Grand National Winners

Past and Present Winners of the Aintree Grand National

Years

Grand National Winners 1900 – 1910

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The Aintree Grand National has always been popular.

In 1900, tens of thousands of racegoers headed to Aintree Racecourse. It was a major social and sporting event. A time that predated radio. TV was just a glint in John Logie Baird’s eye. Imagine your great grandfather sitting in his rocking chair reading the Daily Express, smoking a John Player Navy Cut, while looking through the racecard muttering to your Dad: ‘What’s going to win the Grand National?’

Unless you were Sir Thomas Lipton, a wealthy credit bettor and tea magnate, placing bets by telephone to the likes of bookmaker Charles Morton, who catered for elite clientele including aristocrats and high-stakes gamblers, it was illegal to gamble, although backstreet bookies were aplenty.

The Aintree betting ring was awash with 100 bookmakers. Punters made their selection and put their money down.

Remember this was pre-decimal.

A pound was a lot of money in those days. Bookmakers had chalk boards and the Tic Tac Man had washed his gloves the night before in Naptha soap flakes.

I still don’t understand the old money: £1 = 20 Shillings (240 pennies in a pound?)

1900 Grand National –

Ambush II won the National at odds of 4/1. In fact, it was a very royal occasion for the six-year-old gelding owned by the Prince of Wales (Edward VII) who was crowned King of the United Kingdom and British Dominions and Emperor of India in 1902. He succeeded his mother Queen Victoria.

The race took place on the 30th March 1900.

Ambush II was both ridden and trained by Irishman Algy Anthony.

To be fair, we know little about the race beyond Ambush II won by four lengths, and the ground was described as ‘good’. Eleven of the sixteen horses completed the course.

King Edward VII died in 1910.

It’s always interested me that Edward VII had a connection with Great Yarmouth. I’m sure it would please him to know that Shadingfield Lodge has since been turned into the Grosvenor Casino. A place we often frequent with friends and family.

As my cousin Danny said: ‘We’ve all sat on the same throne!’

Let’s take a look at the Grand National winners from 1900 – 1910.

1900 – Ambush II (Algy Anthony)

1901 – Grudon (Bernard Bletsoe)

1902 – Shannon Lass (James Hackett)

1903 – Drumcree (Sir Charles Nugent)

1904 – Moifaa (W. Hickey)

1905 – Kirkland (E. Thomas)

1906 – Ascetic’s Silver (Aubrey Hastings)

1907 – Eremon (Tom Coulthwaite)

1908 – Rubio (Fred Withington)

1909 – Lutteur II (Harry Escott)

1910 – Jenkinstown (Tom Coulthwaite)

For the most part, this decade of National winners saw a mixed bag of results. There were winners priced from 4/1 (Ambush II) to 66/1 shot (Rubio).

1904 – Moifaa

Interesting that this eight-year-old gelding was the first ever non-British/Irish winner, being bred in New Zealand. The 25/1 shot won by eight lengths on good-to-soft going. Ridden by Arthur Birch, trained by W. Hickey for owner Spencer Gollan who was a high-class sportsman himself in rowing and golf.

After King Edward VII’s win with Ambush II (1900) he purchased Moifaa, however, he fell at the twenty-first fence when a 4/1 shot in the 1905 Grand National.

1905 – Kirkland

Winning the 67th Grand National, he was the first Welsh horse to win this steeplechase. Trained by E. Thomas, ridden by Frank Mason who was champion jump jockey from 1901 – 1907. Owner, Frank Bibby, would see further success when Glenside won the big race in 1911.

1908 – Rubio

The 70th Grand National. If you were looking for a big-priced winner then this 66/1 shot would have made your year. This American-bred gelding, in the ownership of Major Frank Douglas-Pennent, ran out a 10-length winner.

Tom Coulthwaite won the Grand National twice in this decade: Eremon (1907) and Jenkinstown (1910) both for owner Stanley Howard.

Interestingly, Jenkinstown was the first National to have moving images.

The Pathe Brothers (Pathe Freres) expanded into film at the turn of the century (1900) making some of the earliest motion picture recordings. Film footage of horse racing would be captured by Pathe News, famous for their newsreel division.

In 1911, the first recording of the Grand National was taken by Pathe. The footage provided audiences a glimpse of the National which saw Glenside win, ridden by Jack Anthony. This would be shown in cinemas as the introduction of TV would be seen much later.

If racegoers didn’t enjoy a day at the Grand National, they would have to rely on newspapers to fill in the gaps.

Compared to this digital age, it was a very different time.

It’s worth remembering that in the 19th century carrier pigeons were used to quickly send race results from racecourses to newspapers and betting offices.

Years

Grand National Winners of the past Ten Years ( 2015 – 2025 )

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The Aintree Grand National dates back to the early 19th Century. There have been iconic winners since 1839. The shortest priced favourites to the biggest priced outsiders. Horses many thought could never win, others who simply couldn’t lose!

Without doubt, it’s a race where stories are made…

Unless you are the grand old age of 100, few readers are likely to ask:

‘Do you remember Master Roberts winning in 1924? There was a false start and the race was delayed for 8 minutes but it didn’t stop Bob Trudgill winning at 25/1. I had 5-shilling each-way. After racing, I went to the Adelphi Hotel with 1,500 other guests and that crazy jockey re-enacted his victory by leaping a Becher’s Brook made out of 20 Magnums of Champagne.’

To be fair, I wish I had been there because it sounds one hell of a day and night.

Trainer, Aubrey Hastings and owner Lord Airlie were never the same.

I guess that’s what happens when you pocket £5,000 in prize money!

Obviously, this was a long time before the first TV footage (1960), but incredibly in 1924, forty-five cameramen recorded footage for Pathe News which captured the event for cinema audiences.

For most horse racing fans, this modern era of the Aintree Grand National dates back to 2015. I’m sure readers are looking forward to the 2025 National.

Let’s take a look at the last 10-years.

Here is a list of winners:

2024 – I Am Maximus (Willie Mullins)

2023 – Corach Rambler (Lucinda Russell)

2022 – Noble Yeats (Emmet Mullins)

2021 – Minella Times (Henry de Bromhead)

2020 – Cancelled

2019 – Tiger Roll (Gordon Elliott)

2018 – Tiger Roll (Gordon Elliott)

2017 – One For Arthur (Lucinda Russell)

2016 – Rule The World (Mouse Morris)

2015 – Many Clouds (Oliver Sherwood)

The main highlights include the disaster that was Covid 19 which saw life turned upside down and the 2020 Aintree Grand National being cancelled. I remember we were days away from the race taking place. It was a race to the line: Could Tiger Roll win 3 Nationals on the trot or would the deadly virus knock everything on the head?

We all know the answer.

It was unfortunate that Tiger Roll didn’t have his chance to go one better than the incredible Red Rum who won (1973, 1974 & 1977) for Ginger McCain and flamboyant owner Noel Le Mare. The man who had 3 ambitions in life.

Tiger Roll’s story would be cut short and sadly he wasn’t the same horse, He didn’t make the line-up for the 2021 Grand National.

2015 saw owner Trevor Hemmings win the National for the third time. Many Clouds, trained by Oliver Sherwood and jockey Leighton Aspell, who had won the year before. Hemmings had tasted victory with Ballabriggs (2011) and Hedghunter (2005). Hemmings, a very popular man and self-made billionaire, from very humble beginnings, sadly passed away in 2021 at the age of 86.

Lucinda Russell has won the National twice in the last ten years: One For Arthur (2014) and Corach Rambler (2023). They gave jockey Derek Fox special days to remember.

In fact, in the last 15 running (2009 – 2024) there has been three women train Aintree Grand National winners:

2009 – Mon Mome (100/1) Ventia Williams

2013 – Auroras Encore (66/1) Sue Smith

2017 – One For Arthur (14/1) Lucinda Russell

2023 – Corach Rambler (8/1f) Lucinda Russell

A truly historic moment: Minella Times (2021).

The first woman to win the Grand National, Rachael Blackmore. There is little doubt this victory said a lot about horse racing which bult on the shoulders of giants, such as of Charlotte Brew (1977) and Barony Fort. Without the efforts of many women and the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act which made discrimination on the grounds of sex illegal. Blackmore went on to win the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup: A Plus Tard won at 3/1f.

It is worth noting the success of Noble Yeats (2022) which saw Sam Waley-Cohen become the first amateur winner since Marcus Armitage and Mr Frisk (1990). Noble Yeats was the first seven-year-old to win since Bogskar in 1940.

In 2024, Willie Mullins found a winner in I Am Maximus, after a torrid time which saw him send out 63 runners since 2000. The eight-year-old gelding won well for Paul Townend and owner J.P. McManus.

But who will win the 2025 Aintree Grand National?

It takes place on the 5th April at 4pm.

At this time, 90 horses are entered for the Aintree Grand National. However, this will be narrowed down to a field of 34. At present, the final horse to make the start is Senior Chief alloted 10st 10lb. He is 33rd on the list.

This race over 4m 2 1/2f, with 30 fences and total prize money of £1M (£500,000 to the winner) sets a stiff challenge.

Leading fancies include:

*I Know The Way Ur Thinking (Gavin Cromwell) 8/1

*I Am Maximus (Willie Mullins) 12/1

*Iroko (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriro) 14/1

Intense Raffles (Thomas Gibney) 16/1

Minella Cocooner (Willie Mullins) 20/1

Nick Rockett (Willie Mullins) 20/1

*Meeting Of Waters (Willie Mullins) 25/1

*Perceval Legallois (Gavin Cromwell) 25/1

It’s noticeable that *J.P. McManus has a strong hand with 5 horses high in the betting. I Am Maximus has been raised 6lb for last year’s win. Mullins is throwing a hedgehog at the dartboard with 7 horses in the betting priced at 66/1 and less.

Mullins said: ‘It will be ‘tough’ for I Am Maximus to win off top weight.

Nations

Irish Grand National

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After writing a number of articles about Aintree, the Welsh and Scottish Grand Nationals, I’d almost forgot about its Irish counterpart.

Leprechauns turning in their grave!

A substantial crowd at Fairyhouse shaking their heads.

Perhaps the end of the rainbow hides a pot of gold or three wishes. I promise they will have everything to do with this beautiful Emerald Isle.

The Irish Grand National is held at Fairyhouse, County Meath, Ireland. This National Hunt steeplechase takes place each year on Easter Monday, part of the Festival meeting, attracting racegoers from Dublin.

This right-handed turf course over 3m 5f has twenty-four fences. It is open to horses aged five years and older. (It should be noted the race was run of 3m 4f until 1991).

Inuagurated in 1870, this handicap has an impressive history.

The first race was won by Sir Robert Peel.

The most noted winner with three victories is Brown Lad (1975, 1976, 1978). A brave performance in 1976 when carrying almost two stone extra weight under Tommy Carberry.

Notable winners in those early years include:

The Gift (1883, 1884)

Prince Regent, winner of the 1942 Irish Grand National, who went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1946 for trainer Tom Dreaper in the ownership of Jimmy Rank. The trainer won this race ten times, with seven successive wins from 1960 – 1966.

Dreaper’s star turn being Arkle who won the Irish Grand National in 1964. He went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times (1964, 1965, 1966). Also, highest rated steeplechaser ever by Timeform.

Flyingbolt (1966) was another supreme winner, noted as the second best steeplechase of all time. The same year he was crowned Champion Two-Mile Chaser.

Pat Taaffe is the leading jockey with six wins.

In 1953, Overshadow won at the age of 13.

Although no horses have won the Irish and Aintree Grand National in the same year a select number of horses have won both: *A (Aintree)

1904, 1906* Ascetic’s Silver

1985, 1988* Rhyme ‘n’ Reason

1989, 1999* Bobbyjo

2005, 2006* Numbersixvalverde

2023, 2024* I Am Maximus

In more recent years, punters will remember Desert Orchid (1990) for trainer David Elsworth, ridden by Richard Dunwoody. This followed a brilliant effort from the grey gelding in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Within the last decade (2015 – 2024) Willie Mullins and Dermot McLoughlin have featured winners:

Willie Mullins:

2019 – Burrows Saint

2023 – I Am Maximus

Dermot McLoughlin:

2021 – Freewheelin Dylan

2022 – Lord Lariat

The Irish Grand National is a prestigious race with total prize money of 500,000 (Euros) with a win prize of 270,000 (Euros).

Last year saw Intense Raffles (2024) take the honours at odds of 13/2 for Thomas Gibney, ridden by J J Slevin. In heavy going, the six-year-old son of Martaline won by one and a half lengths from Any Second Now (14/1), while Minella Cocooner (20/1) finished third.

The Irish Grand National is one of the featured races in the National Hunt season and part of the quartet of extended handicap chases.

A race with much history and prestige.

Questions

Aintree Grand National Betting: Favourite or Outsider?

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I remember my first ever winning Grand National bet.

Aldaniti in 1981. I’m not sure if it’s legal, but I was eleven-years-old. To think some of the horses were older than me. Obviously, I didn’t place the bet myself. My Dad must have done the honours and my 50p each-way come up trumps.

I think I won £6.

I probably bought a bag of penny sweets: pink shrimps, bananas, flumps, milk bottles, blackjacks and a quarter of dolly mixture. No wonder I felt sick after that win. Living a life of excess. Like you do at eleven.

It was only in later life I appreciated the story behind the success of both horse and jockey. Bob Champion who had recovered from cancer and Aldaniti who had suffered from chronic leg problems. It was a story which touched the heart and was made into a flim, Champions, starring John Hurt. The musical score composed and conducted by Carl Davis. The start of the film is very moving and it often brings me to tears.

To be fair, I’ve hit a barren spell. In recent years, National winners have been few and far between. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It’s virtually impossible to draw!

However, I have one question: Is it best to bet on the Grand National favourite or plump (if that’s the right word, sound like something you do with cushions) for the outsider?

Statistically, the favourite ‘must’ have a better chance of winning. I’m trying to tell myself this as I write these words. But on the other side of the coin, if I was a gambling man, there have been a number of outsiders win.

I’m thinking how much money would I like to win.

Should I bet on a horse priced at 1000000/1?

My horse would have three legs, one eye, half a tail and call to the name, Lucky.

Obviously, that is a joke.

His name would be Clip Clop The Cyclops

Over the years there have been 5 winners at 100/1.

1928 – Tiperary Tim

1929 – Gregalach

1947 – Caughoo

1967 – Foinavon

2009 – Mon Mome

Considering there have been at least 175 runnings, that’s about a 3% win rate. However, when you divide it by 5000 horses, the odds are probably horrenous. I really don’t know how many horses have run in the Grand National at odds of 100/1 or more. I have no idea. In fact, I doubt there are many people on the planet who do.

One or two Anoraks (people who obssess over data).

Anyway, perhaps we have learned something, it doesn’t pay to bet over 100/1.

Just saying.

But what about betting on the favourite? Less winnings, but, supposedly, more chance of winning.

2024: I Am Maximus won at odds of 7/1.

In the last 14 runnings, there have been 4 favourites go in. The good old jolly as they call it.

Let’s have a look at the winners:

2010 – Don’t Push It 10/1

2019 – Tiger Roll 4/1

2023 – Corach Rambler 8/1

2024 – I Am Maximus 7/1

Decisions, decisions.

Is it better to think somewhere in the middle? Halfway house and all that.

The average odds of recent winners is 22/1.

That average includes: 10/1, 14/1, 33/1, 66/1, 25/1, 25/1, 33/1, 14/1, 10/1, 4/1, 11/1, 50/1, 8/1 & 7/1.

The form students will tell you to look at the form. The optimist will tell you to bet the outsider. The pesimist will put their stamp on the favourite.

While your old aunt will pick a horse because of its name.

Horses

Earth Summit: The Greatest National Horse Ever

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earth summitIt sounds a bold claim.

 

You may have one horse on you mind and I know its name. I don’t want to be controversial but the name you are thinking is wrong.

 

I’m sorry, but you’re wrong.

 

It’s not Red Rum. The mighty hero of the Aintree Grand National. The apple of so many eyes: Ginger McCain, Brian Fletcher and Noel Le Mare.

 

Victorious: 1973, 1974 & 1977.

 

The most famous horse to ever set hoof on Aintree’s turf. After ‘Rummy’ won in 1974,  the words of Le Mare echoed magnificence. He had such presence. It could only come from a bygone age. In those days, a gentleman had a way of expressing himself. The problem these days, there are very few gentlemen left.

 

The world is a sadder place for it.

 

I have a horse in mind. However, it isn’t ‘just’ an Aintree winner.

 

Think back to 1998.

 

Not only did this gelding win at Aintree but the most elusive of trebles: including the Welsh and Scottish Grand National.

 

This son of Celtic Cone, a mud-lover like his sire, was amazing and I fear his achievement has gone unnoticed.

 

Earth Summit, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, in the ownership of The Summit Partnership, is, to my knowledge the only horse to win all three Nationals.

 

It should be noted Earth Summit’s ownership:

 

Until 31st December, 1993, Nigel Payne

Until 21st July, 1994, R I Sims

Until Retirement: *The Summit Partnership

(*Headed by Nigel Payne)

 

Let’s take a look at those 3 National Victories:

 

1994 – Scottish Grand National

 

16th April, 1994. The six-year-old, Earth Summit, took to the good ground well and given a beautiful ride by David Bridgwater. The 16/1 shot slipped under the radar carrying 10 stone, he sat handy and led 5 fences out, soon quickened clear, easily. He won by 14-lengths, from Bishop’s Island (7/1C) while Superior Finish (7/1C) third. At this time, he was in the ownership of R I Sims.

 

Win price money: £29,700

 

 

1997 – Welsh Grand National

 

27th December, 1997. The nine-year-old relished the heavy ground in the capable hands of Tom Jenks. Only seven of the fourteen runners completed the 3m 5f (22 fences). The 25/1 shot, led four fences out, and clear from three out, all out. He held the finish of Dom Samourai (12/1), who stayed on well on the flat but held by one and three quarter lengths. Samlee (7/1) finished a gallant third. The Racing Post quote said it all: ‘No other race quite sorts out the men from the boys like this one…he galloped his rivals into the mud.’ This was all the more remarkable after he suffered a near fatal injury to his near fore in the Greenalls Grand National Trial (February, 1996). ‘Twiston-Davis has shown the patience of a saint with him…’

 

Win prize money: £30, 846

 

1998 – Aintree Grand National

 

4th April, 1998. A truly magnificent day for Earth Summit. The ten-year-old gelding, won the greatest steeplechase of them all winning the Martell Grand National over 4m 4f on soft ground. Ridden by Carl Llewellyn, he chased the leaders, hitting the 19th fence before staying on well, ridden last but held all challengers by eleven lengths from Suny Bay (11/1), while Samlee (8/1) finished a distance behind in third. Only six of the thirty-seven runners finished. Earth Summit triumphant at 7/1f.

 

Once again, Earth Summit showed his stamina. ‘This was always going to be an extremely gruelling test…class still told, as it nearly always does…a renowned mudlark, once he had asserted going to the last, there was only going to be one winner.’

 

Win prize money: £212,569       

 

Earth Summit ran his final race in the Welsh Grand National on the 29th December, 1999. In heavy ground he finished ninth.

 

In his career he raced in the following Nationals:

 

Welsh Grand National:

 

1997 – 1st

1998 – PU

1999 – 9th

 

Scottish Grand National:

 

1994 – 1st

 

Aintree Grand National: 

 

1998 – 1st

1999 – 8th

 

Under race rules Earth Summit ran 41 times, achieving 10 wins, 7 seconds and 1 third. His total earnings £372, 566.

 

He only fell once in his career. He was retired in 2000 and given to his lass Marcella Bayliss. He passed away at the age of 17, humanely put down after being diagnosed with cancer in his liver and spleen.

 

An exceptional horse. He loved a test of stamina, a mudlark who revelled in the heaviest going and the only horse to ever win all three Nationals: Welsh, Scottish & Aintree.

 

Earth Summit (1988 – 2005).

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