Stewart eyes new National fairytale

NOT many punters were cheering when Foinavon survived the dramatic pile-up in the 1967 Grand National to win as a 100-1 outsider. But Andy Stewart definitely was. The man whose famous red, white and black colours will be carried in Saturday’s race by Saphir Du Rheu had hitchhiked for two days from his Essex home to see a race he has been fascinated with since the age of 12, when his parents took him to the 1963 running won by Ayala. He said: ‘Although I was only 16, I looked more like 20 and used to go to the local pub in Chelmsford. I drew Foinavon in the sweepstake and I had £5 on him to win at the track. ‘Suddenly, I had more money than I could dream of. After I won I said to the bookmaker, “What’s the most expensive hotel in Liverpool”. He said “The Adelphi, you can probably afford it”. ‘I bought a first-class rail ticket back to London for one pound, 17 shillings and sixpence. I still have the ticket. ‘Then I got a chaffeur-driven limo back to my parents’ house.’ After a highly successful career in finance, Stewart now splits his time between Barbados and the Channel Islands. His first National runner was Le Duc, who unseated jockey Dominic Elsworth at Becher’s Brook on the first circuit in 2007. Saphir Du Rheu, a 20-1 shot, will be his 11th runner in a race now worth £1million. The nearest he got to winning was with Ruby Walsh-ridden My Will, third to 100-1 shot Mon Mome in 2009. Hopes were once high that Saphir Du Rheu was a readymade replacement for Stewart’s great hurdler Big Buck’s. Initially, jumping let down the eight-year-old grey, but he has found his feet in his last three runs and was fifth in the recent Cheltenham Gold Cup. Stewart said: ‘Saphir Du Rheu was only beaten six-and-a-quarter lengths in the Gold Cup. He lost his way but (trainer) Paul Nicholls said, “Don’t worry, I’ll get him back”. (Jockey) Sam Twiston-Davies is very excited about his chances.’