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| Five Most Memorable Grand Nationals |
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The
Aintree
showpiece is an iconic sporting event that has often captured the hearts of
a nation. Officially ran for the first time back in 1839, the almost four and a
half miles race is the most strenuous equine test in the National Hunt
calendar.
There have been many Grand National stories – good and
bad – over the years that reached both the front and back pages of the
national newspapers, and if current bookmakers’ favourite Many Clouds was
to repeat his success from last year, then the nine year-old would be another
fairy tale to go down in history with the likes of Reynoldstown (1935-36) and
more latterly Red Rum (1973-74 & 77) as multiple Aintree winners.
Emotional
One of the most emotional endings to a Grand
National came back in 1981 when Aldaniti, ridden by
Bob Champion claimed the most prestigious event in jumps
racing. Champion was diagnosed with testicular cancer two years previously, and
with intense treatment he battled his way back into the saddle. It was a true
triumph through adversity for Champion, in a story that captured the nation.
Trained by Josh Gifford, Aldaniti – who also battled chronic leg injuries
throughout his career – beat Spartan Missile by four lengths to return as
the 10/1 winner to the delight of the Aintree
crowd.
Celebrated
At the fifteenth attempt, Sir Anthony Peter
McCoy finally realised his dream back in 2010 with his
National success on Don’t Push It. After winning
virtually everything worth having as a jump jockey, McCoy celebrated his
victory on the 10/1 shot with emotion rarely seen before by the champion
jockey. Don’t Push It narrowly took the lead at the final fence with Black
Apalachi close behind. A titanic battle ensued until after The Elbow, but McCoy
eventually gained the upper had to give both trainer Jonjo O’Neill and
owner JP McManus their first wins in the prestigious race.
Catastrophe
No article of this nature would be complete
without Devon Loch’s amazing catastrophe in the 1956 Grand National. After
jumping the 30th and final fence, the horse – owned by the Queen Mother
and ridden by Dick Francis – inexplicably stumbled inside the last half
furlong with the race at his mercy. ESB - who was pencilled in for second place
- gratefully accepted the unexpected invitation to win the National by ten
lengths from Gental Moya, followed by Royal Tan in third place. Francis
remounted Devon Loch, but to no avail, and the horse sadly finished unplaced in
an unlikely ending.
Carnage
The seventh fence – and 23rd
on the second circuit - of the Aintree racecourse is called Foinavon. It was
christened after the 1967 National as 28 of the 44 participants climbed
Bechers’ Brook for the second time, but carnage ensued at the next as
Popham Down – who was running as a loose horse – unexpectedly ran
down the 23rd fence and caused a huge pile-up. Foinavon was so far behind that
jockey, John Buckingham was able to steer clear of the melee and jump clear
from the rest of the field and was never repelled at odds of 100/1 in one of
the biggest upsets in National history.
Decorated
Anyone who
knows anything about the Grand National would recognise the name of Red Rum.
The most decorated horse in the race’s history claimed his maiden win back
in 1973 – but it was far from a cakewalk. Racing under a light weight of
10st 5lbs, Red Rum was around 15 lengths behind runaway leader, Crisp at the
final fence. The Australian horse was giving
Red
Rum 23lbs and that burden was ultimately the telling factor as the Ginger
McCain inmate, ridden by Brian Fletcher, pipped the tiring Crisp in the dying
strides in what is still the fourth-fastest time since records
began. |
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| Many Clouds |
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 by
Carine06 |
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