Eliminations & Reserves
In 1984 the maximum field for the National was reduced from 50 to 40. This page celebrates those that missed the cut and those that just got in. Most years I wonder at why some obvious National horses have to stay in their stable at home when others who appear to have no realistic chance get a run. Having said that despite my nearly fifty year old love of racing I have still no idea how handicapping works.
These eliminations in particular were criminal : -
2002 - AMBERLEIGH HOUSE - he had won the Becher Chase and would go on to win a National and jump more National fences successfully than any other horse since the war but in 2002 he was eliminated. This year a horse who had never run over fences in the UK got into the race as well as some very dodgy novices. What was going on ? Ginger McCain was perhaps not surprisingly furious "there's some right dross in there" he fumed - he was not wrong.
2002 - GUNNER WELBURN - he had won the previous years Foxhunters but was not considered good enough by the handicapper to get a run this year.
2002 - MOOR LANE - Was ante-post favourite when the weights were published after winning the Great Yorkshire Chase yet only allotted 9-7 in the handicap he would need thirty above him to drop out to get a run. Connections were faced with an anxious wait and in the end he just missed the cut ending up as a reserve. Like Amberleigh House he gained some compensaton by running in the Topham but he ran a stinker and finished unplaced. He didn't fare much better in the Becher Chase later that year so perhaps he wouldn't have stood much of a chance had he got in. He was not entered again.
2005 - SUPREME GLORY - he had finished second in the 2003 National and also had a Welsh National win on his CV but he was not allowed to take on Hedgehunter.
2016 - ALVARADO - he had finished placed in both 2014 and 2015 but was not felt good enough to get a run in either 2016 or 2017
2016 - HIGHLAND LODGE - I have long advocated that if you have won a race over the National fences then you should automatically get into the National field. Here is a case in point - what better National credentials can there be than winning the Becher Chase earlier in the season. ? Outrageous therefore for Highland Lodge to be left out.
2016 - PINEAU DE RE - it is a bit much when a previous winner cannot get in
Number of horses eliminated from the National
1990 - 12
1991 - 8
1992 - 9
1993 - 2
1994 -
1999 - Nil
2000 - 9
2001 - 10
2002 - 26
2003 - 30
2004 - 3
2005 - 35
2006 - 36
2007 - 24
2008 - 57
2009 - 32
2010 - 22
2011 - 22
2012 - 5
2013 - 2
2014 - 25
2015 - 24
2016 - 47
2017 - 29
2018 - 19
2019 - 26
2021 - 25
2022 - 26
2023 - 6
2024 - 16
Dunbrody Millar (above) never managed to get into the National field being eliminated a total of three times. He did gain some compensation though by winning the 2007 Topham Chase and he raced over the National course five times.
Grand National runners eliminated prior to their run in the National
1990 - Kittinger (92)
Mister Christian (91)
The Langholm Dyer (91)
1991 - Cloney Grange (92)
Omerta (92)
2001 - Samuel Wilderspin ((02)
2003 - Luzcadou (04)
2003 - Akarus (04)
Jurancon II (04)
Skycab (04)
2005- Jack High (06 & 07)
Juveigneur (06)
2006 - Point Barrow (07 & 08)
2007 - Philson Run (07 & 08)
Parsons Legacy (09)
2008 - Erics Charm (10)
Flintoff (10)
Irish Raptor (10)
2009 - Beat the Boys (10)
Flintoff (10)
Maljimar (R) (10)
Niche Market (10 & 11)
Royal Rosa (10)
2010 - Chief Dan Geoge (11)
2011 - Always Waining (R) (13)
Giles Cross (12)
Junior (12)
Treacle (12 & 13)
2014 - Court by Surprise (15)
Goonyella (16)
Night In Milan (R) (15)
Tranquil Sea (15)
2015 - Gallant Oscar (16)
Maggio (18)
2016 - Bishops Road (R) (17)
Bless the Wings (18 & 19)
Maggio (R) (18)
Perfect Candidate (R) (17 & 18)
2017 - Bless the Wings (R) (18 & 19)
2018 - Vintage Clouds (R) (19)
2021 - Deise Aba (22)
2022 - Roi Mage (R) (23)
Grand National runners eliminated after their run in the National
1990 - Polar Nomad (89)
2000 - Back Bar (97 & 99)
Cavalero (R) (99)
Frazer Island (99)
Full of Oats (97)
2001 - Him Of Praise (R) (98)
Kendal Cavalier (R) (99 & 00)
2002 - Dark Stranger (R) (00 & 01)
Lance Armstrong (01)
Mister One (01)
No Retreat (01)
Village King (00 & 01)
2003 - Kaki Crazy (01)
Moral Support (01)
Murts Man (R) (02)
2005 - Artic Jack (04)
Davids Lad (02 & 04)
Majed (02 & 03)
Montreal (04)
Royal Atalza (04)
Supreme Glory (R) (03)
2006 - Astonville (05)
Lord Atterbury (R) (04 & 05)
Polar Red (05)
Strong Resolve (05)
2007 - Exit Swinger (01)
Heros Collonges (05 & 06)
Iris Bleu (02 & 03) Just In Debt (04, 05 & 06)
Risk Accessor (R) (05 & 06)
2008 - Ballycassidy (05, 06 & 07)
Innox (05 & 06)
Joes Edge (R) (06 & 07)
Livingstonebramble (07)
Risk Accessor (05 & 06)
Take the Stand (05)
The Outlier (07)
2009 - MIlan Deux Mille (08)
Nadover (08)
Puntal (04, 06 & 07)
2010 - Knowhere (R) (07, 08 & 09)
Offshore Account (09)
Silver Birch (R) (06, 07 & 09)
2011 - Ballyfitz (10)
2014 - Lost Glory (R) (13)
Quinz (11)
Quiscover Fontaine (12 & 13)
2015 - Harry the Viking (13)
Mountainous (14)
Neptune Equester (12)
Rose of the Moon (14)
Vintage Star (14)
2016 - Alvarado (14 & 15)
Bob Ford (15)
Corrin Wood (15)
Double Seven (14)
Harry the Viking (13)
Mountainous (14)
Mr Moonshine (13 & 14)
Pineau de Re (14 & 15)
Portrait King (15)
Royale Knight (15)
2017 - Alvarado (14 & 15)
Royale Knight (15)
2018 - The Young Master (17)
Thunder and Roses (R) (17)
2019 - Baie des Iles (18)
Measureofmydreams (17)
The Young Master (R) (17)
2021 - Dounikos (19)
Monbeg Notorious (19)
Shantou Flyer (17 & 18)
2022 - Alpha des Obeaux (18 & 19)
2024 - Good Boy Bobby (22)
Other eliminated National runners
Amberleigh House was a Reserve in 2002 having run in the race in 2001 and then going on to become something of an Aintree legend between 2003 & 2006
Gunner Welburn was eliminated in 2002, ran in the race in 2003 & 2004 and was elminated again in 2005
Smarty ran in 2001 & 2002, was in eliminated in 2003 and ran again in 2004
Longshanks was a Reserve in both 2005 and 2008 and ran in the race in 2007
Dun Doire was eliminated in 2006, ran in both 2007 & 2008 and was eliminated in 2009
Iron Man was elminated in 2007, ran in the race in 2008 and was a Reserve in 2009
Any Currency only managed to get into the National field once in 2013 and he finished last of the seventeen finishers. He was a Reserve in 2012 and was eliminated in 2014 and 2015
Soll was a reserve in 2014 but he managed to get in the race in 2013, 2015 & 2016
Saint Are was twice placed in the National in 2015 & 2017 and ran in the race five times but he missed the cut in 2014
Wyck Hill ran in 2015 but was eliminated in 2014 & 2016
Raz de Maree ran in the National three times in 2014, 2017 & 2018 but was a Reserve in 2015
The Package ran in the National in 2010 & 2014 - he was a Reserve in 2015
Highland Lodge ran in 2017, he missed the cut in 2016 which was controversial as he was the current Becher Chase winner. He was also eliminated in 2019
Gas Line Boy ran in 2015, 2017 & 2018. He was eliminated in 2016
Rouge Angel ran in 2017 but was eliminated in 2016 & 2018
Milansbar ran well for Bryony Frost in 2018 but he couldn't get into the field in 2017 or 2019
Reserves
For the 1999 race as part of an overhaul of race conditions a reserve system was introduced. At the forty eight hour declaration stage three reserves were declared who would be able to run should any of the declared forty runners be withdrawn up to 12 noon on the Friday. With just 32 declarations there were no reserves that first year and from 2000 the number was extended to four.
The following horses were brought in to replace declared runners who were taken out. They took the original horses' racecard number but were listed at the bottom of the racecard and until 2012 took their place at the end of the parade.
2003 - BRAMBLEHILL DUKE replaced Kingsmark
2004 - MONTREAL replaced Silver Streak, BRAMBLEHILL DUKE replaced Red Striker
2005 - NATIVE EMPEROR replaced Turnium
2008 - ARDAGHEY replaced Opera Mundi
2010 - CERIUM replaced Mr Pointment
ROYAL ROSA replaced Abbeybraney
2018 - THUNDER AND ROSES replaced Minella Rocco
DELUSIONSOF GRANDEUR replaced Vicente
WALK IN THE MILL replaced Beeves
2019 - JUST A PAR replaced Mal Dini
2022- SCHOOL BOY HOURS replaced Easysland
ROMAIN DE SENAM replaced Lord du Mesnil
COMMODORE replaced Phoenix Way
The whole point of the reserve system is to ensure that there is a maximum field. However with the deadline having been made earlier to 09:00 am on the Friday there is still the risk that horses will be withdrawn or fail the final veterinary inspection. It is therefore extremely annoying (and must be so galling for connections) for there to be withdrawals after the cut-off time. Why this cannot be extended to the morning of the race is anyones guess.
2004 : TYNEANDTHYNEAGAIN (unsuitable ground)
withdrawn - Kildorragh robbed of a chance to run
2015 : CARLITO BRIGANTE (vets certficate) withdrawn - Baileys Concerto lost out
2016 :O'FAOLAINS BOY (lame) withdrawn on the morning of the race - Bishops Road would have been the first reserve but he ran instead in the Topham so would have been ineligible to run - Knock House who was twice a reserve would have sneaked in.
2018 : REGAL ENCLORE (vets certificate) & WALK IN THE MILL (self certficate) who had just sneaked into the race as a reserve the day before were withdrawn. The sole remaining reserve, Vintage Clouds would have got in.
Ardaghey (above) sneaked into the 2008 National as a reserve. His experience was brief - he fell at the fourth fence
In December 2022 it was announced that the Reserve system would be scrapped from the 2023 running, The official reason given by the authorities is that having runners not in number order on the racecard was confusing for some outlets due to the reserve taking the racecard number for the relevent non runner. A stupid idea in my view as personally I find it far more confusing tryng to work out which of the ridiculously large number of Gigginstown runners is sporting which coloured hat. I wonder if this is the first act in an attempt to reduce the National field size to thirty.