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20 Years of the Aintree Grand National Winners (2005 – 2025)

admin January 19, 2025

If you are reading this article, the 2025 Aintree Grand National may be on the horizon. Perhaps you are interested in placing a bet on the most famous steeplechase of them all. I remember watching my first National bet back in 1981.

Aldaniti and Bob Champion won at odds of 11/1.

The Grand National is probably one of the most famous races, not so much about the performance beyond winning, but the personal story of horse and jockey, who, to put it lightly, had been through the mill. Make no mistake, it take brains and brawn to win this hard race. Not forgetting a good amount of luck, or, at least, no bad luck.

I’m not surprised why most National Hunt jockeys have no teeth!

When you consider the National goes back to 1839, there are many stories, most you never know existed. Stories from the glorious to the downright heartbreaking if not horrendous.

If there is one good thing about this modern era of information and scrutiny, we know most of the fact and understand the stories.

The Aintree Grand National is a race of stories and of course the stories of winners. Here’s a list of Grand National Winners from the last 20 years:

• 2024 – I Am Maximus
• 2023 – Corach Rambler
• 2022 – Noble Yeats
• 2021 – Minella Times
• 2019 – Tiger Roll
• 2018 – Tiger Roll
• 2017 – One For Arthur
• 2016 – Rule The World
• 2015 – Many Clouds
• 2014 – Pineau De Re
• 2013 – Auroras Encore
• 2012 – Neptune Collonges
• 2011 – Ballabriggs
• 2010 – Don’t Push It
• 2009 – Mon Mome
• 2008 – Comply or Die
• 2007 – Silver Birch
• 2006 – Numbersixvalverde
• 2005 – Hedgehunter
• 2004 – Amberleigh House

The winner of the 2025 Grand National is yet to be decided, with current contenders including I am Maximus again, Inothewayurthinkin and Iroko (JP McManus owned).

Let’s take a look at the 20-year period and detail the story of 3 horses from 2002 – 2024. We will tell the story of winners, losers and sadly one horse who lost its life. It is important we don’t neglect to tell the truth even when difficult to read.

2009 – Mon Mome 100/1

It wouldn’t be fitting not to detail a big priced winner. Surely, that is the hope for many punters. Ridden by Liam Treadwell, trained by Venetia Williams, in the ownership of Vida Bingham. The nine-year-old carried a weight of 11:00. To be fair, it was an easy 12-length victory.

2021- Minella Times 11/1

The story here is very much about horse and jockey, if not the latter. Rachael Blackmore is the first woman jockey to win the Aintree Grand National. A historic moment for many reasons. The eight-year-old gelding trained by Henry de Bromhead in the ownership of J.P.McManus.

It took 173 runnings for a woman to ride the National winner.

Some 38 years after Jenny pitman became the first female trainer with Corbiere in 1983.

In truth, this victory reminds me of a quote from Sir Isaac Newton: ‘If I have ever seen further, it is by standing on the shoulder of giants’.

This victory was built on the blood, sweat and tears of her peers.

The fact was female jockeys were discriminated from riding in the National with the mentality it was no race for a woman. It would take the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act to promote equality. In fact, it took until 1977 for the first female rider Charlotte Brew and her mount Barony Fort to get people talking. It should be noted, and it is important to understand, she owned the horse, basically, because no trainer would give her the same opportunity. The pair nearly finished the race. Barony Fort refused the 27^th fence.

In 1982, Geraldine Rees, riding Cheers, was the first woman to complete the course, finishing 8^th place. He was trained by Martin Blackshaw in the ownership of John Wade. At the time of writing, 2024, there have been just 20 female jockeys to participated in this race. In a world of ‘equality’ progress has been slow.

2023 – Hill Sixteen

Sadly, horse racing, especially the National Hunt, has to broach the difficult question of animal welfare and the loss of horses. To be fair, it is one reason I haven’t bet on the Grand National for many years. Thankfully, the National is a much safer course than back in the day when one of the fences was actually a wall! I respect the debate and it is something we should all consider even if the answers are difficult to find.

Since 2000, there have been 16 horses fatally injured while participating in the Aintree Grand National.

I write those words with sadness.

On the 15^th April 2023, Hill Sixteen lost his life when fatally injured falling at the first fence. The 10yo bay gelding was ridden by Ryan Mania, trained by Sandy Thomson, in the ownership of J Fyffe & S Townsend.

Hill Sixteen was sold as a 5yo for £100,000.

The loss of this gelding saw a change to the course with the first fence moved some 55 metres closer to the start. It was considered the speed many horse met the first fence had lead to fatalities. Also, reducing the size of the field from 40 to 34.

Thomson said of the changes: ‘It makes sense to me.’

Hill Sixteen had jumped 398 hurdles and fences in 27 races at 15 different racecourses over four years and he never fell once.

His death was met with empathy and floods of bile and hatred.

Sadly, Hill Sixteen had broken his neck.

Thomson said: ‘The screens were up around him and he was covered in a sheet. I just got down beside him and stroked his neck and thanked him for everything he’d done for us. I said sorry. ‘

‘He was a special horse to everyone here.’

Grand National Battles: Winners and Runners Up

admin January 17, 2025

Since 1839, the Aintree Grand National has been a race to capture the imagination. Horse trainers, jockeys, owners and punters don’t feel complete until the day they have tasted victory in the most famous steeplechase in the world.

We all remember the day we picked our first winner. I was just eleven years old (yes, I know I wasn’t meant to be betting, but my Dad went to the little independent at the top of our road called Scotneys).

It was 1981.

The day Bob Champion and Aldiniti won the race of their life. Literally. Champion bravely battled against cancer, while his trusty mount came back from serious injury to win a race that many considered impossible. A story that one day would be made into a film, staring John Hurt. The original music score by Carl Davis sends shivers down the spine. If you’ve never watched the film, you won’t be disappointed.

The Aintree Grand National epitomises life. Triumph, tragedy, love and loss.

In a way these words are ascribed to each and every horse who has taken their chance to win in this race of all races.

You could put the name of your favourite horse here… [Red Rum, Aldaniti, Red Alligator et al].

There have been times when few horses completed the Grand National course. Tipperary Tim, the only horse to not fall in 1928, won by a distance. But what about those races where after running 4m 2 ½ furlongs and 30 fences, whether going as fast a lightning (1990, Mr Frisk) or slow as a snail (1839, Lottery), the finish is close.

All too close…

Let’s look at a few races where winning and losing were strides apart, and what separate the winner from the runners up.

1848 –

Heavy going. Rider Lieutenant Josey Little rode his mount Chandler to win by just half a length. The runner up was The Curate ridden by Tom Oliver.

In more recent times, there have been a few close calls.

Take a look at those from the last 30-years:

2007: Silver Birch. The 33/1 shot won by three quarters of a length. Gorgon Elliott’s charge ran well but you have to give credit to McKelvey who finished second, staying on but finished lame.

2012: Neptunes Collonges. Paul Nicholl’s grey gelding finished with verve as the 33/1 got up to beat runner up Sunnyhillboy by a short head.

Was this the closest finish in the history of the Grand National? It’s difficult to know as back in the day race reports were scarce.

2018: Tiger Roll. His first National win for Gorgon Elliott. The pint-sized runner for owners Gigginstown House Stud. Heavy going made this a test of stamina and from looking an easy winner Tiger Roll had to dig deep and held the late challenge of Pleasant Company by a head.

The Aintree Grand National is one of those races where you really don’t want to be pushed to the limit. If there is one race which characterised this, the legendary battle of battles between the supreme King of Aintree, Red Rum. Not only did he prove victorious in 1973, 1974 & 1977 but had to battle hard to beat his biggest adversary, the Black Kangaroo, Crisp. Runners Up in one sense place almost as big a role in racing history as the winners.

And the ultimate Grand National battle of battles?

1973. Aintree, Liverpool.

Australian horse Crisp, a giant who had to carry a heavyweight of 12 stone looked a certainty until be collard by Red Rum in the last few strides to win by three quarters of a length. Red Rum achieved a course record that day, but carried just 10 stone 5 pounds. Two horses fighting hard to win.

Grand National Winners of the 1990s

admin January 17, 2025

The 1990s UK saw a transformative time. Margaret Thatcher was succeeded by John Major at the beginning of the decade.

It was a time of recession and high inflation with crippling interest rates.

A landslide victory for Tony Blair in 1997 saw the beginning of ‘New Labour’.

There was a social and cultural shift with a period of renewed confidence. London became a global destination. It was a time of immigration, cultural diversity, integration and identity.

The rapid growth of personal computers, mobile phones and the internet. The launch of satellite TV saw sports explode in popularity. Euro 96 saw the ‘Three Lions’ reach the semi-finals.

Betting shops would be transformed in 1986 with Sports Information Services (SIS) a company which provided content and production services to the betting industry with live horse racing and greyhound racing.

This replaced the Extel service of commentary over loud speaker.

The 1990s saw a mixed bag of Grand National winners.

Let’s take a look at the results:

1990 – Mr Frisk 16/1 Trainer: Kim Bailey

1991 – Seagram 12/1 Trainer: David Barons

1992 – Party Ploitics 14/1 Trainer: Nick Gaselee

1993 – Race Void

1994 – Minnehoma 16/1 Triner: Martin Pipe

1995 – Royal Athlete 40/1 Trainer: Jenny Pitman

1996 – Rough Quest 7/1f Trainer: Terry Casey

1997 – Lord Gyllene 14/1 Trainer: Steve Brookshaw

1998 – Earth Summit 7/1f Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies

1999 – Bobbyjo 10/1 Trainer: Tommy Carberry

Mr Frisk Wins the 1990 Grand National

If there has ever been a National winner and quiz question rolled into one it’s Mr Frisk. The eleven-year-old gelding trained by Kim Bailey, ridden by Marcus Armitage ran in the ownership of American, Lois Duffey. The 16/1 shot won by three quarters of a length. In very unusual conditions, the going was described as Firm. This saw a new course record 8 minutes 47.8 seconds. He beat Red Rum’s record which was set in 1973 (9m 1.9s). Durham Edition deserves credit for a gallant second place. He previously finished runner-up (1988), fifth (1989) and a fourth attempt when sixth (1991). A truly consistent horse.

Other noted performances include:

1992 Party Politics who won at 14/1 for trainer Nick Gaselee, ridden by Carl Llewellyn, for owner Patricia Thompson. Standing over 17 hands, he is the biggest horse to ever win the Grand National. He finished second to Royal Athlete in 1995.

1993 there was something of an anomaly with the race being void. Despite a false start, 30 of the 39 runners began and 7 completed the course. Esha Ness cross the finishing line first, the second fastest time ever. It has been called ‘the race that never was’. Bookmakers returned an estimated £75M in bets.

For many, there is nothing funny about the Aintree Grand National. However, 1994 saw Minnehoma win for comedian Freddie Starr.

In 1999, Bobbyjo, an Irish-bred son of Bustineto, headed to the Aintree Grand National after proving victorious in the Irish National. The horse’s name was a combination of owner Bobby Burke and his wife Jo. In training with Tommy Carberry, ridden by Paul Carberry, the nine-year-old gelding was substantially backed to 10/1. He won by ten lengths. Sadly, Bobbyjo broke a knee at Fairyhouse Racecourse in 2001 and was put down a month later. In memory, there is a life-size bronze statue of Bobbyjo in his home town of Mountbellew, County Galway.

A fitting tribute.

Grand National Winners of the 1920s

admin January 16, 2025

With the ending of World War I and formal signing of The Treaty of Versailles on the 28^th June 1919, it was a period of social, political and cultural change.

The UK was heavily in debt with mass unemployment.

It was a time of high inflation, poverty, strikes and industrial disputes as workers fought for better pay conditions.

The General Strike in 1926 saw a nationwide strike by coal miners, supported by other industries.

On the good side, the Roaring Twenties saw a period of social liberation, especially for women. A time of jazz, cinema, art and literature.

Radio was a new medium of entertainment. In fact, the first BBC broadcast of the Aintree Grand National was aired in 1927. Sprig, a ten-year-old gelding, won at odds of 8/1f for trainer Tom Leader, ridden by his son Ted Leader in the ownership of Mary Partridge. Poignantly, she kept the horse in training in memory of her son who died in World War I.

Let’s take a look at the 1920s Aintree Grand National:

1920 – Troytown 6/1 Trianer: Algy Anthony

1921 – Shaun Spadah 100/9 Trainer: George Poole

1922 – Music Hall 100/9 Trainer: Owen Anthony

1923 – Sargeant Murphy 100/6 Trainer: George Blackwell

1924 – Master Robert 25/1 Trainer: Aubrey Hastings

1925 – Double Chance 100/9 Trainer: Fred Archer, Jr

1926 – Jack Horner 25/1 Trainer: Harvey Leader

1927 – Sprig 8/1f Trainer: Tom Leader

1928 – Tipperary Tim 100/1 Trainer: Joseph Dodd

1929 – Gregalach 100/1 Trainer: Tom Leader

1920 Troytown Wins the Aintree Grand National:

The Irish horse won well in heavy ground and pouring rain at odds of 6/1. Troytown was considered one of the best horses in the 1920s. The gelding was known for a robust style of racing crashing through fences. After winning the Aintree Grand National he headed to the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. Unfortunately, he was fatally injured. He had won the race in 1919.

Amazingly, in 1921, Shaun Spadah was not only the winner but the only horse to complete the course without falling. Placed horses: The Bore, All White & Turkey Buzzard were all remounted after falls to finish. Thirty-one horses didn’t finish in desperately heavy conditions. He finished runner-up in 1923.

Perhaps the most novel aspect of the 20s Aintree Grand National came in 1928-29 with successive 100/1 winners.

1928 – Tipperary Tim Wins the National at 100/1

Many readers will be familiar with the story of Tipperary Tim, trained by Joseph Dodd, ridden by Mr Bill Dutton in the ownership of Harold Kenyon. The ten-year-old Irish-bred gelding, a son of Cipongo by a mare called Last Lot. He was a son of the undefeated St. Simon.

Tipperary Tim was a slow horse but rarely fell and this would be his strength with the going described as ‘very heavy’. One of the jockeys shouted: ‘The only way you will win is if all the other horses fall!’

All 41 horses in opposition fell.

In misty conditions, there was a mass pile-up at the Canal Turn, and by the penultimate fence there were only three horses left standing. One of those saddle slipped and the other fell at the last, leaving Tipperary Tim to win by a distance.

Billy Barton was remounted to finish second.

Only two horses finished the race.

In 1929, Gregalach won at odds of 100/1. The seven-year-old won the 88^th renewal of the Aintree Grand National for trainer Tom Leader, ridden by Robert W. H. Everett, in the ownership of Mrs. Marion A. Gemmell. There were 66 runners, the largest field for the National. Nine horses completed the course.