'We bought this horse to win the Grand National, but this is better' - 12-year-old Roi Mage stars in France

Roi Mage was labelled the “horse of a lifetime” after winning the Listed Prix Louis de Guebriant, the highlight of the final day of the three-day summer fixture at Craon in western France, for four-horse trainer Patrick Griffin.

The 12-year-old had been the yard’s most recent winner when landing a Listed contest in Compiegne in November, and finished ninth in the Grand National at Aintree in April, two places below the position he had achieved in 2023.

Racing at the course for the first time, Roi Mage took up the running after the leader fell at the halfway point and went on to score comfortably under jockey James Reveley on Sunday.

James Griffin, the winning trainer’s son and assistant, who combines his role with race commentating, was blown away by the victory and what it meant for the family’s “micro yard”.

“He’s a horse of a lifetime, I’m very emotional,” Griffin said. “We only have four horses riding out and he’s the best one. It’s brilliant. To come and win the biggest cross-country race in France is just incredible. It’s just unbelievable. You wouldn’t dream that.”

Roi Mage carried the colours of Douglas Pryde, made famous by 2013 Grand National winner Auroras Encore, to victory in the 3m6f cross-country contest, with Pryde sharing the horse with Gerry McGladery, Jim Beaumont and David van der Hoeven

"James Reveley sourced him and we bought this horse to win the Grand National but this is better!” Griffin added, speaking to French broadcaster Equidia. 

Reveley praised the Griffins for their ability to keep Roi Mage enthusiastic about his racing despite his advancing years.

He said: “It’s magnificent, for an old horse like him to still be able to show up. He’s so tough and he never gets tired, he just adores what he does. He always puts everything into a race. 

“Well done to the Griffin family because it’s not easy to keep the morale up with a horse of his age. I’ve worked with the trainer since I was a conditional and we’ve always stayed good friends so it’s just magical.”

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