The 2006 Grand National (officially known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 159th official annual running of the Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 8 April 2006Grand National runners and riders BBC Sport, 6 April 2006 and attracted the maximum permitted field of forty competitors for total prize money of £689,360 including £399,140 to the winner.Aintree Result Racing Post, 8 April 2006
11–1 Irish shot Numbersixvalverde, ridden by Niall Madden, won the race, ahead of 5–1 joint-favourite and the previous year's winner Hedgehunter in second place. The other joint-favourite, Clan Royal, was deemed third in a photo finish ahead of Nil Desperandum at 33–1. Nine of the forty runners completed the course, the fewest since 2001.
Runners and betting Clan Royal was the long-time ante-post favourite with the public on the back of finishing second in 2004 and being carried out while leading in 2005, as well as being partnered with champion jockey Tony McCoy. But significant money on race day went on the 2005 winner Hedgehunter who was again to be partnered by Ruby Walsh. The pair went off as joint-favourites while other popular choices among the public were Racing Post Chase winner Innox from France, Garvivonnian, the winner of the Becher Chase over one circuit of the National course five months earlier, 2005 Betfred Gold Cup winner Jack High, 2005 Irish Grand National winner Numbersixvalverde, and the grey Ross Comm, considered to have been underestimated in the handicap by 10 lbs.
No.HorseAgeHandicap (st, lb)Starting priceJockeyTrainerOwnerColours1Royal Auclair911–1233/1 Christian WilliamsPaul NichollsClive SmithGreen with yellow spots, yellow and green halved sleeves, purple cap2Hedgehunter1011–125/1 JFRuby WalshWillie Mullins (Ireland)Trevor HemmingsYellow and green quarters, white sleeves, green cap3Cornish Rebel911–922/1Joe TizzardPaul NichollsGraham RoachRed with white crossbelts, hoops on sleeves and star on cap4Therealbandit911–950/1Richard JohnsonMartin PipeDavid JohnsonBlue with green sleeves and red cap5It Takes Time1211–850/1Timmy MurphyMartin PipeDavid JohnsonBlue with green sleeves and white cap with green spots6Le Roi Miguel811–7150/1Liam HeardPaul NichollsGreen/Rose/CowellWhite with black spot, green sleeves with white armband and cap7Native Upmanship1311–0100/1Conor O'DwyerArthur Moore (Ireland)Sue MagnierNavy blue8Innox1010–1310/1Robert ThorntonFrançois Doumen (France)J. P. McManusGreen and orange hoops, green cap with white star9Silver Birch910–1240/1Sam ThomasPaul NichollsPaul Barber & Des NicholsDark green with V, lime green sleeves, dark green and white checked cap10Whispered Secret710–12100/1Rodi GreeneMartin PipeDavid Manasseh & Dan LevineBlue with yellow piping and chevrons on sleeves11Rince Ri1310–12100/1Andrew McNamaraTed Walsh (Ireland)Frank MoriartyClaret and white stripes with checked cap12Puntal1010–1266/1Barry GeraghtyMartin PipeTerry NeillWhite with red spotted sash and armbands, quartered cap13Lord of Illusion910–1133/1Jason MaguireTom GeorgePatrick KennedyGreen with white inverted chevrons, white sleeves with green stars, white and pink quartered cap14Ebony Light1010–1050/1Stephen CraineDonald McCainRoger BellamyWhite with blue cross of lorraine, striped sleeves and white cap15First Gold1310–10100/1Richard McGrathFrançois Doumen (France)J. P. McManusGreen and orange hoops with purple cap16Clan Royal1110–105/1 JFTony McCoyJonjo O'NeillJ. P. McManusGreen and orange hoops with white cap17Le Duc710–1033/1Jamie MoorePaul NichollsGreen/Rose/CowellWhite with black star, green sleeves with white armband, green cap18Sir Oj910–1033/1Paul CarberryNoel Meade (Ireland)Brian KeenanClaret and pink checks19Forest Gunner1210–1033/1Ms. Nina CarberryRichard FordJohn GilsenanWhite with red braces, black sleeves and red cap20Joe's Edge910–1020/1Davy Russell Ferdy MurphyChemipetro Ltd.Grey with red cross of lorraine, checked sleeves and red cap21Juveigneur910–925/1Mick FitzgeraldNicky Henderson Trevor HemmingsGreen and yellow quarters with white sleeves and cap22Amberleigh House1410–950/1Graham LeeDonald McCainHalewood International Ltd.Black with red and white striped sleeves and hooped cap23Ballycassidy1010–980/1Leighton AspellPeter BowenR. Owen & P. FullagarWhite with red V, red and green striped sleeves, red cap24Inca Trail1010–940/1Brian HardingDonald McCainHalewood International Ltd.Black with red and white striped sleeves, white cap25Garvivonnian1110–811/1Garrett CotterNed Mitchell (Ireland)Angela LongRed and yellow diablo and checked cap26Numbersixvalverde1010–811/1Niall Madden Martin Brassill (Ireland)Bernard CarrollGreen, black sleeves, white cap27Iznogoud1010–8200/1Tom Scudamore Martin PipeCounty Stores and Avalon SurfacingYellow with burgundy crossbelts, blue sleeves, yellow and blue quartered cap28Jack High1110–79/1David CaseyTed Walsh (Ireland)Brenda RossPink with blue diamond hoop and diamonds on sleeves, white cap29Haut De Gamme1110–725/1Keith MercerFerdy MurphyHaut De Gamme PartnershipBlack with sky stripe and hoops on sleeves, hooped cap30Nil Desperandum910–733/1Tommy TreacyFrances Crowley (Ireland)Mike ShoneRed, white sleeves, red and grey quartered cap31Baron Windrush810–766/1Carl LlewellynNigel Twiston-Davies Double Octagon PartnershipYellow and orange diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap32Heros Collonges1110–766/1J. P. McNamaraPaul NichollsMerchant Rentals plcGrey, blue V, sleeves, star on cap33Tyneandthyneagain1110–7100/1Peter BuchananHoward JohnsonHoward JohnsonRed, blue chevrons, hooped cap34Risk Accessor1110-0666/1Noel FehilyJonjo O'NeillJ. P. McManusGreen and orange hoops, purple cap35Direct Access1110-0625/1Tony Dobbin Nicky RichardsDirect Access PartnershipOrange and blue hoops, orange sleeves with blue armband, orange cap36Colonel Rayburn1010–650/1John CullenPaul Nolan (Ireland)Thatch (Ferns) Racing syndicateWhite and red diablo, white sleeves with black hoops, white and black hooped cap37Iris Royal1010–6100/1Marcus FoleyNicky HendersonSir Robert OgdenPink and violet quarters, white sleeves, pink and violet quartered cap38Ross Comm1010–516/1Dominic ElsworthSue SmithKevin TreanorRed, grey V, diablo sleeves and quartered cap39Shotgun Willy1210–533/1Andrew TinklerRichard GuestPaul BeckBlue and yellow diablo, purple and orange diablo sleeves, blue and yellow quartered cap40Just in Debt1010–450/1Alan DempseyMartin TodhunterBill HazeldeanRed, blue stars and sleeves with red stars, white cap
The race There was one false start when Ross Comm tried to bite the tape as it went to rise. The runners were recalled and got away at the second attempt despite the calls from Conor O'Dwyer that his mount Native Upmanship was not ready, being left twenty lengths adrift at the start. Shotgun Willy led over the first fence which claimed Juveigneur, Whispered Secret, Tyneandthyneagain, last year's runner up Royal Auclair and the highly fancied Innox, while the fences leading to the sixth, Becher's Brook, also ended the hopes of Baron Windrush at the third, Ross Comm at the fourth and Ebony Light at the fifth, with Just in Debt failing to negotiate the famous sixth.
Shotgun Willy was headed at the Canal Turn by the tighter jump of Ballycassidy but it was Puntal who moved to the front at the ninth (Valentine's) and led the field back to the racecourse minus Le Duc who had unseated his rider back at the Turn.
Thirty of the original forty starters continued onto the racecourse to The Chair, where Jack High, Silver Birch and Heros Collonges all came to grief. Garvivonnian also blundered there and was pulled up before taking the next, the Water Jump, which marks the end of the first circuit.
Ballycassidy and Puntal had enjoyed a lead of about six lengths on the first circuit but the former began to draw away from the latter and the rest of the field on the run to Becher's for the second time. Behind, Lord of Illusion, Iris Royal, Shotgun Willy, Cornish Rebel, Le Roi Miguel, Direct Access and Amberleigh House all pulled up with Haut De Gamme falling at the 20th fence.
Becher's itself claimed tail-ender Sir Oj and the Foinavon fence saw the tiring First Gold unseat his rider, to leave sixteen runners still in the contest as the field turned at the Canal for the second time.
Ballycassidy still led by four lengths at this point, with only the struggling Rince Ri and Iznogoud too far behind to challenge.
The leader hesitated at Valentine's however and fell to leave Hedgehunter leading the still tightly packed survivors back towards the finish while behind him the 27th fence was far enough for Native Upmanship and Rince Ri who both refused after seeing Therealbandit, Iznogoud and Colonel Rayburn all pulled up. It Takes Time also called it a day after taking the third-last flight to leave nine runners still in the race.
The long run towards the second-last fence paid for Joe's Edge and Forest Gunner, while Hedgehunter, Clan Royal and Numbersixvalverde jumped abreast with their three rivals still tucked in behind. Inca Trail and Risk Accessor were both beaten by the last fence which Numbersixvalverde jumped just ahead of Hedgehunter and Clan Royal, with Nil Desperandum still in touch in fourth.
Numbersixvalverde was now pushed out to take the run-in, and reached the elbow lengths up on Hedgehunter with equal distances to Nil Desperandum and Clan Royal. From there on the leader increased his advantage over the other three to win by six lengths. Hedgehunter came in second and Clan Royal was given third in a photo finish ahead of Nil Desperandum in fourth.Replay: The 2006 Grand National BBC SportGrand National fence-by-fence analysis BBC Sport
Finishing order PositionNameStarting priceDistancePrize money1stNumbersixvalverde11/1Won by 6 lengths£399,1402ndHedgehunter5/1 JF1¼ lengths£149,7303rdClan Royal5/1 JFShort head£74,9704thNil Desperandum33/1A distance£37,3805thRisk Accessor66/116 lengths£18,7606thPuntal66/12½ lengths£9,3807thJoe's Edge20/122 lengthsNil8thInca Trail40/13½ lengthsNil9thForest Gunner33/1Last to completeNil
Non-finishers FenceNameFate1stRoyal AuclairFellInnoxFellWhispered SecretUnseatedJuveigneurFellTyneandthyneagainFell3rd (open ditch)Baron WindrushUnseated4thRoss CommFell5thEbony LightFell6th (Becher's Brook)Just in DebtFell8th (Canal Turn)Le DucUnseated15th (The Chair)Silver BirchFellJack HighUnseatedHeros CollongesUnseated16th (Water Jump)GarvivonnianPulled up17thLord of IllusionPulled upIris RoyalPulled up18thShotgun WillyPulled up19th (open ditch)Cornish RebelPulled upLe Roi MiguelPulled upDirect AccessPulled up20thHaut De GammeFell21stAmberleigh HousePulled up22nd (Becher's Brook)Sir OjFell23rd (Foinavon)First GoldUnseated25th (Valentine's)BallycassidyFell27th (open ditch)TherealbanditPulled upNative UpmanshipRefusedRince RiRefusedIznogoudPulled upColonel RayburnPulled up29thIt Takes TimePulled up
Aftermath Winning jockey Niall 'Slippers' Madden said that he had been given a dream ride all the way but was not actually sure he had won until he crossed the line, despite believing that he would win a long way from home. The second, Ruby Walsh, third, Tony McCoy and fourth, Tom Treacy, riders all agreed that the rain the previous day had gone against their runners, despite all believing that they would win crossing the Melling Road to turn for the second last flight. Fifth-placed Noel Fehily also believed he was going to win on Risk Accessor crossing the Melling Road but confessed that his mount did not get the trip. Barry Geraghty felt that Puntal's chance went when hitting the 20th fence very hard, which winded him slightly before rallying to pick up stragglers late on. The other three riders to complete the course were all delighted to complete the race, while each stated that their mounts were well beaten by two fences out.