GRAND NATIONAL TO JAY TRUMP

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30711, 29 March 1965, Page 4

GRAND NATIONAL TO JAY TRUMP

CV.Z.P.A.- Reuter—Copyright)

LIVERPOOL.

Jay Trump and his 27-year-old amateur rider, T. Crompton Smith, brought off the first all-American win in the history of the famed Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree on Saturday.

The big American-bred eight-year-old, owned by Mrs Mary Stephenson, of Cincinnati, Ohio, held off the challenge of the favourite, Freddie, by three-quarters of a length after the gruelling four-mile 856 yards trip (over) 30 towering fences. Jay Trump started at 100/6 and the Scottish -trained Freddie was at 7/2. Mr Jones, a 50/1 outsider, was 20 lengths further away, third, of the 47 runners.

Jay Trump’s victory in the great steeplechase, which looks like eing the last to be held at Aintree after a history of 128 years, brought Mrs Stephenson prize money of £22,041, a record for the race. The American horse and rider came to England last (northern) summer after Jay Trump had won the second of two Maryland Hunt Cup victories in the United States. Since then Smith's singleminded target had been been the Grand National.

For Fred Winter, Jay Trump’s English trainer, the victory was a tremendous triumph. Winter, who rode the 1957 and 1962 winers of the race, is in only his first season as a trainer. The coughing epidemic which has been sweeping Britain hit his Lambourn, Berkshire, stable three weeks ago. but Jay Trump was isolated when it first appeared and escaped the bug. Two of the first three to

finish were ridden by amateur riders—Jay Trump and the third-placed Mr Jones, whose jockey was a millionaire’s son, C. Collins. He bought the horse less than a fortnight ago to ride in the National.

On Freddie, one of the hottest favourites for years, was the professional horseman, P. McCarron. Only Two There were only two horses in it on the quarter-mile runin from the last fence. Jay Trump was in front over the last, but Freddie was striving all the way up the straight to close the narrow gap between them. For a moment, 100 yards out, it looked as if he might, but Jay Trump held on to win narrowly. There were many falls. The first to go was Ayala, the 1963 winner, which got no further than the first fence. Phebu and Peacetown set the early pace until Phebu was brought down at the 13th fence. Roodetto then took up the running from Peacetown, L’Empereur, Freddie, Kapeno, The Rip and Leedsy. Leedsy came down approaching Beecher’s Brook, the second time round, and Rondetto continued to lead until he fell five fences out. Then came the stirring finalmile duel between Jay Trump and Freddie, with the American horse just holding off the Scotch hope. Jay Trump’s time for the journey was 9:30 3-5.