Pipe mourns Miinnehoma

Miinnehoma, winner of the 1994 Grand National, has died at the age of 29, trainer David Pipe has announced. The gelding was 11 years old when he carried the colours of comedian Freddie Starr to victory in the world’s greatest steeplechase at Aintree.

Miinnehoma raced from 1989 to 1996, winning 11 of his 25 starts including the 1992 Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

He earned almost £250,000 in total prize money. He was trained by Pipe’s father, Martin, at the family’s Nicholashayne stables and ridden by Richard Dunwoody. “I am greatly saddened to inform you that we have lost one Pond House legend as 1994 Grand National winner Miinnehoma passed away peacefully of old age at the weekend – he was 29,” the trainer told his website. “He was the oldest living winner of the world’s greatest steeplechase and was a regular at Aintree for the popular parade of former winners.

“During his career Miinnehoma won 11 of his 25 starts including the Listed Philip Cornes Saddle of Gold Hurdle at Newbury in 1990, the Grade One Sun Alliance Chase at the 1992 Cheltenham Festival and the Grade Two Newton Chase at Haydock in 1995. He was also placed in other top races including the Welsh National and Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he will always be most famously remembered for providing my father with his Grand National victory under Richard Dunwoody. He was a wonderful old horse – a real character and he remained at the yard under the care of our former head lad until the very end.

“He was a great champion and will be missed by all associated with him.”

Dunwoody, a three-time champion jockey, has fond memories of Miinnehoma’s Aintree triumph. It was Dunwoody’s second National victory, following on from his success on West Tip eight years earlier.

He said: “He was a great horse and he’s had a good innings. Aintree was obviously a very special day. It was my second National and because I was a bit older I think I appreciated it more than the first time. It was probably the best single day of my riding career.

“It was also a bit of a surprise as you couldn’t go into the race expecting to win on that heavy ground. He was a very wild horse and I know they had to re-break him every season, but he was also very clever. In the National he was down on one knee jumping Becher’s the second time but he got himself out of trouble. He was brilliant round Aintree. He was a class horse as well. He won the Sun Alliance Chase and was placed in a Gold Cup.”

At Ayr yesterday, Acknowledgement gave trainer Phil Kirby his third winner in two days when coming through late to take the Bet Mobile At BetVictor.com Handicap.

Lady Bluesky looked the likely winner rounding the home turn and appeared to have most of her rivals in trouble. But Eva Moscrop kept working on the ten-year-old Acknowledgement and her perseverance was rewarded as the 12-1 shot stayed on strongly to score by a length and a half.

Another apprentice jockey, Jordan Nason, rode his second career winner on Gala Casino Star in the Money Back On The Open At BetVictor.com Handicap.

The young rider got off the mark when Geoff Harker’s 5-1 shot bolted up at Redcar last month and he followed up in good style, beating Another For Joe by three-quarters of a length. Nason said: “I absolutely love the horse to bits. Last time at Redcar he gave me a lovely easy ride and it was the same again today.

“Geoff’s horses are in great form. I’ve been with Geoff over two years and it’s my first job in racing.”