Last season’s Aintree Grand National winner, Corach Rambler, has been given an even bigger target for this season, with Lucinda Russell’s stable star being penciled in for a tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March.
It is a further step up the ladder for the horse, and it is another sign of just how far he has come in just a few years.
Lucky Owners
Now one of the most famous horse racing syndicates in the racing industry, The Ramblers have put their faith in their bargain buy to give them yet another big day out at Cheltenham. The collection of owners has further elevated the popularity of syndication in the sport of horse racing, pooling their money together to enjoy everything that comes with owning a racehorse.
The Ramblers have been a little bit luckier than most, snapping up the former Irish point-to-pointer for just £17,000 and being rewarded with two Cheltenham Festival wins and last season’s Grand National heroics. Corach Rambler has now won over £650,000 for his owners, quite the return on investment for each of the syndicate members.
"He did remarkably well last year"
Peter Scudamore and Lucinda Russell hope Ultima Handicap Chase hero Corach Rambler can run a big race in the Coral Gold Cup.#ITVRacing| #TheOpeningShow| @NewburyRacing | @lucindavrussell | @petescu pic.twitter.com/3bpkBZPD9e
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) November 26, 2022
Poor Start But Gold Cup Is Still The Target
Although Corach Rambler has endured a disappointing start to the 2023/24 season, his connections are still looking forward to taking on the best chasers in the game at Cheltenham. Two heavy defeats at Kelso and Haydock may have dampened the spirits of his followers, but Corach Rambler comes alive in the spring and he has shown his love for Cheltenham with back-to-back wins in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the festival.
The Gold Cup will be a much tougher task, but his impressive Grand National win showed that he is still a horse on the up and he may have the attributes needed to be successful in the blue riband of National Hunt racing.
Grand National Hero
Corach Rambler went into last season’s Grand National as many people’s idea of a surefire winner, and so it proved to be as he took to the quirky obstacles at Aintree with ease and moved through the race as if he was in slow motion.
Sent off the 8/1 favourite for the great race, Corach Rambler took control of the contest approaching the final fence before easing clear on the long run to the line. His wayward tendencies came into play late on as he wandered around as the finish line approached, but he was never in danger of losing.
We mic'd up Corach Rambler's owners and documented their experience from start to finish 🤩
This is what the @RandoxHealth Grand National is all about 💯#RandoxGrandNational pic.twitter.com/gnwbv0u94f
— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 16, 2023
Armagh’s Grand National Connection
Corach Rambler made his first steps towards a Grand National-winning career in the Point-to-Point field, but did you know that Armagh and its Farmacaffley track also have a connection to a National winner?
In February of 1999, a future Grand National winner made his way onto the track at Farmacaffley. Bindaree was having just his second start in a Point-to-Point, and although he could only finish second on that occasion, it was a steep learning curve for the young horse.
Fast forward three years and Bindaree, now trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, was reeling in What’s Up Boys at Aintree to win the biggest race on the jump racing calendar. Since then Point-to-Pointing has turned into a huge business and it keeps producing future champions, such as the aforementioned, Corach Rambler.
