Silver Birch Takes Grand National Racing

2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park

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Posted on Wednesday, April 18th, 2007

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Silver Birch won the 160th edition of the Grand National Racing Day on Saturday, beating Mckelvey by three-quarters of a length. The Irish-trained Silver Birch, a 33-1 long shot ridden by Robbie Power, became a contender at the second-to-last fence at Aintree Race Course and held off Mckelvey.

“It is an unreal feeling, a dream come true,” Power said. “I thought I might have gone a bit too soon, but he was an easy ride. Every time he saw a big fence he just pricked his ears back and took it on.”

The 10-year-old was the sixth Irish winner in the last nine Grand Nationals and earned $1.39 million for winning the four-mile, four-furlong steeplechase race.Slim Pickings was third, 1 lengths behind Mckelvey, who ruptured a tendon at the end of race.

“The horse has broken down,” Mckelvey owner Brian Walsh said. “We will just have to see how he is.”Philson Run, a 100-1 shot, was fourth.

None of the favorites contended, and only 13 of the 40 starters finished.

Monkerhostin, an 8-1 favorite, refused the Foinavon Fence on the first lap and co-favorite Point Barrow pulled up at the first fence.

Liberthine, seeking to be the first mare to win the Grand National since Nickel Coin 56 years ago, finished fifth. Defending champion Numbersixvalverde, bidding to the be the first back-to-back winner since Red Rum in 1973-74, was sixth.
Tags: KGrand National Racing Day, Aintree Race Course, UK Horse Racing

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"Silver Birch Takes Grand National Racing" was posted on Wednesday, April 18th, 2007 at 9:56 am and is filed under Horses, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, Trainers, UK-Great Britain Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.