Trainer calls for National upgrade after £20m boost

National treasure: Mon Mome with winning jockey Liam Treadwell and owner Vida Bingham

13 April 2012

TRAINER Evan Williams has called for the Grand National to be given a greater status as racing will receive a £20million boost thanks to Mon Mome's shock 100-1 on Saturday.

It wasn't just bookmakers who were celebrating their best result since Foinavon in 1967, after pocketing an estimated industry-wide profit of over £200m when the Venetia Williams-trained nine-year-old romped to a 12-length success over Comply Or Die.

Racing is also set to benefit to the tune of over £20m, since bookmakers are required to pay the sport 10 per cent of their gross profits via the levy system.

Now Welsh trainer Williams insists it is time the National was given the status it deserves.

After saying that State Of Play, who finished fourth at Aintree, would be trained specifically for next year's National, he says that the four-and-a-half-mile marathon should be upgraded from its current status.

Williams (right) said: "I think the owners were very heartened by the run. He showed he could handle the occasion and the National will be his target next year.

"You often find that horses that do run well there, return and do even better next year. That was certainly the case with Mon Mome.

"I thought between the second last and the last that he might come and win it, but he hit a couple down the back straight and that might have cost him. But all credit to Venetia's horse, he's run brilliantly."

He added: "It was a marvellous occasion and it is time that it was upgraded from a Grade Three handicap. They will never allow a handicap to be a Grade One, but it is a much better race than it used to be and whatever they call it, the National is still the world's greatest race."

Williams is now targeting the Scottish National at Ayr a week on Saturday. The trainer says High Chimes, who was sixth to Character Building in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, has a good chance. "He is set to carry 9st 13lb and though he will probably get a bit more weight than that, it's a fighting weight and he's in great form."

Winning trainer Williams, who became only the second woman to saddle a National winner after Jenny Pitman, has decided to put Mon Mome away for the season after his efforts.

She is seeking even more success at the highest level next campaign but added: "We would all love to train Gold Cup winners and Grade One winners at the Cheltenham Festival, though the Grand National is the race which is known the world over so we are absolutely ecstatic."

Despite the result being a great success for bookmakers, one who did suffer was the local Ross-on-Wye branch of William Hill, which is close to the winning trainer's stable.

They were besieged with bets for the shock winner. "From the moment we opened, the shop was standing room only," said manager Paul Haslam.

"We had bets ranging from 20p each-way to a handful of £5 on both Mon Mome and Venetia's other runner, Stan. By the time the race began, almost 700 bets had been placed on the local hopes ."

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