- 7: Stan
- 8: Black Apalachi
- 9: Hear The Echo
- 10:
- 11: My Will
- 12: Eurotrek
- 13: State Of Play
- 14: Big Fella Thanks
- 15: Mon Mome
- 16: Silver Birch
- 17: Butlers Cabin
- 18: Offshore Account
- 19: Parsons Legacy
- 20: Reveillez
- 21: Fundamentalist
- 22: Golden Flight
- 23: Lami
- 24: Battlecry
- 25: Cornish Sett
- 26: Fleet Street
- 27: Musica Bella
- 28: Can't Buy Time
- 29: Darkness
- 30: Irish Invader
- 31: Rambling Minster
- 32: Southern Vic
- 33: Kilbeggan Blade
- 34: Brooklyn Brownie
- 35: Himalayan Trail
- 36: Arteea
- 37: Cerium
- 38: Idle Talk
- 39: Kelami
- 40: Zabenz
Leading contenders
My Will was made favourite for the race after finishing fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but was sent off as joint-second favourite on the day with two-time winning rider Ruby Walsh in the saddle. Despite a series of jumping errors the horse turned for the home straight marginally leading an unusually large contending pack of sixteen horses and briefly looked to be on the way to victory at the penultimate flight. The horse was quickly passed by the eventual winner and took the last flight in third place where he remained, finishing 13¼ lengths behind the winner. Jockey Ruby Walsh said: "He was just hitting the fences low and I was really having to work hard at keeping him upright. We did well to stay on our feet."
Rambling Minster was identified as the 'trend' horse after winning the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock two months before the National. Despite ticking all the boxes the tipsters looked for in a potential National winner, he proved very disappointing in the race itself and was well to the rear when he was almost brought down at the 18th fence and was pulled up soon after. Jockey James Reveley said afterwards: "He didn't take to it and just didn't like it. He jumped OK until he made a mistake down the back and he was looking after himself after that so I pulled up going down the back on the second circuit."
Black Apalachi had been a faller in the 2008 Grand National but became popular when he won the Becher Chase over one circuit of the course in November and followed that by winning the Bobbyjo Chase in February. He went straight to the front from the start, taking the lead at the third fence where he remained for over a circuit. He was still three lengths clear and going well when he stumbled on landing over Becher's Brook and threw his rider Denis O'Reagan, who later said: "It was very disappointing – he was travelling well and jumping from fence to fence. I don't know what happened until I see a replay."
Comply Or Die was the defending champion and came within 12 lengths of being the first horse for over thirty years to win back-to-back Nationals. The horse jumped alongside Mon Mome at the final flight but was outpaced on the run-in. After, jockey Timmy Murphy said: "He ran a blinder. Apart from failing to get 10 lengths closer to the winner I have no complaints whatsoever."
State Of Play had won the 2006 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup but appealed to his backers after winning the Charlie Hall Chase in November at Wetherby. The horse was among the leading eight throughout the race and was among four who shared the lead jumping the penultimate fence. He was unable to mount a challenge after that and finished fourth, 14 lengths behind the winner. Jockey Paul Moloney said of his race: "There was a moment when I thought I was going to win going to two out. You can't do it without the horse and I had a lot of confidence in him."
Big Fella Thanks was backed after winning the Sky Bet Chase in January and on race day ran a textbook National in mid-division on the first circuit before moving into a challenging position at the Canal Turn on the second circuit. The horse was always having to find a few lengths and was never quite able to get on terms with the leader before finishing sixth. Jockey Christian Williams regarded the race as a prep for a bigger bid next year, saying: "He'll be a year older next year, and perhaps on softer ground you never know. He's only a baby. I had AP upsides me so I knew I was in the right place. He's got a slight cut on his hind leg and that may have made a slight difference, but if he improves again and comes back with a nice weight next year he could go close."
Mon Mome was among the less-considered outsiders at 100–1 despite a good racing pedigree that had seen him sent off as favourite in the Welsh National in December. A disappointing run there and subsequent loss of form, in addition to his regular rider opting to ride Stan instead led the public to ignore the credentials which were seen as obvious after the event.
Finishing order
| Position | Horse | Jockey | Age | Handicap | SP | Distance | Prize money |
| 1st | Mon Mome | Liam Treadwell | 9 | 11–0 | 100/1 | Won by 12 lengths | £506,970 |
| 2nd | Comply or Die | Timmy Murphy | 10 | 11–6 | 14/1 | 1¼ lengths | £190,980 |
| 3rd | My Will | Ruby Walsh | 9 | 11–4 | 8/1 | 4½ lengths | £95,580 |
| 4th | State of Play | Paul Moloney | 9 | 11–2 | 14/1 | ¾ length | £47,790 |
| 5th | Cerium | Keith Mercer | 8 | 10–5 | 100/1 | 4 lengths | £23,940 |
| 6th | Big Fella Thanks | Christian Williams | 7 | 11–1 | 14/1 | 1¾ lengths | £11,970 |
| 7th | Butler's Cabin | Tony McCoy | 9 | 10–13 | 7/1 favourite | ¾ length | Nil |
| 8th | Southern Vic | Niall Madden | 10 | 10–9 | 33/1 | 5 lengths | Nil |
| 9th | Snowy Morning | Andrew McNamara | 9 | 11–8 | 33/1 | 9 lengths | Nil |
| 10th | Arteea | Johnny Farrelly | 10 | 10–5 | 200/1 | 4½ lengths | Nil |
| 11th | Irish Invader | Paul Townend | 8 | 10–9 | 16/1 | 3 lengths | Nil |
| 12th | Idle Talk | Brian Harding | 10 | 10–5 | 66/1 | 3½ lengths | Nil |
| 13th | Darkness | Wayne Hutchinson | 10 | 10–9 | 16/1 | 25 lengths | Nil |
| 14th | Philip Enright | 9 | 11–5 | 100/1 | 24 lengths | Nil | |
| 15th | Offshore Account | David Casey | 9 | 10–13 | 20/1 | 12 lengths | Nil |
| 16th | Battlecry | Tom Scudamore | 8 | 10–10 | 33/1 | A distance | Nil |
| 17th | Cornish Sett | Nick Scholfield | 10 | 10–10 | 33/1 | Last to complete | Nil |
Non-finishers
| Fence | Horse | Jockey | Age | Handicap | SP | Fate |
| Run-in | Hear The Echo | Davy Russell | 8 | 11–5 | 33/1 | Collapsed |
| 30th | L'ami | Robert Thornton | 10 | 10–11 | 16/1 | Pulled up |
| 25th | Knowhere | Paddy Brennan | 11 | 11–7 | 50/1 | Pulled up |
| 22nd | Black Apalachi | Denis O'Regan | 10 | 11–5 | 11/1 | Unseated rider |
| 22nd | Silver Birch | Robbie Power | 12 | 11–0 | 40/1 | Fell |
| 22nd | Parson's Legacy | Richard Johnson | 11 | 10–12 | 20/1 | Fell |
| 22nd | Kelami | Derek Laverty | 11 | 10–5 | 200/1 | Pulled up |
| 21st | Fundamentalist | David England | 11 | 10–11 | 100/1 | Pulled up |
| 21st | Kilbeggan Blade | Graham Lee | 10 | 10–7 | 20/1 | Pulled up |
| 19th | Rambling Minster | James Reveley | 11 | 10–9 | 8/1 | Pulled up |
| 18th | Can't Buy Time | Noel Fehily | 7 | 10–9 | 33/1 | Fell |
| 18th | Fleet Street | Andrew Tinkler | 10 | 10–10 | 100/1 | Unseated rider |
| 17th | Eurotrek | Sam Thomas | 13 | 11–3 | 80/1 | Pulled up |
| 16th | Zabenz | Tom O'Brien | 12 | 10–5 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 15th | Cloudy Lane | Jason Maguire | 9 | 11–10 | 50/1 | Unseated rider |
| 12th | Musica Bella | Phillip Carberry | 9 | 10–10 | 66/1 | Fell |
| 7th | Stan | Aidan Coleman | 10 | 11–6 | 50/1 | Fell |
| 3rd | Chelsea Harbour | Emmett Mullins | 9 | 11–8 | 40/1 | Fell |
| 3rd | Reveillez | Mark Walsh | 10 | 10–12 | 100/1 | Brought down |
| 2nd | Ollie Magern | Mr. Sam Waley-Cohen | 11 | 11–6 | 66/1 | Fell |
| 2nd | Brooklyn Brownie | Phil Kinsella | 10 | 10–6 | 22/1 | Fell |
| 1st | Golden Flight | Barry Geraghty | 10 | 10–11 | 66/1 | Fell |
| 1st | Himalayan Trail | Paddy Flood | 10 | 10–6 | 28/1 | Fell |
Broadcasting
The Grand National was accorded status as an event of national interest, listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, therefore ensuring that the event is broadcast live on terrestrial television in the United Kingdom. The BBC broadcast the race for the 50th consecutive year. The winner, Mon Mome, was not mentioned in commentary at any stage on the first circuit, being named for the first time when in 12th place as the runners started the second circuit. The commentary team for the sixth consecutive year was Ian Bartlett, Tony O'Hehir, Darren Owen, and Jim McGrath who called the winner home for the 12th consecutive year.The programme was presented by Clare Balding. 1,477 people lodged complaints to the BBC when, after the race, she asked winning rider Liam Treadwell to show his teeth to the camera and then suggested he would be able to get them "fixed" with his prize money. Balding later issued a public apology. On the evening before the following year's race, Treadwell was again interviewed by Balding for the BBC's The One Show in which he thanked her for her comments as it had led to him getting free dentistry resulting in a perfect smile.
Treadwell said of his winning ride: "It's an absolutely unbelievable finish, I had the perfect run through the race, he jumped brilliant for me. A couple of times loose horses fell upsides me and went under his legs but it didn't really affect the horse. He gave me such a great ride. He was an absolute pleasure to ride. He is so genuine."
Trainer Venetia Williams said: "How can you ever expect that in a race like this? I'm so proud of the horse. I'm so proud of Liam for giving him such a good ride, and the girl who looks after him as well. I'm so proud of everyone in the yard – I never get chance to praise them and give them the credit they deserve, it is all a team effort."
Aftermath
and Butlers Cabin both collapsed, the former on the run-in and the latter shortly after passing the finishing post. Both required oxygen treatment but Hear The Echo did not respond and died.Bookmakers were delighted by the race result with a 100/1 winner. Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: "It was better than we could ever have dreamed of. Liam Treadwell was our saviour. A win for Walsh or McCoy would have seen a multi-million pound turnaround. The sun shone on Aintree and the sun shone on the bookies. If last year was one for the punters, 2009 was very much one for us."
Quotes
- Keith Mercer : "He was brilliant. He jumped magnificently and was in contention on the run to the second-last. it was an amazing feeling. I had just been hoping we would get round. He far surpassed my expectations and gave me an amazing spin."
- Niall Madden : "He has run a great race, the ground was just too quick for him."
- Andrew McNamara : "We had a couple of bumps on the way round, but he ran a nice race."
- Johnny Farrelly : "I had a good ride round and he jumped great."
- Paul Townend : "It was great. I think he just maybe didn't see it out."
- Brian Harding : "He jumped round, but didn't get home. He gave me a great ride and he was pretty good over the fences, but didn't get home."
- Wayne Hutchinson : "He gave me a good spin and he travelled away fine. He was just a bit on and off the bridle but you couldn't fault him over these fences. He's jumped economically and he galloped on round."
- Philip Enright : "He gave me a great ride and jumped well. I thought I would go very close jumping the second-last, but he got very tired. I had to use him a bit more than I would have liked early on because of the ground. He ran well and should be back next year."
- David Casey : "I had a great ride round and he jumped so well, but he hadn't run over fences for over a year and it told on him in the end. He's still a good horse to look forward to."
- Tom Scudamore : "He gave me a great spin for a circuit and a half, but got tired from Becher's second time. He gave me a great thrill for a long way."
- Nick Scholfield : "He got round once again and gave me a great spin and jumped well in the main, but just didn't seem to get the trip this year. He was on his nose once or twice but is so clever."
- Graham Lee : "Not much happened in the race for me and I pulled up the one before Becher's second time."
- Phil Kinsella : "All sorts of things go through your head as you watch them gallop away from you. He was great down to the first and met it lovely and gave me a lot of confidence, but he didn't meet the second as well and that was that."
- Robbie Power : "It is disappointing, he just got a bit too close to Becher's, caught the top and just couldn't get his front end out. But the old lad was travelling really well and jumping for fun and he ran a big race."
- Richard Johnson : "I wish I hadn't fallen. He was dead right, but it was too far out to tell where we might have finished."
- Barry Geraghty : "That was a bit of an anti-climax."
- Sam Thomas : "We were never going well and pulled up after the water."
- Tom O'Brien : "We fell at the water. Until then we were going fine."
- Paddy Brennan : "All I've got to report is that he was never travelling."
- David England : "He was good. He ran well and jumped very well, even though he was a big outsider. I pulled him just before Becher's second time, but he's run really well for an old lad."
- Noel Fehily : "He just got in a bit deep. He jumped well up to that point."
- Andrew Tinkler : "We went a circuit and a bit, then he hit a fence really hard and unseated me. He'd given me a fair ride up to then but we were middle to back and going nowhere."
- Sam Waley-Cohen : "He just got in under it, didn't get high enough, and couldn't get his landing gear down."
- Aidan Coleman : "He didn't enjoy himself and fell at Foinavon."
- Robert Thornton : "He gave me a great ride, but just didn't get home and I pulled him up."
- Derek Laverty : "He gave me a great spin. They went a great gallop early doors and I was handy, but he is an old horse and began to feel the pinch on the second circuit. I noticed three horses disappear at Becher's and thought it best to pull him up. We were someway behind."
- Emmet Mullins : "He got his back up too high and came down too steeply. But he is grand and so I am. I am looking forward to next time."
- Jason Maguire : "He landed on the fence, but that is the National isn't it? I couldn't have been happier up to that point because he was jumping so well."
- Paddy Flood : "We didn't get very far did we!"
- Mark Walsh : "It was disappointing to get as far as the third, but he is a nice horse."
- Philip Carberry : "She just got a bit close got her hind legs caught and flipped. She is unlucky, she was jumping quite well up to then."
Eight riders made their Grand National debut, including Liam Treadwell, the twenty-second rider to win at the first attempt and the second in the 21st century. Paul Townend and Philip Enright also completed the course while at the other extreme, Phil Kinsella got no further than the second fence. Emmett Mullins, Mark Walsh, James Revely and Derek Lavery also took their first rides in the race.