Category: Grand National

Granted that his historic third win came more than four decades ago, it may no longer be the case that every schoolboy knows that the horse who holds the record for the most wins in the Grand National is Red Rum, who was victorious in 1973, 1974 and, after finishing second in 1975 and 1976, again in 1977. However, his name has passed into legend and has been mentioned often enough in relation to the latest dual winner, Tiger Roll, that even younger readers are probably aware of his achievement.

As far as consecutive wins in the Grand National are concerned, Red Rum and Tiger Roll, who achieved back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2019 jointly hold the record. However, not including Poethlyn, who won the ‘War National’ at Gatwick in 1918 before winning the Grand National at Aintree in 1919, three other horses have also recorded two consecutive wins in the world famous steeplechase. Those horses are, in chronological order, Abd-El-Kader in 1850 and 1851, The Colonel in 1869 and 1870 – who was ridden on both occasions by the most successful jockey in Grand National history, George Stevens – and Reynoldstown in 1935 and 1936.

Perhaps the first thing to say about the Grand National is that rank outsiders win less often than you might think. Since the first ‘official’ running in 1839, the world famous steeplechase has been staged a total of 175 times as of early April 2024, yet just 14 winners have been returned at starting prices of 50/1 or greater. For the record, the five 50/1 winners of the National were Forbra (1932), Sheila’s Cottage (1958), Anglo (1966) Last Suspect (1985),  and recently Noble Yeats (2022) while the four 66/1 winners were Rubio (1908), Russian Hero (1949), Ayala (1963) and Auroras Encore (2013).

However, as far as the biggest priced outsider to win the Grand National is concerned, five horses share the distinction of being returned at odds of 100/1. They were, in chronological order Tipperary Tim (1928), Gregalach (1929), Caughoo (1947), Foinavon (1967) and Mon Mome (2009). In the cases of Tipperary Tim, Caughoo and, probably most famously of all, Foinavon, huge fields, atrocious conditions and freak sets of events contributed to their unlikely victories. Gregalach, though, beat 65 rivals – including, ironically, favourite Easter Hero, who had caused a pile-up at the Canal Turn the previous year – fair and square in the 1929 renewal, and Mon Mome, who had started favourite for the Coral Welsh National the previous December, likewise needed no external help in 2009.

Granted that the last of his record five wins came over 150 years ago, in 1870, is would be fair to say that the most successful jockey in the history of the Grand National is hardly a household name. However, the jockey is question, George Stevens, benefited from the tutelage of Tom Olliver, himself a Grand National-winning jockey and, in 1856, at the age of 22, won his first Grand National on Freelander. Carrying just 9st 6lb, the 25/1 chance was left in third place at the fence now known as ‘Foinavon’ on the second circuit, took the lead on the turn for home and, after a protracted duel with the eventual runner-up, Minerva, who became entangled in the final hurdle, finally prevailed by a length.

Stevens achieved his second and third victories in the Grand National courtesy of back-to-back victories aboard the 7-year-old mare Emblem and her 6-year-old half-sister Emblematic in 1863 and 1864, respectively. Wins number four and five also came in consecutive years, 1869 and 1870, but this time aboard the same horse, The Colonel. On the first occasion, Stevens employed exaggerated waiting tactics, as was his custom, and steered a wide course, which allowed him to avoid trouble in running. He did not take closer order until crossing the Melling Road for the final time, but swept into the lead at the second-last fence to win comfortably by 3 lengths. On the second occasion, Stevens rode a similar race and, although involved in a neck-and-neck battle with eventual runner-up The Doctor on the run-in, The Colonel prevailed again, albeit narrowly.

Red Rum, of course, famously made five appearances in the Grand National, winning three times, in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and finishing second twice, behind L’Escargot in 1975 and Rag Trade in 1976, respectively. However, the horse that holds the record for the most appearances in the Grand National is Manifesto, who contested eight renewals between 1895 and 1904.

Bred and originally owned by Harry Dyas, Manifesto finished fourth on his first attempt, as a 7-year-old, in 1895, but the following year, ridden by Dyas, got no further than the first fence. In 1897, professionally trained by Willie McAuliffe and ridden by leading jockey Terry Kavanagh, as he had been on his first attempt, Manifesto won the Grand National by 20 lengths. He missed the 1898 renewal through injury but, having been sold and transferred to Willie Moore, was back again in 1899; despite the welter burden of 12st 7lb, he justified favouritism by winning, again, by 5 lengths.

Third, under an eye-watering 12st 13lb, in 1900, Manifesto missed the 1901 National, but tried three more times, without success, to win the celebrated steeplechase. That said, he finished third in 1902 and 1903, under 12st 8lb and 12st 3lb, respectively and eighth, under 12st 1lb, on his final attempt, as a 16-year-old, in 1905.