Comments on: Favourite Grand National Horses

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:25:28 +0000

Johnny Valentine said (February 29th, 2008 at 5:51 pm)
> I’m pretty sure Boom Docker raced in 1977 and helped set the pace in Red Rum’s finale
> race. I’ll check it out and see if I can dig out some other familiar names from the 1970s…
Yes, indeed. Boom Docker was way out in front but refused at the 17th leaving Andy Pandy leading the pack in the 1977 National. I am watching it now on Youtune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp4KN3vmBkg&feature=related

By: Pete Norriss

Pete Norriss — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:12:40 +0000

Every Grand National is my favourite since i watched my first one, Team Spirit in 1962.
The Pilgarlic i remember very fondly, always stayed the trip and gave you a good run for your money.I backed him every year he ran in it.The best jumping round in my opinion was Hallo Dandy in 1984, hardly touched a twig!
The one i remember most is 1982 (Grittar),i’d tipped him to win after he won the Foxhunters the year before, but unfortunately never backed it ante post.That race i must’ve seen 40 times on video, i learnt all the runners colours the weeks before and even now, when i see the race i could name most of them.The worst experience of the race for me(apart from horses deaths) was Geraldine Rees getting Cheers round in 1982 to become the first woman to complete the course.To say the horse finished distressed is a massive understatement,it was sad to see , just so she could make history!Alas, this years race could be my last, i plan on moving to the U.S.A later this year and the Grand National is one of the things i’ll miss most.Grand National day has been just that to me for years..Grand National Day, and nothing else mattered.

By: pete

pete — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:59:05 +0000

my first winner was Red Rum in 1977. I then used to back the Pilgarlic every year from 78-80. I believe he ran 4 times in the race from 77-80 and was placed 3 times. Ironically the nearest he came to winning was in 78 when he finished fifth behind Lucius but was only beaten about five lengths.
The eighties was a barren decade for me aside from hallo dandy in 84. Rough quest and the wonderfull Lord Gyllene brought back to back victories for me. Since then a few near misses in Mely Moss and Whats Up Boys. I still have nightmares over Whats Up Boys cos the race was in the bag.
Amberleigh house was my last winner. Since then not a sniff not even close.

By: QuatreBras

QuatreBras — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:40:48 +0000

That should be 1988!!!!

By: QuatreBras

QuatreBras — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:39:56 +0000

My favourite of all time is Rhyme n Reason (1998). Carried 11st (no lightweight!), virtually fell at Bechers first time, was in last place after the mistake, yet managed to win. It was an incredible performance, certainly the best I’ve seen. Sadly, the horse never raced again.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:13:54 +0000

Thanks to everyone for their memories on this thread - keep ‘em coming right up to the big race and beyond!

Johnny V - thanks very much for the book recommendation. I’m off on a scouting mission for GN info tomorrow so I’ll be on the look out for Reg’s book - it sounds ideal.

By: Johnny Valentine

Johnny Valentine — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:32:09 +0000

Admin, you asked if records of Grand Nationals pre-1980s are available. I’ve not found them online, but the best resource is ‘A Race Apart: The History of the Grand National’ (Hodder and Stoughton) first published in 1988 but subsequently re-printed several times I think.

Reg plots each race in great detail and presents detailed results, including odds, weights, jockeys, etc. Absorbing stuff. Don’t take it on holiday with the missus.

Obviously the further back in time you go, the more sketchy become the details.

I don’t think Reg had any connection to racing or Aintree apart from a love of it. He first went to the Grand National as a young boy in 1946 and watched from his father’s shoulders as Lovely Cottage strode to victory.

Reg was a regular guest of Des Lynam’s on Grand National Grandstand in the 1980s and 1990s. His obsession with the race was only matched by his passion for it. Reg could talk for hours about Aintree and its wonderful history.

I met him several times and wish I’d spent more time in his company. Sadly, Reg died earlier today (March 25) aged 70. God bless you, Reg, You left a lot behind.

By: templepunk

templepunk — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:47:01 +0000

My first memory of the National was a horse called Greasepaint in the late seventies I think who I recall earned me a few pence each way courtesy of my Gran who placed my juvenile wager. Living in the Highlands of Scotland I vividly remember not picking out Ben Nevis as an obvious candidate possibly in the same year.

Wonderfully nostalgic moments relived annually in the build up .. roll on the next chapter ..

By: COMPLY OR DIE

COMPLY OR DIE — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:19:46 +0000

Yes that was a brilliant run by AH,I also was on
Monty`s Pass but not SB (did not think it would be soft enough but the week long watering of the course seen to that) last year instead I was on
the very unlucky Mckelvey.

22 days and counting.

By: Phil P

Phil P — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:50:06 +0000

Being born and brought up in Liverpool, I’ve always had a great love of The National. I started taking an interest in the stats side about 10 years ago and it’s proved to be very good for me financially.

In recent years I’ve backed

Silver Birch
Amberleigh House
Monty’s Pass

All these were based on my system (which I haven’t had a proper chance to look at this year yet)

Other recent winners (which I received tips for from a good source) were

Minnehoma
Bobbyjo
Numbersixvalverde

The best of that lot for me though was Amberleigh House. I’d lumped on 3 times from Christmas onwards at 33-1 and 25-1 (Each Way). We were at Aintree on the day of the big race and the previous night I’d been doing some serious research and really fancied Clan Royal aswell which I had a fair sized punt on.

Watching the leader go past me in front of Aintree Mound I thought Clan Royal had won and was looking forward to collecting my winnings. As it went past I glanced back and noticed another horse was catching up steadily. The other horse went past me and I concentrated on watching the big screen to make sure Clan Royal was going to stay the distance. I soon realised it wasn’t!! I said to my mate next to me “I don’t know what that other horse is, but it’s going to win”. My mate had been paying slightly more attention than me and says “It’s number 17″. I glanced at my racecard and realised that it was Amberleigh House!! A full pint of Fosters (luckily in a plastic glass!) flew into the air and the majority of it landed on the bloke in front of me.

I watched it back the following morning and realised what a great run it had been for Amberleigh House.