Maurice Barnes Stories

Farlam, Cumbria

Trainer Barnes saddles 100-1 winner at Hexham

By David Carr4.07PM 7 NOV 2008

MAURICE BARNES, best known for riding 25-1 shot Rubstic to Scotland's only victory in the Grand National in 1979, sprang a 100-1 surprise as a trainer on Friday when Miss Tarantella floored punters at Hexham.

Even off bottom weight of 10st, his mare had not looked over-priced for the 2m handicap hurdle, having been beaten 65 lengths the only time she had completed the course in four previous hurdle races, for each of which she had started at a three-figure price.

But she made all the running in the testing conditions under 5lb claimer Michael McAlister, stayed on strongly in the straight and scored by nine lengths.

"I don't know what made the difference to her," the trainer's daughter and assistant Angela Barnes said afterwards. "I think she just felt like doing it today.

"It is absolutely amazing. We always knew she had ability but she has been so hard to get right for this day."

DATE	RACE CONDITIONS	RACE OUTCOME	JOCKEY	RPR	DIFF
24May13	Mus 8GF C6Hc 2K	4/9 3¼L, Stormont Bridge 8-12 t 20/1	Graham Lee	—	—
23May13	Wet 17Gd C5MdH 2K	PU/12 Watchmego 11-0 t 100/1	Michael McAlister	—	—
23May13	Wet 25Gd C2HcCh 14K	4/8 4¼L, Garleton 10-9 t 7/2	Michael McAlister	142	-5
23May13	Wet 25Gd C5HcH 2K	9/17 88L, I'Ll Be Frank 11-3 t 7/1	Miss Kelly Harrison	23	-77
17May13	Ain 25Gd C3HcH 5K	2/22 6L, Howizee 11-5 t 10/1	Michael McAlister	129	1
16May13	Per 21Gd C4HcH 4K	1/9 1½L, Overpriced 11-0 t 15/2	Stephen Mulqueen	116	0
14May13	Sed 20Gd C4HcCh 3K	2/9 1¾L, Attycran 10-3 t 13/2	Michael McAlister	104	4
14May13	Sed 20Gd C4NvCh 3K	5/11 21L, Indian Voyage 10-12 t 10/1	Michael McAlister	90	—
11May13	Hex 17Gd C5SlH 2K	2/5 4½L, I'Ll Be Frank 10-5 t 7/2	Stephen Mulqueen	100	7

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JOCKEY

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