Some Stats
1946-1989
LONGEST WINNING DISTANCE
Thirty Lengths : MR WHAT beat TIBERETTA (1958)
MOST WINS - HORSE
3 - RED RUM (1973, 74, 77)
WON AND THEN PLACED
SHORTEST WINNING DISTANCE
A neck : ROYAL TAN beat TUDOR LINE (1954)
SPECIFY beat BLACK SECRET (1972)
HIGHEST PRICED WINNER
I00-1 CAUGHOO (1947) & FOINAVON (1967).
Merryman II (1960), West Tip (1986) both finished second after their victory. Corbiere (1983) twice finished third.
Royal Tan finished second three years before his victory in 1953
MOST SECOND PLACES
3 - Wynburgh (1957, 59, 62)
SHORTEST PRICED WINNER
MOST APPEARANCES
7-1 GRITTAR (1982).
MOST OPEN RENEWAL
100-7 the field (1964)
WINNING AGES
9-y-0 - 18 winners
8-y-0 - 9 winners
12-y-0 - 7 winners
10-y-0 - 6 winners
11-y-0 - 4 winners
HIGHEST WINNING WEIGHT
12-0 RED RUM (1974)
LOWEST WINNING WEIGHT
10-0 CAUGHOO (1947)
AYALA (1963)
ANGLO (1966)
FOINAVON (1967)
RED ALLIGATOR (1968)
RUBSTIC (1979)
LARGEST FIELD
57 (1947), 49 (1950), 47 (1952, 1963, 1965, 1966), 45 (1968), 44 (1967) 43 (1948, 1949), 42 (1972, 1974, 1977), 41 (1983)
Since 1984 the maximum number of runners allowed in the National has been 40.
SMALLEST FIELD
26 (1960), 28 (1970), 29 (1954, 1956)
WON ON ONLY APPEARANCE
Nickel Coin (1951), Teal (1952), Quare Times (1955), Jay Trump (1965), Well To Do (1972), Lucius (1978), Maori Venture (1987), Rhyme `n` Reason (1988)
Jay Trump returned to America after his triumph whilst an injury sustained during the race forced an end to Rhyme `n` Reasons career. Maori Venture earned an honourable retirements after tasting victory at Aintree.
6 - Cloncarrig (1948-53),
Irish Lizard (1951-55, 1957)
Mr What (1958-63)
Wynburgh (1957-62)
West Tip (1985-90)
FATE OF THE FAVOURITE
1946 - PRINCE REGENT (3rd)
1947 - PRINCE REGENT (4th)
1948 - SILVER FAME (fell 6th)
1949 - CROMWELL (4th)
1950 - FREEBOOTER (WON) & ROIMOND (fell 7th)
1951 - ARCTIC GOLD (fell 8th)
1952 - FREEBOOTER (fell 24th)
1953 - LITTLE YID (refused 27th)
1954 - IRISH LIZARD (3rd)
1955 - COPP (fell 7th)
1956 - MUST (fell 1st)
1957 - GOOSANDER (6th)
1958 - WYNDBURGH - 4th
1959 - MR WHAT (3rd)
1960 - MERRYMAN II (WON)
1961 - JONJO (7th)
1962 - FRENCHMANS COVE (brought down 19th)
1963 - FRENCHMANS COVE (20th)
1964 - FLYING WILD (fell 1st),
LAFFY (unseated rider 4th),
PAPPAGENOS COTTAGE (10th),
TIME (refused and fell 27th)
1965 - FREDDIE (2nd)
1966 - FREDDIE (2nd)
1967 - HONEY END (2nd)
1968 - DIFFERENT CLASS (3rd)
1969 - RED ALLIGATOR (unseated rider 19th)
1970 - TWO SPRINGS (fell 3rd)
1971 - GAY TRIP (fell 1st)
1972 - L’ESCARGOT (hampered & unseated rider 3rd)
1973 - RED RUM (1st) & CRISP (2nd)
1974 - SCOUT (11th)
1975 - RED RUM (2nd)
1976 - BARONA (4th)
1977 - ANDY PANDY (fell 22nd)
1978 - RAG TRADE (pulled up 21st)
1979 - ALVERTON (fell 22nd)
1980 - RUBSTIC (fell 15th)
1981 - SPARTAN MISSILE (2nd)
1982 - GRITTAR (WON)
1983 - GRITTAR (5th)
1984 - GREASEPAINT (2nd)
1985 - GREASEPAINT (4th) & WEST TIP (fell 22nd)
1986 - MR SNUGFIR (4th)
1987 - WEST TIP (4th)
1988 - SACRED PATH (fell 1st)
1989 - DIXTON HOUSE (fell 6th)
Ran in more than one National but did not return to defend his victory
Sheilas Cottage (1948), Sundew (1957), Team Sprit (1964 - won at fifth attempt), Highland Wedding (1969), Red Rum (1977), Ben Nevis (1980), Little Polveir (1989 - won at fourth attempt)
LEAST SUCCESSFUL HORSES
The greatest National runners are celebrated elsewhere on this site but spare a thought for the least successful National runners who all fell at very first fence on their only visit to Aintree. There are quite a few of them …..
Forties & Fifties
Astometer (1946), Elsich (1946), Serpentine (1948), Comeragh (1950), Cottage Welcome (1950), Ole’Man River (1950), Stalbridge Rock (1951), Texas Dan (1951), Court Painter (1952), Golden Surprise (1952), Rocket V (1952), St Kathleen II (1952), Grand Truce (1953), Quite Naturally (1953), Alberoni (1954), Swinton Hero (1954), Blue Envoy (1955), Reverend Prince (1956), Virginius (1957), Nic Atkins (1959), Stop List (1959)
Sixties
Lotoray (1960), Floater (1961), Magic Tricks (1962)
Seventies
Perry Hill (1971), Brians Best* (1971), Craigbrook (1971), Saggarts Choice (1972), Richelieu (1973), Ormonde Tudor (1976), Duffle Coat (1977), Pengrail (1977), Cornish Princess (1978), Otter Way (1978), Vindicate (1979), Wayward Scot (1979)
Eighties
Mannyboy (1980), Salkeld (1980), Barney McClyvie (1981), Cold Spell (1982), Deep Gale (1982), Mullacurry (1982), Rambling Jack (1982), Midday Welcome (1983), Tower Moss (1983), Solihull Sport (1985), Door Latch (1986), Port Askaig (1986), Lucky Rew (1987), Sacred Path (1988), Tullamarine (1988), Cerimau (1989)
* Brians Best did at least win the Mildmay Chase over the MIldmay fences in 1968
JOCKEYS
Most Wins
3 - Brian Fletcher (Red Alligator (1969), Red Rum (1973, 1974))
2 - Arthur Thompson (Lovely Cottage (1948), Teal (1952))
Bryan Marshall (Early Mist (1953), Royal Tan (1954))
Pat Taaffe (Quare Times (1955), Gay Trip (1970))
Rode winner with only ride
Tommy Smith (Jay Trump 1965), Dick Saunders (Grittar 1982)
Winning Amateurs
Captain Bobby Petre (Lovely Cottage - 1946), Tommy Smith (Jay Trump), Dick Saunders (Grittar)
Lady finishers
Geraldine Rees (1982 - (Cheers) last of 8 finishers)
Rode & Trained winner
Fred Winter rode Sundew (1957) & Kilmore (1962) & trained Jay Trump (1965) & Anglo (1966)
Tommy Carberry rode L`Escargot (1975) & trained Bobbyjo (1999)
TRAINERS
Most Wins
4 wins - Fred Rimell - ESB (1956), Nicholaus Silver (1961), Gay Trip (1970), Rag Trade (1976)
Donald "Ginger" McCain - Red Rum (1973, 1974 & 1977)
(also won in 2004 with Amberleigh House)
Lady trainers
Jenny Pitman - Corbiere (1983) (also won in 1995 with Royal Athlete)
Won with first runner
Fred Winter - Jay Trump (1965)
Rode winner as well as Trained one
Tommy Carberry rode L`Escargot (1975) and trained Bobbyjo (1999)
Fred Winter rode Sundew (1957) & Kilmore (1962) and trained Jay Trump (1965) & Anglo (1966)
OTHER NATIONALS
Whilst every racecourse nowadays seems to stage a "National" of sorts (even Lingfield has a "Surrey National" for god's sake) for purists like myself there are only four (and I just about include the Midlands National at a push) races that are worthy of having the word "National"in the title. The following horses are very special indeed.
WINNER OF GRAND NATIONAL, MIDLANDS & WELSH NATIONAL
RAG TRADE
WINNER OF GRAND NATIONAL & IRISH NATIONAL
RHYME `N` REASON,
WINNER OF GRAND NATIONAL & SCOTTISH NATIONAL
MERRYMAN II, RED RUM & LITTLE POLVEIR
WINNER OF GRAND NATIONAL & WELSH NATIONAL
CORBIERE