Grand National To Nicolaus Silver

Press, Volume C, Issue 29473, 27 March 1961, Page 5

Grand National To Nicolaus Silver

(N Z JP. A .•Reul er—Copyn qh t) LONDON, March 25. Nicolaus Silver won the Grand National today—the first grey horse to capture the steeplechasing classic for 90 years. Nicolaus Silver, a 28 to 1 outsider, outran last year’s winner, Merryman 11, by five lengths in a thrilling race from the last of the 30 fences.

Merryman II started at 8 to 1. Third place went to O’Malley Point, a 100 to 6 shot which finished only a neck behind Merryman 11. Scottish Flight H (100 to 6) was fourth among the 14 which finished the gruelling four and a half mile test. Neither of the Russian entries, Grifel and Reljef, was among the finishers. Thirty-five horses ran. Nicolaus Silver, owned by Mr C. Vaughan, was ridden by the Irish jockey Bobby Beasley. The nine-year-old is trained by Fred Rimell, of K’nnersley, Worcestershire. who saddled EJS.B. when he won the Grand National of 1956. Nicolaus Silver completed the "spring double” for grey horses in British racing. The first leg of the double, the Lincolnshire Handicap was won on Wednesday by John’s Court, also a grey. The first of the Russian pair to fall was Grifel, at Becher’s Brook the first time round. Reljef did not survive the first circuit either. The race carried a record first prize of £20,020. and was watched by a record attendance of more than 250,000. With horses from England, Scotland. Ireland Wales, France and the Soviet union taking part, it was a truly international Grand National. Finishing Number The number to finish was the largest to do so in the last 10 years. The drama of the race began before the start. Jimuru lashed out and kicked Merryman 11, but there were no harmful effects. The time of the race. 9mfn 22 3-ssec. was the fastest since E.S.B.’s victory, and was only 2 and 2-ssec slower than Golden Miller’s record in 1934. Passing the stands after the first circuit there were 18 horses still standing, with Fresh Winds leading from Ernest, Scottish Flight II Merryman 11, Jonjb, and Nicolaus Silver. Fresh Winds fell at the nineteenth and going over Becher’s for the second time Nicolaus Silver, Merryman 11, Jonjo, and Wyndburg were all together. After jumping Valentine’s, Merryman II went on from Kilmore. Nicolaus Silver, Scottish Flight H, O’Malley Point, Jonjo and Wyndburgh. Two fences out, Nicolaus Silver passed Merryman 11, while O’Malley Point began to make

up ground rapid!}’, ahead of Scottish Flight 11, Kilmore and Wyndburgh. Nicolaus Silver jumped the last fence just ahead and held off the sustained efforts of Merryman II and O’Malley Point. Second Ride Beasley was having his second ride in the Grand National. He said: “I had only one bad moment, when he was nearly down on his nose at Becher’s second time round. “I was upsides with Merryman II three out. and took the lead two out. He tired a bit after jumping the last.” Beasley is the grandson of a former successful Grand National jockey, H. Beasley, who won on Come Away in 1891. The owner, Mr Charles Vaughan, of Bridgnorth. Shropshire, said: “We bought Nicolaus Silver at the Dublin sales last November for 2600 guineas, and he was my first runner at Liverpool. "I went with Fred Rimell to Ireland looking for a good ’chaser, and we were lucky enough to find Nicolaus Silver. I do not bet much, but I had my maximum on him, and averaged 50 to 1.” Result:— GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, Of £24,372; four miles and a half. NICOLA VS SILVER Mr C. Vaughan’s by Nicolaus— Rays of Montrose 9yrs 10-1 .. B. Beasley 1 MERRYMAN 11, Miss W. H. Wallace’s lOyrs 11-12

D. Anoil 2 O’MALLEY POINT Mr A. Elliott’s lOyrs 11-4 P. A. Farrell 3 Thirty-five ran. Five lengths;

a neck. Fourteen finished, Scottish Flight II was fourth. Time, 9min 22 3-ssec.

Full betting: 7/1 Jon jo, 8/1 Merryman 11, 100/7 Hunter’s Breeze, Siracusa; 100/6 O’Malley Point, Scottish • Flight II: 20/1 Badanlock, Team Spirit, Mr What. Oxo: 28/1 Nicolaus Silver. 33/1 Kilmore Ernest. Wyndburgh, Jimuru, 40/1 Bantry Bay. Carrasco, Taxidermist, Tea Fiend, Willy Oriental: 45/1. Oscar Wilde; 50/1 Vivant, Clover Bud, Floater. Irish Coffee, Kingstel, Double Crest; 66/1. Pennyfeather. Fresh Winds; 100/1 others. Totalisator returns to 4s stake: Win, £3 4 lOd. Places: 19s Bd, L3s 2d. 14s Bd,