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What a slog! Five of the most gruelling races

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RED MARAUDER(RIGHT) WINNING GRAND NATIONAL 2001.

Red Marauder (right): was one of only four finishers in the 2001 National

  PICTURE: George Selwyn  

 By Peter Scargill 5:40PM 8 JAN 2016 

Saturday’s Welsh Grand National looks like being a real slog in the mud. Here’s five other races that turned into a war of attrition

Red Marauder – 2001 Grand National
Pre-modifications and run in the midst of a howling storm, this race must rank high among the most gruelling ever to take place.

At one stage early on the second circuit just two of the 40 runners remained in the race, although the riders of Blowing Wind and Papillon remounted to finish a weary third and fourth.

Winning jockey Richard Guest said: “I’ve never run in worse conditions. I was in two minds whether we should be out there.”

SYNCHRONISED John Smith's Midland Grand National

Synchronised: showed his staying and battling qualities at Uttoxeter

  PICTURE: Alec Russell/Mirrorpix  

Synchronised – 2010 Midlands Grand National
He would go on to claim greater victories but this perhaps showed the doughty little battler at his best.

L’Aventure’s grinding gallop and consistent jumping had torn the field to shreds with just Synchronised and Tony McCoy left to challenge up the straight. As so often was the case, McCoy came home in front from L’Aventure – with Giles Cross the only other one to finish, 104 lengths back in third.

McCoy dismounted Synchronised straight after the race and said: “After four miles on that ground, he didn’t need me sitting on his back. He has given everything.”

owner Geoff Brown with SILVER BY NATURE

Silver By Nature: ploughed through the mud to score at Haydock

  PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)  

Silver By Nature – 2011 Haydock Grand National Trial
Fence by fence the runners fell away as hardy front-runner Carruthers ploughed through the mud leaving just the top weight Silver By Nature to challenge.

Once the grey went to the lead the race was all over. Carruthers’ legs turned to jelly and just four runners managed to pull themselves through the ground to finish.

“He really likes heavy ground,” his trainer Lucinda Russell said.

COMPANERO and Peter Buchanan Newcastle 26/2/11

Companero: led home the three finishers to the 2011 Eider Chase

  PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)  

Companero – 2011 Eider Chase
Twelve horses started, three finished and all were utterly exhausted by the time they reached the end.

The sight of jumpers hauling themselves over fences with the last ounces of their strength prompted the BHA to conduct a review into why the runners had finished like they did.

James Armstrong, clerk of the course at Newcastle, said: “I have to say, it wasn’t a nice race to watch. It didn’t look good but everyone who took part knew what it would be like.”

Bob Ford and Paul Townend

Bob Ford: won by a distance as Gorgehous Lliege had to stop

  PICTURE: Steve Davies  

Bob Ford – 2015 West Wales National
Tony McCoy famously said “there is heavy and then there’s Ffos Las heavy” and no race has better showcased this than last year’s West Wales National, which ended in farcical circumstances.

Bob Ford seemed to be the only one of the ten that started to make it around in bottomless conditions. However, Gorgehous Lliege also completed – having been allowed to stop, regain his breath and jump the final fence in his own time.

A stewards’ inquiry was held to determine if Callum Whillans, rider of Gorgehous Lliege, had committed any rider offence but he was found not to have breached any guidelines.

 

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