Diol Ker Grand National Wins
Diol Ker has never won the Grand National.
They have never finished the race.
Trained in Ireland by Noel Meade, Diol Ker made his Grand National debut in 2023. However, that debut didn’t go to plan, and that’s putting it lightly, as the horse unseated his jockey Kieren Buckley at the very first fence.
Foaled in 2014, the horse has never been a prolific winner during his career but has won one big race and ran well in many others, which has been the reasoning behind him going up in the weights and being able to run in races like the Grand National. Staying power has proven to be a real positive, with his races over three miles or more bringing out the best in him.
Full Results
Year | Result | Prize Money | Handicap | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Fence 1 - Unseated Rider | - | 10-8 | Kieren Buckley | Noel Meade |
Diol Ker’s Early Years
Despite being a French-bred runner, Diol Ker found his way across to Ireland, where he would begin his career in point-to-point races. He ran three times as an amateur, finishing second on debut before a fall on his second start and then a win on his third and final start. All three proved to be good runs, and after that, it was rules racing with Noel Meade.
On debut in a flat race, Diol Ker was fifth behind Envoi Allen and went straight to hurdling after that. After failing to win three hurdle starts, the end of the season came, but when the horse returned the following season, he won a maiden hurdle, beating Monkfish.
The injury kept him on the sidelines after that win, which was disappointing as we never saw him progress over hurdles, going chasing the following season when he returned. He disappointed in three chase starts, falling in one, and it was enough for Noel Meade to send him back hurdling, where he was much better, so it is fair to say this horse took time to really show his potential over the bigger obstacles.
Diol Ker’s Big Race Wins
Diol Ker has won one race so far that can be described as a big race, and it came in March 2022, 12 months before he would run at Aintree in the Grand National. The big race he won was a national, but it was over in Ireland and was the Leinster National at Naas.
He was the favourite to win the race and duly delivered for punters that trusted him, winning by half a length to take the prize. Off a mark of 137, he wouldn’t have been good enough for the Grand National before this win, but the rise in the weights thanks to that was enough to put him in the Grand National picture.