Grand National Reviews

The 2021 Grand National was deprived of spectators but there was no shortage of emotion when Rachael Blackmore triumphed on the 11/1 shot Minella Times for trainer Henry De Bromhead at Aintree on 10^th April. Wearing the famous yellow and green-striped colours ofmore…

Tiger Roll became the first horse since Red Rum in 1973 and 1974 to win the Grand National in consecutive years when prevailing in the 2019 race as the 4/1 favourite.

The diminutive Gordon Elliott-trained runner, ridden bymore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

Tiger Roll, the 10/1 joint second favourite in the 2018 Grand National betting, looked set for an easy victory under Davy Russell with a six length advantage at the elbow but Pleasant Company (25/1) kept finding for Danny Mullins and they crossed the line together.

A photo was needed tomore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

Anyone who had backed the 2017 Grand National winner One For Arthur (14/1) had to look very hard to spot him in running but he galloped into contention when it mattered to win comfortably under Derek Fox by four and a half lengths.

Saddled by Lucinda Russell for ‘Two Golf Widows’, Deborah Thomson and Belinda McClung, One For Arthur became themore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

The 2016 Grand National was good for the bookies as 33/1 shot Rule The World outstayed 8/1 joint favourite The Last Samuri to win by six lengths under David Mullins for Mouse Morris and owner Gigginstown, aka Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary.

The third placed 13-year-old Vics Canvas was totally ignored by punters at 100/1 but the handicapper rated themore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

The 2015 Grand National gave trainer Oliver Sherwood his first, jockey Leighton Aspell his second and owner Trevor Hemmings his third Grand National victory.

It was also a good result for the bookies when the high-class 25/1 shot Many Clouds bounced back to form, carrying a big weight to victory in the Aintree showpiece. The bookmakers weremore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

The 2014 Grand National left some top trainers’ hopes in tatters as Pineau De Re, the first National runner sent out by Dr Richard Newland (pictured), was the toast of Aintree. The 25/1 shot in the Grand National betting tested the balance of his jockey, Leighton Aspell, but not his strength in riding a finish.

The 11-year-old French-bred got themore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

Bookmakers cheered loudest in the closing stages of the Grand National 2013. Trainer Sue Smith’s unheralded Auroras Encore, ridden by stable jockey Ryan Mania, pinged the last and powered away to claim victory at the dismissive odds of 66/1.

It was a fairytale first tilt at the Grand National for both Auroras Encore and his jockey. The partnership had comemore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

It took a photo for the judges to decide that Neptune Collonges, a 33/1 outsider in the Grand National betting ridden by Daryl Jacob, had got the better of Sunnyhillboy. The distance was given as a nose but it was little more than a flared nostril of the striking grey.

No commentator had dared tomore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

It’s not easy to win the National from the front but Ballabriggs, a 14/1 shot in the Grand National betting, was prominent from the off and managed to outstay the field under a vigorous drive from Jason Maguire.

He bravely fought off a final challenge from the impeccably connected amateur, Sam Waley-Cohen onmore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

The 2010 Grand National was a triumph for punters as AP McCoy finally broke his Aintree duck on the 10/1 joint-favourite, Don’t Push It. The partnership attracted an avalanche of money on the day, badly bruising the bookies. It was a first win for McCoy’s boss, owner JP McManus and trainer Jonjo O’Neill too.

For once McCoy did notmore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

How can a 100/1 shot in the Grand National not just win but leave the field trailing, looking distinctly one-paced in his wake? Mon Mome, trained by Venetia Williams, did exactly that under Liam Treadwell, having started at a triple-figure price that suggested he had no hope.

There were no obvious reasons for themore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

Plenty of horses were in with a chance two out in the 2008 Grand National. That soon changed when the 7/1 joint favourite Comply Or Die effortlessly took the lead under Timmy Murphy after the last and maintained it to beat King Johns Castle (20/1) by four lengths.

Willie Mullins’ Snowy Morning (16/1) was amore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

When the 33/1 shot Silver Birch held on to beat the strong finishing Mckelvey (12/1) by three-quarters of a length in the 2007 Grand National the celebrations in the winners’ enclosure were extraordinary. His young rookie trainer, Gordon Elliott, was ecstatic. So were the bookies.

Silver Birch had taken themore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

Approaching the last the 5/1 joint favourite Hedgehunter and Ruby Walsh looked likely to reward their many supporters but Numbersixvalverde scooted away under Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden to win the 2006 Grand National (pictured).

Hedgehunter, the winner in 2005 for Willie Mullins, could only finish six lengths behind him in second undermore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

Hedgehunter, the 7/1 favourite for the 2005 Grand National, put up an impressive weight-carrying performance as he strolled to victory.

Trainer Willie Mullins had concerns before the race but the nine-year-old Irish-bred readily asserted his superiority before his jockey Ruby Walsh had even asked him for an effort. He became the first horse tomore…

Last updated February 12th, 2020

The 2004 Grand National witnessed a much-loved and familiar old face in the winner’s enclosure as Ginger McCain (pictured) landed a fourth win in the showpiece race.

Aintree came alive when his Amberleigh House (16/1) emerged from an unpromising position and outstayed younger opponents. The 12-year-old had been very patiently ridden bymore…