Numbersixvalverde ~ 2006 Grand National WInner
The photo above shows Numbersixvalverde winning the 2006 Grand National six lengths ahead of the brilliant Hedgehunter who was carrying top weight on the day.
Numbersixvalverde (named after the owners villa in Portugal) won the Grand National at his first attempt in 2006, Numersixvalverde also won the Irish Grand National in 2005 when still a novice.
The 2006 Grand National is widely regarded as one of the best field of runners seen in a National in recent years, the excellent Hedgehunter, Royal Auclair, Clan Royal and Nil Desperandum headed up a field of quality chasers.
Numbersixvalverde was well fancied in the betting (11/1) but it was Hedgehunter and Clan Royal who went off as joint favourites at 5/1. After a shaky start to his career Numbersixvalverde had developed into a steady jumper with bags of stamina, just the attributes needed to win the National.
There is no doubt that the going on the day of the race suited Numbersixvalverde more than most runners, overnight rain at Aintree went against the likes of Hedgehunter. It's also worth noting that trainer Brassil employed the favoured Irish trick of running Numbersixvalverde over hurdles before the handicapper dished out the weights for the big race.
Jockey Niall Madden was booked to ride Numbersixvalverde, the race would be Maddens first in the Grand National in only his first season as a professional jockey. Madden held his ride at the back of the field during the first circuit of the AIntree course, as was planned by the trainer.
Rider and horse enjoyed good fortune over the fences, notably when 'It Takes Time' fell in front of them at the first Becher's. They narrowly avoided the fallen horse and started to make progress from fence 17 onwards. Coming to the final fence jockey Madden made his move, ploughing along in the rain soaked grass Numbersixvalverde made the most of his 18lb advantage over Hedgehunter to finish six lengths ahead of the pre race joint favourite.
Jockey ~ Niall Madden
The 20 year old Irishman Niall (Slipper's) Madden won the Grand National in his first attempted in 2006. Niall's father (also Niall) rode in the Grand National six times without success between 1978 and 1989.
The foundations of Madden Juniors win in 2006 may well have been laided by his father many years earlier, father and son walked the Aintree course together before the race and Madden senior advised his son to hunt around on the first course and not to make a move until two out. Madden junoir carried out the plan to perfection. After the race Madden said 'It's brilliant and I had a dream run the whole way round. He jumped super. I wasn't sure I'd won until I crossed the line though. This means everything to me. It's magic. I've tried to imagine winning this race since I was a boy, but I couldn't.'
Trainer ~ Martin Brassil
Trainer Martin Brassil won the Grand National at his first attempt. Which was only the trainers second ever visit to the Aintree course. Brassil owned a small yard in Co. Kildare and at times had less than a dozen horses in his charge.
Brassil purchased Numbersixvalverde for owner Bernard Carrol and soon recognised the horses long time potential. In 2005 Numbersixvalverde won the Thyestes Chase and the Irish Grand National, a rare double. In 2006 the horse was pointed at the Grand National and raced mainly over hurdles to avoid being given excessive weight by the National handicapper.
When the Grand National weights were announced in February, Brassil said that the horse was the 'ideal type for the race as he is so easy to train and such a sensible jumper.' his words proved to be spot on.
