- Predictions during the week for rain on the day did not eventuate with conditions quite pleasant until getting cold late in the day.
- Nothing, however, would have dampened the spirits of Wanganui trainer JJ Rayner who realised a lifelong ambition to win the race she most wanted to win when LORD SPENCER claimed BRUCIE just short of the line to win the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Grand National steeplechase. Rider Lemmy Douglas emulated the 2006 feat of jumping great Tommy Hazlett by winning both Grand National’s on the same day.
- Douglas had earlier partnered the Kevin Myers trained LITTLE THIEF when winning the Hospitality NZ Canterbury Grand National Hurdles. As only Myers can do, he plotted a most unorthodox path with LITTLE THIEF. The five-year-old veteran of only four jumping starts including a last start win at Woodville on 12 July had run eighth in a Rating 65 race over 1600 metres on the first day then backed up to win over 2000 metres on the Polytrack on the Wednesday before running out a most easy winner of the Hurdles version of the Grand National.
- On the Wednesday Polytrack meeting Myers had also started KICK ON to run third in the open 2200 metres race before backing up on the Saturday to win the Speight’s Ultra on Tap 0-1 win hurdles. Corey Wiles was the rider on that occasion.
- Myers ended the day with three winners whilst Ohoka trainer Samantha Wynne recorded a brace with SHAWSHANK in the Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts open over 1400 metres and HONOR THE NAME in the last. Sarah MacNab rode the former and Toni Davies the latter.
- The ride of the day possibly belonged to Te Awamutu apprentice Ashlee Strabridge who daringly stuck up against the inside fence on RIVIERA REBEL to steal the Merivale Mall Open over the 1800 metres distance. Most riders were steering out into the middle to outside of the track but Strawbridge had to negate RIVIERA REBEL’s habit of running around when not guided by the running rail. It well and truly worked for the six-year-old trained by Graham Eade & Brooke Kincaid at Riverton.
IN
Racing
Grand National Festival Of Racing - Day 3 Review - 8 August
Lemmy Douglas rides a Grand National double
August 10, 2026