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Although he never ran better than second place (twice) in his 4 runs of the Gold Cup, coming up against Easter Hero twice and Golden Miller once, Grakle did win the National in 1931, narrowly beating 1929 winner Gregelach. His sire, Jackdaw, also got the American-owned and ridden, Irish-bred Kellsboro' Jack, who won the National in 1933, and, largely due to these two sons Jackdaw headed the steeplechase sires list briefly. Kellsboro' Jack also contested the Gold Cup, four times, placing third to Golden Miller three times. The dams of both Grakle and Kellsboro' Jack had steeplechase winners in their pedigrees. Another Jackdaw son, Jackdaw of Rheims was also a good jumper sire who got two Irish Grand National winners. |
