The five 100-1 outsiders who won the Grand National : Features : Grand National The five 100-1 outsiders who won the Grand National Free Bet Mon Mome was the last 100-1 Grand National winner. Dan Fitch takes a look back at the five 100-1 outsiders, who defied the odds to win the Grand National. The Grand National course at Aintree has a reputation of being the toughest event in racing. Run over a distance of four miles and 876 yards and punctuated by 30 challenging fences, it's little wonder that sometimes the form book can go out of the window and a rank outsider can win the race. Since the race was first ran in 1839, there have been a handful of occasions when a real no-hoper shocked the nation by winning at Aintree. Here are the five 100-1 outsiders to have won the Grand National. 1928 - Tipperary Tim The first 100-1 horse to win the Grand National was Tipperary Tim.

As the race was about to start, Tipperary Tim's jockey William Dutton heard a friend call out "Billy boy, you'll only win if all the others fall down." As fate would have it, 41 of the 42 riders did fall down, leaving Tipperary Tim to win the race ahead of the re-mounted Billy Barton. The two horses were the only finishers, after a melee at the Canal Turn in treacherous weather conditions. 1929 - Gregalach One year after Tipperary Tim made history, Gregalach became the second successive 100-1 shot to win the Grand National. The horse was given such lengthy odds having fallen at Sandown, just eight days prior to the race at Aintree. Gregalach's jockey Robert Everett rode a clever race in which he gradually gained ground on the leaders and overtook the legendary Easter Hero on the second to last fence, before winning the race by six lengths. 1947 - Caughoo As if the fact that the 100-1 outsider Caughoo won the 1947 Grand National isn't exciting enough, legend has it that his victory wasn't exactly legit.

With the Aintree course covered in a thick fog, it has long been rumoured that Caughoo hid behind a fence in the early stages of the race, only to emerge towards the end of the race and win by 20 lengths. Caughoo's jockey Eddie Dempsey was beaten up by another rider after the race, but it seems that this was unwarranted, as photographic evidence emerged years later, clearly showing Caughoo jumping Becher's Brook on two separate occasions. 1967 - Foinavon The most famous 100-1 winner of them all was Foinavon, who entered into Grand National folklore by winning the race amidst a mass pile-up and ended up having a fence named after him. Foinavon was lagging behind the other 27 remaining runners, as they approached the 23rd fence. Popham Down veered wildly to the right as it came to the fence, which resulted in a melee. The only horse to jump the fence first time was Foinavon, who was lagging so far behind that his jockey John Buckingham could steer away from trouble. Although 17 re-mounted horses gave chase, no one could catch Foinavon.

2009 - Mon Mome A total of 42 years passed after Foinavon's victory, before Mon Mome became the next 100-1 winner of the Grand National. Venitia Williams became only the second woman to train a Grand National winner, while Mon Mome's jockey Liam Treadwell rode the horse to victory on his Grand National debut. 100-1 shot's shock win at Grand National: Bookies celebrate as rank outsider Mon Mome takes home the prize | Daily Mail Online 100-1 shot's shock win at Grand National: Bookies celebrate as rank outsider Mon Mome takes home the prize comments Bookies were celebrating last night after a 100-1 rank outsider became the longest-priced horse for more than 40 years to win the Grand National. Mon Mome’s victory is the greatest shock in the Aintree race since 1967 when Foinavon won with the same odds. William Hill took fewer than 2,000 bets on the winning horse, the highest of which was £100 each way with a payout of £12,500.

Shock win: Rank outsider Mon Mome with jockey Liam Tredwell during the third day of the John Smith's Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool A spokesman said: ‘It’s a crackerjack result for bookies. He just wasn’t on the radar for most punters, despite finishing tenth last year.’ Mon Mome was ridden by Liam Treadwell and trained by Venetia Williams, who is only the second woman to train a National winner. RELATED ARTICLES 7 of the longest priced Grand National Winners since 1950 0 7 of the longest priced Grand National Winners since 1950 It’s the race that attracts the most money from a betting perspective and even if you only have one punt every year, chances are that it will be on the Grand National. However, some serious gamblers are hesitant about getting involved because they feel the event can be something of a lottery with treacherous fences leading to a very open field. The view is that anyone can win the Grand National but history shows that the race rarely goes to a high priced runner.

Aurora’s Encore came home at a mighty 66/1 in 2013 but as these horses prove, that’s quite an unusual occurrence. Like most sports, horse racing was on something of a hiatus during World War II and when the Grand National returned in 1946, the field really did represent a lottery. Caughoo came in at 100/1 in 1947 but three years later things had settled down as stables returned to some level of normality and winners became more predictable. Here then is the full list of highest priced National winners since 1950. 1. Aurora’s Encore won at 66/1 in 2013 2013 John Smith’s Grand National Chase – Auroras Encore The 2013 Grand National was notable for a number of events. Firstly, from a large field, only two horses fell while another six unseated their riders. It’s quite rare for a favourite to finish the course and not come in the places but the 11/2 starter Seabass would head past the post in 13th position.

All 40 runners made it safely into the Canal Turn – the first time this has ever happened – and at the Chair, the highly fancied Colbert Station, ridden by Champion Jockey Tony McCoy, was among the first to fall. The 2013 Grand National continued to break the records when all remaining horses made it safely over Bechers Brook. Ruby Walsh’s mount fell at Valentines but his sister Katie stayed in the field on Seabass while Ryan Mania and Aurora’s Encore had quietly made their way up to third. Four horses dropped out of the race at the final fence leaving Mania’s Mount with a clear run home. With no more obstacles in their way, Aurora’s Encore’s sprinting prowess came to the fore and eventually, the horse finished as the winner by a considerable margin of nine lengths. Many stories of lucky punters followed but for most bookmakers, it was a profitable day with the favourites failing to come in. However, Sporting Index did manager to lose £50,000 on the event after customers took advantage of a generous spread. 2.

Foinavon won at 100/1 in 1967 The 2013 Grand National broke so many records but the 1967 race will always be remembered as being the most historic. Rank outsider Foinavon came home at an incredible 100/1 but that doesn’t come close to telling the full story of a remarkable event. ( Full video of this race ) Nobody expected this horse to win, least of all its owner who travelled to Worcester to see stable mates ride instead and his lack of faith seemed justified as Foinavon began to lag behind the rest of the field by some considerable distance. However, his slow pace was to prove invaluable after the events that followed. The most familiar piece of footage on Grand National history begins at the 23rd fence when the loose horse Popham Down suddenly veered to its right. Loose runners can occasionally cause problems at the National but Popham Down’s actions led to complete chaos as the majority of the field either fell or were unseated. Even those jockeys lucky enough to stay in the saddle were effectively out of the race as their mounts began to run in the opposite direction.

Amidst all of this mayhem, Foinavon was moving along serenely in last place and at a pace slow enough to avoid the melee that lay ahead. John Buckingham’s mount became the only horse to clear the fence on its first attempt and suddenly he had a lead of over 30 lengths. Even then, Foinavon was almost caught as riders began to remount and had the National course been longer, history would have been very different. As it was, the event had its first 100/1 winner since 1947 and the 23rd has subsequently been renamed as the Foinavon Fence. Some very fortunate punters were ecstatic and Buckingham had also enjoyed a great deal of luck when he revealed that he wasn’t even first choice to ride the 1967 winner. “Three jockeys had turned him down. They asked me and I mean I’d have ridden Dick’s donkey to be in the Grand National,” Buckingham said after the race. 3.

Ayala won at 66/1 in 1963 Just four years before Foinavon’s incredible feat, the Grand National had experienced another high priced winner when Ayala came in at the head of a 47 strong field in 1963. Ridden by 19 year old jockey Pat Buckley, the horse came in by just three quarters of a length in front of 20/1 shot Carrickbeg while the top three was completed by another outsider – Hawa’s Song. Compared with the extraordinary events of 1967, the 1963 Grand National was fairly unremarkable but it was interesting to note that while only 22 of the 47 strong field made it around the course, there were no casualties and all returned to their stables safely. Ayala was obviously an unfancied runner but some shrewd gamblers would have noticed its strong pedigree. Although the horse had a young and inexperienced jockey, it was trained by Keith Piggott, father of the legendary Lester and son of Ernie who had ridden two National winners in 1912 and 1919.

As part of that kind of Dynasty, Ayala would have attracted some attention, even at that 66/1 price. 4. Anglo won at 50/1 in 1966 Clearly some of the results from the 1960’s would have backed up the theory that betting on the Grand National was akin to a lottery and sandwiched between Ayala and Foinavon was Anglo’s victory in 1966. This was no fluke however and the win wasn’t even a close call with the horse storming home by 20 lengths from 11/4 favourite Freddie who finished in second place for the second year in succession. Out of a 47 strong field, 35 horses failed to finish including the notorious Popham Down while the win was a notable achievement for jockey Tim Norman who had been injured in a car accident just two days before the race. 5. Last Suspect won at 50/1 in 1985 The 1970’s were the era of Red Rum and some lower priced winners of the race.

The Grand National started to become just a little bit more predictable but that was all set to change as the 1980’s were ushered in. The decade began with a 40/1 winner in Ben Nevis but five years later in 1985, an even longer punt came home. The 1985 event was a memorable one with the Jockey Club choosing to honour all surviving winning riders of this great race. It also saw a smaller field of 40 with safety starting to become a real issue and it began with joint favourites – Greasepaint and West Tip who were both available at 13/2 prior to the off. Both horses had good records coming into this race: Greasepaint had finished as runner up twice while West Tip had survived a horrific collision with a lorry to win four straight events in the lead up to the national. The latter would have to wait another year for Grand National success however as Last Suspect came through the field. After the off, 1984 winner Hallo Dandy fell at the first but as the race settled down, Greasepaint was handily placed in second with Last Suspect offering no obvious threat in third.

Mr Snugfit took the lead at the final turn but as greater weight tied him down, Last Suspect found the energy to edge out his rival by three lengths. 6. Mon Mome won at 100/1 in 2009 The Favourites won the Grand National in 2008 and 2010 but in between, we saw the first 100/1 winner of the race since Foinavon more than 40 years previously. In doing so, the horse also became the first French bred winner for over 100 years. Grand National 2009 2008’s Champion Comply or Die had drifted out to 14/1 but was still highly fancied by the betting fraternity as it went on to deliver a win for each way backers by coming in second. Butler’s Cabin was the ante post favourite after winning the Irish Grand National in 2007 but in a strong field, nobody paid any attention to Mon Mome despite the fact that she had a decent record and had been the favourite going into the previous Welsh Grand National.

However, the Liam Treadwell ride started strongly and kept pace with the field right the way through The Chair, Beechers Brook and Valentines. As the favourites either fell or drifted back, it was neck and neck between the 100/1 shot and Comply or Die as they jumped the last. The greater sprinter would prevail – many expected the 2008 winner to accelerate but Mon Mome outstripped its last remaining challenge to come home by an impressive 12 lengths. It was a shock result in every sense and many bookies reported that they’d barely seen a penny wagered on the winner. Even Mon Mome’s trainer couldn’t believe what she’d seen. “How can you ever expect that?” said Venetia Williams. “It’s unbelievable. For the first half of the race, I was watching the wrong horses down the back.” 7. Neptune Collonges won at 33/1 in 2012 Neptune Collonges There have been a number of 33/1 winners of the Grand National but the fact that we’ve had two high priced victors in the last two years just underlines how open this race can be.

The win was even more remarkable due to safety changes which meant that all runners had to have achieved at least a place in a recognised Steeplechase of three miles or more. That new rule should have hampered the chances of the outsiders but Neptune Collonges became the latest in a long line of horses to defy the odds. 2012 Gold Cup winner Synchronised was the favourite but sadly fell and had to be put down thereby making this a far more open event. After that, the race settled down and at one point, 100/1 shot In Compliance was in with a shout but along with five other runners competing on the long run home, the horse faded leaving Neptune Collonges to squeeze past the post by a nose from SunnyHill Boy. Early betting for the 2014 Grand National shows Tea For Three as the favourite with most bookmakers at around the 10/1 mark. However, as these horses have shown, the winner can come from almost anywhere and while it may be unfair to call this race a lottery, some shrewd staking could land you a huge profit further down the field.

Share Us if you like this post March 22, 2014 Race History - Grand National Tips The Grand National Race History THE PRESTIGIOUS GRAND NATIONAL A lot of debates rage among historians regarding the first official race held. Most, who have trawled the newspaper libraries of the United Kingdom, now prefer the idea that the first running was in 1836, and was won by The Duke. The same horse triumphed again in 1837, while Sir William was the winner in 1838. The first races have long been disregarded because of the belief that the 1837 & 1838 runnings took place at Maghull and not Aintree. Recently several race historians have unearthed indisputable evidence that these three races were all run over the same course at Aintree and were regarded as having been Grand Nationals up until the mid 1860s. These days their calls for the Nationals of 1836-38 to be restored to the record books have been ignored. The first Grand National at Aintree was in 1839 and was won by the aptly named horse, Lottery.

During World War I, while Aintree racecourse was closed, an alternative race that hosted events that were still as exciting as modern-day activities was run at Gatwick Racecourse, on the site of the present Gatwick Airport. One of the first races when it was brought back, in 1916, was called the Racecourse Association Steeplechase, and in the following two years the race was known as the War National Steeplechase. Its not common knowledge that the races at Gatwick are not always recognised as "Grand Nationals," however, and their results are often omitted from winners' lists. In the 1950's the Grand National was dominated by Vincent O'Brien who took it upon himself to train the winner of the race for three consecutive years between 1953 and 1955. Early Mist won the race in 1953 with Royal Tan winning in 1954 and the hat-trick of victories for the Irish trainer was completed by Quare Times in 1955.

The amazing 1967 race was won by rank outsider Foinavon, ridden by Johnny Buckingham, after a melee at the 23rd fence when two loose horses pulled up in front of the field, caused the many others to stop or refuse. Foinavon was running so far behind that Buckingham managed to avoid the incident and scrape round ahead of 17 remounted horses, coming home at odds of 100/1! It is regarded by historians that the most successful horse in Grand National history was Red Rum, the only horse to win three times, in 1973, 1974, and in 1977. He also came in second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976. In 1993, the result of the race was declared void after a series of incidents at the start meant the starting tape failed to rise correctly, causing several horses and jockeys to be caught up in it. A false start was declared, but lack of communication between course officials meant that 30 out of the 39 jockeys did not realise this and started to race.

Course officials tried to stop the horses by waving red flags next to The Chair at the end of the first circuit. However, many jockeys thought that these people were protesters and so continued to race. Peter Scudamore stopped only because he saw his usual trainer Martin Pipe waving frantically at him. Seven horses ran the course in its entirety, forcing a void result. The first past the post of the horses that ran was Esha Ness, ridden by John White and trained by Jenny Pitman. In 1997, the Saturday meeting was abandoned after two coded bomb threats were received, reportedly from the Provisional Irish Republican Army. 60,000 spectators, jockeys, race personnel and local residents were evacuated, and the course was secured by police. The race was eventually run on the Monday, with the meeting organisers offering free admission.. & Over 20,000 people were left stranded over the weekend, with cars and coaches locked in the course. With limited accommodation in the city and surrounding areas, local residents opened their doors and took in many of those stranded, resulting in many friendly parties.. Many renouned jockeys have failed to win the Grand National.

These include champion jockeys such as Terry Biddlecombe, John Francome, Josh Gifford, Stan Mellor, Jonjo O'Neill (who never finished the race), Fred Rimell and Peter Scudamore. Presently, multiple champion and record holder Tony McCoy has failed to win the race along with contemporaries Richard Johnson, and Adrian Maguire. Three jockeys who led over the last fence in the National and just lost the race on the run-in ended up as TV racing pundits. These were Lord Oaksey on Carrickbeg in 1963, Norman Williamson on Mely Moss in 2000, and Richard Pitman on Crisp in 1973. The same fate occurred to Pitman's son Mark on Garrison Savannah in 1991.

Twelve mares have won the race: Miss Mowbray (1852), Anatis (1860), Jealousy (1861), Emblem (1863), Emblematic (1864), Casse Tete (1872), Empress (1880), Zoedone (1883), Frigate (1889), Shannon Lass (1902), Sheila's Cottage (1948) and Nickel Coin (1951). Grand National History News Grand National History Grand National History There is much debate among historians regarding the first official Grand National race held and most who have trawled the newspaper libraries and archives of the United Kingdom now prefer the idea that the first was in 1836 and was won by The Duke. This same horse triumphed again in 1837 while Sir William was the winner in 1838. These races have often been disregarded because of the belief that the 1837 & 1838 runnings took place at Maghull and not at Aintree.

However, in the last twenty years several race historians have unearthed undisputable evidence that these three races were all run over the same course at Aintree and were regarded as having been Grand Nationals up until the mid 1860s. To date though, their calls for the Nationals of 1836-38 to be restored to the record books have been ignored. For three years during World War I, while the Aintree racecourse was closed, an alternative race was run at Gatwick Racecourse on the site of the present Gatwick Airport. The first of these races, in 1916, was called the Racecourse Association Steeplechase and in the following two years the race was known as the War National Steeplechase. The races at Gatwick are not always recognised as “Grand Nationals” however, and their results are often omitted from winners’ lists. In 1923, Sergeant Murphy became the first American-bred horse to win the Grand National.

In 1938 the American bred Battleship, son of the famous Man O’War, became the first (and so far only) horse to have won both the Grand National and the American Grand National (won four years earlier). Battleship’s jockey was Bruce Hobbs and at 17 years old was and still is the youngest ever winning jockey. By far the most successful horse in Grand National history was Red Rum . The only horse to win three times in 1973, 1974, and in 1977. He also came in second in the two intervening years, 1975 and 1976. A fictional account of a young girl training the winner of the Grand National by Enid Bagnold was made into a film, National Velvet, starring the young Elizabeth Taylor as the heroine, Velvet Brown. The events surrounding the 1981 National and the winning jockey, Bob Champion , were also dramatised in the film Champions.

The 1967 running was won by rank outsider Foinavon, ridden by Johnny Buckingham, after a melee at the 23rd fence when two loose horses pulled up in front of the field and caused the rest to fall, stop, or refuse. Foinavon was running so far behind that Buckingham managed to avoid the carnage and scrape round ahead of 17 remounted horses, coming home at odds of 100/1. In 1993, the result of the race was declared void after a series of incidents at the start meant the starting tape failed to rise correctly, causing several horses and jockeys to be caught up in it. A false start was declared, but lack of communication between course officials meant that 30 out of the 39 jockeys did not realise this and started to race. Course officials tried to stop the horses by waving red flags next to The Chair at the end of the first circuit. However, many jockeys thought that these people were protesters and so continued to race. Peter Scudamore only stopped because he saw his usual trainer Martin Pipe waving frantically at him.

Seven horses ran the course in its entirety, forcing a void result. The ‘winner’ of those horses which ran was Esha Ness, ridden by John White and trained by Jenny Pitman. In 1997, the Saturday meeting was abandoned after two coded bomb threats were received, reportedly from the Provisional Irish Republican Army. 60,000 spectators, jockeys, race personnel and local residents were evacuated and the course was secured by police. The race was eventually run on the Monday, with the meeting organisers offering free admission. Some 20,000 people were left stranded over the weekend, with cars and coaches locked in the course. With limited accommodation space in the city and surrounding areas, those local residents not affected by the incident opened their doors and took in many of those stranded. Before you place your bets, consider my top Grand National tip - Telegraph Grand National Before you place your bets, consider my top Grand National tip There's no point watching the race without that thrill of jeopardy that begins, and with any luck ends, at the turf accountants, says Judith Woods The programme is said to have had its best year on record for racing tips Photo: PA Comments They’re under starters orders… and they’re off!

No, not the horses. They’re still listening to motivational CDs and having their hooves oiled with royal jelly. I’m talking about women like me, trotting into bookies the length of the land and thinking we blend right in just because we use the word “quid”. There’s no point watching the Grand National without a little thrill of jeopardy that begins – and with any luck ends, hurrah! – at the turf accountants. 'Women like me will be placing bets on the Grand National' (PA) Last year, I placed bets for the whole family. I pored over the form book and cross-referenced newspaper pundits before carefully selecting three hot runners for myself and my daughters. For my husband, I just ran my eye down the list and chose the rank outsider that shared its name with his favourite French aperitif. Job done. • Grand National 2015 tips: Marcus Armytage picks his three favourites Then (it was a Saturday, so too much time on my hands) I made little cards, glued on the colours of each jockey and handed ’em round. Great fun.

Disaster struck at the first when my then five-year-old’s horse fell and she wept so much, we had to put her to bed. (She cried herself to sleep as it transpired she thought her horse had died.) Then my horse lost its rider but kept going, like a dang heroic fool. My elder daughter’s noble steed made a valiant attempt to stay in the race, but it was my husband’s Pineau de Re that romped home at 25-1. After I’d pocketed my initial stake, that left us with £210. Hand on heart, it was the sweetest money we’d not earned all year. Pineau de Re is running again today, but will he win again? More to the point, will I? Pineau De Re and jockey Leighton Aspell (left) celebrate victory in the Grand National at Aintree (REX) • NOW READ THIS: Allan Massie explains why the Grand National and the Boat Race show we are creatures of tradition Only two Gold Cup winners have ever won the National - the great Golden Miller eighty years ago and L’Escargot in 1975 when he was aged 12 and past his best.

It’s not surprising. The winner of the first Grand National in 1839 was called Lottery, an absolutely appropriate name, for that is indeed what the race is: a lottery that may be won by almost anyone. This too is part of its attraction; anything can happen. A long-odds winner is not unusual. In 1967 more than half the field fell at the usually innocuous 23rd fence, and the race was won by the little-regarded Foinavon at 100-1; he had been almost 100 yards behind the leaders when the pile-up happened. History and tradition are then part of the reason why the Boat Race and the Grand National continue to attract so much attention. But it‘s also because both events are out of the ordinary. Grand National: A trip down memory lane at the world's most famous race | Daily Mail Online comments When the conversation switches around to one's favourite sporting event, as it sometimes does among those of us who plan our calendars around the great occasions, I always find a single simple answer isn't sufficient.

The Grand National will generally rank highly in most lists, with the world's greatest steeplechase providing a genuinely thrilling spectacle that enriches our sporting lives every spring. For me, if we're talking about a non-annual affair there can only be one answer when it comes to top event - the Olympic Games. An event that is simply beyond compare and so grand in size and stature that one of my favourite columnists once remarked that it made football's World Cup 'look like a village fete in comparison'. The eyes and ears of the sporting world will be on Aintree this weekend Those two weeks of great deeds and extraordinary moments never fail to stir the emotions or the soul. The aforementioned World Cup comes close, with the daily diet of three games a day in the early stages of the tournament providing a joyous feast beyond words for those of us that have loved the beautiful game since we can remember. But those are events that come round every four years of course. If we're talking annual events I'm a huge fan of snooker's World Championship at the Crucible, but that is a tournament of some length (indeed it is famous for its marathon 17 days).

And then we come to those special one-day events, and for me it then becomes a straight battle between two British sporting landmarks. The Olympic Games .. a show like no other I never would have thought 25 years ago that I could vote against the FA Cup final, but that was in the days when Cup Final Grandstand used to begin before 11am (and the Swap Shop, Saturday Superstore slot before always used to be dominated by the big match), when Tarby and Cilla used to tell jokes and sing round the old Joanna (or did I imagine those ITV days?). It didn't matter which teams were involved, you watched the reports of players enjoying breakfast and boarding the coach to Wembley with genuine excitement. But the decline in importance of the Cup final has been well documented .. we're lucky if television coverage begins before 1pm now, and there are simply too many big matches and games on the box for it to feel nearly as special as it once did. So I would probably go for the Grand National now as my annual favourite: an event that for me has retained the magic of old despite the passage of time.

Head Groundsman Mark Aynsley tends to some of the fences at Aintree in preparation for this year's Grand National meeting True, there are elements of the great race that don't feel quite the same now: two decades and more back half the horses would feel like old friends, names you had known for years. Now one is lucky to have heard of ten in the field. And lest we forget that nearly 20 million people used to watch the race not so long ago: more like eight million tune in today. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share A lot of that though is to do with society, and the fact we now have so many more things to do in life. Leisure activities, cheap flights, t'internet etc etc. But that aside the National remains the day that the 'nation goes racing', is still the day when millions of folk have their one bet of the year [I hear people say 'betting shop' rather than 'bookies' on National weekend].

Everything about the race is part of sporting folklore - those enormous fences (but rather less enormous today than they once were): Beecher's Brook, the Chair, the water jump, the Canal Turn, and that long winding finish that has seen so many dramatic duels down the years. The race remains a unique test for horses and jockeys, one that is guaranteed to produce memorable drama. And then there's that music: that is in a way my Cup final moment of yesteryear, when the emotions truly are stirred a few hours before the race. The music comes from the 1983 film 'Champions', which tells the amazing story of Bob Champion's Grand National victory (more of that to come later). Tissues at the ready - here's that amazing music Whether it's been in a packed bookmakers, on the comfort of one's own sofa, or at a windswept footballing outpost listening to the peerless Peter Bromley on the wireless (that can't just be me) the race has provided a whole myriad of memories. And so here goes with my latest list of moments from that year of years (yesteryear).

It's never going to be the easiest task to select a mere handful from an event that is more than 170 years old, but I can safely say that each one has become part of racing, and sporting, legend. 1956: DEVON LOCH COLLAPSES WITH VICTORY IN SIGHT The horse that has effectively become a sporting metaphor for cracking when in front, for losing a seemingly unassailable lead. I certainly remember Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson making a few references to the horse in the past, once saying in the 1980s that Liverpool would need to do 'a Devon Loch to lose the title'. Watch dear old Pathe News and Devon Loch's collapse .. The horse was owned by the Queen Mother and was cantering to a memorable victory just 30 yards from the winning post in the 1956 National when inexplicably he appeared to attempt a jump and slipped, allowing ESB to overtake and win. In the enquiry after the race, all sorts of theories were put forward as to why the horse threw away victory in such extraordinary circumstances.

Devon Loch collapses with victory in sight at the 1956 Grand National One was that he had suffered a heart attack (but this was easily dismissed as the horse soon recovered and in fact lived until 1963). Another suggested he had suffered cramp in his hindquarters, causing the collapse, and it was also claimed that a shadow from the nearby water jump confused the horse into thinking another jump was required. Enlarge A friend tries to calm Dick Francis while attendants hold Devon Loch by the rails Jockey Dick Francis later had his own theory, that a huge cheer from the Aintree crowd distracted the horse at a crucial moment. The Queen Mother didn't respond in a bitter fashion, but simply said: 'Oh that's racing'. Good from Her Majesty. 1967 RANK OUTSIDER FOINAVON CLAIMS UNLIKELY WIN Foinavon could provide another metaphor for sport and life. Maybe proof, as Kipling once suggested, that one should 'keep your head when all about you are losing theirs'.

RUDYARD KIPLING'S UNFORGETTABLE 'IF' The horse was a rank outsider at 100/1, the sort that maybe your mother or grandmother would have a small flutter on because they liked the name. And, for the first three quarters of the 1967 National, Foinavon, ridden by Johnny Buckingham, was miles off the pace. Watch highlights of the race (not quite as romantic without watching Michael O'Hehir describe the drama in black n white, but there you go ..) But then came the drama every racing fan has seen dozens, if not hundreds, of times. A huge melee at the 23rd fence, caused by two loose horses pulling up at the front of the field, changed the course of the race completely. Enlarge An amazing melee at the 23rd fence changed the course of the 1967 National Many horses fell, while more still stopped and refused to take the risk in the chaos and confusion. And then came Foinavon, appearing from nowhere to put his name in sporting folklore. The horse had the necessary time to weave a way through the horses and jockeys, and Buckingham guided him into a big lead.

Outsider Foinavon passes the winning post in 1967 Eventually 17 horses were remounted, but Foinavon went on to win from the fast-finishing favourite Honey End and the impressive Red Alligator (which went on to win the 1968 National). Foinavon would run in the following year's race, but crashed out at the water jump. His place in history however was secure. 1977: RED RUM MAKES HISTORY WITH THIRD TRIUMPH Good old Rummy. One of the most popular horses in the history of the sport, and possibly the most famous of them all. Red Rum won the Grand National in 1973 and 1974, and followed this up with second placed finishes in 1975 and 1976. What the nation really wanted was a third triumph for Red Rum, and he truly delivered on a day to remember. Watch Red Rum make racing history Many pundits and non-racing folk expressed concern beforehand that at nearly 12 Red Rum was too old to compete in such a gruelling and dangerous race.

And with heavy wind and rain sweeping across Aintree the day before the race, many judges wrote off his hopes of an historic hat-trick. But the sun came out to shine that spring day in Jubilee year, and history was duly made. A number of horses were unable to cope with the conditions, and there were many early casualties, with five falling at the first fence alone, and two more brought down in the process. Red Rum, ridden by Tommy Stack, showed all his experience and skill to negotiate his way round the course, and claimed the lead at Becher's on the second circuit when Andy Pandy, the leader and pre-race favourite, fell. Enlarge Red Rum makes racing history with a third successive Grand National win in 1977 The main challenge then came from Churchtown Boy, who had won the Topham Trophy at Aintree two days earlier, but Red Rum took control to win handsomely. It was an unforgettable success for trainer Ginger McCain, one of racing's great characters, and Red Rum would spend most of the rest of his days (and he lived until 1995) as a national celebrity, opening supermarkets, gracing paintings and jigsaw puzzles, and annually leading the Grand National parade.

Red Rum remains the greatest champion in the Grand National's long history. 1981: BOB CHAMPION AND ALDANITI DELIGHT NATION WITH EMOTIONAL VICTORY Get the hankies out. Aldaniti's win in the 1981 Grand National provided one of sport's great emotional moments. Jockey Bob Champion had been diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1979, with doctors giving him only a 40 per cent chance of survival, and possibly only months to live. But Champion wasn't the type to give up, and he began an extremely aggressive programme of chemotherapy. Enlarge Aldaniti, ridden by Bob Champion, crosses the line first on an emotional day at Aintree in 1981 He soon returned to training and racing, and although a large-scale infection meant he had to miss the 1980 Grand National, Champion set his sights on the following year's race. Aldaniti would provide the perfect companion for Champion in the 1981 National, with the horse having been on the verge of retirement previously due to a serious leg injury.

A huge crowd at Aintree, and millions more watching on television, were willing the horse to defy the odds and claim an extraordinary win. Grand National winning jockey Bob Champion chats to the Queen in 1981 And in one of the classic National finishes, Aldaniti and his remarkable jockey found inspiration from somewhere to edge home ahead of Spartan Missile. Aldaniti lived until he was 27, while Champion has raised millions of pounds for cancer research. And of course the 1983 film 'Champions', which tells the amazing story, gave us that music which has become a integral part of the big day. 1993: NATIONAL TURNS INTO FARCICAL SHAMBLES A sporting farce. One of the great shambles. And, for millions of us watching events unfold, strangely compelling viewing. The 1993 Grand National will forever be known as the 'National that never was' after failing to properly start. One has to be careful to say how amusing some of us found the situation at times, with an estimated 300 million watching around the world and £75 million of bets needing to be repaid.

Esha Ness comes home 'first' in the National that never was in 1993 The chaotic sequence of events began seconds before the race was due to start, when protestors encroached onto the track near the first fence. They were spotted, and the start delayed, but when the horses eventually lined up some became tangled up with the starting tape, causing a false start. Already the starter Keith Brown, who would become the most talked about person in Britain that weekend, was beginning to cut a hapless figure. And when there was an attempt to start the race again, and horses were again caught in the tape, the recall flag failed to show (Brown failed to properly unfurl the red flag to show the recall man that a false start had been declared) and many horses began to race, unaware of the confusion. Thousands of people shouted at the jockeys to try and get them to stop, and officials tried desperately to flag them down, but the damage had been done. Jenny Pitman was devastated when her horse Esha Ness won the 'Natonal that never was' In the end 11 horses completed the first circuit, and seven the whole race.

Esha Ness, a 50-1 outsider trained by Jenny Pitman and ridden by John White, claimed an unwanted place in racing folklore by crossing the line first. Pitman was devastated, the first lady of Aintree telling BBC presenter Des Lynam: 'This is no Grand National, even though I have won it'. Needless to say procedures were put in place to try and ensure there wouldn't be a repeat of the farcical events in the future. And so we move on, with Aintree primed and ready for this Saturday afternoon, and the latest instalment of one of sport's great dramas. Tony Dobbin off to a flyer in new training career The Grand National-winning jockey will not be short of talented horses at Borders yard<p>Tony Dobbin spent less than a year away from the winner's enclosure.

Having won on his final ride on 10 April last spring, the former jockey was celebrating again on Monday after his first runner as a trainer became his first winner.</p><p>But Luksar, the grey who helped him to his latest milestone, is the only horse he trains at the moment, officially, as his wife Rose holds the licence at their yard near Berwick and will be the trainer for most of their runners under Rules.

Their point-to-pointers will run in Dobbin's name and will show up occasionally in hunter chases like Monday's Buccleuch Cup, the Kelso race won by Luksar.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Horse racing Horse racing: Jockeys blamed for false starts but no changes are planned • 'We do not see any need for a wholesale review'<br />• Jockeys stood down for four days<p>The British Horseracing Authority said yesterday that there are no plans for major changes to the starting procedures for the Grand National, despite the fact that two false starts were declared before the field was successfully sent on its way.</p><p>"We will look at the events before the Grand National and it's possible that there may be the odd tweak to the way things are done," said Paul Struthers, the BHA's spokesman, "but we do not see any need for a wholesale review of the procedures.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Greg Wood: Every runner can win the new National The long-term effects of Mon Mome's Grand National win can surely only be positive<p>There must have been a few racegoers among the

 70,000 at Aintree on Saturday who had been there to see the last 100-1 Grand National winner, too.

Foinavon's success is a shared monochrome memory for the rest of us, replayed on every National day since, but it was only 1967. It is hardly ancient history.</p><p>In another sense, though, it is. Mon Mome was the fifth horse to win the National at 100–1, but unlike Foinavon's victory, no freakish circumstances were required. And while the result was received in almost complete silence by the grandstands, its long-term effects will surely prove positive.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Horse racing: the latest news and best bets in our daily racing blog The latest news and best bets in our daily racing blog<p>Much as I love a bit of ordinary jump racing, there is an unavoidable feeling of anticlimax to today's action at Hexham, Market Rasen and Southwell.

It's not just that we've been spoiled by three days of Aintree, leading up to the most exciting horse race in the world, it's also the fact that the jumps season itself is now pretty much finished — and yet we have no Flat racing to take us forward.</p><p>Not in Britain, anyway. In Ireland, there's a good-ish card at the Curragh, where I like the chances of <strong>Vocalised (2.45) </strong>in the Listed race over seven furlongs.

His trainer, Jim Bolger, has made a flying start to the year, with five winners from his first 14 runners, whereas a few of Aidan O'Brien's runners have looked likely to benefit from their first run.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Grand day for bookies as dark horse Mon Mome wins National at Aintree • First 100-1 winner in 42 years takes 12-length victory<br />• Venetia Williams is second female trainer to win race<p>Forty-two years after Foinavon steered his way around a pile-up, the Grand National produced another 100-1 winner here yesterday, but the difference is that there was no fluke about Mon Mome's gritty 12-length victory.</p><p>The spectacle was as compelling as ever, yet there was no need for mayhem to provide the excitement or the shock, as at least a dozen horses gave their ­backers a buzz by turning for home with a serious chance.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Liam Treadwell gets on the good foot and Tony McCoy misses out again • Unknown

 Treadwell enjoys his day in the sun<br />• McCoy's National nightmare continues<p>Just whatis it about this race that makes chumpions out of champions?

Tony McCoy, jump racing's premier pilot for the past 13 years – and careering towards his 14th title this season – was upstaged by Liam Treadwell, a National first-timer with no previous wins of any note to his name who received his ride on the rank outsider Mon Mome as a gift from the trainer Venetia Williams. "I&nbsp;asked Venetia to find me a horse for the National," said Treadwell, who had hoped to make his name on the Flat before he switched to jumps after "weight got the better of me".</p><p>A disconsolate McCoy, an undistinguished seventh on his chosen mount, Butler's Cabin – and now without a National win in 14 rides – was left to reflect on the fact that he was shown the way home by a jockey whose mother rang her son on the eve of the race and asked if he was going to get his hair cut just in case he won.

"I told her not to be silly," Treadwell said.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Mon Mome becomes first 100-1 Grand National winner since Foinavon • Venetia Williams becomes second woman trainer to win race<br />• Comply or Die second, My Will third, State of Play fourth<p>Mon Mome became the first 100-1 shot to win the Grand National in more than 40 years when he powered to a shock 12-length victory at Aintree today.

The result means Mon Mome's trainer, Venetia Williams, becomes only the second women to ever train a National winner.</p><p>Mon Mome moved into the race soon after turning for home and began to ease away from his rivals after jumping the final fence to emulate Foinavon, who also won at odds of 100-1, back in 1967.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Grand National day: as it happened Mon Mome at 100-1 became the biggest-priced National winner since Foinavon in 1967<p><strong>1.15pm Latch on to Lidar</strong></p><p>We promised you last night that we would have news of a horse that the trainer believes could prove one of the best he has ever trained. The animal in question is <strong>Lidar (5.35)</strong>, who runs in the National Hunt Flat race at the end of the Aintree card. Alan King has had some top-class horses through his hands and that is high praise indeed.

Odds of 5-2 are generally available.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 The 2009 Grand National gets underway at 4.15pm. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images Tony Paley 2009-04-04T09:45:38Z Grand National: Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is keen to win the one big race which still eludes him •Champion trainer has only a second to show for his 40 runners<br />•Luckily, his jockey Ruby Walsh has better record in the big one<p>Paul Nicholls has a gesture for the Grand National. He forms a little parcel of air with his hands and moves it to a distant corner of his desk. To him the race sits outside the rest of the National Hunt season, a puzzle that continues to tease, frustrate and elude him but not one that can be allowed to distract him from his main project.</p><p>That project is to win more prize money than any trainer in the history of jumps racing.

It is a feat he has achieved for the past two years and he seems sure to do so again when the season concludes at the end of this month. And yet a first success in the National could well see him finish the campaign as the only National Hunt trainer to win £4m in a season.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Grand National tips by Ron Cox •Champion jockey may have deserted National winner<br />•Banks and hedges have restored the gelding's zest<p>In pursuit of his first Grand National winner at the 14th attempt, Tony McCoy has opted to ride Butler's Cabin from a choice of four runners carrying the colours of his main employer, JP McManus. No one could blame McCoy for overlooking L'Ami but the champion jockey would not be the first great rider to get it wrong when faced with options in a major race.</p><p>L'Ami, with McCoy aboard, was a well-beaten 10th behind Silver Birch in the 2007 National and last year his name was in lights for the wrong reason, his second-fence fall ending the career of Mick Fitzgerald.

Robert Thornton may have mixed feelings as he weighs out to partner the 10-year-old at Aintree .</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Grand National: why victory today at Aintree will make Tony the real McCoy • Jockey desperate to win steeplechasing's top prize <br />• Race will focus on battle between two Irish riders<p>For the nine and a half minutes the world's attention is focused on Aintree racecourse this afternoon, the day's most pressing question will undoubtedly be: can Tony do it? </p><p>The Tony in question is Anthony Peter "AP" McCoy, the fiercely competitive 34-year-old Ulsterman who is one of the world's greatest-ever jockeys, winner of more than 3,000 races, champion jockey 13 times since 1996, and a man who has ridden more winners in a season than any other British jump jockey. But one race has so far eluded him.

In 13 attempts he has never won the National.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Voy Por Ustedes lands big cash prize on merit with gritty display at Aintree • Robert Thornton's mount beat Schindlers Hunt by a neck<br />• Win secured him first place in this season's Order of Merit<p>Paul Nicholls may have most of the country's best chasers in his yard but he does not have a monopoly quite yet. Voy Por Ustedes showed great courage to win the Grade One Melling Chase for Alan King here yesterday, beating Schindlers Hunt by a neck, and the points he gained in the process all but secured him first place in this season's Order of Merit, which would bring in a further £200,000.</p><p>Robert Thornton was getting so little response from Voy Por Ustedes going to the home turn that the horse traded at 25-1 during the race on Betfair's website.

Several lengths in front of him Nacarat was still jumping boisterously while Schindlers Hunt cruised along behind.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Andrew Tyler: A Grand National disgrace At Aintree, despite the bland TV coverage, bones are broken and horses die. It is an obscene and degrading spectacle<p>Four days before last year's Grand National, Guardian racing correspondent Greg Wood wrote <a href="">wrote</a> that the Grand National course is not the threat to horses' welfare that it was even 10 years ago. "The sport is moving on," he asserted. </p><p>Two days later, two horses perished while running on the Grand National course. The event was Topham Chase. <a href="">Time To Sell</a> was killed by <a href="">The Chair</a>, an apparently much safer obstacle.

<a href="">In The High Grass</a> perished after hitting the top of the eighth fence and turning a complete somersault.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:30:36 GMT Photograph: AP Dick Francis walks away in despair after Devon Loch fell on flat ground while leading the 1956 Grand National. Photograph: AP Photograph: AP Dick Francis walks away in despair after Devon Loch fell on flat ground while leading the 1956 Grand National.

Photograph: AP Greg Wood, Ron Cox, Chris Cook and Tony Paley 2009-04-03T09:30:36Z Horse racing: the latest Grand National news, today's best bets and your chance to win our weekly tipping competition All the latest news and today's best bets in our daily racing blog, plus our tipping competition<p>Cheltenham form held up well at Aintree yesterday, if not always in the most obvious way, and <strong>Karabak (4.20)</strong> looks the best bet this afternoon among those who were in the thick of the action at last month's Festival.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Exotic Dancer dies and Denman lame on grim day at races • Nine-year-old dies of heart attack shortly after Totesport Bowl<br />• Trainer Jonjo O'Neill close to tears<p>The Grand National meeting endured a dismal opening day here yesterday as Exotic Dancer, one of the most ­consistent top-flight chasers of recent seasons, died of a heart attack less than an hour after ­finishing second in the Totesport Bowl.

The same event also saw Denman, the 2008 Gold Cup winner, suffer a brutal fall at the second-last fence, although he has not suffered any long-term injuries.</p><p>Mel In Blue, a 200–1 outsider in the Fox ­Hunters Chase for amateur riders over the Grand National fences, was also killed instantly after suffering a broken neck in a fall at Becher's Brook.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Grand National: Jon Henderson talks to three generations of the Scudamore family Jon Henderson meets three generations of a racing dynasty with a former winner's grandson going forward with Battlecry<p>You have to go back to pre-Elizabethan times to trace the start of the Scudamore dynasty's involvement with the Grand National. George VI was still on the throne and the Burgess and MacLean spy scandal was about to rock Britain when, in 1951, Michael Scudamore came under starter's orders for the first of his 16 rides in consecutive years, a sequence that is still a record today.</p><p>Robustly healthy at 76, he remembers it well – and ruefully.

"I was on a horse called Easter A Calling," he says. "They went too fast to the first, over-jumped and piled into each other. Twelve of us fell or were brought down and all I remember is bouncing along among a lot of hooves."</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009 Denman injured and Exotic Dancer dies of heart attack on opening day of Grand National meeting • Gold Cup runner-up had left track in a horse ambulance<br />• Mel In Blue killed at Becher's Brook in Fox Hunters' Chase<p>Denman, the 2008 Gold Cup winner, was taken from the track in a horse ambulance and this year's Gold Cup third Exotic Dancer died of a heart attack after the totesport Bowl, the feature race on the opening day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree today.</p><p>Denman was alongside Madison Du Berlais, the eventual winner, when he appeared to take off too early before catching the top of the fence and then landing head first.

After getting to his feet, Denman jumped the last but was clearly lame when he pulled up near the winning post.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Grand National 2009

Question: In which year did rank outsider Foinavon unexpectedly win the Grand National?
Answer: 1967