Numbersixvalverde wins National
Apr 8 2006
By Dan Kay at Aintree, icNorthWest
IRISH eyes were smiling again at Aintree as 11-1 shot Numbersixvalverde edged out favourites Hedgehunter and Clan Royal to win the 2006 John Smith's Grand National.
Numbersixvalverde, last year's Irish Grand National winner, gave jockey Niall "Slippers" Madden a dream first ride over the Aintree fences and delighted successful owner Bernard Carroll, who named the horse after his Algarve holiday home and missed last year's triumph at Fairyhouse due to pre-booked holiday in Portugal.
Madden, who jumped the last fence behind Hedgehunter but stormed home by to win by six lengths said, "It's brilliant. I had a dream run the whole way round and he jumped super.
"I wasn't sure I'd won until I crossed the line though. This means everything to me. It's magic.
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"I've tried to imagine winning this race since I was a boy but I couldn't.
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