Mon Mome, the 100/1
winner of the 2009 Grand National, was the latest of small, select
band of horses – in fact, just five since 1839 – to win the
celebrated steeplechase at treble-figure odds. However, bearing in
mind that, a little over three months earlier, Venetia Williams’
nine-year-old had been sent off 9/2 favourite for the Welsh National
at Chepstow, it can be argued that the bookmakers, for once, erred on
the side of generosity by offering such long odds.
Mon Mome had completed the National Course once before, when finishing a distant tenth in 2008 but, in fairness, appeared to have little chance of reversing the form with the winner, Comply Or Die, who reopposed on just 8lb worse terms for 58 lengths. His most recent form, a similarly distant last of eight finishers in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, offered little cause for encouragement and, with exactly 11 stone to carry, he looked to have plenty of weight.
Nevertheless, those who
kept faith in the Passing Sale gelding were in for a pleasant, and
lucrative, surprise. Patiently ridden by Liam Treadwell, Mon Mome
made steady headway from the rear of the field towards the end of the
first circuit and crossing the Melling Road for the final time was on
the heels of the leaders. Second favourite My Will led over the
second-last fence, but was headed by Comply Or Die on the run to the
final obstacle. Mon Mome jumped the last upsides the defending
champion and soon asserted, stretching clear on the run-in to win by
12 lengths.
