A sublime victory by an exciting Eden-trained horse brought the curtain down on Grand National day at Aintree last Saturday.
Florida Dreams, trained by Nicky Richards at Greystoke and ridden by Danny McMenamin, scored at a starting price of 18-1 in the concluding Grade 2 Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race on only his second ever start.
Previous winners of the race include The New One in 2012 – which followed with a Grade 1 win in the 2m5f novice hurdle at the following year’s Cheltenham festival.
Danny told the Herald that winning the race was “a great thrill” and he was very much looking forward to seeing what next season — with a novice hurdling campaign — brings.
He added that Florida Dreams had “come out of the race 100 per cent”.
The horse had flown home to win on his Musselburgh debut, and did so again despite not getting the best of runs early in the straight. Back in second was Irish raider Blizzard of Oz, trained by the masterful Willie Mullins.
Immediately after the race, Danny said: “He was fairly tough for me and he dug down deep. All credit to Joey (Richards) who rides him out every day. She got him spot on for today.
“Just as we got racing, it got a bit tight and I thought I was in trouble a little bit, but I got a lovely run up the inside and that won it for me, I would say.”
Danny said the plan for next season would be to start off at two miles over hurdles.
“He quickens up lovely and he seems to stay well as well. There will be plenty of options going forward as he goes novice hurdling and hopefully he keeps improving.
“He is very generous. When he first came he was very buzzy, but he has just settled into it now and is taking it all into his stride,” said Danny.
After the race, Nicky was also full of plaudits for the potential star-in-the-making, owned by Dundee United Football Club director Jimmy Fyffe.
“He’s grand,” said the trainer. “He won very well at Musselburgh and more or less straight away Jimmy and myself thought we would come straight here.
“He’s got plenty of raw ability,” said Nicky, adding that what had really impressed him was how the horse’s mind had improved.
“He’s grown up a good deal and no doubt he will grow up again,” he said.
Of the plans for next season, Nicky added: “I’d say he is fairly speedy at the moment. I’d imagine we will be starting at two (miles) and see where we go. He stays on well, mind.
“I’ve got some lovely bumper horses this time and they have all done very well, but you would have to say he is the best one.”
Of Florida Dreams, Jimmy Fyffe, who is based in Dundee, said: “He’s very exciting. I got him through Nicky and he won his first race at Musselburgh. It was good getting a win on home soil and then he has been aimed for this one race and he seems quite good now.
He added: “I love Aintree. Sadly I lost a horse in the Grand National there (Hill Sixteen, trained by Sandy Thompson) which shows the ups and downs of horse racing. It’s
crazy.
“But I do love getting a lot of my horses here and for him (Florida Dreams) to win, that is brilliant. Really good.”
Speaking of his mixed emotions, he said: “You are absolutely gutted, especially for the stable staff and Sandy and all his team and all the family have come down to see him, so it is heartbreaking.
“But this horse winning this race is good.”
