Lucinda Russell announces Corach Rambler's retirement

Trainer Lucinda Russell has declared that Corach Rambler, the Grand National hero of the previous year, has retired.

After One For Arthur in 2017, the 10-year-old claimed gold at Aintree in 2023, giving Russell and jockey Derek Fox his second National.

After placing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, he was expected to run a major race again in this year's renewal. However, he lost contact with his rider at the first fence. After that, he travelled to Punchestown but was pulled up.

He won the Ultima Handicap Chase back-to-back, making him a double winner at the Cheltenham Festival.

Russell said on her website, www.lucindarussell.com: “After a lot of thought and discussion we have decided that our brilliant 2023 Grand National winner Corach Rambler is going to be retired. In some ways, the decision is laced with sadness. Corach has been a horse of a lifetime for his seven-strong syndicate of owners who won the greatest steeplechase in the world. He also has had a special relationship with our jockey Derek Fox and has brought so much joy to all our staff here at Arlary. But the decision is also a joyous one. Corach Rambler will always be a special horse for us, we owe him so much. More than anything we want him to go out at the top, in excellent physical condition and able to hopefully enjoy a long and happy retirement. Corach has had a massive influence on the fantastic run of success we are enjoying with an influx of new horses and owners to our stable. His story has resonated with both racing fans and those people who take a casual interest in the sport. The fact he only cost £17,000 and mixed with and beat equine millionaires gave hope to any owner and trainer that they can compete no matter what their budget.”

She added: “The first of his two wins in the Ultima Handicap Chase (in 2022) earned Derek awards for his daring last-to-first ride but even he would admit Corach was the star act. He will forever be remembered for his Grand National victory but it should not be forgotten that he had an excellent record at Cheltenham. He raced there four times and his record is three wins, two at the Festival, and a third to Galopin Des Champs in last season’s Gold Cup. In all he won seven of his 18 races and over £750,000. He quite literally owes us nothing – we are in his debt.”