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Welsh Grand National Winners

admin January 27, 2025

Of all the three Nationals, the Welsh is the first on the list for punters. It takes place on the 27^th December at Chepstow over 3 miles and 6 ½ furlongs. This Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase is the feature of this idiosyncratic left-handed racecourse. With 23 fences it has fewer obstacles than Aintree or Scottish Grand National.

It is open to horses aged four years and older.

Chepstow is the major racecourse in Wales, just one of three tracks including Bangor-on-Dee and the newest of the trio Ffos Las.

Personally, I always remember Native River winning the Welsh Grand National in 2016. He was a classy gelding who went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup (2018) and achieved total earnings topping £1M. Trained by Colin Tizzard, he won 10 major races in his career. A very consistent horse racing 28 times, unplaced in just 4.

Inaugurated in 1895. It was originally run at Ely Racecourse in Cardiff. However, the last race took place in 1939.

The race was cancelled over the war years, then one meeting at Newport Racecourse before Chepstow in 1948.

Fighting Line (1949) won the first race at Chepstow, ridden by Dick Francis, who would later become an accomplished author.

The date of the race has changed over time. Originally, it took place on Easter Tuesday. It was move to February in 1969 and then to its present schedule of late December in 1979. It is now posted the day after Boxing Day. It is sponsored by bookmakers Coral which is the longest running since 1973.

The quality of runners improved when re-classified as a Premier Handicap in 2022. In fact, it is an important guide for both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Aintree Grand National.

Last year’s (2024) saw Val Dancer win well for trainer Mel Rowley ridden by Charlie Hammond. The 8/1 shot was ridden clear in the closing stages to beat joint favourite Jubilee Express (6/1). With win prize money of £85,425 and total purse of £150,000 there is much competition.

Is this race a good pointer for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Aintree Grand National?

Winning the Welsh National is no easy feat and only a handful of runners have prevailed at the pinnacle of racing. However, there have been a number of noted victories.

Jenny pitman had a fine record in this race with high-profile winners including:

1982 – Corbiere

1983 – Burrough Hill Lad

1986 – Steersby

These were halcyon days for Pitman who used the Welsh Nation as a springboard for big winners the following season.

Corbiere went on to win the Aintree Grand National in 1983. A triumph which saw her become the first female winner of the most famous steeplechase in the world.

Burrough Hill Lad went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1984. Once again, the first woman to train the winner of this renowned race.

Other noted winners of the Welsh National include:

Bindaree – Grand National: 2002, Welsh National: 2003

Silver Birch Welsh National: 2004, Grand National: 2007

Synchronised Welsh National: 2010, Gold Cup: 2012

Truly superb horses.

It was a very sad day when Synchronised fractured his leg in the 2012 Grand National and euthanised.

Looking down the list of Welsh National winners it is like stepping back in time and remembering these special horses.

A few favourites include:

1985 – Run And Skip

Martin Pipe was a training phenomenon and he excelled in the Welsh National. From 1988 – 1993 he was almost unstoppable. Only Reg Akehurst could lower his colours with Cool Ground in 1990.

Martin Pipe Welsh National Winner:

1988 – Bonanza Boy

1989 – Bonanza Boy

1991 – Carvill’s Hill

1992 – Run For Free

1993 – Riverside Boy

2017 – Raz De Maree (16/1)

An exceptional performance from one of two veterans of the race winning at 13. He was followed gallantly by Alfie Spinner (33/1) who was also 13 years young.

The Greatest National Horse:

One horse which deserves particular praise is Nigel Twiston-Davies Earth Summit who won all 3 Nationals.

Scottish National 1994

Welsh National 1997

Grand National 1998

A feat that even the mighty Red Rum couldn’t surmount.

In additional, it is notable that Paul Nichols’ L’Aventure was one of few mares to win (2005), ridden by Leighton Aspell. A noble performance beating the opposition by a distance at odds of 14/1.

To be fair, it is a delight to write this article remembering so many greats of racing.

Nations

Scottish Grand National Winners

admin January 20, 2025

The emphasis of this website is to detail the Aintree Grand National. However, it is important to remember there are other ‘Nationals’ on the Racing Calender, including both Scottish and Welsh.

The Scottish Grand National is a National Hunt steeplechase which takes place at Ayr Racecourse, Scotland, towards the end of April. This premier handicap is over a distance of almost 4 miles, with 27 fences.

This left-handed turf course has win prize money over £100,000.

It is the Scottish equivalent of the Aintree Grand National.

This race is open to horses aged 5 years and older.

Dating back to 1858, it was originally named the West of Scotland Grand National. It took place in the Lowlands of Scotland.

Similar to the Aintree Grand National, it consisted of 32 jumps, mainly stone walls.

The win prize: £100.

In 1867, the Scottish National moved to Bogside Racecourse, near Irvine, on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire. It hosted Flat and National Hunt racing on an undulating course. One of the major races was the Bogside Cup.

An interesting point about Bogside. On the 19^th July 1957, jockey, Alec Russell rode all six winners on the card [Flat turf]. In fact, he won the last race the previous day at Lanark, to achieve 7 consecutive winners.

The inaugural running of the Scottish National, saw The Elk win for the Duke of Hamilton. In those days, the race was over 3 miles.

The distance increased to 4 miles in 1880.

In 1965, Bogside Racecourse closed, although point-to-point meetings continued until 1994.

The following year, it moved to Ayr Racecourse. African Patrol (1966) won for trainer Robert Fairbairn, ridden by Johnny Leech. The seven-year-old gelding carried 10-7lbs.

You may wonder how many horses have won both Aintree and the Scottish Nationals.

We have to go back to 1922 to see the first horse, Music Hall, trained by Owen Anthony, ridden by Lewis Rees, which ran in the silks of Hugh Kershaw.

Music Hall:

Scottish Grand National (1920)

Aintree Grand National Victory (1922) 24^th March

Other horses to complete the double include: Merryman II, Little Polveir and Earth Summit.

The only horse to win both races in the same year is the legendary Red Rum in 1974. A great occasion for trainer Ginger McCain, rider Brian Fletcher and owner Noel Le Mare.

A trio of horses won the Scottish Grand National 3 times:

Couvrefeu – 1911, 1912, 1913

Southern Hero – 1934, 1936, 1939

Queen’s Taste – 1953, 1954, 1956

You have to go back a long way to find the leading jockey who secured 4 wins:

Charlie Cunningham (known as Scotland’s greatest jockey) – Bellman (1881), Wild Meadow (1885), Orcadian (1887) & Deloraine (1889).

In this modern era, with all 3 wins at Ayr Racecourse, Mark Dwyer had great success with Androma (1984, 1985) & Moorcroft Boy (1996).

Moorcroft Boy finished 3^rd in the Aintree Grand National in 1994, behind Miinehoma. He retired after his easy win in the Scottish National at odds of 20/1. Amazingly, that day he was 16lb out of the handicap and Dwyer put up 2lb overweight.

Leading trainers with 5 wins:

Neville Crump: Wot No Sun (1949), Merryman II (1959), Arcturus (1968), Salkeld (1980) & Canton (1983)

Merryman II won the Aintree Grand National in 1960 at odds of 13/2f.

Ken Oliver was very successful with 5 wins: Pappageno’s Cottage (1963), The Spaniard (1970), Young Ash Leaf (1971), Fighting Fit (1979) & Cockle Strange (1982).

In the last 50-years, Willsford (1995) was the oldest winner of this race, aged 12.

Let’s take a look at the last decade of Scottish Grand National Winners:

2015 – *Wayward Prince (25/1), Trainer: Hilary Parrott

2016 – *Vicente (14/1), Trainer: Paul Nicholls

2017 – *Vicente (9/1), Trainer: Paul Nicholls

2018 – *Joe Farrell (33/1), Trainer: Rebecca Curtis

2019 – *Takingrisks (25/1), Trainer: Nicky Richards

2020 – No race (COVID 19)

2021 – *Mighty Thunder (8/1), Trainer: Lucinda Russell

2022 – Win My Wings (13/2), Trainer: Christian Williams

2023 – *Kitty’s Light (4/1), Trainer: Christian Williams

2024 – Macdermott (18/1), Trainer: Willie Mullins

* Denotes: Ran in Aintree Grand National at least once.

With the Scottish Grand National following Aintree, there’s always an opportunity for a ‘National horse’ to take its chance. Recent data adds to this point. However, very few horses have won both races.

Red Rum (1974) is the only horse to win both Aintree Grand National & Scottish Grand National in the same year.

Years

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.’

Jockeys

Who is the Most Successful Aintree Grand National Jockey?

admin January 18, 2025

The Aintree Grand National started in 1839. The most famous steeplechase in the world has and continues to be very popular. With the exception of the War Years from 1941 – 1945, one void race in 1993, due to a false start, and nightmare what was Covid 19 pandemic in 2020, the races have been a staple for viewers across the globe.

176^th Aintree Grand National (2024) was won by I Am Maximus. It was the first win for Paul Townsend.

Thousands of jockeys have ridden in the Aintree Grand National. Clearly, many jockeys have had umpteen attempts.

The number of horses to have raced from 1839 to 2024 is approximately 5,400.

In every sense we are talking big numbers. However, the chances of a jockey winning this race are slim and dependent on a number of factors including the ability of the horse, trainer jockey and a big heaped spoonful of luck. When you consider all those variables, the percentage chance of a jockey winning the Aintree Grand National is at best 3%.

Now, I know what you are saying: ‘Red Rum’s jockey(s) had more chance of winning than most.’ And when you consider the performance of this legend it is true.

Red Rum’s Aintree Grand National Performances from the perspective of the jockey:

1973 – Brian Fletcher 1^st

1974 – Brian Fletcher 1^st

1975 – Brian Fletcher 2^nd

1976 – Tommy Stack 2^nd

1977 – Tommy Stack 1^st

If you were riding the great horse, over this period of time, winning the National was, if not easy, was a possibility.

When you look at the history of the Aintree Grand National, jockeys go from one extreme to the other.

For example, in this relatively modern era, Sir Tony McCoy (A.P.McCoy) had a sole win when riding Don’t Push It (2010). The 10/1jf, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, in the ownership of McManus was the first and last victory for McCoy. It was his 15 attempt. When you consider he was crowned Champion jockey for 20 consecutive years and amassed over 4,350 winners in his career, the National win wasn’t something to be taken for granted.

It should be mentioned that Jonjo O’Neill never even got round the National course.

He isn’t alone. There have been plenty of jockeys who have shown little success. Tom Scudamore rode 20 times and never in the first three.

He retired from race riding on the 23^rd February 2023.

It must have been all the more annoying when his grandfather won on Oxo in 1959.

After hearing how difficult it is to win the Aintree Grand National, it’s about time we highlight the most successful jockey who achieved the most wins.

It’s probably no surprise to hear this came in a bygone age when there were fewer contenders and the ability between horses extreme.

George Stevens is the leading jockey of the Grand National with 5 wins:

1856 – Freetrader 25/1

1863 – Emblem 4/1

1864 – Emblematic 10/1

1869 – The Colonel 100/7

1870 – The Colonel 7/2f

Two significant rides on The Colonel were for the 9^th Earl of Coventry, a Conservative politician, closely related to the royal family. The Eton educated Earl, enjoyed the high life and particularly racehorse ownership.

Stevens (1833-1871) started his riding career at the age of 16. In those days, races were infrequent and over a period of 22 years he won 76 races. Sadly, he was killed when suffering a fractured skull in 1871. His horse stumbled after bolting on his way home to Cleeve Hill.

In the last 15 years, three jockeys have faired well with two winners each:

2014 – Leighton Aspell 25/1

2015 – Leighton Aspell 25/1

2017 – Derek Fox 14/1

2018 – Davy Russell 10/1

2019 – Davy Russell 4/1f

2023 – Derek Fox 8/1f

Who will win this years Aintree Grand National?

Years

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.

1851 –

Abd-El-Kader had already won the 1850 Grand National, but had to battle for his win the following year to beat Maria Day by the unusual distance of half a neck (on old term which in this modern era would probably be a head). He was the first horse to win back to back Nationals.

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.