2016 Grand National runner profile: Many Clouds
Published:
David Metcalf | March 31, 2016
Coral’s horse racing experts profile all 40 entrants in the 2016 Crabbie’s Grand National, the most prestigious steeplechase of the National Hunt season.
Many Clouds
Age: 9
Weight: 11st 10lb
Owner: Trevor Hemmings
Grand National Record:
1992 Rubika (14th)
2000 The Last Fling (7th); Esprit De Cotte (FELL 22nd)
2001 The Last Fling (UR 5th), Esprit De Cotte (UR 11th)
2002 Goguenard (FELL 1st), Beau (UR 14th)
2003 Southern Star (14th), Chives (PU 12th)
2004 Arctic Jack (FELL 1st), Southern Star (PU 9th), Hedgehunter (FELL 30th)
2005 HEDGEHUNTER (WON), Europa (20th)
2006 Hedgehunter (2nd), Juveigneur (FELL 1st)
2007 Hedgehunter (9th), Billyvoddan (PU 19th)
2008 Cloudy Lane (6th), Hedgehunter (13th), Idle Talk (14th)
2009 Idle Talk (12th), Battlecry (16th), Cloudy Lane (UR 15th)
2010 Cloudy Lane (8th)
2011 BALLABRIGGS (WON), King Fontaine (11th)
2012 Ballabriggs (6th)
2013 Ballabriggs (PU 24th)
2014 Burton Port (UR 2nd), Vintage Star (PU 26th)
2015 MANY CLOUDS (WON)
Trainer: Oliver Sherwood
Grand National Record:
1988 Sacred Path (FELL 1st)
1989 Beamwam (PU 18th)
1998 Him Of Praise (REF 27th)
2010 Eric’s Charm (FELL 1st)
2015 MANY CLOUDS (WON)
Jockey: Leighton Aspell
Grand National Record:
2003 Supreme Glory (2nd)
2004 Skycab (UR 6th)
2005 Take The Stand (UR 15th)
2006 Ballycassidy (FELL 25th)
2007 Billyvoddan (PU 19th)
2011 In Compliance (13th)
2014 PINEAU DE RE (WON)
2015 MANY CLOUDS (WON)
Form
190/21212P/1212B4/11161-6221
Many Clouds won the 2015 Crabbie’s Grand National by 1 3/4 lengths from Saint Are, giving owner Trevor Hemmings his third success in the race, jockey Leighton Aspell his second and trainer Oliver Sherwood his first.
As defending Grand National champion, ante post favourite Many Clouds is bidding to become the first back-to-back winner since Red Rum in 1973/74.
He carried 11st 9lb to victory in the 2015 Grand National, the highest weight in the Aintree spectacular since the aforementioned Red Rum won with 12st in 1974. Many Clouds is set to carry just 1lb more in 2016.
Landing the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso on March 13th when he was last seen in action, Many Clouds scored impressively by 10 lengths from Unioniste.
He’s made three other appearances this season, doing best when second to Smad Place in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on January 30th and when occupying the same position behind Don Poli in a Listed chase over the Mildmay fences at Aintree on December 5th.
Many Clouds landed a strong renewal of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November 2014 and the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January of the same year. He is thus the first Hennessy winner to also go on to win the Grand National.
Race record
With a win rate of almost 42 per cent (10/24), Many Clouds also has seven placings to his credit, with the bulk of his career prize money picked up with those Hennessy Gold Cup and National successes.
Starts: 24
Wins: 10
2nd: 7
3rd: 0
Career win and place prize money: £847,734
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