In 2007 Gordon Elliott proved that age, experience and reputation are not precursors for success at the Aintree Grand National. The novice trainer who had not yet had a single winner in his homeland of Ireland, won the steeplechase with 33-1 shot Silver Birch.

As the youngest ever trainer to win the race, at 29 years of age, Gordon Elliott had apparently just bought Silver Birch as a ‘fun horse for cross-country races.’ from legendary Champion trainer Paul Nicholls. The irony of course is that Nicholls, who is one of the best trainers in horse racing, has never won the Grand National despite his best attempts year on year.

Despite being a trainer at such a young age, Gordon Elliott was also an incredibly successful jockey in his own right. He moved to the Pipe yard in Somerset in 2002, where he went on to ride 200 winners and another 50 under Rules. He had hoped to enter the Grand National as a rider, but on his first attempt his license failed to come through on time and on his second attempt a more experienced rider came along and knocked him out of the running.

In July 2007 Elliot began training at Capranny Stables in Co. Meath, and it was here that he trained Silver Birch. The Grand National win proved Elliot to be a serious trainer, despite the fact that he had only trained three winners in Britain and none in Ireland. But he worked wonders with Silver Birch, and an impressive second place at the Cheltenham Festival convinced him that he should be entered in the National.

2010 will be interesting as Elliott is pinning his Grand National hopes on Backstage who is currently running middle of the pack with bookmakers ante-post odds which you can find at Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and Betfair. Robbie Power rode for him last year on Silver Birch and he’s a terrific jockey with great prospects so could this be Elliott’s second win?