Irish-trained winners of the Aintree Grand National will always hold a special place in the memories of Irish race goers and Monty’s Pass is no different. A real rags-to-riches story, the success of Monty’s Pass in the Aintree showpiece is typical of what that great race can produce and it ensured his trainer Jimmy Mangan a place in history and helped Barry Geraghty be crowned the RTE Sports Person of the year in 2003.
Trainer: Jimmy Mangan
Principal Jockey: Barry Geraghty
Notable Wins: Aintree Grand National (2003), Guinness Kerry National (2002), Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase (2001)
The Beginning
Like so many of Jimmy Mangan’s best horses, Monty’s Pass was a graduate of the point-to-point scene. Having won between the flags, he took the traditional next step by winning a hunter chase at Cork in April 1999. He won his first handicap chase off a mark of 88, gradually creeping up the handicap by gaining further wins at Listowel, Gowran Park and Tipperary, finishing second in the Galway Plate and being pulled up when favourite for the Kerry National in between.
Climbing The Ladder
The 2001/2 season saw him gain what was at that stage, the biggest win of his career, when prevailing in the Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase at Tralee and he went on to finish in the frame in the Kerry National and the Munster National as well as running well to finish fifth in the Mildmay of Flete at the Cheltenham Festival. On his next start he tackled the infamous Aintree fences for the first time when finishing an encouraging second in the Topham Chase, but better was to come the following season.
The Road To Aintree
The 2002/3 campaign began encouragingly for Monty’s Pass with good runs in the Galway Plate and Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase being followed by a well-deserved big race success in the Kerry National under Barry Geraghty. From then on, his season was geared towards a bid for the greatest steeplechase in the world, the Aintree Grand National, with his owner, Mike Futter, striking numerous big bets on him for that race. When the big day at Aintree arrived, Mangan had the 10-year-old at fever pitch and under an inspired Barry Geraghty ride, Monty’s Pass landed the gamble by a highly-impressive 12 lengths margin, reputedly landing Futter over £1m in winning bets. Mangan and the horse received a memorable reception back in Ireland and the celebrations which will long live in the memory.
While Monty’s Pass ran very well to finish fourth in the 2004 renewal of the Aintree Grand National, he could only add a charity race to his tally during the remainder of his career. Despite that, his own legacy and the Mangan’s legacy were sealed on that magical day at Aintree in April 2003.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland – Updated January 2011
