The 1910 Grand National
Robert Chadwick moved up a position in 1910 to win the Grand National with his horse "Jenkinstown" which he had not ridden in the event a year earlier. The pair began with odds of 100-8, much shorter than the jockey and his horse "Judas" began with some twelve months earlier, as this years pairing finished ahead of "Jerry M" who would later win the 1912 National when ridden by Ernie Piggott. In 1910 though "Jerry M" was ridden by Edmund Driscoll who himself would win the event seven years later in 1917.
The horse named "Odor" finished third as a no quote with the bookies followed by "Carsey", but it was "Glenside" who would become a horse that would exceed the expectations of all after he fell in 1910 only to return the following year to win the a National, something a "broken winded" one eyed horse would not have been thought capable of. This years winner though "Jenkinstown" was owned by Stanley Howard and trainer by Tom Coulthwaite who also trainer the winning horse "Eremon" in 1907.
The 1909 Grand National
The 1909 Grand National was won by the favourite "Lutteur III" ridden by Georges Parfrement and unsurprisingly none of last years first four finished so high again, with only "Tom West" who had finished in the top four in either of the last two years going so high. "Lutteur III" was the first horse since "Drumcree" in 1903 to win after starting as favourite and one of four horses in the last nine years to finish in the top four when carrying a number in their name.
"Judas" finished second ridden by Robert Chadwick who would win a year later on "Jenkinstown" with "Caubeen" ridden by 1905 winner Frank Tich' Mason followed of course by "Tom West" as thirty two horses raced with exactly half of them finishing. The thirty two starters was the most runners since 1850, which also began with thirty two and would not be beaten until thirty five began the race in 1921, but only four finished that year.
The 1908 Grand National
For the eighth year running the Grand National again began with over twenty horses taking part, a trend which would continue beyond 1908 with this years field of 24 putting on yet another fantastic display for all those watching. It was though to the disappointment of those who had placed their money on the favourites and to the absolute joy of those who had staked their money on "Rubio" the horse that started at 66-1.
"Rubio" was not expected to finish in the top half a dozen at least, but surprised many with the widest odds of a winner this century as the horse ridden by Henry Bletsoe past the winning post followed by "Mattie" in second with shorter odds of 25-1. "The Lawyer III" finished third and was the only horse that may have been expected to finish this high with odds of 100-7 followed by another long shot horse "Flaxman" at 33-1.
The 1907 Grand National
Alfred Newey finished in the top four for the second time, but this time he went two better than his third in 1905 by winning the 1907 Grand National riding the relative novice "Eremon". "Eremon" was though expected to perform very well which his 8-1 odds showed. During the race the jockey broke a stirrup at the first fence but did well enough to stay on and lead at the Canal Turn on the first circuit before another strange Grand National event took place when "Rathvale" who had unseated it's jockey came up alongside "Eremon" and tried to viciously bite the horse.
Alfred Newey tried to scare the horse away with his whip but with no success as the paid raced side-by-side for an entire circuit until finally pulling away to win the race over "Tom West" by six lengths.
The 1906 Grand National
"Ascetic's Silver" won the 1906 Grand National with large odds of 20-1 while being ridden by Aubrey Hastings who also trained the horse for the event. "Red Lad" finished in second at 33-1 and became the first horse to finish in the top four to carry the first name 'Red' and one of only three horses to ever finish so high with that name. The other two horses being the famous three-time winner "Red Rum" and "Red Alligator" who won in 1968. "Aunt May" finished third with odds of 25-1 and "Crautacaun" finished just behind in fourth.
The 1905 Grand National
Jockey Frank 'Tich' Mason and "Kirkland" both finally won the Grand National in 1905 after several years of coming very close, none closer that second place in 1904. The jockey born in Liverpool steered "Kirkland" to a three-length victory with the pair finishing in the top four for the third year running. The two began with odds of 6-1 and edged out another former winning jockey Percy Woodland riding "Napper Tandy" to second place. "Buckaway II" finished third as a huge outsider with odds of 100-1 followed by "Ranunculus" in fourth.
The 1904 Grand National
The 1904 Grand National was won by "Moifaa" who had come from New Zealand to compete and it was an amazing achievement winning the race, especially when you consider the route "Moifaa" took to get there. The ship which brought "Moifaa" to the UK was unfortunately shipwrecked leaving the horse considered lost at sea until he was found stranded on a small outcrop off the coast of southern Ireland. The horse had swum an unbelievable 50 miles to reach this point and was nursed back to fitness before winning the National that year.
"Moifaa" started with odds of 25-1 and won for Spencer Gollan the owner who had brought the horse over with Arthur Birch the winning jockey. "Kirkland" finished second, "The Gunner" finished third and the fourth placed finisher was "Shaun Aboo" who wasn't quoted with any odds before the race becoming the first horse to finish in the top four without odds since "Columbine" who finished third in 1873.
The 1903 Grand National
"Drumcree" the runner up in 1901 and favourite last year only to finish outside of the top four was to return as favourite again in the 1903 Grand National with odds of 13-2. The horse ridden by Percy Woodland was one of seven to finish from twenty-three starters and edged out three horses, which were something of a feature in years past. The three horses themselves were "Detail" who finished second, "Manifesto" returning again and finishing third with "Kirkland" in fourth.
From the former winners "Ambush II" ran again for prince turned king, King Edward VII, but the horse fell, as he became the first horse to represent a reigning monarch. "Manifesto" now 15 raced again and for the first time since his early Nationals was not top weight but four pounds lighter than "Ambush II" at 12 stone 3lbs.
The 1902 Grand National
By 1902 "Manifesto" was 14 years old and past his peak, he had participate for several years at a much heavier weight than his competitors and was no longer as fancied to win the race especially as he started at 12 stone 8lbs. He started with odds of 100-6 and was ridden by Ernie Piggott with the favourite being last years runner up "Drumcree" who set off out in front as Ernie employed the tactics of keeping towards the back early on. As "Manifesto" approached the Canal Turn on the last lap he was a long way from the front, but responded like a champion making up lots of ground on the leaders.
It wasn't enough though as the horse eventually finished third behind winning horse "Shannon Lass" and second placed "Matthew" who began at 50-1. The horse called "Detail" finished in fourth ridden by last years winning jockey Arthur Nightingall.
The 1901 Grand National
Arthur Nightingall made it a three Grand National victories in 1901 when he rode "Grudon" to victory for owner and trainer Bernard Bletsoe ahead of "Drumcree" who would win two years later. "Grudon" began at 9-1 with "Drumcree" a 10-1 bet as the pair along with "Buffalo Bill" finished ahead of pre-race 5-1 favourite "Levanter" ridden by Frank Mason who would also win the National four years later.
The 1900 Grand National
"Ambush II" owned by The Prince of Wales won the 1900 Grand National which was moving into a new century as the Prince who has long been a follower of the event, would later become King Edward VII. "Barsac" finished second ridden by Mr. W Halsey with "Manifesto" in third carrying 12 stones 13 lbs, a very heavy weight as his reputation again worked against him giving all other horses at least a 48 pound advantage. "Manifesto" almost managed to win, as both he and "Ambush II" were level coming into the final straight before the weight finally became too much with the jockey easing the horse to the finish line.
The 1899 Grand National
Harry Dyas who had owned "Manifesto" when he won in 1897 sold the horse in 1898 to Mr. J Bulteel and the horse came back strong to win the 1899 Grand National for his new owner starting at 5-1 as the horse was not the favourite. The favourite was "Gentle Ida", another horse that had been owned by Harry Dyas and was still kept in his stable. Mr. Dyas had said he believed the horse to be more likely to win than "Manifesto" giving that the starting weight was around a stone less, this feeling spread leading to 4-1 odds on the day for "Gentle Ida".
The race itself was ran on a sunny day with "Manifesto" lining up as a heavy 12st 7lbs and staying behind the leading pack for much of the event before slipping and landing on his shoulder. "Manifesto" would not have been expected to make up such a distance at this point, but along with jockey George Williamson the pair got up and battled hard to make up the necessary ground overtaking "Gentle Ida" who fell at the next fence and catching up to the following years winner "Ambush II" with the pair just behind the leaders at Becher's Brook the second time around. From here "Manifesto" pushed ahead winning by five
lengths over "Ford Of Fyne" with "Elliman" ridden by Ernie Piggott who would later ride "Manifesto" in the National.
The 1898 Grand National
In between two victories for "Manifesto" the horse named "Drogheda" won the National with long odds of 25-1 followed by "Cathal" who recorded two, second place finishes in succession with fairly short odds of 7-1 as the race was run in a snowstorm. "Manifesto" was to compete but a week earlier had managed to escape his stable after the latch was left unlocked allowing the horse the freedom to wander. "Manifesto" did just this galloping across country before trying to jump a 5ft gate unsuccessfully and injuring himself, an injury that kept him out of competition for several months.
The 1897 Grand National
"Manifesto" the horse that first ran in the 1892 Grand National and would go on to race in 8, more Nationals than any other horse would win the 1897 race. Installed as favourite and ridden again by Terry Kavanagh, who had been trying to win the event for 10 years "Manifesto" won by a clear twenty lengths leaving the pair jubilant. The race didn't start out as would have been hoped with the horses called back following a false start, the race did however start without any problems the second time around as 28 horses participated, equaling the same number as the previous year.
"Manifesto" for much of the race hung back in second position as all horses made it to the Canal Turn before previous winner "Wild Man From Borneo" was pulled up after being ran into. "The Soarer" who won a year earlier was the only other former Grand National winner to compete and also fell suffering a broken collarbone with only "Manifesto" and "Timon" out in front until "Timon" unseated his rider leaving only "Cathal" with a slight chance of catching up. "Cathal" the second place horse in 1895 was though too far behind falling at the last as he desperately struggled to make up ground allowing "Manifesto" the option of relaxing as he raced to the finish under the thunderous applause of those who had backed him and starting the legacy left by maybe the greatest horse ever.
The 1896 Grand National
40-1 outsider "The Soarer" won the 1896 Grand National, on a day which 28 horses ran, a much better amount than the past decade normally featured with the winning jockey being David Campbell and William Hill-Walker the horses owner. 1892 winner "Father O'Flynn" finished second in the race, also from odds of 40-1, which were quite long for a former winning horse that was not yet truely past its prime.
1896 was also the year the great flat jockey Fred Archer took his own life, the jockey who two years earlier struggled to come to terms with losing his wife died aged 29. Fred's father William Archer had ridden "Little Charley" to victory in the 1858 National and later trained and co-owned 1925 winner "Double Chance" with both being closely linked to the history of the event.
The 1895 Grand National
The 1895 Grand National was won by "Wild Man From Borneo", a very quick horse whose stuffed head is still at Aintree in an interview room used by several winners. He was owned by John Widger and ridden by jockey Joe Widger on a day which the race was ran under heavy fog with many spectators unable to view the majority of the action. "Cathal" came in second ridden my Mr. H Escort followed by "Van Der Berg" in third and "Manifesto" in fourth who ran very well from the start only to tire towards the end with jockey Terry Kavanagh on his back.
The 1894 Grand National
"Why Not" moved up two places from third in 1893 to first in 1894 and both times he was ridden by Arthur Nightingall who had won in 1890. Arthur joined the small club of dual winners when the pair who were pre-race favourites at 5-1 won ahead of 13 other horses as yet another small field turned out at Aintree. "Cloister" was withdrawn from the race with the bookies aware of this much earlier than the public, something that also occurred in 1895 when the horse was again found to be lame a few days before the race with those close by employing a detective to look after him in 1895 in case there was any foul play.
The 1893 Grand National
In one of the most amazing Grand Nationals ever, "Cloister" the then 9 year-old 9-2 favourite set a record winning the race by a clear 40 lengths while carrying 12 stones and 7lbs an entire stone heavier than his appearance in 1891. The 40-length win was in sharp contrast to the runner up spot in 1892 when he finished 20 lengths behind the winning horse "Father O'Flynn".
"Cloister" led the race from the first fence and just kept on going increasing the distance between himself and all the others following a huge charge to take command early. "Aesop" finished second, "Why Not" third and "Tit For Tat" fourth at 25-1 with another four horses completing the course.
The 1892 Grand National
At the 1892 Grand National "Ilex" again finished third ridden by Arthur Nightingall, Terry Kavanagh who would later ride "Manifesto" finished fourth on "Ardcarn" and "Cloister" returned as 11-2 favourite to finish second behind "Father O'Flynn" who won at 20-1 ridden by Captain Roddy Owen. "Father O'Flynn" was trained and owned by Gordon Wilson and would never again finish in the top four.
1892 was also the year "Manifesto" ran his first ever race aged 4 when the horse that was bred in Ireland by solicitor and farmer Harry Dyas was entered in a steeplechase in Manchester. The horse did not look overly impressive though as he failed to complete the course. "Manifesto" did however race the following month in Manchester in a hurdle race, which he won receiving prize money of 39 pounds.
The 1891 Grand National
Arthur Nightingall would go on to finish in the top 4 in 1891 and the following three Nationals, but it was another who would begin the same three year cycle in 1891 with the now legendary horse "Cloister" finishing second as his triumphant route to victory leading to him becoming one of the most famous participants at Aintree got started. It was however only for the fantastic race "Come Away" ran that the events even happened as they did, because but for him and jockey Harry Beasley winning as 4-1 favourites in his twelfth appearance the record he was to set two years later may not have been.
The race itself had two previous winners "Ilex" and "Roquefort" finishing in third and fourth.
The 1890 Grand National
There would be no second place finish as in 1888 or third as in 1889 for Arthur Nightingall, who this year was riding the favourite "Ilex" at starting odds of 4-1 winning on the horse and completing three impressive appearances at Aintree by joining the winners list. The horse which he had ridden a year earlier also returned and finished third again with both second and place finishers "Pan" and "Brunswick" performing well after being considered complete outsiders with massive odds of 100-1.
The 1889 Grand National
"Frigate" finally reached the lofty position of Grand National winner entering the record books in 1889 with follows of the horse jubilant after he'd come so close in 1884 and 1885 when he was runner-up on both occasions. This time though, he was a little older and under the guidance of Tommy Beasley rather than then jockey Harry Beasley won with fairly short odds of 8-1. "Why Not" finished second followed by "M.P." in third ridden by Arthur Nightingall who finished third a year before.
The 1888 Grand National
George Mawson rode "Playfair" to victory in the big race at Aintree in 1888, a huge outsider before the event starting at 40-1, the pair somehow managed to outperform other horses with much better reputations such as "Frigate" ridden by Mr. W Beasley and jockey Tommy Skelton who was riding his third horse in three years to a top four position as "Ringlet" finished fourth. Sandwiched in between the two was "Ballot Box" in third place with all three horses starting with higher expectations.
The 1887 Grand National
"Gamecock" won the 1887 Grand National ridden by Mr. W Daniels with the pair starting on lower odds than the previous years winners at 20-1. The horse was owned by a Mr. E Jay and trained by James Gordon. The winner from a year earlier returned this time on "Savoyard" finishing second with "Johnny Longtail" and "Chancellor" in third and fourth respectively as four of the six horses to finish the race.
The 1886 Grand National
The 1886 Grand National was won by the horse "Old Joe" and jockey Tommy Skelton with the pair proving to be too good for the other 22 horses with the horse ironically called "Too Good" finishing second. "Old Joe" and Tommy Skelton were never really expected to perform anywhere near as good as they did, especially with starting odds of 25-1, but with huge determination and a jockey who would return to finish second the following year the pair battled hard in a race where only 7 horses completed the entire course.
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