In 2017, One For Arthur
had the distinction of becoming only the second ever Scottish winner,
after Rubstic in 1979, of the Grand National at Aintree. Owned by
Deborah Thomson and Belinda McClung – collectively known as “Two
Golf Widows” – and trained in Kinross by Lucinda Russell, the
eight-year-old had marked himself out as a possible National type
when staying on well to finish fifth of 22, beaten 3 lengths, behind
Vieux Lion Rouge in the Becher Chase, over 3 miles 2 furlongs on the
National Course, the previous December. He subsequently won the
Classic Chase, over 3 miles 5 furlongs, at Warwick and lined up at
Aintree as the 14/1 fifth choice of the punters.
In the National, One
For Arthur was a little outpaced in the early stages as the
front-running Rogue Angel set strong fractions, but travelled and
jumped well for most of the way. So well, in fact, that according to
jockey Derek Fox, “He was making two or three lengths at every
fence.” His cause was aided by the departure of second favourite
Definitly Red, who was badly hampered at Becher’s Brook on the
first circuit and never recovered, but when favourite Blaklion took
the lead, going strongly, at the fourth last, the race looked all
over bar the shouting.
However, One For Arthur
made good headway after jumping the third last and, as Blaklion began
to tire, was one of half a dozen horses in with a chance at the
second last. One For Arthur nosed ahead a few strides from the final
fence where, despite jumping left, he gained a definite advantage
over second-placed Cause Of Causes as they started up the famously
long, 474-yard run-in.
Fortunes often change
on the final, agonising stretch between the final fence and the
winning post at Aintree, but coming to the Elbow it became clear
that, barring accidents, One For Arthur would win. And win he did,
staying on strongly to beat Cause Of Causes by 4½ lengths, with
Saint Are a further 3¾ lengths back in third. In so doing, he made
trainer Lucinda Russell the fourth woman, after Jenny Pitman, Venetia
Williams and Sue Smith, to train a Grand National winner.
Winning jockey Derek
Fox, who had only just returned to action after breaking his wrist
and collar bone at Carlisle less than a month earlier, said
afterwards, “…he’s the gamest horse I’ve ever ridden – he
galloped all the way to the line.”
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