# 2018 Grand National

The 2018 Grand National (officially known as the Randox Health 2018 Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 171st annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase was the pinnacle of a three-day festival which commenced on 12 April 2018. The event was sponsored by Randox Health for the second time.
The race was won by 1010 10/1 shot Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell, in a photo finish from Pleasant Company. All 38 runners returned to the stables, although Saint Are required veterinary attention on the course and Charlie Deutsch, riding Houblon Des Obeaux, was treated on the track after a fall leading to Becher's Brook being bypassed on the second circuit.

## Race card

From an initial 105 entries, the final field of 40 runners was declared on 13 April, after Minella Rocco, Vicente and Beeves were all withdrawn from the race and replaced by Thunder And Roses, Delusionofgrandeur and Walk In The Mill. Two contenders, Regal Encore and Walk In The Mill a day after securing its position in the race, were withdrawn on the morning of the race, leaving 38 starters, the smallest field since 1999.
2018 also marked the first National for 30 years to feature three female jockeys in the line-up. 2012 third-placed jockey Katie Walsh paired Baie Des Iles for her sixth ride in the race, whilst Rachael Blackmore and Bryony Frost were both handed their first National rides on Alpha Des Obeaux and Milansbar respectively.
| No | Horse | Age | Handicap (st–lb) | SP | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1 | Thunder And Roses* (IRE) | 10 | 10-05 | 33/1 | James Slevin | Mouse Morris |
| 2 | Blaklion | 9 | 11-10 | 1014 14/1 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 3 | Anibale Fly (FR) | 8 | 11-08 | 1010 10/1 | Barry Geraghty | Tony Martin (IRE) |
| 4 | The Last Samuri (IRE) | 10 | 11-08 | 20/1 | David Bass | Kim Bailey |
| 5 | Valseur Lido (FR) | 9 | 11-07 | 1066 66/1 | Keith Donoghue | Henry de Bromhead (IRE) |
| 6 | Total Recall (IRE) | 9 | 11-05 | 1007 7/1 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins (IRE) |
| 7 | Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) | 8 | 11-04 | 1033 33/1 | Rachael Blackmore | Mouse Morris (IRE) |
| 8 | Perfect Candidate (IRE) | 11 | 11-03 | 40/1 | Alain Cawley | Fergal O'Brien |
| 9 | Shantou Flyer (IRE) | 8 | 11-02 | 25/1 | James Bowen | Richard Hobson |
| 10 | Tenor Nivernais (FR) | 11 | 11-01 | 66/1 | Tom O'Brien | Venetia Williams |
| 11 | Carlingford Lough (IRE) | 12 | 11-01 | 33/1 | Mark Walsh | John Kiely (IRE) |
| 12 | Delusionofgrandeur* (IRE) | 8 | 10-05 | 50/1 | Henry Brooke | Sue Smith |
| 13 | Tiger Roll (IRE) | 8 | 10-13 | 1010 10/1 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 15 | Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) | 9 | 10-13 | 1025 25/1 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
| 16 | Chase The Spud | 10 | 10-12 | 1025 25/1 | Paddy Brennan | Fergal O'Brien |
| 17 | Warriors Tale | 9 | 10-12 | 28/1 | Sean Bowen | Paul Nicholls |
| 18 | Seeyouatmidnight | 10 | 10-12 | 1011 11/1 | Brian Hughes | Sandy Thomson |
| 19 | Gas Line Boy (IRE) | 12 | 10-11 | 1025 25/1 | Robbie Dunne | Ian Williams |
| 20 | The Dutchman (IRE) | 8 | 10-11 | 25/1 | Harry Cobden | Colin Tizzard |
| 21 | Pleasant Company (IRE) | 10 | 10-11 | 1025 25/1 | David Mullins | Willie Mullins (IRE) |
| 22 | Ucello Conti (FR) | 10 | 10-10 | 16/1 | Daryl Jacob | Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 23 | Saint Are (FR) | 12 | 10-10 | 50/1 | Ciaran Gethings | Tom George |
| 25 | Raz De Maree (FR) | 13 | 10-09 | 1020 20/1 | Robbie Power | Gavin Cromwell (IRE) |
| 26 | I Just Know (IRE) | 8 | 10-08 | 16/1 | Danny Cook | Sue Smith |
| 27 | Virgilio (FR) | 9 | 10-08 | 66/1 | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton |
| 28 | Baie Des Iles (FR) | 7 | 10-08 | 1016 16/1 | Katie Walsh | Ross O'Sullivan (IRE) |
| 29 | Maggio (FR) | 13 | 10-08 | 66/1 | Brendan Powell | Patrick Griffin (IRE) |
| 30 | Pendra (IRE) | 10 | 10-08 | 40/1 | Aidan Coleman | Charlie Longsdon |
| 31 | Buywise (IRE) | 11 | 10-08 | 40/1 | Adam Wedge | Evan Williams |
| 32 | Childrens List (IRE) | 8 | 10-08 | 40/1 | Jonathan Burke | Willie Mullins (IRE) |
| 33 | Lord Windermere (IRE) | 12 | 10-07 | 50/1 | Andrew Lynch | Jim Culloty (IRE) |
| 34 | Captain Redbeard (IRE) | 9 | 10-07 | 20/1 | Sam Coltherd | Stuart Coltherd |
| 35 | Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) | 11 | 10-07 | 33/1 | Charlie Deutsch | Venetia Williams |
| 36 | Bless The Wings (IRE) | 13 | 10-06 | 1040 40/1 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 37 | Milansbar (IRE) | 11 | 10-06 | 1025 25/1 | Bryony Frost | Neil King |
| 38 | Final Nudge (IRE) | 9 | 10-06 | 33/1 | Gavin Sheehan | David Dennis |
| 39 | Double Ross (IRE) | 12 | 10-06 | 40/1 | Jamie Bargary | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 40 | Road To Riches (IRE) | 11 | 10-05 | 40/1 | Sean Flanagan | Noel Meade (IRE) |
* Great Britain unless stated.
* Horses 1 & 12 were late replacements
* ↑ amateur rider

## Race overview

The first fence claimed Perfect Candidate who in turn brought down one of the favourites, Blaklion. I Just Know led the field until falling at Becher's Brook, which also saw Houblon Des Obleaux and Virgilio out of the race. Houblon Des Obeaux's jockey Charlie Deutsch was treated for injuries at the scene, resulting in Becher's being bypassed on the second circuit. Captain Redbeard unseated its rider at the Foinavon fence as Ucello Conti led the field from Double Ross, with The Dutchman, Milansbar and Pleasant Company also prominent. The Canal Turn saw the end of Lord Windermere, Buywise and Final Nudge. Chase The Spud pulled up before The Chair, which claimed Alpha Des Obeaux and Saint Are.
Delusionsofgrandeur and Maggio were pulled up at the beginning of the second circuit, and The Dutchman unseated its rider at Foinavon as Pleasant Company took over the lead. Ucello Conti lost its rider three fences from home, while Seeyouatmidnight challenged Pleasant Company for the lead. Tiger Roll made its move and hit the lead on the 29th fence. On the run-in, Pleasant Company fought back and almost caught Tiger Roll, losing by a head.
There were no fatalities, although Saint Are was treated by veterinarians after being brought down at The Chair. A few days later, Saint Are's retirement from racing was announced. Jockey Charlie Deutsch was kicked in the back by a horse following his fall at Becher's Brook, but recovered and rode a winner at Plumpton the following day.

## Finishing order

Twelve runners completed the course as follows:
| Position | Horse | Jockey | SP | Distance | Prize money |
| 1 | Tiger Roll | Davy Russell | 1010 10/1 | Head | £500,000 |
| 2 | Pleasant Company | David Mullins | 1025 25/1 | 11 lengths | £200,000 |
| 3 | Bless The Wings | Jack Kennedy | 1040 40/1 | Neck | £100,000 |
| 4 | Anibale Fly | Barry Geraghty | 1010 10/1 | 21 lengths | £65,000 |
| 5 | Milansbar | Bryony Frost | 1025 25/1 | 12 lengths | £40,000 |
| 6 | Road to Riches | Sean Flanagan | 1033 33/1 | 7 lengths | £30,000 |
| 7 | Gas Line Boy | Robert Dunne | 1025 25/1 | 4 lengths | £20,000 |
| 8 | Valseur Lido | Keith Donoghue | 1066 66/1 | 3⁄4 length | £15,000 |
| 9 | Vieux Lion Rouge | Tom Scudamore | 1025 25/1 | 3⁄4 length | £10,000 |
| 10 | Raz De Maree | Robbie Power | 1020 20/1 | 29 lengths | £5,000 |
| 11 | Seeyouatmidnight | Brian Hughes | 1011 11/1 | 2+3⁄4 lengths | |
| 12 | Baie Des Iles | Katie Walsh | 1016 16/1 | Last to complete | |
* Distance measures from smallest to largest winning margin: nose, short head, head, neck, one length, a distance.

## Non-finishers

The runners who failed to complete were as follows:
| Fence | Horse | Jockey | SP | Fate |
| 1st | Perfect Candidate | Alain Cawley | 1050 50/1 | Fell |
| 1st | Blaklion | Sam Twiston-Davies | 1014 14/1 | Brought down |
| 6th (Becher's Brook) | I Just Know | Danny Cook | 1014 14/1 | Fell |
| | Houblon Des Obeaux | Charlie Deutsch | 1025 25/1 | Fell |
| | Virgilio | Harry Skelton | 1050 50/1 | Fell |
| 7th (Foinavon) | Captain Redbeard | Sam Coltherd | 1020 20/1 | Unseated rider |
| 8th (Canal Turn) | Lord Windermere | Andrew Lynch | 1050 50/1 | Unseated rider |
| | Buywise | Adam Wedge | 1050 50/1 | Unseated rider |
| | Final Nudge | Gavin Sheehan | 1033 33/1 | Fell |
| 15th (The Chair) | Chase The Spud | Paddy Brennan | 1025 25/1 | Pulled up |
| | Alpha Des Obeaux | Rachael Blackmore | 1033 33/1 | Fell |
| | Saint Are | Ciaran Gethings | 1050 50/1 | Brought down |
| 17th | Delusionofgrandeur | Henry Brooke | 1050 50/1 | Pulled up |
| 18th | Maggio | Brendan Powell | 1066 66/1 | Pulled up |
| 23rd (Foinavon) | The Dutchman | Harry Cobden | 1020 20/1 | Unseated rider |
| 26th | Thunder And Roses | James Slevin | 1033 33/1 | Pulled up |
| | The Last Samuri | David Bass | 1016 16/1 | Pulled up |
| | Tenor Nivernais | Tom O'Brien | 1066 66/1 | Pulled up |
| | Shantou Flyer | James Bowen | 1020 20/1 | Pulled up |
| 27th (open ditch) | Ucello Conti | Daryl Jacob | 1016 16/1 | Unseated rider |
| 29th | Total Recall | Paul Townend | 1007 7/1 F | Pulled up |
| | Warriors Tale | Sean Bowen | 1033 33/1 | Pulled up |
| | Pendra | Aidan Coleman | 1080 80/1 | Pulled up |
| | Double Ross | Jamie Bargary | 1066 66/1 | Pulled up |
| Run-in | Carlingford Lough | Mark Walsh | 1033 33/1 | Pulled up |
| | Childrens List | Jonathan Burke | 1066 66/1 | Pulled up |

## Broadcasting and media

   Tiger Roll is over in front, and is trying now to stream away. Pleasant Company in second, Bless The Wings and Anibale Fly in an Irish clean sweep. And it's Tiger Roll who is in full cry, leading by 5 lengths towards the Elbow Plesant Company in second, Bless The Wings and Anibale Fly. Towards the final two hundred yards, the diminutive Tiger Roll senses a place in history, Pleasant Company in second, Bless The Wings and Anibale Fly. They're finishing well strung out, but it's Tiger Roll for Gordon Elliott and is the long wait for a National winner about to end for Davy Russell? Pleasent Company's coming back, Tiger Roll hanging on, Just may have lasted.
ITV lead commentator Richard Hoiles describes the climax of the race.
As the Grand National is accorded the status of an event of national interest in the United Kingdom and is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, it must be shown on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK. The race was broadcast live on TV by ITV, in the second year of its four-year deal as the exclusive terrestrial broadcaster of horse racing in the UK.
The coverage was co-anchored by Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani. Analysis was provided by former Grand National winning jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald and Ruby Walsh, the latter having been ruled out the Aintree meeting through injury. Reports were provided by Oli Bell, Alice Plunkett and Luke Harvey with updates from the betting ring by Matt Chapman and Brian Gleeson. The commentary team was Mark Johnson, Ian Bartlett and Richard Hoiles.