Winners and Losers
Winners
The Noughties
Easy
2003 - MONTYS PASS (4/30) - fifth early in the race he took the lead at the nineteenth and stayed in front until second Bechers. He led again at the Anchor Bridge and the result was never again in doubt - TWELVE LENGTHS
2005 - HEDGEHUNTER (5/32) - ridden with a little more restraint by Ruby Walsh this time he let others make the running but was still prominent. Left in the lead in the cruellest of ways after Clan Royal and Tony McCoy were carried out by two loose horses at second Bechers. He was in a clear lead by the twenty third and that was it - FOURTEEN LENGTHS
Lucky
2001 - RED MARAUDER (4/8) - whilst he took the lead at the first fence on the second circuit and was only headed once again after a terrible jump at second Valentines he would never have been this prominent in a "normal" National. Yes he was incredibly brave but in the freakshow that was the 2001 National he must go down as the luckiest National winner since Foinavon - A DISTANCE
Prominent throughout
2000 - PAPILLON (4/25) - never out of the first four he was cruising throughout and on reflection this was just too easy although he didn't actually hit the front until the twenty sixth fence. He only came under pressure once when challenged by Mely Moss two out but it was just a brief moment of worry and he was back in front by the last - ONE & THREE QUARTER LENGTHS
2008 - COMPLY OR DIE (7/28) - hunted amongst the leading group throughout and was disputing the lead by the twenty first. Lost his place at the second Canal but was third by the Anchor Bridge having kept the leaders in his sights all along. In a line of four two out he took the lead at the last and was pushed out to win - FOUR LENGTHS
Got a second wind
2002 - BINDAREE (6/23) - hunted on the first circuit he had moved into sixth by the water and was going noticeably well on the run down to second Bechers where he took the lead. However on the approach to the second last he looked held by the blinkered grey Whats Up Boys who drew away from him at the last. Replacement jockey Jim Culloty changed course at the Elbow, found another gear and swept past his rival - ONE & THREE QUARTER LENGTHS
Letting others do the hard work
2004 - AMBERLEIGH HOUSE (11/23) - always held up in all his visits to Aintree like his famous stable mate he was always hunted on he first circuit. Red Rum was normally in control by second Bechers but this one would quietly make his move after second Valentines. This year he let Hedgehunter, Clan Royal and Lord Atterbury effectively cut each others throats in their mad dash for glory and he took the lead half way up the elbow as his rivals petrol tanks emptied in spectacular fashion. It was almost cruel.
2006 - NUMBERSIXVALVERDE (17/26) - in rear early he was amongst the backmarkers at the first Canal but thereafter made stealthy progress on the second circuit and was fourth by second Bechers. The ground was soft that year, stamina sapping stuff and over the next few fences others looked more likely to prevail. He stuck to his task, kept the leaders in his sight, made his move at the last and outstayed the gallant Hedgehunter and Clan Royal. It was all quite easy in the end - SIX LENGTHS
2009 - MON MOME (15/31) - towards the rear early on he didn't get a mention by the BBC commentator until the water. After runaway leader Black Apalachi had departed at second Bechers this became a very open renewal - there were about a dozen still in contention after three out and he was amongst them. He took the lead at the penultimate obstacle and then won very easily - more than his ridiculously long odds of 100-1 would have suggested - TWELVE LENGTHS
Just held on
2007 - SILVER BIRCH (4/29) - Never nearer than tenth for most of the first circuit he was making steady ground by halfway and had moved into fourth place by second Foinavon. Made his move at the twenty sixth but then was hampered by a loose horse. Led at the last with a better jump than Slim PIckings he just held on from the very fast finishing McKelvey (who it was later found had broken down) - the post came just in time. He would have been collared a few strides later - THREE QUARTERS OF A LENGTH
The Nineties
The Greatest Font running perfrmance you will ever see
1997 - LORD GYLLENE (2/29) - he jumped off with the leaders and apart from when he lost the lead at the water when hampered by a loose horse made most of the running. It was probably the greatest front-running performance since the legendary Troytown in 1920. It was simply breathtaking. Sadly injury plagued the rest of his career and he never got to have another go. Possibly the greatest one hit wonder in Grand National history - TWENTY FIVE LENGTHS
Always prominent
1990 - MR FRISK (1/27) - prominent from flag fall, he followed the American trail blazer Uncle Merlin although he did just lead at the water. He was left in the lead at second Bechers when the American horse landed too steeply and pitched rider, Hywel Davies over his head. He was not headed again although Durham Edition did his level best to peg him back near the line - THREE QUARTERS OF A LENGTH
Very brave
1994 - MIINEHOMA (3/17) - This was an attritional National run in heavy conditions with only a handful of brave survivors with any chance by second Bechers. That was where he made his one mistake and was down on his nose. He was prominent througout the second circuit disputing the lead with a bunch of other old fashioned "stayers" (Just So, Moorcroft Boy and the mare Ebony Jane). He let Moorcroft Boy do most of the work in the closing stages but after the last there was only ever going to be one winner - ONE AND A QUARTER LENGTH
Obvious Really
1998 - EARTH SUMMIT (5/19) - he stayed, he jumped, he loved the mud, he had won a Scottish and Welsh National.....it was the worst field for a modern day National with only a handful in the handicap proper. Keeping out of trouble he quietly waited to make his move and did so with contemptous ease - how did anyone even consider backing anything else ? - ELEVEN LENGTHS
Got to the front...and stayed there
1995 - ROYAL ATHLETE (6/20) - Like Little Polveir and Aldaniti before him he got to the front relatively early on he was in front by the seventeenth fence. He was taking the shortest route on the inside and despite the best efforts of red-hot favourite Master Oats who did briefly head him at Bechers, the Canal Turn and the twenty seventh Royal Athlete never looked like he was going to get beaten and he simply outgalloped his rivals to win very easily - SEVEN LENGTHS
Hunted on the first circuit
1991 - SEAGRAM (15/34) - Took it easy on the first circuit but was making steady progress on the second and had moved into the front line by second Bechers and was fifth by the Canal Turn. He looked held two fences from home having been outjumped by Garrison Savannah who drew clear at the last. The little horse plugged on and made up a considerable amount of ground to sweep past the Gold Cup hero half way up the run in to the delight of his little known jockey who punched the air before the post came - FIVE LENGTHS
1996 - ROUGH QUEST (10/22) - DIdn't get a mention by the BBC until the Anchor Bidge this one was very patiently ridden and was still only fifth after second Valentines. He took the lead after the last and hung badly to the left up to the Elbow undoubtably hampering the runner up Encore Un Peu. The resulting stewards enquiry led to a rather subdued reception in the winners enclosure and to be frank had this been a seller at Plumptom he would have lost the race - ONE AND A QUARTER LENGTH
Easy does it
1992 - PARTY POLITICS (5/34) - another to have a quiet first circuit but this giant horse was amongst an unusually high number of horses with a chance after the second Canal. He disputed the lead at the twenty seventh fence and as they turned onto the racecourse for the final time only the little Romany King could go with him and even then he was never going to catch him. Not many horses make the National fences look small but this giant made them look like hurdles. This was all very easy in the end - TWO & A HALF LENGTHS
1999 - BOBBYJO (9/27) - He didn't take the lead until after the last fence but this was so easy. He was hunted for a circuit but was just toying with his rivals. Fourth two out he was just biding his time. Great performance - cue the most exhuberent jockey celebrations ever seen at Aintree - ELEVEN LENGTHS
The Twenty Tens
Great front running performance
2011 - BALLABRIGGS (1/27) - In the front line throughout. He led at the third fence and was one of a few National winners to lead at the water. He was never out of the first five and took the lead again at the twenty seventh and stayed there. This was probably the finest front runing performance of the decade but he was very tired afterwards and became the first National winner not to enter the winners enclosure. A very worthy winner on the day he did not show that form again and never won another race - TWO & THREE QUARTER LENGTHS
Prominent throughout
2013 - AURORAS ENCORE (7/33) - Never out of the first nine from flag fall he quietly raced just behind the leaders on the first circuit. He had moved into fifth by the second big ditch and was fourth by second Bechers. A mistake at the twenty seventh briefly checked his momentum but he was chasing the two leaders Teafrotheree and Oscar Time two out and smoothly jumped to the lead at the last as Teaforthree jumped through the fence. He went on to win very easily. Sadly that proved to be his only attempt at the race - NINE LENGTHS
Letting others do the hard work
2010 - DON'T PUSH IT (8/31) - With the front running Black Apalachi making a splendid sight in front with Irish outsider Conna Castle blazing the trail it was easy for him to bide his time on the first circuit. He was always going well, just a few places behind the leaders. Still a distant fifth at the twenty first but was one of four runners who had drawn clear by the third last. He took the lead at the last and won very comfortably for his ecstatic jockey - FIVE LENGTHS
No-one saw him coming
2017 - ONE FOR ARTHUR (21/33) - Was amongst the backmarkers early one, was still a backmarker at half way and was still in twentieth place when he ran wide round the second Canal. Yet he was slowly but steadily making progress. He was not noticed by anyone though. He finally got his first mention on the commentatary as he swept past rivals after the Anchor Bridge. Approaching the second last he was making "significant progress". I should say so. He took the second last in the lead and that was it. He was mentioned just eght times in commentary - FOUR & A HALF LENGTHS
Quietly ridden - always there but did anyone notice him
2014 - PINEAU DE RE (11/28) - I'd never head of this one before and to be honest it appeared that most of the commentators hadn't as well. He was in rear over the first couple of fences, moved to mid-division by first Bechers and was about tenth by the Anchor Bridge when he got his first mention by the Channel 4 commentators. A coming together with One in a Milan at the thriteenth got him his second but considering how close he was on the second circuit he only seemed to get mentioned sporadically until he was disputing the lead with Rocky Creek as they raced back onto the racecourse and then drawing clear of his rivals two out. He got mentioned then - FIVE LENGTHS
2016 - RULE THE WORLD (9/31) - The forgotten winner of the decade as he was retired almost immediately after winning when still technically a novice. He was always there but you wouldn't have noticed him. Always just behind the leaders on the first circuit and then looking to be going very sweetly on the run down to Bechers second time. A blunder at the twenty seventh looked to have put paid to his chances but he kept on and two out was going very well and was one of three in with a chance at he last. "where did you come from" shouted a racegoer next to me and he swept passed. At the time I was shocked to see a horse I hadn't heard much about win - SIX LENGTHS
Tired - but brave
2015 - MANY CLOUDS (7/30) - In mid division early he went the shortest way round as he was hunted on the first circuit. As with many recent winners he had moved into a more promnent position by half way but had lost his position on the run to Bechers seond time. He was left in the lead when The Druids Nephew slid to the ground at the twenty sixth fence and he stayed in front. He was very tired and needed oxygen afterwards which meant he did not enter the winners enclosure with his jockey. A very very brave horse and one of our favourite winners - ONE & THREE QUARTER LENGTHS
Left it late
2012 - NEPTUNE COLLONGES (8/23) - Was in rear early on and only had four behind him at the third fence. Whilst he was making some progress by the Anchor Bridge he did not get a mention until the Chair. He made slow progress on the second circuit but was still only fourth at the last and others were looking the more likely winners. He was resolute though, wore down the opposition and stole the race on the line - he won by a nose. He only led at the winning post. Wow - A NOSE
Just held on
2018 - TIGER ROLL (9/26) - He was cruising as they approached the Anchor Bridge crossing and on the approach to two out it looked like the little horse was going to be a very easy winner. He jumped the second last better than Pleasant Company but in the final half furlong he got tired and the runner up got closer and closer and to be honest the post came just in time - A HEAD
A little easier this time
2019 - TIGER ROLL (11/38) - Again he was prominent throughout with just one peck at the twenty sixth fence. His main rival Magic of Life helped by blundering at the last fence and he had no last minute scares this year and he won quite cosily. Who would have thought that we would see another dual winner ? Sadly Covid 19 and the disagreement with the handicapper meant that this was goodbye - TWO & A QUARTER LENGTHS
Where was the National winner at Half Way ?
1st - BALLABRIGGS (11)
MR FRISK (90)
2nd - LORD GYLLENE (97)
3rd - MIINNEHOMA (94)
4th - PAPILLON (00)
MONTYS PASS (03)
RED MARAUDER (01)
SILVER BIRCH (07)
5th - EARTH SUMMIT (98)
HEDGEHUNTER (05)
PARTY POLITICS (92)
6th - BINDAREE (02)
MINELLA TIMES (21)
NOBLE YEATS (22)
ROYAL ATHLETE (95)
7th - AURORAS ENCORE (13)
COMPLY OR DIE (08)
MANY CLOUDS (15)
TIGER ROLL (18)
8th - DON'T PUSH IT (10)
NEPTUNE COLLONGES (12)
9th - BOBBYJO (99)
RULE THE WORLD (16)
10th - CORACH RAMBLER (23)
ROUGH QUEST (96)
11th - AMBERLEIGH HOUSE (04)
PINEAU DE RE (14)
TIGER ROLL (19)
15th - I AM MAXIMUS (24)
MON MOME (09)
SEAGRAM (91)
17th - NUMBERSIXVALVERDE (06)
21st - ONE FOR ARTHUR (17)
I came Last in a Grand National
Quiscover Fontaine clears the last in 2013 to finish "second last" in the 2013 National. Mumbles Head (number 33) and Roberto Goldblack have come to a halt
Even with the modifications it still takes something to complete the course (it was the fences now it is the jockeys being told to pull up when beaten - nine were pulled up in the closing stages in 2017). So here is a tribute to those brave brave horses that quietly completed to cross the line, sometimes a very long way behind - sometimes even when the winner was in the winners enclosure. Some last placed runners in particular caught my eye.
1990 - BOB TISDALL (20th) - Kevin Mooney (66-1)
1991 - GOLDEN FRREZE (17th) - Michael Bowlby (40-1)
1992 - SIRRAH JAY (22nd) - Michael Bowlby (100-1) - What a difference a year makes - the following year he won the Topham
1994 - ROC DE PRINCE (6th) - Jonathan Lower (100-1) - Put in probably the worst display of jumping ever seen in a National as he clouted fence after fence on the second circuit - how he survived is a mystery and I can only assume that his rider has glued himself to the saddle.
1995 - FOR WILLIAM (15th*) - Conor O'Dwyer (100-1)
1996 - SURE METAL (17th) - Donald McCain Jnr (200-1)
1997 - EVANGELICA (17th) - Robbie Supple (33-1)
1998 - KILLESHIN (6th*) - Sean Curran (25-1)
1999 - COOME HILL (17th) - Steve Wynne (25-1)
2000 - CELTIC GIANT (17th) - Bruce Gibson (100-1)
2001 - PAPILLON (4th*) - Ruby Walsh (14-1)
2002 - MELY MOSS (11th*) - Norman Williamson (25-1) - This talented but very fragile horse rarely managed more than one race a season so it was a remarkable training performance by Charlie Egerton to get him fit to run four consecutive times over the National fences. Runner up in both 1999 Foxhunters and 2000 National he was brought down in the melee at the Canal Turn in 2001. In 2002 he was getting a little long in the tooth and whilst he was travelling well on the first circuit he was struggling and in rear when he landed too steeply at the second last and came down. Why is he of relevance here ? Jockey Norman Williamson was quick to his feet, remounted and the pair finished the course in last place and in doing so became the last runner to be remounted in the Grand National. Remounting was, by then a rare occurrence and was banned altogether by the BHA in 2009 so it won't be happening again.
2003 - SOUTHERN STAR (14th) - Dominic Ellsworth (66-1)
2004 - DAVIDS LAD (11th) - Timmy Murphy (12-1)
2005 - SHAMAWAN (21st) - Shay Barry (200-1)
2006 - FOREST GUNNER (9th) - Miss Nina Carberry (33-1)
2007 - GALLANT APPROACH (12th) - Jimmy McCarthy (33-1)
2008 - MILAN DEUX MILLE (15th) - Tom Malone (125-1) - I have gone on at some length about the changing attitudes of riders in recent years and nowadays rather than hacking over the final fences to achieve the glory of finishing the course most no-hopers are now pulled up in the closing stages (even after jumping the last). Nowhere is this more dramatically exampled as in 2017 when a staggering number of runners were still going three out before nine were pulled up. In 2015 rider Jack Doyle was even fined for "injudicious riding" when he allowed Wayward Prince to continue almost a fence behind the remainder before he took a tired fall three out. Milan Deux Mille features here as he is the last horse to complete the course miles behind the others. He was owned by Kent based property tycoon Fergus Wilson (who gained notoriety in the noughties for running complete no-hopers in championship races). Milan Deux Mille was probably the best horse he owned at the time and had every right to take his place in a National despite only being six years old. The previous year after a string of victories he had run blinder in the Topham finishing fifth having been prominent throughout. In the National itself he led in the early stages and was still in front at the water. However on the second circuit he was struggling and by Bechers had lost his place completely and was a long way last. He should have been pulled up but his rider Tom Malone kept plugging away. As the field crossed the Anchor Bridge he was two fences behind the others and eventually finished albeit completely tailed off. It is said he finished a "distance" behind the fourteenth placed horse but that does not do this appalling performance justice. Interestingly he finished even further behind in the following years Topham. I do not know if the stewards investigated both performances afterwards but all I can say here is that you would not get away with it today.
2009 - CORNISH SETT (17th) - Nick Scholfield (33-1)
2010 - PRIESTS LEAP (14th) - Philip Enright (100-1)
2011 - PIRAYA (19th) - Johnny Farrelly (100-1)
2012 - MIDNIGHT HAZE (15th) - Sean Quinlan (80-1)
2013 - ANY CURRENCY (17th) - Ian Popham (100-1)
2014 - HAWKES POINT (18th) - Ryan Mahon (50-1)
2015 - DOLATULO (19th) - Dougie Costello (66-1)
2016 - MANY CLOUDS (16th) - Leighton Aspell (8-1 fav) - eased down when his chance had clearly gone and was literally walked across the line with a couple of others. Classes as a completion as he had cleared every fence and his rider did not dismount.
2017 - WONDERFUL CHARM (19th) - Ms Katie Walsh (28-1)
2018 - BAS DES ILES (12th) - Ms Katie Walsh (16-1)
2019 - DON POLI (19th) - Mr Patrick Mullins (66-1)
2021 - CLASS CONTI (15th) - Brian Hayes (66-1)
2022 - LOSTINTRANSLATION (15th) - Harry Cobden (50-1)
2023 - AIN'T THAT A SHAME (17th) - Rachael Blackore (10-1) - Subject to a last minute plunge but whilst in with a chance three out he simply didn't stay.
2024 -