Analysis 1946 - 1959

In the days before the National was broadcast on the telly for most people the only way to see the National would be to either see the race live on track or to watch the newsreel footage that was shown at cinemas a week after the event. The latter was actually the best option as (as they so often bragged) their films provided a close up view of the action when, until the opening of the Earl of Derby and Lord Sefton stands in 2007, it was impossible to follow a race over the National course from the stands. The three companies that provided footage, British Pathe, Movietone and until 1956 Gaumont provide a geat record of the race as long as one accepts that the full race is not shown and that the commentary from the newsreader was mostly in the past tense with some pretty dreadful puns often thrown in.....my word !

For me analysing the newsreel footage is the best way of providing a definitive record of each race, Chaseform is not always as accurate as you would hope whilst the Sporting Chronicle that provided their own annuals until 1970 was pretty hopeless. So, after hours and hours spent watching the damned things and endlessly comparing notes with the ultimate Grand National anorak Mick Mutlow here goes. I am pretty certain that for 1949 and from 1951 onwards the analysis is accurate. I will never pin down 1946 accurately as the footage is of insufficient quality to work out the patterns of the colours of the runners whlst 1947-1948 and 1950 are just hard to work out.

Update : April 24 - Thanks to Scott Youngs "National Colours" book and the grandnational ultimate history website which enabled me to finally sort out 1946 as definitively as I think I will ever get and both sources were used with regards tidying up and amending my records between 1947 & 1950.

* denotes that the horses fate is not captured on any footage but that I am satisfied we have the right placing

horses and placings in italics mean that this is not covered on any footage and I am not 100% sure of this animals fate and am relying on the form book.

This took me ages - I hope you enjoy

1946

Friday 5th April 1946 - Going : Good

Sources: Sporting Chronicle/Pathe/Movietone/Gaumont/Daily Express Archive

First fence : ASTROMETER (fell)*, ELSICH (fell), YUNG-YAT (fell)*

Third fence : HISTORICAL REVIEW (unseated rider), JOCK (unseated rider), ELSICH (refused)

Bechers (6th) : SYMBOLE (fell), ALACRITY (hampered & unseated rider)

Tenth fence : HEIRDOM (fell)

Eleventh fence : DOUBLE FLUSH (fell)

Twelfth fence : DUNSHAUGHLIN (fell)

Thirteenth fence : KAMI (fell)*

The Chair : BOGSKAR (hampered & unseated rider)

Order at half way : (1) LOUGH CONN, (2) PRINCE REGENT, (3) LIMESTONE EDWARD, (4) HOUSEWARMER, (5) SILVER FAME, (6) TULYRA, (7) SCHUBERT, (8) MACMOFFAT, (9) JACK FINLAY, (10) BRICETT, (11) NEWARK HILL, (12) LOVELY COTTAGE, (13) VAIN KNIGHT, (14) MUSICAL LAD, (15) SUZERAIN II, (16) E P, (17) LARGO, (18) RED ROWER, (19) GYPPO, (20) KING GESSON, (21) KNIGHT'S CREST

Nineteenth fence : LOUGH CONN (fell when leading), SILVER FAME (hampered & unseated rider), KING GESSON (refused), VAIN KNIGHT (fell), KNIGHTS CREST (came to a standstill in hole in fence & unseated rider)

Twentieth fence : E P (refused)

Second Bechers : LARGO (fell), NEWARK HILL (fell), TULYRA (unseated rider)

Twenty third fence : BRICETT (fell)*, MACMOFFAT (fell)

Order at Second Canal : (1) LIMESTONE EDWARD (6th), (2) PRINCE REGENT (3rd), (3) HOUSEWARMER (4th), (4) LOVELY COTTAGE (1st), (5) JACK FINLAY (2nd), (6) SCHUBERT (5th), (7) MUSICAL LAD, (8) SUZERAIN II, (9) GYPPO, RED ROWER (pulled up)

Twenty fifth fence : GYPPO (fell)

Twenty ninth fence : SUZERAIN II (fell), MUSICAL LAD (pulled up)

1947

Saturday 29th March - Going : Heavy

Sources : Sporting Chronicle/Chaseform/Pathe/British Movietone footage

First fence : EP (fell) , REVELRY (fell) - some sources say EP was brought down but from the slow motion coverage it looks as if he was in the process of falling independently

Third fence : BULLINGTON (unseated rider), MICHAELS PEARL (unseated rider), PATRICKSWELL (ran/carried out)

Fifth fence : WICKLOW WOLF (pulled up)*

First Bechers : BLACK JENNIFER (fell remounted)*, DAY DREAMS (pulled up)*, LUAN CASCA (unseated rider)

First Canal : SHANAKILL (fell)

First Valentines : PRATTLER (unseated rider)

Tenth fence : BLACK JENNIFER (fell a second time & remounted)*, OCULTOR (fell)*

Eleventh fence : BOGSKAR (refused & unseated rider), BRICK BAT (refused), HALCYON HOURS (hampered & refused)

Twelfth fence : BORDER BOB (unseated rider), GRANITZA (refused), SHEILAS COTTAGE (hampered & unseated rider), PARTHENON (unseated rider)

Fourteenth fence : FIRST OF THE DANDIES (unseated rider)*, LINTHILL (pulled up)*

The Chair : GYPPO (fell)*

Order at half way : (1) LOUGH CONN, (2) MUSICAL LAD, (3) KILNAGLORY, (4) TULYRA, (5) KLAXTON, (6) BRICETT, (7) CAUGHOO, (8) JACK FINLAY, (9) DOMINO, (10) BOMBER COMMAND, (11) PRINCE REGENT, (12) BRIGHTER SANDY, (13) SILVER FAME, (14) ROWLAND ROY, (15) SOME CHICKEN, (16) OH JOE, (17) REARMAMENT, (18) GRECIAN VICTORY, (19) GORMANSTOWN, (20) REFUGIO, (21) CLYDUFFE, (22) LEAP MAN, (23) HOUSEWARMER, (24) SCHUBERT, (25) DOUBLE SAM, (26) GOOD DATE, (27) KAMI, (28) SODA II, (29) MARTIN M, (30) MACMOFFAT, (31) JUBILEE FLIGHT, (32) YUNG YAT, (33) TOYETTE, (34) TRIBUNE, (35) HARDY LAD, (36) BLACK JENNIFER

Nineteenth fence : BOMBER COMMAND (unseated rider - saddle slipped), KLAXTON (unseated rider), OH JOE (unseated rider)*

Twenty first fence : DOMINO (pulled up)*, TRIBUNE (pulled up)*, YUNG-YAT (puled up)*

Second Bechers : BLACK JENNIFER (fell and finally called it a day)*, MACMOFFAT (fell)*, ROWLAND ROY (fell remounted)

Twenty third fence : GOOD DATE (fell)*

Order at second Canal : (1) LOUGH CONN, (2) CAUGHOO, (3) KILNAGLORY, (4) BRICETT (fell), (5) SOME CHICKEN, (6) PRINCE REGENT, (7) TULYRA, (8) MUSICAL LAD (fell), (9) GRECIAN VICTORY (fell), (10) REFUGIO, (11) KAMI, (12) DOUBLE SAM, (13) HOUSEWARMER, (14) SILVER FAME, (15) CLYDUFFE, (16) SODA II, (17) JACK FINLAY, (18) SCHUBERT, (19) REARMAMENT, (20) BRIGHTER SANDY, (21) LEAP MAN and others toiling some way behind

Twenty Sixth fence : SODA II (fell)*

Twenty Eighth fence : DOUBLE SAM (refused), JACK FINLAY (fell), SILVER FAME (hampered & unseated rider), TULYRA (refused). Some sources say Rearmament fell here and was remounted but the newsreel footage shows him jumping the fence cleanly, GORMANSTOWN (hampered & refused)

1948

Saturday 20th March - Going : Good

First fence : BRICETT (fell), SERPENTINE (unseated rider)

Third fence : ULTRA BENE (unseated rider)

Fourth fence : BORAS's COTTAGE (fell)*

First Bechers : SILVER FAME (hampered & fell), SOME CHICKEN (fell)

Seventh fence: LOYAL ANTRIM (fell)*

First Canal : ROIMOND (unseated rider), CADDIE II (Unseated rider), HALYCON HOURS (refused when tailed off), MUSICAL LAD* (most sources have him falling at the twenty third fence having remained in rear throughout. The Ultimate Grand National site and National Colours have him coming to a stop here. I have trawled all footage and there are no shots of him anywhere not even in the background so I have amended my records accordingly.

Tenth fence : LOVELY COTTAGE (fell & remounted)*

Thirteenth fence : CLONCARRIG (unseated when leading)

Fourteenth fence : SIR JOHN (unseated rider), ULSTER MONARCH (unseated rider)

The Chair : GORMANSTOWN (unseated rider), REARMAMENT (unseated rider), TOMMY TRADDLES (refused & unseated rider), TUDOR CLOSE (fell)*

Order at half way : (1) FIRST OF THE DANDIES, (2) ZAHIA, (3) HAPPY HOME, (4) LE DAIM, (5) SHEILAS COTTAGE, (6) ROWLAND ROY, (7) OFFALY PRINCE, (8) PARTHENON, (9) HIGHLAND LAD, (10) MALTESE WANDERER, (11) CROMWELL, (12) WAR RISK, (13) SCHUBERT, (14) WEEVIL, (15) SKOURAS, (16) SODA II, (17) CLONABOY, (18), KLAXTON (19 HOUSEWARMER), (20) PRINCE REGENT, (21) CAUGHOO, (22) REVELRY, (23) PLATYPUS, LOUGH CONN (pulled up after water - broke blood vessel*, (tailed off) LOVELY COTTAGE

Seventeenth fence : SODA II (hampered & unseated rider - rider ended on top of the hedge adjacent to the landing side)

Nineteenth fence : LE DAIM (fell), WEEVIL (hampered & unseated rider)

Twenty First fence : HIGHLAND LAD (fell)

Second Bechers : CLONABOY (fell), HOUSEWARMER (hampered & fell)

Twenty third fence : PRINCE REGENT (carried out)*, CAUGHOO (pulled up)*, SKOURAS (pulled up)*

Thirtieth fence : ZAHIA (ran out)

As always thanks to Mick Mutlow for additions and corrections.

1949

Saturday 26th March - Going : Firm

Sources Pathe/British Movietone newsreel, Chaseform

First fence : PATHENON (fell), STONE COTTAGE (fell)

Second fence : ARRANBEG (fell)

Third fence : SAGACITY (unseated rider after fence - leather broke)

Fourth fence : SHIPS BELL (fell)

Fifth fence : CAUGHOO (ran out), REPLICA (fell)

First Bechers (sixth) : MAGNETIC FINN (fell), PERFECT NIGHT (hampered & unseated rider - remounted)

Seventh fence : CADDIE II (fell)*, CLONCARRIG (unseated rider)*, MARTIN M (fell)*

Order at first Canal : (1) ACTHON MAJOR, (2) ASTRA, (3) WOT NO SUN. (4) ROIMOND, (5) SAN MICHELE, (6) RUSSIAN HERO, (7) ROYAL MOUNT, (8) BRIGHTER SANDY, (9) LEAP MAN, (10) GALLERY, (11) ULSTER MONARCH, (12) TONDERMAN, (13) MONAVEEN, (14) SOUTHBOROUGH, (15) FLAMING STEEL, (16) MORNING STAR, (17) CLYDUFFE, (18) CAVALIERO, (19) BRICETT, (20) HAPPY HOME, (21) OFFALY PRINCE, (22) CROMWELL, (23) ROYAL COTTAGE, (24) BARN DANCE, (25) CELTIC CROSS (fell), (26), LOYAL ANTRIM, (27) SEN TOI (unseated rider), (28) PERFECT NIGHT, (29) BRUNO II, (30) BORAS COTTAGE, (31) LUCKY PURCHASE, ARDNACASSA (pulled up)

Valentines (9th) : CAVALIERO (fell)

Tenth fence : ACTHON MAJOR (fell when leading), BORAS COTTAGE (fell), OFFALY PRINCE (fell)

Eleventh fence : BARN DANCE (unseated rider)

The Chair : LEAP MAN (unseated rider)

Order at half way : (1) ROIMOND, (2) WOT NO SUN, (3) RUSSIAN HERO, (4) SAN MICHELLE, (5) ROYAL MOUNT, (6) ULSTER MONARCH, (7) SOUTHBOROUGH, (8) MONAVEEN, (9) GALLERY, (10) HAPPY HOME, (11) CROMWELL, (12) ASTRA, (13) TONDERMAN, (14) BRIGHTER SANDY, (15) ROYAL COTTAGE, (16) BRICETT, (17) FLAMING STEEL, (18) LOYAL ANTRIM, (19) CLYDUFFE, (20) MORNING STAR II, (21) LUCKY PURCHASE, (22) BRUNO II, (23) PERFECT NIGHT

Nineteenth fence : MONAVEEN (unseated rider)

Twentieth fence : MORNING STAR II (fell)

Twenty first fence : BRUNO II (fell)

Second Bechers : ROYAL COTTAGE (refused & unseated rider), WOT NO SUN (fell)

Twenty third fence : SAN MICHELE (fell)

Order at second Canal : (1) ROYAL MOUNT, (2) ROIMOND, (3) RUSSIAN HERO, (4) CROMWELL, (5) SOUTHBOROUGH (fell), (6) HAPPY HOME, (7) ASTRA, (8) TONDERMAN, (9) ULSTER MONARCH (fell), (10) GALLERY, (11) BRIGHTER SANDY (brought down), (12) BRICETT, (13) FLAMING STEEL, (14) LOYAL ANTRIM, CLYDUFFE, PERFECT NIGHT, LUCKY PURCHASE

Second Valentines (25th) : BRICETT (fell remounted)

Twenty seventh fence : LOYAL ANTRIM (fell)*, PERFECT NIGHT (unseated rider remounted)

Twenty eighth fence : ASTRA (unseated rider), GALLERY (unseated rider)

1950

Saturday 25th March - Going : Good

Sources : Pathe/British Movietone newsreel/Chaseform/Sporting Chronicle

First fence : COMERAGH (fell), COTTAGE WELCOME (fell), OLE`MAN RIVER (fell), RUSSIAN HERO (fell), TOMMY TRADDLES (fell) & ZARTER (fell)

Second fence : SKOURAS (unseated rider)* & IVAN`S CHOICE (fell)* - I cannot verify this some sources say Skouras came down here and others Ivan`s Choice. Forty one horses go onto the third (I have counted them - honest)

There are no fallers at the third, fourth or fifth fences.

Bechers (6th) : ARDNACASSA (fell), BATTLING PEDULAS (fell), CAVALIERO (fell), GALLERY (unseated rider)

Seventh fence : (According to chaseform) CADAMSTOWN (fell)*, GARDE TOI (fell)*, HIGHLAND COTTAGE (fell)*, INVERLOCHY (fell)*, ROIMOND (fell)*, SAN MICHELE (fell)*

Canal Turn (8th) : LIMESTONE COTTAGE (hampered & fell) , SOUTHBOROUGH (fell)

Valentines (9th) : CASTELDERMOTT (fell), HAPPY RIVER (pulled up - according to Chaseform)*, KNOCKIRR (brought down), MERMAID VI (refused)*, PASTIME (fell). POSSIBLE (unseated rider)

Eleventh fence : ROYAL MOUNT (fell hampered by a loose horse falls into the fence), CROMWELL (hampered & brought down, Lord Mildmay pitched over the fence). Some stragglers are also put out as only eighteen appear to be left in the race (apart from any remounted runners) after the twelfth. BARNEY VI (refused), BINGHAMSTOWN (refused), (chaseform states he was put to the fence a second time and eventually refused at the twentieth)

Fourteenth fence : STOCKMAN (fell)*

Order at halfway : (1) CLONCARRIG, (2) WOT NO SUN, (3) MONAVEEN, (4) SHAGREEN, (5) ACTHON MAJOR, (6) ROWLAND ROY, (7) COLUMN, (8) FREEBOOTER, (9) ANGEL HILL, (10) INCHMORE, (11) CONFUSCIUS, (12) SHIPS BELL, (13) DYNOVI, (14) SAN MICHELLE, (15) SAFETY LOCH, (16) FIGHTING LINE, (17) SODA II

Eighteenth fence : FIGHTING LINE (refused)*, SODA II (fell)*

Twenty first fence : DYNOVI (fell)*

Twenty third fence : SHAGREEN (fell)*, COLUMN (brought down)*, SAN MICHELLE (fell)*

Order at second Canal : (1) ANGEL HILL (unseated rider), (2) CLONCARRIG, (3) WOT NO SUN, (4) FREEBOOTER, (5) ACTHON MAJOR, (6) ROWLAND ROY, (7) MONAVEEN, (8) INCHMORE, (9) SHIPS BELL, CONFUCIUS (pulled up)

Second Valentines : SAFETY LOCH (pulled up)*

Twenty ninth fence : CLONCARRIG (fell)

Not known : KLAXTON, SAINTFIELD

Thanks to MIck Mutlow for corrections

1951

Saturday 7th April - Going : Soft

Sources : Pathe/British Movietone newsreel, Sporting Chronicle.

First fence : We all know the sorry tale by now - the starter Leslie Firth let them go when they were not all ready and in the mad dash to the first they went too quick. The form book states that some of these were brought down but to be frank having looked at the footage from several angles I am of the view that they all fell. CADAMSTOWN, COLUMN, CONFUCIUS (the last to jump the fence), EAST A`CALLING, FINNURE, IRISH LIZARD, LAND FORT, PARSONHILL, REVEALED, STALBRIDGE ROCK, STOCKMAN, TEXAS DAN (all fell)

Second fence : GALLERY (fell)*, FREEBOOTER (Brought down)*

Fifth fence : SHAGREEN (fell)

Bechers (6th) : MORNING COVER (fell)

Seventh fence : BINGHAMSTOWN (fell), ROWLAND ROY (fell), SERGEANT KELLY (fell)

Order at first Canal Turn (8th) : (1) ARCTIC GOLD (fell), (2) ARMOURED KNIGHT (brought down)(3) CAESAR'S WIFE, (4) RUSSIAN HERO, (5) NICKEL COIN, (6) DOG WATCH, (7) ROIMOND, (8) GLEN FIRE (fell), (9) BROOMFIELD, (10) PRINCE BROWNIE (fell). (11) GAY HEATHER, (12) PARTPOINT, (13) ROYAL TAN, (14) DERRINSTOWN, (15) CLONCARRIG (baulked - hampered by loose horse, refused & rider thrown over fence), (16) TASMAN (refused), (17) QUEEN OF THE DANDIES

Valentines (9th) : ROIMOND (fell), PARTPOINT (unseated rider), QUEEN OF THE DANDIES (fell - some way last)

Tenth fence : CAESAR`S WIFE (fell)*

Fifteenth fence : RUSSIAN HERO (hampered & unseated rider), DOG WATCH (unseated rider - didn`t get high enough, hit fence, horse went back into the ditch)

Order at Half way : (1) GAY HEATHER, (2) NICKEL COIN, (3) DERRINSTOWN, (4) ROYAL TAN, (5) BROOMFIELD

Bechers (22nd) : GAY HEATHER (fell & remounted), DERRINSTOWN (fell & remounted - he landed on Gay Heather but was in the process of falling in any event)

Twenty Third fence : BROOMFIELD (fell), GAY HEATHER (refused)*

Order at second Canal Turn : (1) NICKEL COIN, (2) ROYAL TAN, (3) DERRINSTOWN

1952

25th March - Going : Good

Sources : British Movietone/Pathe Newsreel, books, Sporting Chronicle

This year there was a false start causing a delay of ten minutes - nothing unusual in that you might think as it is almost an annual event now but in 1952 this was almost unheard of. TRAVELLERS PRIDE was the culprit who broke the tape.

First fence : EARLY MIST (fell), GOLDEN SURPRISE (fell), HAL`S VENTURE (fell), ROCKET V (fell), RUSSIAN HERO (fell) ST KATHLEEN II (fell), DOMINICKS BAR (Brought down), CARDINAL ERROR (brought down), IRISH LIZARD (brought down), COURT PAINTER (refused & unseated rider)

Third fence : CREAM OF THE BORDER (refused & unseated rider)*, INTER ALIA (fell)*, CAESARS WIFE (unseated rider), WHISPERING STEEL (refused & unseated rider) - the form book states that SERGEANT KELLY also fell here and was remounted to finish - I cannot verify this.

Fourth fence : CLONCARRIG (fell)*, NAGARA (fell)*

Fifth fence : BROWN JACK III (fell)

Bechers (6th) : SKOURAS (fell)*, WOLFSCHIDT (fell)*

Seventh fence : There were several fallers here and in the head on shot at the Canal Turn you can see several jockeys getting to their feet - neither Movietone or Pathe covered the fallers so I have to go by the form book PEARLY PRINCE (fell)*, SKYREHOLME (fell)*, TANTIVY (fell)* (all can be seen jumping Bechers and none are standing by the Canal), KELEK (refused)*

Order at first Canal Turn : (1) TEAL, (2) FREEBOOTER, (3) WOT NO SUN, (4) LEGAL JOY, (5) MENZIES, (6) ROIMOND, (7) COLUMN, (8) ROYAL STUART, (9) UNCLE BARNEY, (10) PRINTERS PIE, (11) HIERBA, (12) OVERSHADOW, (13) STARLIT BAY, (14) BORDER LUCK, (15) PARSONHILL, (16) ANOTHER DELIGHT, (17) POSSIBLE (unseated rider), (18) ROYAL TAN, (19) TRAVELLERS PRIDE, (20) TAVOY, (21) SERGEANT KELLY, (22) ICY CALM, (23) DERRINSTOWN

Valentines (9th) : ANOTHER DELIGHT (fell)

Fourteenth fence : STARLIT BAY (fell)

Order at half way : (1) TEAL, (2) FREEBOOTER, (3) WOT NO SUN, (4) LEGAL JOY, (5) BORDER LUCK, (6) ROIMOND, (7) ROYAL EXILE, (8) MENZIES, (9) ROYAL TAN, (10) PRINTERS PIE, (11) UNCLE BARNEY, (12) COLUMN, (13) OVERSHADOW, (14) HIERBA, (15) SERGEANT KELLY, (16) TAVOY, (17) TRAVELLERS PRIDE, (18) PARSONHILL, (19) DERRINSTOWN, (20) ICY CALM

Seventeenth fence : ROIMOND (fell), MENZIES (unseated rider)

Twenty first fence : BORDER LUCK (unseated rider), DERRINSTOWN (pulled up), TAVOY (pulled up)

Bechers (22nd) : TRAVELLERS PRIDE (fell)

Order at second Canal Turn : (1) TEAL, (2) FREEBOOTER (fell), (3) LEGAL JOY, (4) WOT NO SUN, (5) ROYAL TAN, (6) ROYAL STUART (refused), (7) OVERSHADOW, (8) UNCLE BARNEY, (9) SERGEANT KELLY, (10) PRINTERS PIE (tried to refuse), (11) HIERBA......ICY CALM (pulled up)*

30th fence : ROYAL TAN (fell)

1953

Saturday 28th March - Going : Good

Sources : Pathe/Movietone Newsreel/Sporting Chronicle

First Fence : GRAND TRUCE (fell), QUITE NATURALLY (fell)

Second fence : HAPPY DAYS (fell)

Third fence : WAIT AND SEE (fell), HEAD CREST (hampered & unseated rider)

Fourth fence : BAIRE (fell), CARDINAL ERROR (fell), STEEL LOCK (fell & remounted - not sure what happened - form book suggests two more refusals at Valentines and finally at the eleventh)

Bechers (6th) : LAND FORT (unseated rider)

Order at first Canal Turn (8th) : (1) ORDNANCE, (2) PARASOL II (fell), (3) LITTLE YID, (4) MONT TREMBLANT, (5) WHISPERING STEEL (hampered & unseated rider), (6) KNUCKLEDUSTER, (7) HIERBA (fell), (8) GLEN FIRE, (9) ARMOURED KNIGHT, (10) LARRY FINN, (11) EARLY MIST, (12) WITTY, (13) SENLAC HILL, (14) OVERSHADOW, (15) CLONCARRIG, (16) IRISH LIZARD, (17) PEARLY PRINCE, (18) UNCLE BARNEY, (19) CREAM OF THE BORDER, (20) PUNCHESTOWN STAR, (21) DESIRE (refused)*, LUCKY DOME (pulled up)

Tenth fence : PUNCHESTOWN STAR (refused)* (most sources say refused 11th but having checked the newsreel footage there is no sign of him)

Eleventh fence : GLEN FIRE (refused), LARRY FINN (hampered, refused & unseated rider), CREAM OF THE BORDER (refused & unseated rider)

Order at halfway : (very strung out) (1) ORDNANCE, (2) LITTLE YID, (3) MONT TREMBLANT, (4) ARMOURED KNIGHT, (5) EARLY MIST, (6) WITTY, (7) SENLAC HILL, (8) OVERSHADOW, (9) PEARLY PRINCE, (10) CLONCARRIG, (11) IRISH LIZARD, (12) UNCLE BARNEY, (13) KNUCKLEDUSTER

Nineteenth fence : KNUCKLEDUSTER (pulled up)*

Twentieth fence : ARMOURED KNIGHT (fell), ORDNANCE (fell- had made all the running until this point)

Bechers (22nd) : UNCLE BARNEY (unseated rider), WITTY (unseated rider)

Order at the Canal Turn (24th) : (1) EARLY MIST, (2) MONT TREMBLANT, (3) LITTLE YID (the rest miles behind) PEARLY PRINCE (unseated rider)*

Twenty seventh fence : LITTLE YID (refused)

Twenty eighth fence : CLONCARRIG (fell)

1954

Sources - Pathe/Movietone/Gaumont newsreel, Chaseform

First fence : ALBERONI (fell), GENTLE MOYA (unseated rider), SWINTON HERO (fell), WHISPERING STEEL (unseated rider - if you look at the newsreel footage you will see that the horse hesitated and rider Morrow was catapulted out of the saddle).

Second fence : DOMINICKS BAR (fell), MINIMAX (baulked by loose horse, refused & unseated rider)

Third fence : BAIRE (refused)

Fourth fence : PARIS NEW YORK (fell)*

Fifth fence : GAY MONARCH II (fell)

Order at First Canal Turn : (1) CONNEYBURROW, (2) SANPERION, (3) PUNCHESTOWN STAR, (4) LEGAL JOY, (5) TRIPLE TORCH, (6) ROYAL STUART, (7) CHURCHTOWN, (8) UNCLE BARNEY, (9) STATESMAN (unseated rider), (10) ICY CALM, (11) IRISH LIZARD, (12) ONTRAY, (13) ORDANANCE, (14) PRINCE OF ARAGON, (15) BORDER LUCK, (16) ROYAL TAN, (17) TUDOR LINE, (18) SOUTHERN COUP, (19) HIERBA, (20) MARTINIQUE

Twelfth fence : BORDER LUCK (unseated rider)

Thirteenth fence : LEGAL JOY (fell)

Fifteenth fence : TRIPLE TORCH (unseated rider), HIERBA (fell)*

Order at Half way (according to Chaseform) : (1) CONEYBURROW (made a terrible blunder, landed on his belly - as things turned out it would have been better if he`d called it a day there and then), (2) SANPERION, (3) ROYAL STUART, (4) CHURCHTOWN, (5) PUNCHESTOWN STAR, (6) ORDNANCE, (7) ROYAL TAN, (8) IRISH LIZARD, (9) TUDOR LINE, (10) PRINCE OF ARAGON, (11) ICY CALM, (12) ONTRAY, (13) UNCLE BARNEY, (14) SOUTHERN COUP, tailed off (15) MARTINIQUE

Twentieth fence : ICY CALM (pulled up)

Twenty third fence : ORDNANCE (fell)*, PRINCE OF ARAGON (fell)*

Order at Second Canal Turn (24th) : (1) CHURCHOWN, (2) SANPERION, (3) TUDOR LINE, (4) ROYAL TAN, (5) IRISH LIZARD, (6) CONEYBURROW, (7) PUNCHESTOWN STAR, (8) ROYAL STUART, (9) ONTRAY, (10) UNCLE BARNEY, (11) SOUTHERN COUP, (12) MARTINIQUE

Twenty eighth fence : CONEYBURROW (fell), PUNCHESTOWN STAR (refused), ROYAL STUART (refused)

1955

Sources : Pathe British Movietone Newsreel/Chaseform

First fence : BLUE ENVOY (slid in the conditions and fell), MARINER`S LOG (fell)

Third fence : ANOTHER RAKE (unseated rider - one of the last to jump the fence, almost came to a standstill and barely climbed over it)

Bechers (6th) : ESB (fell), ROMAN FIRE (Brought down)

Seventh fence : MOOGIE (third when unseated rider), COPP (never going well - fell)

Order at the first Canal (8th) : (1) SUNDEW, (2) STEEL LOCK, (3) QUARE TIMES, (4) NO RESPONSE, (5) ONTRAY, (6) M'AS TU VU. (7) GENTLE MOYA, (8) ORIENTAL WAY, (9) IRISH LIZARD, (10) UNCLE BARNEY, (11) WILD WISDOM, (12) CAREYS COTTAGE, (13) RED RUBE, (14) GIGOLO. (15) ROYAL TAN, (16) MUNSTER KING II, (17) SUN CLASP, (18) TUDOR LINE, (19) CLEARING, (20) MR LINNETT, (21) EARLY MIST, DARK STRANGER, LITTLE YID

Tenth fence : DARK STRANGER (fell)*

Eleventh fence : MUNSTER KING II (hampered & unseated rider), NO RESPONSE (fell), ORIENTAL WAY (brought down)

Order at half way (according to Chaseform) : (1) SUNDEW, (2) M`AS-TU-VU (3) STEEL LOCK, (4) CAREY`S COTTAGE, (5) QUARE TIMES, (6) GENTLE MOYA ,(7) WILD WISDOM, (8) TUDOR LINE, (9) ONTRAY, (10) RED RUBE, (11) MR LINNETT, (12) GIGOLO, (13) IRISH LIZARD, (14) LITTLE YID, (15) CLEARING, (16) UNCLE BARNEY, (17) ROYAL TAN, (18) EARLY MIST, tailed off (19) SUN CLASP

NO FALLERS FROM ELEVENTH FENCE TO TWENTY SEVENTH

Order at second Canal Turn (24th : (1) QUARE TIMES, (2) SUNDEW (blundered), (3) CAREY`S COTTAGE, (4) TUDOR LINE, (5) GENTLE MOYA, (6) STEEL LOCK, (7) IRISH LIZARD, (8) M`AS-TU-VU, (9) ONTRAY, (10) GIGOLO, (11) CLEARING, (12) WILD WISDOM, (13) EARLY MIST, (14) UNCLE BARNEY, (15) RED RUBE, (16) ROYAL TAN, (17) MR LINNETT, (18) LITTLE YID, tailed off (19) SUN CLASP

Second Valentines (25th) : LITTLE YID (pulled up)

Twenty sixth fence : MR LINNETT (pulled up)

Twenty seventh fence : SUNDEW (unseated rider), STEEL LOCK (hampered & unseated rider), M`AS-TU-VU (refused & unseated rider)

Twenty eighth fence : SUN CLASP (fell remounted pulled up - not sure where)

1956

Saturday 24th March - Going : Good

Sources : Pathe/Movietone newsreel/Chaseform

First fence : EARLY MIST (fell), HIGH GUARD (fell), MUST (fell), REVEREND PRINCE (fell)

Third fence : NO RESPONSE (unseated rider)

Fourth fence : MARINER`S LOG (fell)

Order at first Canal (8th) : (1) ARMORIAL III, (2) SUNDEW, (3) DOMATA, (4) EAGLE LODGE, (5) DEVON LOCH, (6) GENTLE MOYA, (7) ONTRAY, (8) ESB. (9) CLEARING, (10) ATHENIAN, (11) M'AS-TU-VU, (12) MARTINIQUE, (13) MUCH OBLIGED, (14) KEY ROYAL, (15) DUNBOY II, (16) MERRY WINDSOR, (17) WITTY, (18) PIPPYKIN, (19) CAREYS COTTAGE, (20) WILD WISDOM, (21) ROYAL TAN, (22) POLONIUS, (23) BORDER LUCK

Eleventh fence : DOMATA (fell)

Twelfth fence : ATHENIAN (fell)

BORDER LUCK disappears before the end of the first circuit - Chaseform has him as refused at the 18th but he is second last at the twelfth and I cannot see him from the Newsreel footage of the horses going out onto the second circuit.

Order at halfway : (1) ARMORIAL III, (2) SUNDEW, (3) EAGLE LODGE, (4) ESB, (5) DEVON LOCH, (6) ONTRAY, (7) CAREY`S COTTAGE, (8) KEY ROYAL, (9) M`AS-TU-VU, (10) CLEARING, (11) MERRY WINDSOR, (12) MUCH OBLIGED, (13) WILD WISDOM, (14) DUNBOY II, (15) MARTINIQUE, (16) PIPPYKIN, (17) ROYAL TAN, (18) GENTLE MOYA, (19) WITTY, (20) POLONIUS

Eighteenth fence : M`AS-TU-VU (fell)

The fate of DUNBOY II & POLONIUS is unknown - they have both dropped out by the twentieth fence when there were sixteen survivors

Twentieth fence : WITTY (fell)

Bechers (22nd) : SUNDEW (fell), PIPPYKIN (refused & unseated rider)

Order at second Canal (24th) : (1) ARMORIAL III, (2) DEVON LOCH, (3) EAGLE LODGE, (4) ESB, (5) GENTLE MOYA, (6) ONTRAY, (7) MUCH OBLIGED, (8) KEY ROYAL, (9) CLEARING, (10) ROYAL TAN, (11) MERRY WINDSOR, (12) MARTINIQUE, (13) CAREYS COTTAGE, (14) WILD WISDOM

Twenty sixth fence : ARMORIAL III (fell - he had made all of the running up to this point), MUCH OBLIGED (fell)

Twenty seventh fence : MERRY WINDSOR (baulked & unseated rider)

Twenty ninth fence : ONTRAY (unseated rider)

And of course we all know that DEVON LOCH slipped up on the flat within yards of the winning post when victory was looked assured.

1957

Friday 29th March - Going : Good

sources : Pathe/British Movietone/Chaseform

First fence : HART ROYAL (fell), VIRGINIUS (fell), RENDEZ-VOUS III (Brought down)

Third fence : GO-WELL (fell)

Fourth fence : ARMORIAL III (fell)

Fifth fence : WAKING (baulked & refused)

Bechers (6th) : CHERRY ABBOT (unseated rider), IRISH LIZARD (fell), ROYAL TAN (some sources say carried out, others baulked & refused but there was no head-on shot of Bechers this year so it cannot be verified)*

Order at first Canal Turn : (1) SUNDEW, (2) RED MENACE, (3) ATHENIAN, (4) GENTLE MOYA,(5) CHINA CLIPPER II, (6) THE CROFTER, (7) MERRY THROW, (8) TIBERETTA, (9) ESB, (10) WYNBURGH, (11) MORCATOR (unseated rider), (12) GOOSANDER, (13) FAHRENHEIT (fell), (14) FOUR TEN, (15) ROSE PARK, (16) MUCH OBLIGED, (17) MONKEY WRENCH, (18) CAREYS COTTAGE, (19) SYDNEY JONES, (20) GLORIOU TWELFTH, (21) FELIAS, (22) CLEARING, (23) WILD WISDOM, (24) ICELOUGH, (25) TUTTO, (26) SYDNEY JONES

Both Movietone & Pathe concentrated on Sundew over the next few jumps so apart from Red Menace I cannot verify what happened here and rely on Chaseform.

Valentines (9th) : WILD WISDOM (fell)

Tenth fence : RED MENACE (fell), CAREYS COTTAGE (baulked & fell)

Eleventh fence : CLEARING (fell), MUCH OBLIGED (fell), FELIAS (baulked & fell), TUTTO (baulked & fell), ICELOUGH (baulked & pulled up)

Order at half way : (1) SUNDEW, (2) ATHENIAN, (3) ESB, (4) THE CROFTER, (5) CHINA CLIPPER II, (6) GENTLE MOYA, (7) TIBERETTA, (8) GOOSANDER, (9) WYNDBURGH, (10) MERRY THROW, (12) FOUR TEN, (13) ROSE PARK, (14) SYDNEY JONES, (15) SANDY JANE II, (16) MONKEY WRENCH (pulled up after water)

Twentieth fence : ROSE PARK (refused)

Order at Canal Turn (24th) : (1) SUNDEW, (2) ESB, (3) THE CROFTER, (4) ATHENIAN, (5) WYNDBURGH, (6) GENTLE MOYA, (7) GLORIOUS TWELFTH, (8) CHINA CLIPPER II, (9) TIBERETTA, (10) MERRY THROW, (11) GOOSANDER, (12) FOUR TEN, (13) SYDNEY JONES, (14) SANDY JANE II

Valentines (25th) : ATHENIAN (fell)

Twenty Eighth fence : FOUR TEN (unseated rider)

Thirtieth fence : CHINA CLIPPER II (fell)

1958

Saturday 29th March - Going : Soft

Sources : Pathe/British Movietone/Chaseform

Second fence : LONGMEAD (fell)

Fifth fence : RENDEZ-VOUS III (fell), PRINCESS GARTER (unseated rider), VALIANT SPARK (fell)

Bechers (6th) : MUST (fell), SENTINA (fell), COMEDIAN`S FOLLY (hampered & refused, cleared fence at third attempt), FROZEN CREDIT (hampered & refused)

Seventh fence : COMEDIAN`S FOLLY (refused)

Order at first Canal : (1) ATHENIAN, (2) GOOSANDER, (3) NEVER SAY WHEN, (4) THE CROFTER, (5) TIBERETTA, (6) WYNBURGH, (7) COLLEDGE MASTER, (8) SPRINGSILVER, (9) EAGLE LODGE, (10) GREEN DRILL, (11) SOUTHERNTOWN, (12) SYDNEY JONES, (13) ESB, (14) WISE CHILD, (15) HART ROYAL, (16) RICHARDSTOWN, (17) PIPPYKIN, (18) GLORIOUS TWELFTH, (19) MOSTON LANE, (20) ACE OF TRUMPS, (21) MR WHAT, (22) BROOKLING, (23) HOLLY BANK

Eleventh fence : GLORIOUS TWELFTH (refused)

Thirteenth fence : BROOKLING (fell)*

The Chair (15th) : ACE OF TRUMPS (pulled up)

Order at half way : (According to Chaseform) (1) GOOSANDER (2) ATHENIAN, (3) NEVER SAY WHEN, (4) GREEN DRILL, (5) TIBERETTA, (6) MR WHAT, (7) THE CROFTER, (8) EAGLE LODGE, (9) WYNDBURGH, (10) ESB, (11) PIPPYKIN, (12) RICHARDSTOWN (unseated rider), (13) SYDNEY JONES, (14) SOUTHERTOWN, (15) COLLEDGE MASTER, (16) HART ROYAL, (17) WISE CHILD, (18) MOSTON LANE, (19) SPRINGSILVER, (20) HOLLY BANK

Seventeenth fence : MOSTON LANE (refused)

Eighteenth fence : COLLEDGE MASTER (tried to refuse at the previous fence, clambered over - pulled up)

Nineteenth fence : ATHENIAN (refused & unseated rider - hose got stuck in the fence), NEVER SAY WHEN (refused & unseated rider), SOUTHERNTOWN (unseated rider), SPRINGSILVER (refused), WISE CHILD (pulled up)

Twentieth fence : THE CROFTER (unseated rider)

Bechers (22nd) : PIPPYKIN (fell), SYDNEY JONES (brought down), HART ROYAL (refused)

Order at the Canal Turn : (1) MR WHAT, (2) GOOSANDER, (3) GREEN DRILL, (4) TIBERETTA, (5) ESB, (6) EAGLE LODGE, (7) WYNDBURGH, (8) HOLLY BANK (tailed off)

Twenty eighth fence : EAGLE LODGE (pulled up)

1959

Saturday 21st March - Going : Good

Sources : Pathe/British Movietone/Chaseform

First fence : NIC ATKINS (fell), STOP LIST (fell)

Second fence : SOUTHERNTOWN (unseated rider)

Fourth fence : OSCAR WILDE (unseated rider)

Bechers (6th) : DONE UP (hampered & unseated rider), ETERNAL (fell), GLORIOUS TWELFTH (brought down), HENRY PURCELL (fell), MR GAY (brought down), SUNDAWN III (hampered & unseated rider), THE CROFTER (fell), VALIANT SPARK (fell)

Order at first Canal : (1) SURPRISE PACKET, (2) TIBERETTA, (3) BELSIZE II, (4) OXO, (5) VIGOR, (6) KERSTIN, (7) JOHN JACQUES, (8) EAGLE LODGE, (9) WYNBURGH, (10) GREEN DRILL, (11) TURMOIL, (12) SOLTOWN, (13) PINTAIL, (14) MAINSTOWN, (15) KILBALLYOWN, (16) IRISH COFFEE, (17) ROYAL TOURNAMENT, (18) CANNOBIE LEE, (19) MR WHAT, (20) SLIPPERY SERPENT, (21) DONDROSA, (22) RICHARDSTOWN

Eleventh fence : BELSIZE II (fell)

Twelfth fence : DONDROSA (refused)

Thirteenth fence : SLIPPERY SERPENT (fell)*

Fourteenth fence : RICHARDSTOWN (pulled up)

Order at half way : (1) SURPRISE PACKET, (2) KERSTIN, (3) TIBERETTA, (4) OXO, (5) MAINSTOWN, (6) JOHN JACQUES, (7) WYNDBURGH, (8) EAGLE LODGE, (9) MR WHAT, (10) VIGOR, (11) SOLTOWN, (12) CANNOBIE LEE, (13) TURMOIL, (14) KILBALLYOWN, (15) IRISH COFFEE, (16) GREEN DRILL, (17) ROYAL TOURNAMENT, (18) PINTAIL

Seventeenth fence : ROYAL TOURNAMENT (refused)

Bechers (22nd) : IRISH COFFEE (fell), KERSTIN (unseated rider), KILBALLYOWN (hampered & unseated rider), MAINSTOWN (fell), SOLTOWN (fell), SURPRISE PACKET (fell)

Order at Canal Turn (24th) : (1) OXO, (2) WYNDBURGH, (3) TIBERETTA, (4) MR WHAT, (5) JOHN JACQUES, (6) CANNOBIE LEE (refused & unseated rider), (7) GREEN DRILL (refused & unseated rider), (8) EAGLE LODGE, (9) VIGOR (refused & unseated rider), (10) TURMOIL (refused), (11) PINTAIL (climbed over fence, came to a complete standstill and pulled up)

Twenty sixth fence : JOHN JACQUES (fell)

Twenty eighth fence : EAGLE LODGE (refused)