GRAND NATIONAL ANORAK - 2
The Grand National from 1990
The wonderful Many Clouds (left) winner of the 2015 Crabbies Grand National and probably the most popular winner since Red Rum
Welcome to the second of the new- look Grand National Anorak sites which covers the period between from 1990. Three decades of tumultuous changes to the race that most of us love so much. 1990 started with hitherto unthinkable changes to the National course and by the end of this period we were enjoying a race that in reality bears no resemblance to what went before. False starts, bomb scares, AP McCoy, animal welfare, run-off zones, Many Clouds, new-look fences, a dual winner.....and now sodding course invasions. It had it all really.
These pages are a continuation of the Grand National Anorak site which can be found at www.grandnationalanorak.com. This site comprises parts of the original Grand National Anorak site which until recently could be found on the Freewebs platform and also the Grand Nationals of the Nineties and Noughties sites which have now been removed.
As with my other sites this is an ecclectic, sideways glance at the race that has obsessed me since childhood.
I will continue this for a bit longer (I have added a page to cover 2021-23 and will probably continue until 2025 which will hopefully be my fiftieth National). This may be my last site - not sure I need to go on.
I will add the biographies for all horses who raced in the National from 2010 onwards - at some time......unlikely to be until 2024 at the earliest - it's hard work)
Please feel free to contact me with all your Grand National queries. I am rubbish at replying but will do eventually - all questions to Becher1234@yahoo.co.uk
Chris (January 2022- updated 2023)
IGNORE MY PREVIOUS RANTS - WHAT DO I KNOW ? THAT WAS SPECTACULAR - A THIRTY TWO RUNNER NATIONAL IS JUST AS EXCITING AS A FORTY ONE - WONDERFUL - MY ENTHUSIASM WAS ONLY TEMPRARILY DENTED. THIS IS THE GREATEST RACE IN THE WORLD AND THEY MAY HAVE SAVED THE RACE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
I HAVE ADDED A PAGE FOR MY RANTS
SEE YOU AT AINTREE FOR MY FIFTIETH NATIONAL NEXT YEAR
Chris - 13th April - 16:20
The Top Rated National Winner - According to Timeform
175 - ROUGH QUEST (1996)
168 - MANY CLOUDS (2015)
167 - TIGER ROLL (2019)
166 - NEPTUNE COLLONGES (2012)
162 - DON'T PUSH IT (2010)
161 - ROYAL ATHLETE (1995)
160 - LORD GYLLENE (1997)
159 - BALLABRIGGS (2011)
159 - MIINNEHOMA (1994)
159 - MON MOME (2009)
157 - HEDGEHUNTER (2005)
157 - ONE FOR ARTHUR (2017)
156 - EARTH SUMMIT (1998)
156 - NOBLE YEATS (2022)
156 - PARTY POLITICS (1992)
156 - RULE THE WORLD (2016)
155 - COMPLY OR DIE (2008)
155 - MINELLA TIMES (2021)
155 - MONTYS PASS (2003)
155 - SEAGRAM (1991)
155 - TIGER ROLL (2018)
154 - PAPILLON (2000)
153 - MR FRISK (1990)
153 - NUMBERSIXVALVERDE (2006)
152 - BOBBYJO (1999)
152 - PINEAU DE RE (2014)
150 - AURORAS ENCORE (2013)
147 - SILVER BIRCH (2007)
146 - AMBERLEIGH HOUSE (2004)
146 - BINDAREE (2002)
146 - RED MARAUDER (2001)
Don't let the antis get you down. It is still the greatest race on earth and long may it continue (in whatever modified version)
Some musings after the 2023 National
For what it's worth here are my latest thoughts on the races future - we are not pandering now to the antis who will never be satisfied until all racing is consigned to history - flat as well as jumps but to those more moderate voices against our sport.
Firstly I would close the Embankment enclosure, only used on one day a year (the old Canal Turn enclosure disappeared without much fuss in the mid noughties). This would provide extra security for the course and also take away the noise which can contribute to the heated and febrile atmosphere at the start.
Brng the start forward - work out how far the distance is from the start of the Topham/Foxhunters to the first fence and start at the same distance for the National. The shorter the distance, the less the speed and hopefully the less problems over the first few fences.
I think we will have to accept that the 30 runner National is coming at some time in the future. If it does ensure the race remains the unique event of the meeting by reducing the field for the Topham and Foxhunters to twenty.
Stage a 'Silver National' for those that miss the cut over 3 miles & 3 furlongs on the Friday after the final National field is known.
PHOTOGRAPHS
As with the Grand National Anorak Site I do not own the copywrite to any of the photographs on this site which were all accessed from Google Images to add some much needed colour to the site. Please contact me if you would like me to remove any images.
Sources
Aintree racecards
Racing Post
Timeform Chasers & Hurdlers
Wikipedia