Elliott's fairytale a classic David versus Goliath

Timing is supposed to be all in life and that of the 10-year-old Silver Birch has delivered unrestrained delight and resigned frustration in equal measure. Two years ago, when with the champion trainer Paul Nicholls, the gelding was the ante-post favourite for the Grand National. Here yesterday, now trained by the rookie Irishman Gordon Elliott, he finally fulfilled his destiny with victory in the 160th running of the great steeplechase, as a 33-1 outsider.

Ridden by Robbie Power, the little bay held on, all out, by three- quarters of a length from fast-finishing 12-1 chance Mckelvey to become the sixth success in nine years for Ireland, and the third in succession. Slim Pickings, another 33-1 shot, was just behind them in third, with Philson Run, at 100-1, fourth.

Elliott, 29, emerged soaked from an ecstatic scrum of his countrymen in the hallowed winner's circle, having taken most of the force of a bucket of water thrown over Silver Birch's steaming flanks to cool him after his exertions on one of the hottest National days on record. "We thought he'd run a good race," he said, "but this is a dream come true."

Wet he may have been, but not behind the ears, despite his status as the youngest, least experienced trainer - he started only a year ago, and has yet to train a winner in Ireland - in yesterday's race. His prescience in securing Silver Birch as a broken-down cast-off from the mighty Nicholls yard and his skill in patching him up for his day of days mark him as a man with a future.

The horse, who runs for the Co Kildare-based horse-breeder Brian Walsh, cost just 20,000 guineas at the Doncaster sales 11 months ago after a stop-start career that has included a hat-trick of victories, including the 2004 Welsh National, that first put him in Aintree reckoning, an injured leg and a fall at the Chair in last year's race. Yesterday he earned [pound]305,060.

"He had a damaged tendon when we got him," the Co Meath-based Elliott added, "but we've sweetened him up hunting and in cross- country races."

If Silver Birch's road to glory before yesterday was rocky, his progress round the most formidable of courses was not. Over 30 taxing obstacles he barely put a foot wrong, running sweetly throughout as Naunton Brook, Bewleys Berry and Ballycassidy cut out the early running.

Power produced him to go past Slim Pickings, left in the van after Bewleys Berry came down at the second Becher's when going conspicuously easily, two fences out. But his rival, ridden by Barry Geraghty - victorious on Monty's Pass four years ago - refused to lie down and the pair had a fine tussle until Silver Birch's stamina proved stronger half-way up the run-in and was enough, too, to deal with the flying threat from Mckelvey and Tom O'Brien, who so nearly made it a fairytale first National. "What a ride," Power said. "He travelled the whole way, and jumped out great. He was so relaxed in the preliminaries and even if he couldn't lay up early it meant I was out of trouble. I wasn't sure we were going to win until after the Melling Road, but after that nothing seemed to be going better than the one in front and I knew we had him.

"Then on the flat I hear the commentator say there was something coming fast on the outside. But mine was doing nothing in front and responded when I asked, and stayed on well." Power's questions were judged a little severe by the stewards; he earned a four-day ban for misuse of his whip.

All in all it was a day for twentysomethings. Walsh, from a farming family, is 26, Power 25, O'Brien 20 , Daryl Jacob, fourth on Phil-son Run, 23, and amateur Sam Waley-Cohen, fifth after a bold spin on Liberthine, 24.

Altogether 13 of the 40 starters completed, including the two previous winners, Numbersixvalverde, sixth and Hedgehunter, ninth. Tony McCoy, still without a win, got round on L'Ami in 10th and Mick Fitzgerald, who yesterday confirmed his decision not to give up riding after all, brought up the rear on Kelami. The last race was abandoned due to ongoing treatment for heat stress of Graphic Approach, a faller at the second Becher's. The horse was later taken to a veterinary hospital.

The result was very much a bookies' benefit. Of the three 8-1 co- favourites, Point Barrow went at the first, Monkerhostin, backed from 25-1 in the morning, refused at the seventh and Joes Edge was pulled up before the 20th.

Paul Nicholls fielded four - Royal Auclair, Eurotrek, Le Duc, and Thisthandtother - in his attempt to add the National to his glittering CV, but none completed. He was rueful, but generous, afterwards. "We took the decision, on veterinary advice, to sell Silver Birch. And fair play to those that took a chance and bought him. They've done a tremendous job, and good luck to them."

BIG-RACE DETAILS

1 Silver Birch 33-1

2 Mckelvey 12-1

3 Slim Pickings 33-1

4 Philson Run 100-1

Winning Jockey: Robbie Power

Trainer: Gordon Elliott

Owner: Brian Walsh

Distances: 3/4 length, 11/4 length.

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