The Aintree Grand National is a race that has a special place in the heart of anyone with an interest in racing and whenever an Irish-trained horse emerges on top in the unique contest, their place is history is ensured. The Martin Brassil-trained Numbersixvalverde is no different and his comfortable win in the 2006 renewal of the race under Slippers Madden sealed his place in Irish racing history.
Trainer: Martin Brassil
Principal Jockey: Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden
Notable Wins: Aintree Grand National (2006), Irish Grand National (2005), Thyestes Chase (2005)
Early Days
Numbersixvalverde, who was owned by one of Brassil’s longest standing owners, Bernard Carroll, failed to win in his first six runs in bumpers, but other stars of the National Hunt game such as Moscow Flyer and Asian Maze have shown that this is no handicap to future success. He won his first and only race over hurdles in December 2002, but Brassil was always adamant that he would improve significantly once he went over the larger obstacles.
Improving Over The Larger Obstacles
Brassil was proved to be 100% correct, with Numbersixvalverde making his handicap chase debut a winning one when absolutely bolting up off a mark of 106 at Navan in December 2004. Shrewdly, Brassil preserved his chasing mark by running him over hurdles on his next start before having his attentions turned to a significant prize, the Thyestes Chase. This was a big ask for a novice that had only had four starts over fences, but Brassil’s faith in him was vindicated as under Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden, he emerged the short-head victor in an immensely exciting finish with Kymandjen. That win was followed by a highly-creditable third to Point Barrow in a Grade 3 novice chase in Navan and his sights were then firmly set on the Irish Grand National six weeks later.
Irish Grand National Glory
The marathon 3m 5f trip in the Irish Grand National was expected to see Brassil’s stable star show some improvement, and so it proved as he ran out the gutsy ¾-length winner from Jack High under an inspired ride from Ruby Walsh. This was the biggest win of Brassil’s career, but as improbable as it may have seemed at the time, even greater success would come the way of Numbersixvalverde the following season.
A Day To Remember At Aintree
In 2005/6, Numbersixvalverde was given a very patient preparation for his ultimate target of the season, the Aintree Grand National. A highly-satisfactory third in a handicap hurdle in Naas in March completed his preparation for the ultimate test of jumping at Aintree and having been allotted 10-8, many people began to realise that he very much had a serious chance. On the big day itself, any fears that Numbersixvalverde would fail to handle the unique Aintree Grand National obstacles were soon allayed as he completed the first circuit having made no mistakes of note. ‘Slippers’ Madden began to make steady ground on the second circuit and he was tracking the leaders when jumping Bechers for the second time. At the third-last fence there were only four runners genuinely involved and it was evident that Numbersixvalverde was going as well as any of them. Having jumped the last fluently, he stayed on strongly to account for the gallant Hedgehunter and Clan Royal on the run-in, prompting rapturous scenes of celebration amongst his supporters. The festivities followed the Brassil team all the way from Aintree to Holyhead and on to Dublin and Kildare with a sizeable collection of friends, family and racing people greeting Brassil and his stable star on the long driveway up to Brassil’s Beech Park.
Numbersixvalverde was once again campaigned towards the Aintree showpiece in 2006/7, he could only manage to finish a distant sixth. He met with an injury the following October and despite efforts to get him back on the racecourse, he was retired by his connections in January 2009. Having won three of the biggest handicap chases in the British and Irish racing calendars, he certainly owed nobody anything and his exploits at Aintree will ensure his place in Irish racing history.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland - Updated January 2011
