BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | Grand National

BBC Sport Online's Frank Keogh rounds up the news from Aintree after a remarkable Martell Grand National day.

Red Marauder was a popular winner in China, where the race was being shown live on television for the first time.

The horse, one of only four finishers, earned his name from a visit to Canada by owner Norman Mason about 10 years ago.

Mason, visiting the Chinese quarter in Toronto, asked why so many of the buildings were red.

"I was told they are very superstitious and they think red is a very lucky colour, so I thought I'd try a few reds," he said of his penchant for names like Red Ark, who ran at the Aintree meeting on Friday.

Red Marauder and jockey Richard Guest

While Red Marauder was not a popular 33-1 chance in the UK, he attracted support from internet punters in China because of the name.

Maybe the rest of us should have taken the hint.

Mason's colours are mainly red, with royal blue hoops. His horse Red Striker won at the meeting on Friday.

And Aintree is just a few furlongs from Anfield, the red home of Liverpool.

Mick Fitzgerald's recurring shoulder injury sparked a major hunt for a last-minute replacement jockey for Grand National mount Esprit de Cotte.

Fitz pulled out after the first race, and there was just over an hour to book a new rider in.

Simple enough, you might think. But first Anthony Ross revealed he would be unlikely to get down to the horse's allotted weight of 10 stone, and then the shout went out for Paul Flynn.

Tom Doyle gets that flying feeling
Stand-in Doyle gets that flying feeling

But despite two urgent announcements for Paul Flynn to report to the weighing room, he was not to be seen, and there was no answer on his mobile phone.

Young rider Tom Doyle eventually got the ride, and was doing well until a spectacular fall sent him flying through the air at the 11th fence.

At least his picture will be in the papers.

Simon Clare, the PR man for Coral Eurobet, had a double escape on Saturday after offering unusual odds to racing writers.

First, Clare was hit with a flood of cash on Friday after he made the National being postponed because of the weather a 16-1 chance.

Undeterred, he then suggested 16-1 about there being three finishers or less in the big race.

Tom Doyle tumbles off Esprit de Cotte
Doyle heads for earth

You can tell Clare works for a bookmaker, because he is a lucky man.

The National did go ahead despite major concerns over continiung downpours, and four horses finished after two were re-mounted.

For the Grand National, there is nothing like a bit of inside information to fill your wallet.

So a a late flurry of cash went the way of Paddy's Return after jockey Adrian Maguire allegedly told security men at one entrance that "he was very confident and the horse shouldn't lose".

And even better was the word that a certain gentleman rider had arrived specifically to steer home a beast called Posh Pearl in the last.

You know the rest. They were nowhere. Don't set up your own tipping line just yet, boys.


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