N.Z.-bred 4th hut last in National

Press, 31 March 1980, Page 26

N.Z.-bred 4th hut last in National

NZPA London ■ The New Zealand-bred Royal Stuart came home fourth, but last, in the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. ; The nine-year-old gelding was only just out of the money but with a casualty list of 26 horses behind him from the 30 who- started out on the world’s most famous steeplechase, just finishing was honour enough. His only successful countryman, the 1904 winner, Moifar, was reputedly running strongly when he crossed the line 76 years ago, but on Saturday Royal Stuart was almost down to a walk by the time he passed the • post, 7500 m after the start.

For those who love the National as a race of drama and unpredictability, Saturday’s race was as good as any.

The winner, a 40-to-one outsider, Ben Nevis, w'as ridden home by an American amateur, Charlie Fenwick, ahead of one of the favourites, Rouah and Tumble, with Britain’s . champion National Hunt jockey, John Francome, in the saddle.

Considered so unruly that he was nearly destroyed several years ago, Ben Nevis had never run well in Britain despite some good wins in the United Staets, where he raced for some years, and would have been scratched from Saturday’s race because of the heavy going had his rider not already flown over from the United States. Royal Stuart, the Bally Roval — Shamayra gelding, had been fancied by his trainer, Stan Mellor, but most hopes of success had been .washed away with the constant rain last week. He overtook his fellowcountryman So and So in popularity with the bookies to start 'at 20-tc-one. ahead of the Sobig — Auroras Pride 11-year-old. whose 33-to-one starting price also reflected his dislike of the heavy going. I For So and So it was to 'be a short race, however. With the leaders from the start, he. jumped the fourth fence in second place and was still holding his own two fences later at the notorious Becher’s, when he and jockey, Richard Linley, went down.