# 2019 Grand National

The 2019 Grand National (officially known as the Randox Health Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 172nd annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase was held on 6 April and is the pinnacle of a three-day festival.
The event was sponsored by Randox Health as part of an agreement signed in 2016 for the company to sponsor the race for five years starting in 2017.
The race was won by 4/1 favourite Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell and trained by Gordon Elliott. Tiger Roll became the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to-back Nationals, as well as the first favorite to win the race since Comply or Die in 2008.
19 of the 40 horses that started managed to complete the course.
In the race, Up For Review sustained a neck fracture after being brought down at the first fence. He was the first equine fatality in the race since 2012, after which the fences were drastically altered and softened.

## Race card

112 entries were received, including 47 from Ireland. The final line-up of 40 horses was announced on 4 April 2019. Mall Dini was withdrawn the following day due to injury and replaced by Just A Par. No further withdrawals meant that a full field of 40 horses were sent to the start line.
Gordon Elliott broke the record for the most horses trained in a single running of the race, entering 11 horses, breaking the record set by Martin Pipe of 10 participants 18 years previously (2001). Elliott had also been the initial trainer for both Outlander and Don Poli, though these horses were sold prior to the race and passed on to new trainers.
| No | Horse | Age | Handicap (st–lb) | SP | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1 | Anibale Fly | 9 | 11-10 | 1010 10/1 | Mark Walsh | Tony Martin |
| 2 | Valtor | 10 | 11-06 | 1066 66/1 | Daryl Jacob | Nicky Henderson |
| 3 | Tiger Roll | 9 | 11-05 | 1004 4/1 F | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 4 | Outlander | 11 | 11-04 | 1066 66/1 | James Bowen | Richard Spencer |
| 5 | Don Poli | 10 | 11-03 | 1066 66/1 | Patrick Mullins | Philip Kirby |
| 6 | Go Conquer | 10 | 11-03 | 1033 33/1 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 7 | Mala Beach | 11 | 11-02 | 1033 33/1 | Jamie Codd | Gordon Elliott |
| 8 | Minella Rocco | 9 | 11-01 | 1033 33/1 | Richie McLernon | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 9 | Lake View Lad | 9 | 11-01 | 1014 14/1 | Henry Brooke | Nick Alexander |
| 10 | Pleasant Company | 11 | 11-01 | 1012 12/1 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 11 | Ballyoptic | 9 | 11-01 | 1025 25/1 | Tom Bellamy | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 12 | Dounikos | 8 | 11-00 | 1016 16/1 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
| 13 | Rathvinden | 11 | 11-00 | 1008 8/1 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 14 | One For Arthur | 10 | 11-00 | 1025 25/1 | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell |
| 15 | Rock The Kasbah | 9 | 10-13 | 1016 16/1 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
| 16 | Warriors Tale | 10 | 10-13 | 1066 66/1 | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
| 17 | Regal Encore | 11 | 10-12 | 1066 66/1 | Jonathan Burke | Anthony Honeyball |
| 18 | Magic Of Light | 8 | 10-11 | 1066 66/1 | Paddy Kennedy | Jessica Harrington |
| 19 | A Toi Phil | 9 | 10-11 | 1050 50/1 | Denis O'Regan | Gordon Elliott |
| 20 | Jury Duty | 8 | 10-11 | 1010 10/1 | Robbie Power | Gordon Elliott |
| 21 | Noble Endeavor | 10 | 10-10 | 1050 50/1 | Mark Enright | Gordon Elliott |
| 22 | Monbeg Notorious | 8 | 10-10 | 1050 50/1 | Sean Bowen | Gordon Elliott |
| 23 | Ramses De Teillee | 7 | 10-09 | 1020 20/1 | David Noonan | David Pipe |
| 24 | Tea For Two | 10 | 10-09 | 1025 25/1 | Lizzie Kelly | Jane Williams |
| 25 | Just A Par | 12 | 10-02 | 100/1 | Aidan Coleman | James Moffatt |
| 26 | Step Back | 9 | 10-07 | 1025 25/1 | Nico de Boinville | Mark Bradstock |
| 27 | Ultragold | 11 | 10-07 | 1050 50/1 | Tom O'Brien | Colin Tizzard |
| 28 | Blow By Blow | 8 | 10-06 | 1066 66/1 | Andrew Ring | Gordon Elliott |
| 29 | Up For Review | 10 | 10-06 | 1033 33/1 | Danny Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 30 | Singlefarmpayment | 9 | 10-06 | 1050 50/1 | Paddy Brennan | Tom George |
| 31 | Vieux Lion Rouge | 10 | 10-06 | 1050 50/1 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
| 32 | Valseur Lido | 10 | 10-06 | 1066 66/1 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead |
| 33 | Vintage Clouds | 9 | 10-04 | 1011 11/1 | Danny Cook | Sue Smith |
| 34 | General Principle | 10 | 10-04 | 1033 33/1 | J J Slevin | Gordon Elliott |
| 35 | Livelovelaugh | 9 | 10-04 | 1025 25/1 | David Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 36 | Walk In The Mill | 9 | 10-04 | 1025 25/1 | James Best | Robert Walford |
| 37 | Folsom Blue | 12 | 10-04 | 1066 66/1 | Luke Dempsey | Gordon Elliott |
| 38 | Captain Redbeard | 10 | 10-03 | 1066 66/1 | Sam Coltherd | Stuart Coltherd |
| 39 | Bless The Wings | 14 | 10-03 | 1050 50/1 | Robbie Dunne | Gordon Elliott |
| 40 | Joe Farrell | 10 | 10-02 | 1014 14/1 | Adam Wedge | Rebecca Curtis |
* 1 2 amateur jockey

## Finishing order

| Position | Name | Age | Handicap (st–lb) | SP | Jockey | Trainer | Prize money |
| 1 | Tiger Roll | 9 | 11-05 | 4/1 F | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott | £561,300 |
| 2 | Magic of Light | 8 | 10-11 | 66/1 | Paddy Kennedy | Jessica Harrington | £211,100 |
| 3 | Rathvinden | 11 | 11-00 | 8/1 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins | £105,500 |
| 4 | Walk In The Mill | 9 | 10-04 | 25/1 | James Best | Robert Walford | £52,700 |
| 5 | Anibale Fly | 9 | 11-10 | 10/1 | Mark Walsh | Tony Martin | £26,500 |
| 6 | One For Arthur | 10 | 11-00 | 20/1 | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell | £13,200 |
| 7 | Regal Encore | 11 | 10-12 | 66/1 | Jonathan Burke | Anthony Honeyball | £6,800 |
| 8 | Singlefarmpayment | 9 | 10-06 | 50/1 | Paddy Brennan | Tom George | £3,600 |
| 9 | Outlander | 11 | 11-04 | 66/1 | James Bowen | Richard Spencer | £2,000 |
| 10 | Valseur Lido | 10 | 10-06 | 66/1 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead | £1,000 |
| 11 | Livelovelaugh | 9 | 10-04 | 25/1 | David Mullins | Willie Mullins | |
| 12 | A Toi Phil | 9 | 10-11 | 50/1 | Denis O'Regan | Gordon Elliott | |
| 13 | Bless The Wings | 14 | 10-03 | 50/1 | Robert Dunne | Gordon Elliott | |
| 14 | Ultragold | 11 | 10-07 | 50/1 | Tom O'Brien | Colin Tizzard | |
| 15 | Vieux Lion Rouge | 10 | 10-06 | 66/1 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe | |
| 16 | Captain Redbeard | 10 | 10-03 | 66/1 | Sam Coltherd | Stuart Coltherd | |
| 17 | Folsom Blue | 12 | 10-04 | 66/1 | Luke Dempsey | Gordon Elliott | |
| 18 | Valtor | 10 | 11-06 | 66/1 | Daryl Jacob | Nicky Henderson | |
| 19 | Don Poli | 10 | 11-03 | 66/1 | Patrick Mullins | Philip Kirby | |
* ↑ amateur jockey

## Non-finishers

| Fence | Horse | Jockey | Fate |
| 1st | Up For Review | David Mullins | Brought down |
| | Vintage Clouds | Danny Cook | Fell |
| 11th (Open Ditch) | Monbeg Notorious | Sean Bowen | Pulled Up |
| 19th (Open Ditch) | General Principle | J J Slevin | Fell |
| | Rock The Kasbah | Richard Johnson | Brought Down |
| | Blow By Blow | Andrew Ring | Pulled Up |
| | Jury Duty | Robbie Power | Unseated Rider |
| 21st | Minella Rocco | Richie McLernon | Pulled Up |
| 25th (Valentine's Brook) | Step Back | Nico de Boinville | Pulled Up |
| 26th | Ballyoptic | Thomas Bellamy | Fell |
| 27th (Open Ditch) | Pleasant Company | Paul Townend | Unseated Rider |
| | Lake View Lad | Henry Brooke | Pulled Up |
| 28th | Just A Par | Aidan Coleman | Pulled Up |
| | Warriors Tale | Harry Cobden | Pulled Up |
| | Noble Endeavor | Mark Enright | Pulled Up |
| | Ramses Des Teille | David Noonan | Pulled Up |
| 29th | Mala Beach | Mr. Jamie Codd | Pulled Up |
| | Tea For Two | Lizzie Kelly | Pulled Up |
| | Joe Farrell | Adam Wedge | Pulled Up |
| | Go Conquer | Sam Twiston-Davies | Pulled Up |
| | Dounikos | Jack Kennedy | Pulled Up |

## Broadcasting and media

   Magic Of Light blunders and leaves Tiger Roll two lengths clear, and Davy Russell is led to breathe on him as Tiger Roll breezes towards the Elbow. Magic Of Light, Rathvinden, Walk In The Mill, One For Arthur then Anibale Fly and Regal Encore. But off up the run-in, Tiger Roll looks to the elbow, Magic Of Light and Rathvinden trying to rally. Tiger Roll's been out in front for a while, he's got a five length lead. 150 yards between himself and a place in history! Tiger Roll from Magic Of Light, Tiger Roll keeping up the gallop! Up towards the line, back to back nationals, the first since Red Rum! An Aintree great!
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 third 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 and Mick Fitzgerald, along with leading female jockey Bryony Frost, who had been ruled out of competing through injury, and veteran racing broadcaster Brough Scott. Reports were provided by Oli Bell, Alice Plunkett, Rishi Persad and Luke Harvey with updates from the betting ring by Brian Gleeson and Matt Chapman and Chris Hughes covering viewers comments on social media. The commentary team was Mark Johnson, Ian Bartlett and Richard Hoiles. Following the race, Bell, Fitzgerald and Chapman guided viewers on a fence-by-fence re-run of the race - due to the fatal injury sustained to Up For Review, the first fence was omitted from the re-run broadcast.