Noah and the Ark drowns competition in Grand National Steeplechase

Noah and the Ark had nothing meaningful to show for his 2023 season - until he turned into the stretch of the Grade 1 Grand National at Far Hills Racecourse in New Jersey on Saturday.

Closing from off the pace, Noah and the Ark rallied on the inside to take a commanding lead in the final furlong. Ridden by Harry Beswick, Noah and the Ark won the $250,000 hurdle race by about six lengths for his first win in more than a year.

Trained by Todd McKenna, Noah and the Ark ($37) finished 5 1/4 lengths clear of 12-1 Merry Maker, who also made a bold move to reach contention in the final quarter-mile.

The well-regarded Seddon finished third at 4-1 in his first start in the United States. Seddon, a winner of prestigious races at Cheltenham in Britain in March and Punchestown in Ireland in April, was in front for most of the Grand National at 2 5/8 miles before he was challenged by 3-5 Salvador Ziggy in the final half-mile.

While Seddon held third, Salvador Ziggy faded from contention in early stretch to finish seventh in a field of eight.

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Noah and the Ark, owned by Keystone Thoroughbreds, ended a four-race losing streak on Saturday. Noah and the Ark won the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory Hurdle at the Belmont at Aqueduct meeting in September 2022, and was second in the Grand National last October.

Earlier this year, Noah and the Ark was beaten in three Grade 1 races, finishing fifth in the Iroquois outside of Nashville in May, fourth in the A.P. Smithwick Memorial Hurdle at Saratoga on July 19, and eighth of 10 in the Jonathan Sheppard Hurdle at Saratoga on Aug. 23.

A 9-year-old Irish-bred gelding, Noah and the Ark has won 7 of 20 starts.

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