The Grand National: A Walk Down Memory Lane

With the Grand National fast approaching, Betfred's Alan Firkins walks us through the history of the event and offers his tip for Saturday's race.

If, like me, you number the Aintree Grand National as one of our nation’s greatest sporting jewels, then I’m happily chatting to the converted. If by some chance the magic has so far passed you by, I most humbly urge you to give it a blast. 

To mangle a quote from the wonderful, much-missed Sid Waddell, it beats Shakespeare hands-down for drama, with breathtaking theatre virtually guaranteed. 

The National meeting is a fantastic three-day Festival. Classy horses line up – some fresh from Cheltenham, others saved specifically for Liverpool. 

It’s a much different test around here – the interior Mildmay track is tight, and flat, while the main part of the National course that takes off at something of a tangent is simply unique. 

What’s widely accepted as the first running of the Grand National dates back to 1839. Given the little cuddle from Lady Luck that winners often require, it’s fitting that the first scorer was an admittedly supremely-gifted nine-year-old horse by the name of Lottery. 

Plenty of shrewdies were ‘on’ - he went off the 5/1 favourite. In that very same year one of the runners, Conrad, fell - ridden by a certain Captain Martin Becher. 

He was catapulted over the horse’s head into the watery brook on the other side of the fence, where he sensibly laid low until his rivals had all thundered by. The first entry was duly made in the annals of Aintree folklore. 

Becher’s Brook, The Chair, Valentines, The Canal Turn, and more than a dozen lorryloads of spruce – essential elements in quite simply THE Greatest Horse Race, never mind mere Steeplechase, in the world. Period. 

Let’s have a little stroll down memory lane, and recall some of the legendary winners. Who can forget Foinavon, in 1967 – and the melee at the 23rd obstacle that helped the 100/1 chance skip to his celebrated victory? The fence of course now bears his name. 

The greatest National horse all of all times dominated in the 1970s – Red Rum. Between ’73 and ’77 he won the race three times, and was second twice. Just astonishing. In ’81 Bob Champion was beating cancer and inspiring millions, as he and fellow ‘crock’ Aldaniti powered home, at 10/1. There’s invariably a story – several even – behind our National heroes, both human, and equine. 

Ireland has featured massively in the race’s history, especially in recent decades. Their pint-sized superstar Tiger Roll, twice a winner, has only recently retired, and last year another chapter of National history was written courtesy of the Emerald Isle’s Rachael Blackmore, the first female rider to win it. 

We love the National here at Betfred, and we’ve some very special offers for you, both in the shops, and via the app, at betfred.com. Drink it all in on Saturday, lap up the drama, and above all - enjoy. 

My few quid each-way? Enjoy D’allen. Nice racing weight, touch of class. 

Good luck!