Upper Cut delivers perfect KO
Being a Yamanin Vital that’s one thing, you know the distance won’t worry him but you’ve still got to get the rest of it right MARK OULAGHAN
MARK Oulaghan has landed his fifth knockout blow on one of the country’s most prestigious jumping races.
Upper Cut ground his way through the mud at Riccarton to win the 142nd running of the $75,000 Grand National Steeplechase on Saturday.
Upper Cut’s wins makes Oulaghan the most successful trainer in the race.
He previously shared that record with Ken Browne and Brian Anderton who both hold four wins.
But winning a Grand National never gets old for the Awapuni trainer who said Saturday’s win was just as satisfying as his previous four.
Oulaghan’s previous victories in the race came with Deecee Seven in 1997 and 1998 and Counter Punch‘s dual wins in 2010 and 2011.
Overnight rain and showery conditions on Saturday changed conditions considerably and the heavy track cleary played into the hands of Upper Cut.
Upper Cut stopped the clock for the gruelling 5600m trip in 7:12.06 on a heavy 11 that made for a survival of the fittest scenario.
‘‘Being a Yamanin Vital that’s one thing, you know the distance won’t worry him but you’ve still got to get the rest of it right,’’ Oulaghan said.
Upper Cut beat home Mr Mor by half a length with a further five and a half lengths back to a gutsy Gargamel.
Oulaghan was quietly confident heading into the Grand National following a good trial in the Koral seven days earlier when he finished second in the Koral behind The Big Opal.
Oulaghan does not have any set plans for Upper Cut but said another tilt at the Great Northern Steeplechase on September 3 was likely.
‘‘We’ll possibly look at it. He’s getting on, he’s 10-year’s-old but he hasn’t done a lot of racing so it’s getting to the stage where whatever opportunities are around he’s going to have to take them.’’
Upper Cut’s win turned around the fortunes of Australian jockey Paul Hamblin, who gave up rides in Adelaide to return to Riccarton.
Hamblin, who rode Upper Cut in the Koral, had one previous ride in the Grand National Steeplechase back in 2011 when he fell from his mount Lindisfarne.
The significance of one of New Zealands biggest races was not lost on the Australian.
‘‘To win a national, I’m absolutely wrapt,’’ he said.
Mr Mor was much improved on his Koral run, where he was pulled up, to finish second in the race for the second year running.
Had he not done things wrong in the final stages things could have been much different.
‘‘He was hanging most of the way but he wanted to get on one rein and run out at the end,’’ jockey Matt Cropp said.
The tardy finish may well have cost Mr Mor the win.
Race favourite and leader The Big Opal appeared to slip on landing at the second of the double on the final lap and jockey Mathew Gillies put on an incredible display of horsemanship to stay aboard after his saddle slipped and he lost his irons.
The tough slog proved too much for the The Big Opal at the final fence, when he was battling to hold third from Gargam.
Both he and Gillies escaped the fall uninjured.