From the archives: Borderers toast the heroes of Aintree, Grand National, 3 April, 1979

Published on Friday 8 April 2011 12:29

MR John Leadbetter, until four years ago just another backroom boy of National Hunt racing, returned to the Borders yesterday to a hero's welcome, having trained the winner of the world's greatest steeplechase.

Almost the entire population of Denholm, and several hundred others, turned out on the village green, hoping to shake Mr Leadbetter's hand or pat Rubstic, the horse which as made his trainer a household name.

Scotland's first Grand National winner this century, led by two members of Hawick pipe band, made a lap of honour around the village green while the trainer stood by the horse box, attempting to answer a stream of questions from journalists and broadcasters.

While bookmakers at nearby Hawick spent yesterday counting the cost of Rubstic's 25-1 win at Aintree on Saturday, the villagers of Denholm packed the two public houses to continue the celebrations which had gone on far into the night.

Mr Leadbetter, born in Staffordshire, served his racing apprenticeship with Mr Harry Blackshaw at Middleham, Yorkshire, before moving to Captain Neville Crump's stables nearby.

Then he moved to Scotland to work for Mr Kenneth Oliver at Denholm before striking out on his own in 1975.

"I backed the horse last October when he was 66-1 so I have done fairly well from the National," said Mr Leadbetter.

"We knew we had a great chance, for the horse had never fallen in any of his races, he had been second in the Scottish Grand National twice and he has won other races, too.

"I knew when he reached the elbow on the run-in at Aintree yesterday that he was going to win and he went away like a good horse from there to the line." In spite of the atrocious winter, Mr Leadbetter said he had missed only one day's training at his headquarters at Bedrule, a tiny hamlet near Denholm, where he has a string of 23 horses.

He added: "I do not know if Rubstic will run the Scottish Grand National in three weeks' time.

"My number one priority will be to have another crack at the Liverpool race next year."

Rubstic was by now politely refusing a pint of beer, offered to him by a local publican, Mr Ritchie Thomson, owner of the Cross Keys Inn which overlooks denhoom village green. Mr Thomson and all his regular customers had backed the horse months ago.

"It's like New Year all over again," said Mr Thomson on Saturday night, as his hard-pressed bar staff tried to meet the demand for whisky and beer. "There are about 500 people living at Denholm and I think every one backed Rubstic.John Leadbetter told us months ago to get our money and I backed the horse at 33-1."

Rubstic was trained until three years ago by Gordon Richards, the Penrith-based trainer responsible for last year's National winner, Lucius.Then the owner, Mr John Douglas, a former Scottish rugby cap, who paid 1300 for the horse, now a ten-year-old, sent him to Mr Leadbetter, who began the preparations which led to Saturday's 42,000 win.

Mr Douglas was not present at yesterday's home-coming but the jockey, Mr Maurice Barnes, told reporters: "I was never sure of winning until we reached the elbow of the run-in. He hit one fence really hard before Becher's Brook, but after that he was very careful and never got into any more trouble."

Mr Douglas arrived home in Edinburgh last night praising horse, trainer and jockey.

"It's fantastic. Millionaires struggle for years to do this, and we've done it with an unknown stable, jockey and owner," he said.

"John Leadbetter had him at 100 per cent form on the day. The distance was right for him and Maurice Barnes had a fantastic ride. He kept him out in front and away trouble. That was the right thing to do because, even if he did fall, it would have given him a super run."

Mr Douglas bought the horse as a three-year-old after his previous owners put him up for sale. "They ran him as a two-year-old but, like all the sons of I Say, he wasn't much use at that stage. I saw him standing in a field with a lot of others and he looked like he might grow into a good strong horse, though I am no judge of horses.

"He has been very consistent for me and had earned his keep every year. The National was his 60th race and he has never fallen."

Mr Douglas reckons the odds were long on the horse just because he was Scottish. "You always get a price in England.

"He was seventh or eighth favourite but, on his form, he would have been rated much higher if he had been trained down South."

He backed his horse at odds from 66-1 to 25-1, but would not specify how much he stood to make. "I'm not going to tell you, of course, but it will be a few grand," he said.

His wife, Patricia, confessed on Saturday: "I didn't back it myself, but then I never do - except for today when I had 25p on Ben Nevis. I'm not a super-optimist - but John had great faith in the horse."

qAs jubilant Scottish punters queued to collect their winnings, one disgruntled bookmaker spat out his verdict on the Grand National - "diabolical". Rubstic's victory at 25-1 meant pay-outs of thousands of pounds at some shops. At Ladbrokes at Hawick - six miles from where the winner was trained - the manager said ruefully that he would still be paying out today and stood to lose thousands.

"The place is full and there is a queue a mile long in the High Street - it's as bad as that," he said.