It had been some time since the Irish had a run of luck at the Aintree Grand National but then came the 2000’s when they dominated the race nearly every year and 2006 was no different when Numbersixvalverde became the fifth Irish winner in eight years.

The 10-year-old, Martin Brassil trained horse was weighted with 10st 8lb and began the race at odds of 11/1 but was not the favourite on the day. The previous year he had won the Irish Grand National so he definitely showed promise and was heavily backed by punters.

The 2006 John Smith’s Grand National was built up as possibly the most competitive renewal, with 2005 hero and Cheltenham Gold Cup second Hedgehunter also in contention and aiming to become the first dual Grand National winner since Red Rum, headed the betting market at 5/1.

Interestingly, Brassil was the only trainer in the race without a previous Grand National runner while the rider, Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden, was only 20 years old and having his first ride in the big race when he was paired with Numbersixvalverde.

Despite his lack of Aintree experience Madden rode a fantastic race as he delayed his challenge until approaching the final fence and once he asked his mount to put a seal on matters at the elbow, the result was never in doubt.

Numbersixvalverde galloped on relentlessly up the famous run-in to come home six lengths clear of the ultra-tough Hedgehunter.

Other contenders included Clan Royal who was unlucky in 2005 and second in 2004 but finished in third in 2006. The 14-year-old Amberleigh House, the 2004 victor and trained by Ginger McCain had his last race before retirement but could not add to his great record over the Grand National fences. There were no real hard-luck stories but the fancied Jack High, a 9/1 chance, unseated his rider at the 15th of the 30 fences.

Numbersixvalverde had the John Smith’s Grand National as his main target the following season and he ran well on faster ground to finish a creditable sixth.

Liam Treadwell won the John Smith Grand National Steeple Chase during day three of the John Smiths Grand National Meeting at Aintree in Liverpool on the 4th April 2009, riding Mon Mome. It was a definite tale of triumph as he steered Mon Mome, which means ‘My kid’, to victory at odds of 100 to 1, the biggest priced winner in the 7,200 metre race. The race was watched by the 70,130 strong Aintree crowd, but few of them had backed Mon Mome, a nine year old who finished 10th in 2008.

Liam had spent seven years trying to make a breakthrough as a jockey, first on the flats and then over jumps. Treadwell, 23, who himself admits that he had ‘never even had a sniff of a ride round the big fences before’, rode round like Aintree like a true professional.

Treadwell’s father has been a work-rider and stablehand at John Dunlop’s Arundel yard for 20 years, while his mother still works there part-time. Treadwell began his career by riding point-to-pointers for Nick Gifford but at 8 stone was too light so became an apprentice on the Flat for Amanda Perett and Dandy Nicholls. He became too heavy, and says that he always knew in the long-term that he was going to end up jumping. It was a call out of the blue from Gifford asking him to ride his horses in 2008 that revitalised his career.

Where winning the National will take Treadwell is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain, Treadwell is not just a flash in the pan as he won the United House Gold Cup at Ascot at the end of October on The Last Derby, at odds of 33-1. The five year old was trainer Eoin Griffin’s second runner, but Treadwell won the race by five lengths, proving too strong for Aimigayle and Shining Gale.

Despite tremendous success in the 2009 Grand National, can he really do it again in 2010? Winning this prestigious race is often a one off moment of glory for so many jockeys and those that have won it twice or more are rare to say the least but interesting ly enough, he will probably have a wider choice of picks this year, capitalising on his winning form, which means that he could be in for a very good ride so don’t write him off just yet…

Though I don’t know who Treadwell is riding you can still put a few quid on the ante post horses at Paddy Power.