Whatever happened to... Miinnehoma?

Miinnehoma, owned by comedian Freddie Starr and trained by Martin Pipe, was a high-class chaser who had justified favouritism in the SunAlliance Chase in a then-record time under Peter Scudamore and finished third in the Welsh National.

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Yet injuries and age had seemingly caught up with him in the minds of the betting public when he arrived at Aintree at the age of 11.

A covering of snow had turned the ground heavy and it was always going to be a slog.

So it proved, with just six horses finishing from the 38 that went to post.

"I didn't know it at the time, but the omens were good," said Dunwoody, who became the first jockey since Brian Fletcher to win two Nationals.

"It had snowed when West Tip won the National for me eight years earlier and he'd worn the same number."

Miinnehoma had been sent to Pipe by Starr as an unbroken three-year-old from the Doncaster sales and he was notoriously difficult.

"He used to get gassed up and no horse could buck higher than him," said Dunwoody.

"Jonathon Lower had to break him in nearly every summer, because he was more interested in messing about and playing, rather than concentrating on what he was supposed to be doing.

"He wasn't very big and it was only the second time I'd ridden him, but he was a gutsy horse, a tough individual, and he gave me one of my greatest days as a jockey.

"There we no strict instructions. Martin [Pipe] told me to go out there and enjoy myself and I joked that I wouldn't hit the front too soon, as we knew the horse idled.

"At Becher's the second time, there was a worrying moment when Miinnehoma pecked badly on landing. But apart from that, I couldn't get over how he travelled so well in the race.

"But at the third-last I could see that Adrian Maguire and Moorcroft Boy were also going well.

"At the second-last my horse jinked and we lost about half a length, and Moorcroft Boy jumped the last in the lead.

"Yet he stopped in a matter of about 10 strides. He hit the wall and, if anything, we got there a little too soon.

"I expected a loose horse to give us a lead, but he ducked away and I got the shock of my life when Just So and Simon Burrough arrived there at my girth.

"I was in full panic mode, but my horse picked up well."

The 16-1 shot had a length and a quarter to spare over Just So, with 5-1 favourite Moorcroft Boy a further 20 lengths back in third.

It was ironic that Dunwoody should be locked in combat with Maguire, his arch rival in the battle for the jockeys' championship.

Maguire had, in fact, ridden Miinnehoma when the gelding had finished seventh in The Fellow's Cheltenham Gold Cup a month earlier, after Dunwoody had previously partnered him to win a handicap at Newbury.

There was a further twist. Dunwoody had taken over as Pipe's number one stable jockey from Scudamore at the end of the previous season when he had retired from the saddle without a Grand National winner to his name.

"Miinnehoma provided me with one of my greatest highlights, because his success was so unexpected," said Dunwoody.

"Though my victory with West Tip earlier was a big thrill, Miinnehoma's victory came at a stage in my career when I was better able to appreciate it."

Age seemed no barrier to Miinnehoma, who went on to finish third in the Gold Cup to Master Oats a year later.

Miinnehoma is 24 now, and the oldest surviving National winner is being primed to go to Aintree again.

"He's being looked after wonderfully well at Pond House by their first stable lad, Dennis Dunnett, who is retired," says Dunwoody.

"Apparently, Miinnehoma is as naughty as he's ever been, very alert and very active.

"He still loves his carrots. He's out to grass with Cyfor Malta and they both look fantastic.

"He's going to Aintree on Saturday to parade and then he's off to Uttoxeter on May 5 for a similar day out.

"It's great to know he's thriving and I'm sure the crowds will give him an extra special cheer. I hope so. He deserves it.

"He was a real high-class horse on his day and I'm obviously proud to have been associated with him."