Hello Punters:- Looking back on last Saturday's Grand National Day, I wonder was it my imagination playing tricks on me, or was I completely mistaken, for the usual frenetic race mentality seemed to me to be missing from the betting shops, with no long waiting to get one's bet on, or indeed, no extended queues at the paying out end either.

Maybe the computerised way that the office staffs now have of keeping everything on line makes for a much more efficient and customer friendly atmosphere in all dealings. I do think that the overall result of the race, even down to the placed horses, was generally well landed on the punter's side for a change, and hats must go off to those bookmakers who paid out up to the fifth placed horse.

One young lady that I know, who has only the one bet per year, and knows little or nothing about the racing game, not alone backed the winner, Comply or Die, but also drew the horse in her local Pub Sweepstake, therefore only confirming what I was mouthing on about last week, that of the rookie punter reaping the harvest, while the rest of us so-called well-versed experts were still out the course looking for our fancies. Isn't racing a funny old game right enough!

Before continuing, here's a little National teaser to trouble your sporting mind over the next few paragraphs. The question is:- Can you put a name on the only horse to win the Grand National bearing the same name as that of the sponsor of the race for that particular year? A bit long-winded, isn't it! For example, if it were to happen in last Saturday's race, the name of the winner would be John Smith, after the current sponsors. Seeing that sponsorship of the great race has only been on the go for about forty years or so, you will not have too far to look back in the history. To put you out of your misery, and if you want to know the answer quickly, you will find it at the end of the article!!

Well, as per usual, the National again furnished us with its normal quota of fairytale-like aftermaths, divided very neatly into two distinctive parts, the first being that of the complete return of winning rider Timmy Murphy to the top of the tree, and the second being something of a pipe dream, with the "pipe" referred to here being trainer David Pipe. The young Pipe, son of the legendary Martin Pipe, is only in his second season of full training, having taken over his father's stable in 2006, and was absolutely delighted to complete a stable National double by adding Comply or Die to his Dad's 1994 success with Minnehoma. David looks like going on to attain the dizziest heights of success.

The Timmy Murphy saga goes back a fair bit, for during his career he has been through some very low periods, some of which even threatened his very continuance as a jockey. The now 33 years old Kildare man had his own personal problem with the demon drink, and on one forgettable occasion, an incident on a plane led to him having to spend some time in prison. How Timmy overcame these setbacks gives a headline to the world that the way back from near oblivion is achievable for anyone who is in similar difficulties. Timmy's innate riding talent, well known to many astute judges in the sport, led to many trainers giving him a helping hand, and inevitably, to the proverbial "leg up". In recent years, he has been the subject of many favourable comments, many of which came from his fellow jockeys, which certainly was a terrific boost to him on his tough way back to the top, along with the faith and loyalty shown to him by the likes of owner David Johnson, and of course, the Pipe family. Timmy has written a book in recent times entitled "Riding the Storm", in which he gives a factual account of his very chequered career in and out of the saddle. This book is a thumping good read for all sportspeople!

Going back to the National, it really was splendid to see the first five jumping the last two fences in a tight group, for they were all ridden by Irish jockeys—Timmy, Dave Casey, Barry Geraghty, Paul Carberry, and Denis O'Regan. As I have often intimated in the past, it looks like the Irish invasion is fit and going well across the water, as I write, especially in the racing game, for the shamrock brigade gets stronger year in and year out!

What about poor old Tony McCoy, is he ever going to have any luck in the National? Well, there he was, on Jonjo's Butlers Cabin, cruising just behind the leaders approaching Bechers Brook, apparently only waiting to pick the right time to make his move for victory. If you remember last years race, coming to Bechers, Tony was again in the box seat on Clan Royal, and beginning to pull away from his field when disaster struck in the form of a loose horse, which carried Tony's mount out and away from the famous fence, and for him it was race over. Would the Bechers nemesis strike again? Well, having looked at the race replay a few times, it seems that Butlers Cabin actually jumped the fence too well, but pitched on landing, dislodging McCoy in the process. Desperate luck indeed, and it looks like the bould Tony will have to wait at least another year!

The winning jockey, Timmy Murphy, had a wonderful meeting overall, and apart from the big one, he was in the thick of many of the other great races on an absolutely splendid three days for the racing world, for those at the course, and those looking in on TV.

The answer to the teaser question is:- Seagram, in 1991, when the race was sponsored by the Seagram Company, so you could say, one for the history books!

Your Saturday Trio for this week is—God's Token, Sheriff Roscoe, and Shining Gale, which are all running, fast I hope, at Newbury...GOOD HUNTING!

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