National winner survived illness scare to take victory

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2005

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) — Grand National winning trainer Willie Mullins has revealed that Hedgehunter, the 7-1 favourite who clinched victory in the world's most famous steeplechase, had a health scare in the run-up to the Aintree showpiece.

The nine-year-old Hedgehunter picked up a cold last week but the gelding, with Ruby Walsh in the saddle, shook off the after-effects to take victory accelerating away from the final fence to beat Royal Auclair by 14 lengths.

As usual, it was a thrilling and dramatic race - and one to forget for champion jockey Tony McCoy, whose National curse continued in an unbelievable manner.

The champion was fairly tanking along in front on Clan Royal coming to Becher's Brook the second time, only to be sandwiched between two...