Cunningham gelding The Good Fight wins Grand National Steeplechase

Rachael Cunningham has done it again at the Grand National Steeplechase. The Pakenham-based trainer has now won her second Grand National Steeplechase thanks to a dominating run by The Good Fight. The ten-year-old gelding stunned the competition, winning the $400,000 race with an astonishing 25-length lead.  
 
The Good Fight’s jockey, Daryl Horner, celebrated his first ever Grand National Steeplechase. However, the celebrations were muted as his brother was injured in the race after a fall.  

The Good Fight dominates 

At $9.50 odds, the betting sites did not expect The Good Fight to be the main competitors to win the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat Racecourse on Sunday. However, some horse racing betting tips columns did have him as one to watch for this race.  
 
Even the most experienced punters did not expect the 10-year-old gelding to deliver like he did on Sunday though. 
 
The veteran gelding maintained a steady pace as other horses started to fade near the 800m. As the competition dropped, The Good Fight kept fighting and was rewarded with a truly impressive win.  
 
The Good Fight finished 25 lengths in front of runner-up Leaderboard ($10) and a full 50 lengths in front of third-placed horse Rockstar Ronnie ($11). 

Cunningham wins again 

Trainer Rachael Cunningham took a big risk taking on The Good Fight. The veteran gelding had a long career in New Zealand before being brought to Australia by Mike Moroney to his Flemington stable.  
 
Cunningham is his third trainer since coming to Australia. She’s also the one who has gotten the best out of him.  
Under Cunningham, The Good Fight has hit the ground running as a hurdler. The Kiwi finished fourth in his debut hurdle race at Hamilton on May 30. He has finished higher than third in all six of his hurdle races since then.  
 
“This horse is very special. He’s an incredible horse, and I’ve wanted him for years,” Cunningham said after The Good Fight’s dominant performance on Sunday.  
 
“I was an underbidder on Inglis. Reece Goodwin bought him, but he came over with owners as well to go jumping and this time the plan has worked. 
 
“He’s had a mammoth season and coming into this race today I just knew he was better than he was at the start,” she added. 

Jockeys hospitalised after fall 

While Cunningham and Daryl Horner celebrated The Good Fight’s win, they and many others were also keeping an eye on jockeys Lee Horner and Will Gordon. 
 
Both jockeys were hospitalised after a fall featuring their horses Sky Hero and Bell Ex One. Horner suffered a head injury, while Gordon injured his shoulder.