Grand National Facts Figures (2024)

SOME FAMOUS GAMBLES

• The very first winner Lottery (1839) was made 5/1 favourite following his earlier success in the Cheltenham Steeplechase.
• Another successful 19th century punt came in 1866 when owner/ trainer Edward Studd had £1,000 at 40/1 about Salamander. His £40,000 winnings would equate to nearly £3 million at today’s values.
• Manifesto hit the bookies hard on both occasions he won the Grand National, in 1897 and 1899. He was sent off 6/1 favourite for his first win when owned by heavy-gambling Irish solicitor Harry Dyas. He was 5/1 second favourite two years later when scoring for new owner John Bulteel. The 4/1 favourite was his half-sister Gentle Ida, who fell.
• A confident Vincent O’Brien told owner Joe ‘Mincemeat’ Griffin to have a good bet on Early Mist in the 1953 race. Griffin won £100,000 when his horse came in and he also owned the 1954 winner Royal Tan, trained by O’Brien too.
• Prolific gambler Terry Ramsden bet £50,000 each-way at 8/1 about Mr Snugfit in the 1986. The horse, who was also combined in doubles and trebles, returned a profit when coming fourth.
• Papillon’s success in 2000 for trainer Ted Walsh and his jockey son Ruby was a popular victory. Tipped by the Racing Post’s Pricewise column at 33/1 on the morning of the race, he was sent off at 10/1 by race time.
• Part-owner Mike Futter estimated his total winnings were £800,000 when Monty’s Pass scored in 2003. The five-person Dee Racing syndicate netted over £1 million on the winner, who started at 16/1 but had been backed down from 66/1 by his owners.

100/1Mon Mome (2009), Foinavon (1967), Caughoo (1947), Gregalach (1929) and Tipperary Tim (1928).

66/1Auroras Encore (2013), Ayala (1963), Russian Hero (1949), and Rubio (1908).

50/1Noble Yeats (2022), Last Suspect (1985), Anglo (1966), Sheila’s Cottage (1948) and Forbra (1932).

• Poethlyn (1919) at 11/4
• Huntsman (1862) at 3/1
• Roquefort (1885) at 100/30

GRAND NATIONAL WEIGHTS

12st 7lb carried by four winners to victory in the Grand National: Poethlyn (1919), Jerry M (1912), Manifesto (1899) and Cloister (1893).

This is a record that will not be broken as the top-weight was lowered to 12st in 1956, then went down to 11st 12lb in 2002 and to 11st 10lb in 2009.

Since Poethlyn, only four horses have triumphed with 12st or more – Red Rum (12st in 1974), Reynoldstown (12st 2lb in 1936), Golden Miller (12st 2lb in 1934) and Sprig (12st 4lb in 1927).

SMALLEST NUMBEROF FINISHERS

Two, in 1928 when 42 started, withTipperary Tim beating the remountedBilly Barton by a distance. Threefinished in both 1913 and 1951. Theremounting of horses was banned inall races by the British HorseracingAuthority in November, 2009.

MOST FINISHERS

23 in 1984, from 40 starters. Therewere 22 finishers in 1963, 1987 and1992.

MOST RUNNERS

66 in 1929, while 57 lined up in 1947.The maximum field size is now 40.

LEAST RUNNERS

10 in 1883

• The Lamb (1868 and 1871),
• Nicolaus Silver (1961)
• Neptune Collonges (2012).

READ MORE HERE

• 1997 Suny Bay (2nd)
• 1998 Suny Bay (2nd)
• 2002 What’s Up Boys (2nd)
• 2002 Kingsmark (4th)
• 2008 King Johns Castle (2nd)

WINNERS (13)

Charity (1841), 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).

PLACED SINCE 1951

Gentle Moya (2nd 1956), Tiberetta (3rd 1957, 2nd 1958 & 4th 1959), Miss Hunter (3rd 1970), Eyecatcher (3rd 1976 and 1977), Auntie Dot (3rd 1991), Ebony Jane (4th 1994) and Dubacilla (4th 1995).

GRAND NATIONAL LENGTHS

The Grand National race is4 miles, 2 ½ furlongs.

SHORTEST WINNING DISTANCE

Neptune Collonges by a nosefrom Sunnyhillboy in 2012.

FURTHEST WINNING DISTANCE

A distance – Cloister (1893), Covertcoat(1913), Shaun Spadah (1921),Tipperary Tim (1928), Mr What(1958) and Red Marauder (2001).

GRAND NATIONAL RUNNING TIMES

FASTEST GRAND NATIONAL TIME

Mr Frisk (1990) 8m 47.8s.

SLOWEST GRAND NATIONAL TIME

Lottery (1839) 14m 53s.

MOST COMMON WINNING AGE

Nine-year-olds have won 45 of the 169 runnings of the Grand National where the winner’s age was recorded. The best recent record is by 11-year-olds, accounting for three of the last five winners – Neptune Collonges (2012), Auroras Encore (2013) and Pineau De Re (2014).

OLDEST WINNER

Peter Simple (1853), aged 15.

YOUNGEST WINNER

Alcibiade (1865), Regal (1876), Austerlitz (1877), Empress (1880) and Lutteur III (1909) were all aged five. Since 2012, only seven-yearolds and upwards can take part.

In 2022, Noble Yeats became the first seven year old to win since Bogskar in 1940.

WINNING AGES IN THE LAST 30 RUNNINGS

7-Y-O (1 winner) Noble Yeats

8-Y-O (6 winners) Party Politics (1992), Bindaree (2002), Many Clouds (2015), One For Arthur (2017), Tiger Roll (2018) and Minella Times (2021).

9-Y-O (8 winners) Lord Gyllene (1997), Bobbyjo (1999), Papillon (2000), Hedgehunter (2005), Comply Or Die (2008), Mon Mome (2009), Rule The World (2016) and Tiger Roll (2019).

10-Y-O (7 winners) Rough Quest (1996), Earth Summit (1998), Monty’s Pass (2003), Numbersixvalverde (2006), Silver Birch (2007), Don’t Push It (2010) and Ballabriggs (2011).

11-Y-O (6 winners) Seagram (1991), Miinnehoma (1994), Red Marauder (2001), Neptune Collonges (2012), Auroras Encore (2013) and Pineau De Re (2014).

12-Y-O (2 winner) Royal Athlete (1995), Amberleigh House (2004).