Silver Birch ~ 2007 Grand National WInner
The photo above shows SIlver Birch the 2007 Grand National winner and jockey Robbie Power just after they landed the biggest prize in Steeple Chasing. The finishing post came just in time for Silver Birch who hung on to finish three quarters of a length ahead of McKelvey.
The 33-1 shot, Silver Birch held of a late challange from McKelvey to win the 2007 Grand National. Jockey Robbie Power steered Silver Birch past front runner Slim Pickings and into the history books.
Trained by Gordon Elliott, Silver Birch proved a worthy winner, jockey Robbie Power was delighted by his ride saying after the race "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."
Jockey ~ Robbie Power
Jockey Robbie Power said of his ride that day Powe "Unbelievable. What a ride I got the whole way round. He jumped and travelled great. "We were worried he wouldn't be able to lay-up early on, but it meant I was able to keep out of trouble."
Son of Irish show-jumper Con Power, Robbie Power was suspended after the Aintree race for excessive use of the whip.
Trainer ~ Gordon Elliott
On the 14th April 2007, Gordon Elliott become the youngest ever trainer to win the Aintree Grand National and what is ever more amazing was the fact that, at just 29 years old, Elliott was only in his second season as a licensed trainer.
Elliott works out of Capranny Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland which has state of the art facilities including two American-style barns as well as twenty outside boxes back to back, totalling fifty stables in all.
Despite being based in Ireland, most of Elliott's wins have come from the UK where in the 2008-2009 jump season he had a 29% win rate against only 8% in Ireland for the same period. With some terriffic horses on his books, including Hoopy, Salford City, Franc Villez and Valerius, it looks like the 2009-2010 season could be his best yet.
