100-1 outsider Mon Mome shocks everyone with stunning Grand National win

Apr 5 2009

PUNTERS were left reeling as Mon Mome stayed on powerfully in the hands of Liam Treadwell to spring a 100-1 shock in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree.

The Venetia Williams-trained nineyear-old moved into the lead soon after turning for home and began to stretch away from his rivals after jumping the final obstacle.

The outsider was well clear approaching the Elbow and passed the famous winning post 12 lengths in front of last year's victor Comply Or Die (14-1).

Paul Nicholls' My Will (8-1) was third, while former Hennessy Gold Cup winner State Of Play (14-1) was fourth.

Williams said: "How can you ever expect that in a race like this?

"It was just unbelievable, the owner was watching the wrong horse for the first part of the race and she thought it was out the back. You just dream to have one winner when you start training and when you have one you dream to get to double figures. You don't dream here, this is beyond dreaming.

"He put up a career-best in the autumn when he won at Cheltenham, but he hadn't run so well on his last few runs. "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 a chance to praise them and give them the credit they deserve."

Treadwell added: "It's an absolutely unbelievable finish, I had the perfect run through the race, he jumped brilliant for me.

"It hasn't sunk in yet, all I can say at this moment in time is it is unbelievable.

"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. here today."

There were still plenty in with chances with two to jump, but it was Mon Mome who went to the front after jumping the final fence under 23-year-old Treadwell.

Comply Or Die ran a superb race to fill the runner-up spot, while the Paul Nichollstrained My Will was back in third.

State Of Play plugged on to get fourth, while 100-1 shot Cerium managed to grab a superb fifth spot.

Tony McCoy's mount Butler's Cabin was sent off 7-1 favourite to give the 13-times champion jockey his first National success at the 14th attempt, and although he got round to finish seventh, he never really got involved in a race which saw two false starts.

David Johnson, owner of the runner-up, said: "The weight has caught us out in the end, but we are delighted to be second and maybe he'll go down as one of the all-time great horses of Aintree."

His jockey Timmy Murphy said: " He ran an absolute cracker, he jumped fantastic again. He probably didn't travel as well as he did last year, but he had another stone on his back so you wouldn't expect him to. I couldn't have been happier with him."

My Will's jockey Ruby Walsh said: "He's run a cracker, but he made some mistakes. I had to keep kicking him and firing him into his fences, which is not ideal in a fourand-a-half mile race, but it was the only way he would stay on his feet."

State Of Play finished very tired and was led off the track by trainer Evan Williams, who said: "He ran a great race didn't he?

"At two out I thought he was coming to win it."

Paul Moloney, rider of State of Play, said: "

There was a moment when I thought I was going to win going to two out."

Fergus Wilson, owner of 100-1 shot Cerium who finished fifth, said: "We're really happy and at the price our horse was I hope punters backed him to be in the first five."

The race was tinged with sadness, however, as Irish raider Hear The Echo, trained by Mouse Morris, collapsed and died on the run-in.

Tomorrow's race cards - Page 66

WHERE YOUR HORSE FELL

Fence 1

Golden Flight and Himalayan Trail both go at the first

Fence 2

Ollie Magern and Brooklyn Brownie both depart

Fence 3

Chelsea Harbour falls, bringing down Reveillez

Fence 7

Stan falls at Foinavon

Fence 12

Musica Bella falls

Fence 15

Cloudy Lane unseats at The Chair

Fence 16

The Water Jump claims Zabenz

Fence 17

Eurotrek pulls up

Fence 18

Fleet Street unseats, while Can't Buy Time falls

Fence 19

Rambling Minster pulls up

Fence 21

Fundamentalist and Kilbeggan Blade both pull up

Fence 22

Black Apalachi unseats while in the lead, Silver Birch and Parsons Legacy fall, and Kelami pulls up

Fence 25

Knowhere pulls up at Valentine's on the second circuit

Fence 30

L'Ami pulls up at the last, while Hear The Echo pulls up on before collapsing

THE TOP FOUR

1st MON MOME

Stayed on powerfully in the hands of Liam Treadwell to spring a 100-1 shoc

2nd COMPLY OR DIE

Last year's winner ran a quite brilliant race to fill the runner-up spot under 11st 6lb

3rd MY WILL

Ante-post favourite was far from disgraced back in third and finished tired

4th STATE OF PLAY

Made a number of mistakes but plugged on well to grab fourth spot