Grand National
United Kingdom | FEATURE RACE GUIDE
History
The Grand National is a Grade 3 race run under handicap conditions for National Hunt horses at Aintree race course near Liverpool in England conducted by the Jockey Club.
The Grand National is run over 4m 514y (6907m). It was first run in 1839 and won by Lottery.
The Grand National is a steeplechase for seven year olds and over with a maximum weight of 11st 10lb.
It contains 30 fences through two laps and there are many iconic features to the Grand National course including Becher's Brook, The Chair and Canal Turn.
During WWI the War Office utilised Aintree so they ran the race at Gatwick although the results are not totally recognised.
Again for WWII Aintree was needed and so from 1941 to 1945 there was no race.
In 1993,the race was declared void after 30 of the 39 runners started despite a false start and seven completed the course, with Esha Ness finishing first.
George Stevens has most wins as a jockey with five in the 1800s while three trainers have four victories. George Dockeray, Fred Rimell and Ginger McCain are those.
Red Rum was the famous winner of three Grand Nationals in the 1970s. Ginger McCain trained him with Brian Fletcher winning twice on him and Tommy Stack the other. He was second twice as well.
In the first one in 1973, he scored in one of the greatest races of them all, making up 15 lengths at the last fence, running down the Australian champion Crisp who was carrying 23lbs more, right in the shadows of the post.
Tiger Roll became the first horse since Red Rum to win back to back Nationals in 2019.
Tipperary Tim won in 1928 when 41 out of the 42 runners came down at some stage.
There were 66 runners in the 1929 field and only 10 in 1883.
One of the legends of national hunt racing in the UK, AP McCoy, rode in 20 Nationals which is the equal most along with Richard Johnson. The latter never won it.
History was made in 2021 as Rachel Blackmore became the first female rider to win the Grand National when on Minella Times.
The 2020 Grand National was cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak around the world.
The Grand National was worth £1,000,000 in 2024.
Notable winners of the Grand National include Tiger Roll (2018/2019), Many Clouds (2015), Ballabriggs (2011), Don't Push It (2010), Mon Mome (2009), Hedgehunter (2005), Rhyme 'n' Reason (1988), Red Rum (1973/1974/1977), L'Escargot (1975), Gay Trip (1970), Jay Trump (1965), ESB (1956), Royal Tan (1954), Freebooter (1950), Royal Mail (1937), Reynoldstown (1935/1936), Golden Miller (1934), Manifesto (1897/1899), The Colonel (1869/1870) and Abd-El-Kader (1850/1851).
The 2024 Grand National was won by I Am Maximus from Delta Work and Minello Indo.
Previous Grand National Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
I AM MAXIMUS
(FR)
8G AUTHORIZED (IRE) - POLYSHEBA (FR) POLIGLOTE (GB) |
PAUL TOWNEND | 72.5 | WILLIEM PETER MULLINS |
|
|
CORACH RAMBLER
(IRE)
9G JEREMY (USA) - HEART N HOPE (IRE) FOURSTARS ALLSTAR (USA) |
DEREK FOX | 66.0 | MISS LUCINDA V RUSSELL |
|
|
NOBLE YEATS
(IRE)
7G YEATS (IRE) - THAT'S MOYNE (IRE) FLEMENSFIRTH (USA) |
SAM WALEY COHEN | 68.0 | E MULLINS |
|
|
MINELLA TIMES
(IRE)
8G OSCAR (IRE) - TRIPTOSHAN (IRE) ANSHAN (GB) |
RACHEL BLACKMORE | 65.0 | HENRY DE BROMHEAD |
|
|
TIGER ROLL
(IRE)
9G AUTHORIZED (IRE) - SWISS ROLL (IRE) ENTREPRENEUR (GB) |
DAVY RUSSELL | 72.0 | G ELLIOTT |
|
|
TIGER ROLL
(IRE)
8G AUTHORIZED (IRE) - SWISS ROLL (IRE) ENTREPRENEUR (GB) |
DAVY RUSSELL | 69.5 | G ELLIOTT |
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