He backed 100-1 shot Foinavon to win the Randox Grand National and trained Numbersixvalverde to triumph in the race 16 years ago.
Now Martin Brassil is making a convincing case for more celebrations in the 174th running of the iconic event with Longhouse Poet. “The National was the first race I remember watching,” said 65-year-old Brassil. “Foinavon in 1967, I had a shilling each-way on him at 100-1, that’s why I remember it so well. It’s still the race – the people’s race.”
Brassil might only have 20 horses under his care at his stables in County Kildare but there are not many better at targeting the world’s most famous race. After Numbersixvalverde triumphed in 2006, he returned to finish sixth the following year behind Silver Birch.
