Hike in ratings delights Hogan's Height owners dreaming of Grand National glory

Twenty syndicate members are counting the days to the Grand National after their impressive Aintree winner Hogan's Height was given a 12lb rise in the ratings to secure a likely place.

Rarely has such an increase in the handicap been so warmly greeted, with the 16-length Grand Sefton winner now on a mark of 146, four clear of the five-year average of 142 needed to get into the National.

Dan Abraham, syndicate manager for Foxtrot Racing, said the Foxhunters' at the Grand National meeting had been the aim before Saturday's spectacular win, but the plan is much bolder now.

He said: "Jamie Snowden [trainer] suggested giving the owners a day out at Aintree before he qualifies to go hunter chasing on January 1. What a day out it proved to be.

"It’s a syndicate of 20 people and almost all of them were there with family and friends, so as you can imagine there was quite a scene in the winner's enclosure.

The Foxtrot Racing Syndicate in the aftermath of Hogan's Height's impressive Aintree successCredit: Grossick Racing (racingpost.com/photos)

"The horse was a relatively cheap buy in terms of prices these days – he cost £26,000 – and when you spend that sort of money you never dream you might have a horse who can win over the Grand National fences, let alone one who might actually qualify for the race itself.

"We went to Aintree with the view it would be a fun day out for the syndicate. I don’t think any of us expected him to do anything more than perhaps get round and run into a place at best.

"We decided to go novice hurdling last season because we felt he was a bit high in the handicap. It worked out well but we really felt we were going to struggle in handicap chases. Even the most optimistic of us didn’t expect him to win and certainly not by 16 lengths."

The prospect of a Grand National runner was confirmed on Tuesday morning when the latest handicap ratings were released.

Abraham said: "All the members went to bed on Monday night wondering whether or not they were going to wake up to a Grand National runner on Tuesday morning. For people in the syndicate who are just normal racegoers who have all decided to buy a five per cent stake in a horse, that’s not something you expect to happen to you.

Randox Health Grand National: lowest mark to get a run

2019 142
2018 142
2017 143
2016 145
2015 139

"Some of the people in the syndicate will not go on holiday because they’ve spent their money on a share in a horse. They make a lot of sacrifices in order to have their small share. These aren’t necessarily wealthy people but they love racing.

"It’s a dream come true, especially as the build-up to the Grand National is perhaps as exciting as the race itself. Members get to tell their family and friends they have a runner and see their horse in the sweepstakes – it's going to be really exciting.

Tom Cannon celebrates with winning trainer Jamie Snowden (right) and Hogan's Height after their Grand Sefton win at AintreeCredit: GROSSICK RACING (racingpost.com/photos)

"It shows that genuinely anyone, whatever their budget and whatever their price, can become involved in ownership at a very high level. It’s great for people with a small share in an inexpensive racehorse to have the opportunity to have a Grand National runner. It’ll be a day they remember for the rest of their lives.”

Jamie Snowden is just as excited as his owners. He said: "To have a horse in the Grand National will be amazing for the syndicate, as well as their family and their friends. We'll see it as a day out to enjoy whatever the outcome, but we'll all be dreaming of a big run."

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