Grand National Result 2007

Silver Birch formally trained by Paul Nicholls and sold at Auction and now trained by Irishman Gordon Elliott cause a major surprise to land the 2007 Grand National. Once again this great race went to the Irish, who have a stranglehold on the race in the last decade as this was their sixth Grand National winner in the last nine years.

The Starter took an age to let them go, once the tape had gone up, The Outlier took an early lead but by the Canal Turn rank outsider Naunton Brook had hit the front with Ballycassidy in second and Bewleys Berry in third.

They continued to lead the way over Valentines and remained at the head of the field for the rest of the first circuit. With the Grand National about to reach it climax, Slim Pickings, Liberthine and Simon all came into contention and by the third last there were eight horses in with a chance.

Slim Pickings led the pack over the penultimate fence, with Silver Birch a couple of lengths back, and approaching the last they pulled clear of the rest. Both horses were travelling well but Silver Birch met the last better than his rival and landed in the lead. In the final couple of hundred yards, Silver Birch pulled a couple of lengths clear and had to hold off a late charge from McKelvey to win by three-quarters of a length. Long-time leader Slim Pickings was third, with Philson Run fourth.

GRAND NATIONAL RESULT 2007:

• 1 Silver Birch (R M Power) 33-1
• 2 McKelvey (T J O'Brien) 12-1
• 3 Slim Pickings (B J Geraghty) 33-1
• 4 Philson Run (D Jacob) 100-1