The Grand National is considered by some racing fans to be the most prestigious race in the horse
racing calendar. The race has seen horses become legends at Aintree, while some of the most
memorable moments in horse racing stem from this race.
Taking a look at the odds for the Grand National horse racing on Betfair, Elegant Escape is the
current favourite, priced at 14/1, some way ahead of second favourite Up For Review who has a
price of 20/1. Could Elegant Escape follow in the hoof prints of any of the winners from our list? Let’s
take a look at them and see what he has to contend with.
1928 – Tipperary Tim
When 42 horses lined up for the 1928 Grand National, Tipperary Tim was priced at odds of 100/1, a
long way off the 5/1 favourite Master Billie. With the help of a little bit of fortune, Tipperary Tim was
able to produce one of the biggest shocks in Grand National history.
As Easter Hero fell on the Canal Turn of the first circuit, it caused a major pile-up with the majority of
the horses being caught up in the melee. Tipperary Tim, jockeyed by William Dutton, was able to
navigate around the madness, emerging as one of just seven seated horses.
By the penultimate there were only three horses remaining in the race. Great Span was in the lead,
ahead of Billy Barton and Tipperary Tim. Billy Barton took the lead when Great Span’s saddle slipped,
before Tipperary Tim became the last horse standing when Billy Barton fell. Tipperary Tim wrote his
name into the history books when he crossed the line in first place. He wasn’t the only horse to
finish, as Billy Barton got back up with jockey Tommy Cullinan and finished the course.
1967 – Foinavon
Foinavon’s victory in the 1967 Grand National owes a lot to fortune and the skill of jockey John
Buckingham. As the horses approached the 23 rd fence, Popham Down, who had unseated his rider on
the first fence, veered to the right, causing a pile up. With many horses unseating their riders, they
began to run up and down the fence, making it harder for other horses to jump the fence.
Foinavon was so far behind the leading pack that jockey Buckingham was able to navigate the horse
around the pile up and take a surprise lead. Foinavon was the only horse to jump the 23 rd fence at
the first attempt, which gave him a comfortable 30-length lead.
Although 17 jockeys remounted their horses, the lead was impossible to catch and Foinavon was
able to finish 15 lengths clear of race favourite Honey End. Foinavon ran at a price of 100/1 and his
owner missed the great win as he attended Worcester instead as he had so little faith in Foinavon.
1973 – Red Rum
When Red Rum raced home to victory in the 1973 Grand National, it wasn’t his odds that shocked
the world, but the impressive comeback he made against Crisp. Although Crisp was running with
23lbs more, that shouldn’t take away from Red Rum’s impressive performance that day.
After jumping Becher’s Brook on the second circuit, Crisp, ridden by Richard Pitman, had opened up
a 33-length lead on second place, a lead that seemed unsurmountable.
At the final fence, Crisp still held onto a good 15-length lead over Red Rum and in the home straight,
and although Red Rum was catching the ever-tiring Crisp, surely the Australian horse could hold off
his nearest rival with so little of the race left? Fortunately for Red Rum, he had plenty left in the tank
while Crisp was running on fumes.
With just metres to go, Red Rum caught up with his rival and finished ¾ length ahead of Crisp to
claim the first of his three Grand National titles. He became a legend that day and only added to his
legendary status in the following years.
