Although the Grand National has drawn to a close once more, the Aintree event has once again impacted heavily upon the sporting world, most predominately due to the unexpected winner that emerged during the main race. Despite having less than favourable odds at 33/1, nine year old Rule The World managed to overhaul The Last Samurai, and steal victory away from the 2015 victor, Many Clouds.
Having not won a single race since early 2014, and having suffered two fractured pelvises in his career, the seasoned runner managed to defy all odds and charge to the fore of this renowned handicapped steeplechase course. Alongside this surprising and unexpected explosive return to the horse racing community, Rule The World’s success also marked jockey David Mullins’ first race in the Aintree event.
Nonetheless, while the bay gelding and his rider have inspired the public, it would seem that the greatest success of the runners career is to be his last. Michael O’Leary, the owner of the horse, has expressed plans to retire the runner during the summer months, and that, even if the nine year old was to continue racing, he would not take part in further events this season.
While this is saddening news to a community currently enthralled by their Grand National conquest, both runner and teenage jockey have incited the horse racing bug in a great deal of spectators and punters.
Even though the Liverpool races are still fresh in everyone’s mind, attention is already being turned to upcoming races later this season, with the Goodwood Races and The Royal Ascot the main two of the year. Both of these races are renowned for not only their exceptional skill and standing, but of their beauty as well, and as such the list of runners for Glorious Goodwood and Ascot are eagerly awaited.
Despite having come a long way since the time of racing being seen as the ‘sport of kings’, the grandeur attached to both venues and their races has remained, and as such they are seen as the pinnacle of the National Hunt Racing calendar. Although the infamous Berkshire hosted Ascot races is seen as the larger of the two events, the West Essex Goodwood races are sure to whip backers up into a frenzy as the Maytime festival draws near, especially with the Goodwood Racecourse season about to open on April 30th.
