3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Wil John claims the Grand National Hurdle at Sandown on Sunday.
Race Result:
1st: Wil John (W McCarthy/C Maher & D Eustace) - $2.60 fav
2nd: Inayforhay (L Horner/P Preusker) - $10
3rd: Instigator (D Horner/A Purcell) - $19
Winning Time: 5:14.64 Last 600m: n/a
Margins: 4L x 6L
Will John has won the Grand National Hurdle! pic.twitter.com/X16eyVHNSn
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 1, 2021
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace (Ciaron Maher interviewed)
Thoughts on Wil John: "For a big horse over hurdles, he really finds his jumps well. You'll see he just jumped his way into the race going up the back straight."
On Willie McCarthy riding a feature winner for the stable: "Willie McCarthy, he does a lot for the stable. He's a great fella and it is great to be able to reward him with a ride like that.
On what the win means to Ciaron: "He is a very impressive stayer. He is just so special. Col and Janice are friends and massive supporters. They bred the horse and it is just fantastic. He was placed in a Jericho down there at Warrnambool and I know they would really love to win an Annual so very special and I can't thank them enough."
Future plans: "He could get his switch and to the bigger fences for the Grand National Steeplechase in three weeks. We'll just sit down and have a chat with Col up there in Darwin with a bit of sun on their backs, I'm sure they will be enjoying it."
Thanking his team: "It is a massive team effort to get these horses ready, they take a lot of work. There is a lot of passion there for them. They have all run well, it was a really good race. I was pretty excited about coming to the races today. To all of the staff, they really do a great job and my brother plays a big part in that. And again, Willie (McCarthy), it was a super effort, a really good steer."
Winning Jockey: Will McCarthy
Great to ride for Ciaron: "Absolutely. Super to ride a winner for the boss. I came out here to ride work for him in May and this is my first winner for him, so it was a good way to kick it off. I knew as soon as the entries came out it was meant to be. My middle name is John, Willie John, Willie John, so it was good."
Confident in the run: "He's a super animal. One of the best I've sat on. He travelled really strongly all the way and jumped from hurdle to hurdle. I was taking him back going up the hill telling him to wait. With the light weight today in this race and it was a quality field, but off the light weight, he's a big strong horse, we kicked from the bottom of the hill home. I've got to give a shout out to my mate Hector that works with Ciaron. I've been sitting in his hot-tub all week losing the weight. We made it work."
Like to stick with him: "I'd love to stick with him. Steve (Pateman) couldn't do the weight on him today. I was glad to get on him today and make it count."
