Corach Rambler
| Corach Rambler | |
|---|---|
 Racing silks of The Ramblers | |
| Sire | Jeremy |
| Grandsire | Danehill Dancer |
| Dam | Heart N Hope |
| Damsire | Fourstars Allstar |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 10 April 2014 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | P Hillis |
| Owner | The Ramblers |
| Trainer | Lucinda Russell |
| Record | 13: 7-0-1 |
| Earnings | £686,241 |
| Major wins | |
| Ultima Handicap Chase (2022, 2023) Grand National (2023) | |
Corach Rambler (foaled 10 April 2014) is an Irish-bred thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. In 2023, he won the Grand National under Derek Fox and trained by Lucinda Russell.[1] His win in the Grand National made him only the third Scottish trained winner in the race's history.
Background and early career[edit]
Corach Rambler is a bay gelding with an irregular white blaze, bred at Wellingtonbridge in Ireland by Paul Hillis.[2] His sire Jeremy has sired several prolific National Hunt horses, including Our Conor. His dam, Heart N Hope, raced four times in Irish bumpers without success.
After five starts in Irish point-to-points, when trained by John Martin Walsh; Corach Rambler won on his final start between the flags at Monskgrange in September 2020.[3] He was subsequently sold for £17,000 at the Goffs November sales in the same year, where he was sent into training with Kinross-based trainer Lucinda Russell. Russell sold one share in the horse back to Paul Hillis and advertised a further six shares online, with the owners forming a syndicate called The Ramblers and paying around £3,000 a share each.[4]
Rules career[edit]
Corach Rambler made his rules debut in a three-mile novices' hurdle at Ayr on 18 January 2021, staying on dourly in the heavy ground to win by three lengths.[5]
After three runs in novice hurdles, winning twice, the second victory coming in a four-runner race at Carlisle,[6] Corach Rambler was switched to steeplechasing, making his chase debut at Perth in September 2021. He finished third behind Minella Trump - a horse he subsequently beat in his Grand National victory.[7]
The following month, on his second chase start at Aintree, Corach Rambler gained his first victory over the larger obstacles, winning by six lengths despite racing with an awkward head-carriage.[8] He followed up his victory at Aintree with a victory at Cheltenham at their International meeting in December.[9]
After a short break, Corach Rambler ran in the Classic Chase at Warwick, the course's most prestigious race of the season, finishing fourth, beaten almost twenty lengths.[10]
In February 2022, Corach Rambler was sent off favourite for the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot. He failed to complete the race, unseating Derek Fox five fences from home.[11]
Attempting to amend his Ascot mishap, Corach Rambler ran in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Held up in the rear for the majority of the race, he made headway on the home turn to win by almost three lengths, staying on well and going away again at the line. This victory was jockey Derek Fox's first Cheltenham Festival winner.[12]
Following a seven-month break, Corach Rambler made his seasonal reappearance in October at Carlisle, finishing fifth out of seven in the listed Colin Parker Memorial Chase.[13] One month later, he ran in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, making good headway from the rear to finish a never-nearer fourth.[14]
After a break of almost four months, Corach Rambler returned to Cheltenham in an attempt to become one of the very few horses to win the Ultima Handicap Chase more than once. Sent off the favourite, he was again held up in the rear by Fox, making good headway between rivals on the home turn with his usual surge to the front. After hitting the front and looking likely to win comfortably, Corach Rambler idled in front and held on to win by a head from the rallying Fastorslow.[15] Fox's ride in this race won him the 2023 Lester Award for Jump Ride of the Year.[16]
Following on from his second success in the Ultima, Corach Rambler was declared to run in the 2023 Grand National, where he was officially 10 pounds 'well-in' on handicap ratings for the race.[17]
Sent off the 8/1 favourite, Corach Rambler was ridden more prominently than usual, jumping boldly throughout. After taking the lead and surging clear at the last fence, the gelding won by two-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Vanillier after idling slightly on the run in.[18] The victory was jockey Derek Fox's and trainer Lucinda Russell's second in the race, following on from their success with One For Arthur in 2017.[19] Fox had injured a shoulder in a fall at Wetherby the week before the Grand National and was only declared fit to ride Corach Rambler the day before the race.[20]
References[edit]
- ^ Paley, Tom (15 April 2023). "Corach Rambler wins Grand National after protesters force delay to race". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Double Cheltenham delight". independent.
- ^ "Full Result 4.00 Monksgrange (IRE)". Racing Post. 27 September 2020.
- ^ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/11/corach-rambler-national-hope-who-has-already-proved-worth-the-gambler
- ^ "Full Result 12.55 Ayr". Racing Post. 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Full Result 2.05 Carlisle". Racing Post. 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Full Result 2.30 Perth | 23 September 2021 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
- ^ "Full Result 4.45 Aintree". Racing Post. 24 October 2021.
- ^ "Full Result 12.40 Cheltenham". Racing Post. 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Full Result 3.00 Warwick". Racing Post. 15 January 2022.
- ^ "Full Result 1.50 Ascot". Racing Post. 19 February 2022.
- ^ "Full Result 2.50 Cheltenham". Racing Post. 15 March 2022.
- ^ "Full Result 2.30 Carlisle". Racing Post. 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Full Result 3.05 Newbury". Racing Post. 26 November 2022.
- ^ "Full Result 2.50 Cheltenham". Racing Post. 14 March 2023.
- ^ Huggins, Charlie (22 December 2023). "William Buick crowned Flat Jockey of the Year for third successive year at the Lesters". Racing Post. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ Donald, Jennifer (April 15, 2023). "'A complete underdog story': meet highly fancied Grand National runner Corach Rambler". Horse & Hound.
- ^ "Full Result 5.15 Aintree". Racing Post. 15 April 2023.
- ^ "Full Result 5.15 Aintree". Racing Post. 8 April 2017.
- ^ Haynes, Jack. "'He was very close to not making it' - Derek Fox overcomes late injury scare to win second Grand National". www.racingpost.com.