Grand National 2019: Parade of Champions to feature seven GN winners

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Aintree Racecourse welcomes back seven legendary Grand National winners to its popular Parade of Champions this year.

These great favourites will appear in the parade ring on all three days of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, which starts with Grand National Thursday on 4th April, continues with Ladies Day on 5th April and ends on Grand National Day, Saturday, 6th April. The past winners will also parade on the course before racing on 6th April.

The horses know they are back at the scene of their great triumphs and relish being the centre of attention again. Aintree Racecourse would like to thank all the owners and connections of the horses for making this annual parade possible.

The seven Grand National winners set to parade this coming week are:

BINDAREE (2002), 20/1 winner, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, ridden by Jim Culloty

Now 25, ‘Bindy’ still lives happily at trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies’ yard in Gloucestershire, watching the world go by from the paddock he shares with other retired favourites. He has been a participant in the Parade of Champions since 2006.

SILVER BIRCH (2007), 33/1 winner, trained by Gordon Elliott, ridden by Robbie Power

Described as “a legend” by staff at Gordon Elliott’s yard in Ireland, 22-year-old Silver Birch divides his time between owner Brian Walsh’s farm and Elliott’s stables. He took part in the homecoming celebrations for triumphant stable mate Tiger Roll after last year’s Randox Health Grand National.

MON MOME (2009), 100/1 winner, trained by Venetia Williams, ridden by Liam Treadwell

‘Monnie’ spends his retirement days hacking and being a bad influence on Sarah McQueen’s point-to-pointers with whom he lives in Herefordshire. Sarah, who adores the 19-year-old, says he is the diva of the yard, always causing trouble and acting like a five-year-old.

DON’T PUSH IT (2010), 10/1 winner, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, ridden by AP McCoy

Don’t Push It is now 19 and spends a happy retirement at his owner JP McManus’ Martinstown Stud in Ireland grazing in a paddock he shares with his pal Sweeps Hill. He is a “day tripper” to Aintree this year, making the journey specifically for
Saturday’s parade.

NEPTUNE COLLONGES (2012) pictured top, 33/1 winner, trained by Paul Nicholls, ridden by Daryl Jacob

Winner by a nose of the closest renewal of the Grand National in history, 18-year-old ‘Nipper’ was retired immediately after his 2012 Aintree success and lives happily in Shropshire with his companion Al Ferof at the yard of owner John Hales’ daughter
Lisa. He has raised thousands of pounds for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where he visits every year at Grand National time.

AURORAS ENCORE (2013), 66/1 winner, trained by Sue Smith, ridden by Ryan Mania

17-year-old ‘Auroras’ still lives at Sue Smith’s Bingley yard in West Yorkshire and enjoys life out in the open air near Ilkley Moor with his friends. He is a very laidback and chilled character in the field, but when he comes to Aintree and feels the atmosphere, he gets very excited again.

PINEAU DE RE (2014), 25/1 winner, trained by Dr Richard Newland, ridden by Leighton Aspell.

16-year-old ‘Peenie Weenie’ is still very active as, apart from parading and hunting, he is successfully evented by Lizzie Doolittle. Lizzie says he is a very clever horse, has a brilliant attitude and could have reached the very top in eventing had he not been a racehorse.

Racegoers can meet and greet four of the past winners – Bindaree, Mon Mome, Neptune Collonges and Pineau De Re – from gates opening until half an hour before the first race in the pre-parade ring located behind the Weighing Room.

Other Grand National winners MONTY’S PASS (2003), NUMBERSIXVALVERDE (2006) and RULE THE WORLD (2016) are all enjoying their retirements in Ireland, while HEDGEHUNTER (2005) and BALLABRIGGS (2011) live at owner Trevor Hemmings’ estate on the Isle Of Man.

Monty’s Pass, the oldest surviving Grand National winner at 26, is turned out every day at trainer Jimmy Mangan’s yard, while Numbersixvalverde is with his trainer Martin Brassil.

Rule The World (12) is based at owner Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud. Hedgehunter (23) and Ballabriggs (18) share paddocks with fellow Grand National Festival winners Albertas Run, Simply Supreme and Cloudy Lane.

The Horse Comes First

The 2019 Randox Health Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse will once again see Britain’s leading equine welfare organisations and charities link up with the British Horseracing Authority to highlight the welfare of Britain’s horses.

The organisations and charities involved under the overall banner of ‘The Horse Comes First’ are the RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, British Horse Society and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR). Representatives from each will be on hand to chat and answer questions on both the high standards of equine welfare within British racing and other equestrian sports, as well as the wider issues which have an impact on the equine population of the country.

The Horse Comes First marquee, located adjacent to the Red Rum Garden which overlooks the parade ring, will be open across all three days of the Randox Health Grand National Festival. An equisizer will be available in front of the marquee.

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