2006 Grand National

Once again sponsored by John Smith the 159th Grand National steeplechase  took place at Aintree on the 8th of April 2006. The race attracted a prize of almost £700,000 including £400,000 to the evenual winner.

In the race, the relatively unsupported Numbersixvalveverde took Nail Madden to a breathtakingly decisive win ahead of the 5/1 joint-favorite and reigning 2005 titleholder Hedgehunter ridden by the twice-victorious Ruby Walsh. He scooped second place here. Despie being a runner up. by maintaining such a high standard for two consecutive years, Walsh’s was catapulted to the upper echelons of racing fame.

Madden successfully rode the 9-year-old celebrated winner donning a yellow-spotted green color scheme that made the pair stand out from the crowd. Royal Auclair was owned by Clive Smith while Hedgehunter belonged to stable proprietor Trevor Hemmings. The credit for training Numbersixvalveverde goes to the one and only Paul Nicholls. Cornish Rebel who was steered by the legendary Joe Tizzard finished third. Only 9 of the 40 who left the starting line finished the race.

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