LORD GYLLENE, NEPTUNE COLLONGES, AURORA'S ENCORE and RULE THE WORLD all won the National on their only visit to Aintree. Injury prevented Lord Gyllene and Aurora's Encore from returing to defend their crowns whilst connections of Neptune Collonges and Rule The World decided that the horse had done enough and retirement beckoned.

​

Here is a list of other horses who won on their only experience over the National fences

​

CADMIUM - Topham (2019) - Blazed the trail in the 2019 Topham making almost every yard of the running. Sadly according to the Racing Post database he died the following year - no details I am afraid.

​

CYFOR MALTA - Topham (1998) - Only five years old, still a novice and having only his fourth start over fences in the UK he took to the National fences like a duck to water (the race was run on very heavy ground) and beat an admittedly substandard field by thirteen legths. So impressive was this performance that the rules were changed to allow six year olds to run in the following years race in an attempt to get him into the field. Unfortunately his career was later intersperced with lengthy periods on the sidelines but he still won two Paddy Power Gold Cups and the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham. He did return to Aintree but it was always for the Bowl.

​

DUBLIN FLYER - Topham (1995) - Looked an ideal National sort when he put up a bold front running display in the 1995 Topham spread-eagling a large field. Sadly whilst entered in 1996 & 1997 connections opted both times for the Gold Cup where he was pulled up and he was never allowed to take his chance in the big one.

​

IT'S TIME FOR A WIN - Topham (2002) - Beat future National winner Montys Pass by six lengths in the 2002 Topham but sadly he broke a leg when falling in the Paddy Power Gold Cup that November.

​

MA FILLEULE - Topham (2014) - Had run over fences in France but was having only his fourth start over fences in the UK when he comfortably won the Topham. Lightly raced thereafter he only won once again and was not asked to try the National.

​

PATS MINSTREL - John Parrett (1995) - Starting the outsider of three at very generous odds of 9-1 in what was probably one of the worst races run over the National fences his task was made considerably easier when the favourite Clay County fell at the fourth fence and thereafter we enjoyed a rather dull duel between Pats Minstrel and De Jordaan (who was giving Richard Johnson his first taste of the National fences) before he ran out a comfortable twenty length victory. Incidentally he gave Bob Champion the highlight of his brief training career.

​

RAJHDANI EXPRESS - Topham (2015) - Provided Sam Waley-Cohen with his sixth win over the National fences when he won this by ten lengths in 2015. Sadly on his next start in the Old Roan Chase over the Mildmay fences he broke his leg and had to be destroyed. 

​

SHEER JEST - Foxhunters (1995) - A prolific hunter chaser and point to pointer he won thirteen chases and six point to points between 1989 & 1997. He started favourite for the Foxhunters and up with the leaders throughout he took the lead three out and whilst he was headed by Aintree specialist Brown Windsor at the last he battled up he run in to win by two and half lengths. He provided Alan Hill with his second Foxhunters win having won the race in 1987 on Border Burg. He was due to run in the race the following year but was a last minute withdrawal.