Mon Mome
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It can be argued that the bookmakers took a chance with his starting price but, in 2009, Mon Mome became the latest in a select quintet of horses to win the Grand National at odds of 100/1. Granted that he had been sent off favourite for the Welsh National at Chepstow the previous December, his victory was not perhaps as unlikely, or dramatic, as those of Tipperary Tim (1928), Gregalach (1929), Caughoo (1947) and Foinavon (1967), but his 12-length defeat of defending champion Comply Or Die nevertheless caused a massive shock.
It also concluded some unfinished business at Aintree for his trainer, Venetia Williams, who was knocked unconscious when her one and only ride in the Grand National, 200/1 outsider Marcolo, fell at Becher’s Brook on the first circuit in 1988. Twenty-one years after that unfortunate mishap, Williams became just the second woman, after Jenny Pitman, to saddle a Grand National winner.
Ridden by the late Liam Treadwell, who was making his debut in the National, Mon Mome was held up towards the rear of the field for much of the first circuit, but made headway passing the stands. In the closing stages, he tackled Comply Or Die, from whom he was receiving 6lb, soon after the last fence and forged clear on the run-in. Comply Or Die, while unable to quicken with the winner, held on for second place, with My Will in third and State Of Play in fourth.
Having previously finished tenth behind Comply Or Die in 2008, Mon Mome would run in the Grand National twice more, falling at the fence after Valentine’ Brook on the second circuit behind Don’t Push It in 2010 and pulling up after Becher’s Brook on the second circuit behind Neptune Collonges in 2012. He was retired from racing the following April having never won again.
Owned by J.P. McManus and trained by Henry de Bromhead in Knockeen, Co. Waterford, Minella Times was retired from racing in February 2023, having won four of his 24 races under National Hunt Rules and just shy of £500,000 in prize money. However, he will always be best remembered for his historic victory in the 2021 Grand National, which was worth £375,000 to the winner but, more importantly, made Rachael Blackmore the first female jockey in history to win the internationally renowned steeplechase.
Two fences on the Grand National Course bear the names of previous runners in the celebrated steeplechase. Valentine’s Brook, originally known simply as the Second Brook, was renamed after Valentine, who reputedly performed a feat of equine gymnastics to clear the fence before finishing third in the 1840 Grand National. Foinavon, on the other hand, has been so-called since 1984 and commemorates Foinavon, trained by John Kempton, who, in 1967, became arguably the most unlikely Grand National winner of all time. Indeed, at the time of writing, he remains one of just five horses in the history of the National to win at odds of 100/1.
As the late, great Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain told BBC Sport in the aftermath of the 2010 Grand National, “You always get a fairytale at Aintree and you couldn’t have written anything better.” On April 10, 2010, the ‘fairytale’ revolved the connections of the winner, Don’t Push It, namely J.P. McManus, in whose familiar green-and-gold silks he raced, trainer Jonjo O’Neill and jockey Tony McCoy, all of whom were achieving their first victories in the world famous steeplechase.
Formerly trained in France by Patrice Quinton, Intense Raffles joined Thomas Gibney in Trim, Co. Meath in November 2023 and enjoyed an unblemished novice campaign in 2023/24, winning three times at Fairyhouse. His biggest win, so far, came in the Irish Grand National, run over three miles and five furlongs, on heavy going, at the Ratoath course on April 1, 2024. An 11lb weight rise inevitably followed, at least over fences, but for his first two starts of 2024/25 the son of top-class National Hunt sire Martaline has been campaigned over hurdles, for which his handicap mark remains 10lb lower.