Aintree veteran Black Apalachi back for one last crack at National

Date Published: 12-Apr-2012

 JUST two horses in the last 25 years have carried more than 11st to victory in the Aintree Grand National.

Since the gruelling race was first run at Liverpool in 1829, only two 13-year-olds has come home first.

Only twice since 1980 has a 40/1 shot come up trumps in the most famous National Hunt race in the world.

The odds are stacked against Black Apalachi – a 13-year-old, carrying 11st 3lb, and priced in the ante-post market at 40/1.

His owner, Castlegar man Gerard Burke, knows he’s up against it but is upbeat about his chances in the famous handicap chase run over four and half miles and 30 fences.

“He’s in good form and all that’s against him is his age, but he has fairly low mileage on him even at 13,” he said.

And the weight, is that too prohibitive? “Ah sure every horse owner and trainer will cry about the weights, that’s part of it,” explained Burke.

Black Apalachi was gearing up for a tilt at the Aintree Grand National last year but in the months beforehand in a warm up race at Punchestown, Burke felt his horse ‘had a bit of heat’ and so he was ruled out for the rest of the season.

His ratings didn’t change since, however, and as a result must carry a hefty burden in Aintree. “For his age he should have got a few pounds off but look, that’s handicap racing, it’s all part of it,” said Burke.

One big plus for Black Apalachi, trained by the Curragh-based Dessie Hughes, is the going – it’s due to rain every day up to Saturday at Liverpool which should ensure soft enough ground, which he relishes. Another advantage is his experience. This is Black Apalachi’s fourth attempt at this marathon event. He was runner up to Don’t Push It in April, 2010, finishing five lengths second to Tony McCoy’s mount but a staggering 20 lengths clear of State of Play in third.

In 2008, he fell at the second fence on his debut trip to the Liverpool track, when he was sent off joint favourite; and in 2009, he was motoring along nicely, way out in front, when he unseated his rider Denis O’Regan at the famous Beecher’s Brook fence the second time round, with just about a mile left to race.

Despite these two incidents, Burke has no worries about Black Apalachi’s jumping ability. “I’ve no doubts at all about his jumping. He’s a natural jumper and he loves Aintree – his eyes light up there. There’s a bit of excitement and trumpets and that at the start that can be off-putting, but if he can get over the first two or three he should be fine.

“He’s a stayer, too. There’s no question that he’ll stay as long as his age doesn’t catch up with him. We just don’t know. He’ll stay out of trouble as well. He usually gets out in front and avoids the traffic so he only has the fences to worry about. Who knows?

There’s always that bit of hope that he might do it. He’s at 40/1 but he has a good following – he’s been around a long time and there’re a lot of grannies who put a few Euro on him! I think they pay for a sixth place now so he’s ideal for an each way.”

Burke won’t decide until this November if Black Apalachi has the appetite for another season but on the law of averages, at 13, this could be his last season – and this race could be his ‘last hurray’, for a horse that provided memorable wins, including the big Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown in 2005, the 2008 Becher Chase at Cheltenham and the 2009 Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

“He’s been a great servant and hopefully he’ll go out in style. You just never know; I’d like him to come back safe first of all and then you never know. That’s the beauty of racing, every time you put a bridal on a young filly you think this could be the one but so many of them end up making a fool of you!

That’s what it’s all about but we’ve had great days with Black Apalachi and we hope he can go out in style,” added Burke.