1980 - Ben Nevis
FOR 1980-1989 "Leading Fancies" is replaced with a more detailed racecard with comments on each runner. Also taken from the old Eighties Nationals website a brief precis of the post National careers of those that did not return to Aintree for the National.
The winner
Ben Nevis returned to the United States and spent his retirement in the hunting field first with his owner and on his death with Charlie Fenwick.
Aintree debutants (14)
*indicates only appearance
Another Dolly*, Delmoss, Even Up*, Flashy Boy*, Jer*, Jimmy Miff, Kininvie, Levanka*, Mannyboy*, Royal Stuart, Salkeld*, So and So*, The Vintner, Three to One
Winners at Aintree
Churchtown Boy - Topham (1977)
Our Greenwood - Topham (1975)
Rubstic - Grand National (1979)
3:20 THE SUN GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE £49,595 to the winner, £13,870 to the second, £6,820 to the third and £3,295 to the fourth
3 P0P-101 ROYAL FROLIC (Fred Rimell) 11, 11-4 - John Burke - 1976 Gold Cup winner who had finished a distant sixth in 1979. Campaigned in hunter chases this year and was successful twice at Haydock
4 0-31301 PRINCE ROCK (Peter Bailey) 12, 11-0 - Tommy Carmody - Unseated at 11th in 1977, now at the veteran stage but was in good form this year having finished third in the Welsh National and had won at Chepstow and Sandown
5 2-01230 ZONGALERO (Nicky Henderson) 10, 10-13 - Steve Smith-Eccles - Runner up a year ago, likely favourite with a second place in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and victory in the Mandarin Chase at Newbury.
6 0-22040 BEN NEVIS (Capt Tim Forster) 12, 10-12 - Mr Charlie Fenwick - Fancied for this last year but was brought down in the melee at the Chair. Generally disappointing this year. There was a feeling his chance had probably come and gone
7 0-B0220 CASAMAYOR (Peter Bailey) 10, 10-12 - Jeff King - Argentinian bred and probably had his own ideas about the game.
8 204F22 ROUGH AND TUMBLE (Fred Winter) 10, 10-11 - John Francome - Ran an excellent race last year but faded in the closing stages to finish third. Fell in the Hennessy but this normally sound jumper had finished second in the Whitbread Trial at Ascot on his last start
9 433411 RUBSTIC (Steve Leadbetter) 11, 10-11 - Maurice Barnes - 1979 hero who proved his well being with success in last two starts, the Durham National at Sedgefield and a small race at Kelso. Excellent chance to score again.
10 10/3-412 ANOTHER DOLLY (Fred Rimell) 10, 10-10 - Jonjo O'Neill - Winner of 1978 Mildmay Chase but very lightly raced since then due to injury. A distant second to Chinrullah in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival on his last start, not an obvious National trial.
11 3F0303 ROYAL STUART (Stan Mellor) 9, 10-10 - Philip Blacker - Third in the Hennessy but generally disappointing afterwards
12 F2F232 SO AND SO (Nick Gaselee) 11, 10-10 - Richard Linley - New Zealand bred winner of several big races in Australia and New Zealand and had also run in Italy and France. Running consistently in handicap company and one for the short-list
13 41023B FLASHY BOY (Denys Smith) 12, 10-8 - Chris Grant - Formally top Irish chaser but in the twilight of his career. Been kept busy since August with eleven starts under his belt and three small wins.
14 013F3F THE VINTNER (M.Naughton) 9, 10-8 - Bob Davies - Winner of Ladbroke Trophy at Newcastle but a faller at odds of 100-1 in Cheltenham Gold Cup on his last start. Would act on the going
15 F-P2210 COOLISHALL (Brod Munro-Wilson) 11, 10-6 - Mr Brod Munro-Wilson - Owner ridden. Fourth in 1978 and took a heavy fall late in 1979. Won hunter chase at Sandown in March.
16 1P-U403 EVEN UP (Mrs D Oughton) 13, 10-6 - Anthony Webber - Old favourite who still retained ability but at thirteen was making a belated Aintree debut.
17 00030-0 OUR GREENWOOD (Aiden O'Connell - Ireland) 12, 12-0* - Mr Aiden O'Connell - Winner of 1975 Topham Trophy but not shown any worthwhile form for some time. No chance especially as his trainer/rider was putting up considerable overweight.
18 122FF4 JIMMY MIFF (Ian Wardle) 8, 10-5 - Alan Brown - This would be his fifteenth start of a season which had seen victories at Uttoxeter, Newton Abbot and Nottingham. Two falls in his last three starts though did not bode well.
19 404U03 DRUMROAN (Mrs Peggy St John Nolan - Ireland) 12, 10-6 - Tommy McGivern - Fast finishing third in 1978 and a faller at the tenth in 1979. Not shown a great deal over fences or hurdles this year.
20 113312 JER (P.Bevan) 9, 10-4 - Phil Tuck - Winner of Great Yorkshire Chase and two other handicaps. In excellent form and would be one of the favourites
21 000000 LEVANKA (Francis Flood - Ireland) 11, 10-4 - Frank Berry - Prolific winner in 1978-79 winning seven races but not nearly as good this year.
22 402-U2P THE PILGARLIC (Fred Rimell) 12, 10-4 - Ron Hyett - Aintree specialist running in fourth National having finished fourth twice and fifth. He had been running in hunter chases this season. Another solid performance on the cards
23 02311P DELMOSS (Dan Moore - Ireland) 10, 10-2 - Gerry Newman - Won handicap at Punchestown in December then changed hands and disappointed when pulling up in the National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival
25 00U042 MANNYBOY (Josh Gifford) 10, 10-4* - Richard Rowe - Shown little worthwhile form and was prone to making mistakes
26 323003 SALKELD (Capt Neville Crump) 8, 10-0 - Colin Hawkins - Won small race at Ayr in the autumn but looked held on recent form
27 000000 DROMORE (Peter Duggan - Ireland) 12, 11-3* - Mr Peter Duggan - Pulled up in closing stages last year and shown no form this. Would plod round in his own time
28 PPBB-0F CHURCHTOWN BOY (M.Salaman) 13, 10-0 - Andy Turnell - Shown nothing since his heroics of 1977 and rarely completed the course nowadays. No chance,
29 P002U1 GODFREY SECUNDUS (Fred Rimell) 10, 10-0 - Sam Morshead - Came down at the Chair last year and won small race at Bangor on his last start.
30 231132 THREE TO ONE (Ken Oliver) 9, 10-4* - Mr T G Dun - Winner of chases at Kelso and Newcastle and close third behind The Vintner in the Ladbroke Trophy, Each way claims
31 211342 SANDWILAN (Gerald Ham) 12, 10-0 - Mrs Jenny Hembrow - First fence faller in 1979 and winner of three small races in the summer/autumn. Had completed the course in 1976 and was expected to do better than last year.
32 100400 KININVIE (Brian Forsey) 11, 10-0 - John Williams - Winner of small race at Newton Abbot in the summer. Shown little since changing stables, No chance
33 3-01011 RATHLEK (D.Grieg) 10, 10-0 - Paul Barton - In good form on the southern circuit winning twice at Plumpton and Lingfield this year
Non runners : 2 MAN ALIVE (R.Barry), 24 WAGNER (R.Lamb)
S:P : 8-1 Rubstic, 10-1 Jer, 11-1 Rough and Tumble & Zongalero, 12-1 Another Dolly & Prince Rock, 16-1 Royal Frolic & The Vintner, 20-1 Godfrey Secundus, Royal Stuart & Salkeld, 22-1 Drumroan, 25-1 Delmoss & Three to One, 28-1 So and So, 33-1 Mannyboy & The Pilgarlic, 35-1 Rathlek, 40-1 BEN NEVIS & Coolishall, 50-1 Casamayor, Churhctown Boy, Even Up, Flashy Boy & Jimmy Miff, 100-1 Dromore, Kininvie, Levanka, Our Greenwood & Sandwillan
The Anoraks Choice :
Selection : JER
Each Way : Drumroan & Zongalero
Result
1st BEN NEVIS - Mr C Fenwick
2nd ROUGH AND TUMBLE- J.Francome
3rd THE PILGARLIC - R.Hyett
4th ROYAL STUART - P.Blacker
Time : 10 minutes, 17.4 seconds
Distances : twenty lengths and ten lengths
Trained by Tim Forster at Letcombe Bassett in Oxfordshire
Despite it being something of an "old crocks" National fourteen of the thirty runners lined up in future Nationals (CASAMAYOR, COOLISHALL, DELMOSS, DROMORE, DRUMROAN, JIMMY MIFF, KININVIE, RATHLEK, ROUGH AND TUMBLE, ROYAL STUART, RUBSTIC, THE VINTNER, THREE TO ONE & ZONGALERO.)
ANOTHER DOLLY - Shortly after the National he was awarded the Queen Mother on the disqualification of Chinrullah on technical grounds. For a former Queen Mother Champion (albeit by default) his fall from grace was spectacular. He raced just three times in 1980-81 including over the Mildmay fences at the National meeting and he finished tailed off in a big field at Hereford in April 1981. He reappeared partnered by a Mr David Pitcher (who would later become synonymous with disaster at Aintree) in two races in September 1982. Tailed off in both he jumped a few fences and pulled up both times. A sad end to a fine horse.
BEN NEVIS - Returned to the United States and spent his retirement in the hunting field first with his owner and on his death with Charlie Fenwick.
CHURCHTOWN BOY - Having only once made the frame since his heroics in 1977 he finally managed another place in his next race at Ludlow albeit he finished a distant forty lengths behind the winner ! His final race was at Hereford in May 1980 when he once again failed to finish.
EVEN UP - A wonderful servant to connections, the National had come too late in his career and he only had one more race before retirement finishing third at Wincanton in September 1980.
FLASHY BOY - Ran five more times in the north finishing third in a small race at Ayr in December 1980. He last ran at Hexham in November 1981. He died shortly afterwards.
GODFREY SECUNDUS - Finished third in the MIdlands National. Missed the 1980-81 season but was kept busy in 1981-82 running fourteen times (only managed the frame three times). Finished amongst the backmarkers in the 1982 Topham and last ran at Newton Abbot in April 1982.
JER - His Aintree experience like his name was brief but he continued to run well in long distance chases finishing third behind Royal Mail in the Whitbread Gold Cup at the end of the season. The following season he finished a distant third in the Scottish Grand National. In 1981-82 his form deserted him and he was pulled up in his last three races. His last start was at Catterick in February 1982.
LEVANKA - Never ran in the UK again - last known sighting was running unplaced in a hurdle race at Naas in the summer of 1980
MANNYBOY - His Aintree experience was brief but he won his next start, making all the running at Plumpton on Easter Saturday. He ran ten more times over the next two seasons mostly in the south. He last raced at Plumpton in October 1981.
OUR GREENWOOD - Pulled up behind Salkeld in the Scottish Grand National.
PRINCE ROCK - Continued racing for two more seasons until the age of fourteen. Finished runner up in the 1980 Welsh National before making all the running to win a valuable event at the Welsh course by a staggering thirty lengths. This was his fifth win at Chepstow and he put up another great performance to finish third (albeit fairly remote) behind Peaty Sandy in the 1981 Welsh National.
ROYAL FROLIC - Fell in a hunter chase on his next start at the Cheltenham hunter chase evening. He remained in training for one more year finishing ninth in the Foxhunters. He last raced at Cheltenham in 1981 hunter chase meeting where he finished second.
SALKELD - Showed that he had suffered no ill effects from his very early exit at Aintree by making most of the running to run out a neck winner over future National runner Silent Valley in the Scottish Grand National three weeks later. In the autumn of 1980 he made a rare visit south when he landed the Bagshot Chase at Ascot. Missing the rest of the season he showed little thereafter finishing lame in his final start in the 1981-82 season and he pulled up in the 1984 Midlands National. He popped up once more in a hunter chase at Wetherby in May 1985.
SANDWILLAN - Pulled up in his next four races. He returned to Aintree the following year in what was to be his final race when he finished down the field in the Foxhunters. He had run a total of one hundred and twenty times over fences and joined that select band of Jumping Centurions featured in Issue 63 of The Complete Record.
SO AND SO - Won his next start at Stratford in August and then continued his international career by moving to Yves Porziers stable in France where he won a chase at Fontainebleau and finished second in the valuable Grand Steeplechase D`Ènghein. He returned to the UK but was outclassed in the 1981 Gold Cup and finished fourth in a small race at Newbury later that month on what was his last start.
THE PILGARLIC - The Aintree perennial spent the next two seasons running in hunter chases for Terry Biddlecombe who took over the reins on condition that he did not run in another National. Ridden by a young Nigel Twiston-Davies he returned one final time to Aintree in the 1981 Foxhunters where they finished an honourable fourth behind future National winner Grittar. He didn`t manage to win again and eventually earned the dreaded Timeform "squiggle". He last raced at Towcester in May 1982. He jumped a total of 156 National fences without mishap, 6 more than Red Rum.
1981 - Aldaniti
Aintree debutants (19)
Aldaniti, Another Captain, Another Prospect*, Barney MacLyvie*, Bryan Boru*, Carrow Boy, Cheers, Choral Festival, Chumson*, Deiopea*, Kilkilwell*, Kylogue Lady*, Lord Gulliver*, Martinstown, Might Be*, Pacify*, Royal Exile*, Royal Mail, Senator Maclacury
Winner at Aintree
RUBSTIC - Grand National (1979)
SPARTAN MISSILE - Foxhunters (1978 & 1979)
3.20 : THE SUN GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE £38,529.28 to the winner, 2nd : £13,491.20. 3rd : £6,745.60, 4th : £3,372.80 (81 entries)
1 1-30002 ROYAL MAIL (NZ) (Stan Mellor) 11, 11-7 - Philip Blacker - A winner of five hurdle races and a chase in his native New Zealand. Very successful since coming to the UK in 1978. Won three times in his first season and was a distant second behind Alverton in the Gold Cup. In 1980 he was a brave winner of the Whitbread Gold Cup having recovered from a cracked joint sustained when falling in his second Gold Cup a month before. No wins this season but was considered to have been trained to the minute for the race. Could he become the second Royal Mail to triumph at Aintree ?
2 P12000 CARROW BOY (W Durkan - Ireland) 9, 11-6 - Gerry Newman - Incredibly tough Irish chaser having his twenty first race of the season and the seventy ninth of his career. Had run on two consecutive days at the Festival (finishing unplaced in both the Grand Annual and Mildmay of Flete). Had winning form over the Mildmay fences in 1980 and that season had also remarkably won on two consecutive days at Ayr.
3 1-D1F14 SPARTAN MISSILE (John Thorne) 9, 11-2 - Mr John Thorne - The best hunter chaser of the seventies having won twenty one hunter chases since 1978 including two Aintree Foxhunters and one Cheltenham Foxhunters. Away from hunter chases he was pretty useful too having finished second in a Whitbread (when only six years old), fifth in a Grand Steeplechase de Paris at Auteuil and last time out had finished an excellent fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Ridden by his owner/trainer at fifty four years young. His dam had fallen in the 1968 National. This was the one they all had to beat.
4 3121/P-1 ALDANITI (Josh Gifford) 11, 10-13- Bob Champion - The class horse of the race. Very talented but very fragile. A useful novice chaser in 1976-77 winning three times he was already being touted as a future National horse by his devoted jockey when he broke down after finishing third in the 1977 Hennessy. Off the course for over a year he returned to finish third in Alvertons Gold Cup and second in the Scottish National. By his first start of the 1979-80 season Champion had been struck down by cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. Aldaniti broke down for a second time, this time at Sandown. The same leg and he was so badly crippled that his trainer feared he had run his last race. Somehow both rider and horse had been patched back together and were back in action in February 1981 when they won an emotional Whitbread Trial Chase at Ascot having been sent off the 14-1 outsiders of eight. A wonderful comeback. Surely the fairytale could not continue ? That would be too much of a story.
5 0-03140 CHUMSON (Fred Winter) 10, 10-12* - Mr Aiden O`Connell - Seven time winner in his native New Zealand including the New Zealand Grand National. Had not achieved all that was expected of him since his arrival to the UK in 1978 but to be fair he had been plagued with leg trouble. Just two small victories in the UK to his name.
6 30R-0PP ZONGALERO (NIcky Henderson) 11, 10-11 - Steve Smith-Eccles - Second in 1979 but refused in 1980 when still in contention. Pulled up in both Hennessy & Welsh National. His chance had come and gone but he was still popular with punters.
7 021000 BARNEY MACLYVIE (Jim Dreaper - Ireland) 10, 10-8 - Martin Lynch - Useful Irish chaser having first run in the UK. Second to the useful Royal Bond at Leopardstown this season.
8 10U23P THE VINTNER (M.Naughton) 10, 10-8 - Chris Grant - Pulled up at half way last year having struggled over the Chair. He had then finished unplaced in the Scottish Grand National on unsuitable ground. Won a small race at Haydock in November beating rivals Another Prospect and Rubstic. Still retained ability as his second in the Mildmay/Cazalet Memorial showed.
9 0214F0 MARTINSTOWN (Mrs M Eaton) 9, 10-7 - Mr Malcolm Batters - Winner of the Bass Chase at Cheltenham with his amateur rider putting up an incredible twenty four pounds overweight (to be fair he had not expected to take the ride). Sixth in the Kim Muir last time at the Festival. If his rider was better known he would be one for the short list.
10 004310 RUBSTIC (S.Leadbetter) 12, 10-7 - Maurice Barnes - The 1979 hero who had uncharacteristically fallen last year when he slipped on the approach to the Chair. Remote thereafter in the Scottish National but he had returned to winning ways with an excellent display of jumping at Doncaster in March. Getting on now but expected to put up another solid performance.
11 20FP-40 CASAMAYOR (Peter Bailey) 11, 10-6 - Mr Paul Webber - Had the ignomy of falling not once but twice last year (fell when riderless). Nothing shown in two hunter chases this term.
12 P04320 KILKILWELL (Mick O`Toole - Ireland) 9, 10-6 - Niall Madden - Irish mare who won the valuable Harold Clarke Leopardstown Chase in 1980. A distant third behind Aldaniti at Ascot on her first visit to the UK.
13 000020 SO (Michael Oliver) 12, 10-6 - John Francome - Fell at the tenth fence in 1978. Had shown good form in his native Ireland but a second behind Chepstow specialist Prince Rock was the only form he had shown since moving to the UK. Still he had the assistance of the champion jockey.
15 1-44P3P ANOTHER PROSPECT (John Edwards) 9, 10-8* - Mr Jim Wilson - Three chase wins to his name but appeared out of his depth if his performance last time in the Kim Muir was anything to go by.
16 0004D2 ROYAL STUART (NZ) (Stan Mellor) 10, 10-2 - Hywel Davies - Half brother to Royal Mail. A very distant last of four finishers last season. Won a competitive handicap at Windsor in February only to be disqualified. Unlikely to get any closer this year.
18 P0PPPP DELMOSS (Mrs J.Moore - Ireland) 11, 10-2* - Frank Berry* - Made much of the running last year before second Bechers got in the way. Completely lost his form this season. Impossible to fancy.
19 P/30120 SEBASTIAN V (C.Bell) 13, 10-1 - Ridley Lamb - The 1977 Scottish Grand National winner had run the race of his life to finish second to Lucius in 1978 (having made a lot of the running). He had broken down badly the following November and did not return to action until December 1980. Won his third race back at Kelso in January. This was a big ask.
20 F0-0003 DRUMROAN (Mrs G St John Nolan - Ireland) 13, 10-6* - Mr Marcus Graffe - Fell in the Scottish National after his Aintree exertions last year. A distant third of four finishers in an amateur event at Navan his only form this year. Had changed hands and was to be riden by his new Swiss owner.
21 002322 KYLOGUE LADY (A.Redmond - Ireland) 9, 10-0 - T.Quinn - The second Irish mare in the field. In excellent form in 1979-80 winning the Kerry National and the Troytown Chase. Not managed to win this season but running consistently well in competitive handicaps. On offer at a ludicrously long price.
22 1-02341 ROYAL EXILE (Fred Winter) 12, 10-0 - Ben de Haan - A winner seven times in France he had been off the course between 1978 & 1980 with leg trouble. Had won five times since coming to the UK.
23 423331 CHEERS (John Edwards) 9, 10-0 - Peter Scudamore - Good jumper. Stepped up to handicap class having won point-to-points and hunter chases. Won at Ludlow, Cheltenham and Wolverhampton. Would be a safe first National ride for his up and coming young rider.
24 0-P0201 COOLISHALL (Broderick Munro-Wilson) 12, 10-3* - Bill Smith - Unlucky last year when his iron broke at the first fence. Now a useful hunter chaser winning at Sandown and finishing sixth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters. His owner/trainer would have to watch from the sidelines after injuring himself in a first fence fall in the Foxhunters.
25 13-0134 LORD GULLIVER (Jenny Pitman) 8, 10-0 - Colin Brown - What did this one have on common with the legendary Foinavon ? Like the shock winner of 1967 he travelled everywhere with a goat as his constant companion. Well thought of by connections but he was the least experienced horse in the field with just eight starts over fences under his belt.
26 020020 MIGHT BE (John Webber) 10, 10-0 - Anthony Webber - Had been a prolific winner in his younger days but hadn`t won for a while.
27 FP1UU0 BRYAN BORU (Reg Hollinshead) 10, 10-10* - Mr John Carden - Had notched up eight wins and was a pretty decent chaser at his best. However since being bought by his intrepid amateur rider he had twice unseated his rider which did not bode well.
28 U21-F34 PACIFY (Stan Mellor) 11, 10-0 - Steve Jobar - The 1980 Midlands Grand National winner who had also been successful in handicaps and point to points. Lightly raced since his Uttoxeter win and not seen out since December. Each way prospects - he would certainly stay.
29 102201 SENATOR MACLACURY (I.Walsh - Ireland) 7, 10-2* - John Burke - Probably the best of the Irish challenge. Having his twelfth race of the season notching up victories at Tralee, Galway & Thurles. He had also won the valuable Grand National trial at Punchestown.
30 F10B14 ANOTHER CAPTAIN (A.Scott) 9, 10-0 - Colin Hawkins - Half brother to the legendary Captain Christy. He was having a very busy season as this was to be his twentieth race of the campaign. Won four times (Hexham, Carlise (twice) & Kelso. Would have been five but he subsequently lost his victory at Newcastle for having a prohibited substance in his system.
31 000020 TENECOON (F A Smith) 12, 10-0 - Charlie Mann - A fairly average chaser these days but he had once finished a close fourth in a Whitbread Gold Cup
32 PP-42U0 MY FRIENDLY COUSIN (K.Morgan) 11, 10-0 - Alan Brown - One of only two modern day Grand National runner to my knowledge to have competed in Belgium finishing second in a valuable steeplechase at the now defunct Brussels track of Groenendaal in 1977. Liked Ascot and had been a fairly useful chaser in his day but was getting a little long in the tooth and his previous attempt at these fences in the 1977 Topham had ended at the very first fence.
33 2F-0043 THREE TO ONE (Ken Oliver) 10, 10-4* - Mr T G Dun - Held when he fell at second Bechers last year. He had been running in small races in the north.
34 300030 SON AND HEIR (John Edwards) 11, 10-0 - Sam Morshead - During the 1977-78 season he had beaten dual Foxhunters winner Grittar by a neck at Nottingham. His best season however had been in 1978-79 when he had finished second in the National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival and followed that with a third place in the Topham. That was then.......he was a pretty poor chaser now.
35 00-0000 DROMORE (Mrs P Duggan - Ireland) 13, 10-8* - Mr P.Duggan - Having his third National start he had shown nothing all season but had run respectably to finish an (albeit distant) sixth in the Foxhunters. It was surprising to see him turn out again two days later.
36 010210 CHORAL FESTIVAL (M.Low) 10, 10-2* - Mr Mark Low - Former Irish hurdler. Missed 1978-79 and had won once in 1979-80 and twice this season including Wolverhamptons premier chase the Harry Brown Trophy on Boxing Day. Not National winning form though.
37 112330 NO GYPSY (J.Bridger) 12, 10-0 - J.Suthern - Had enjoyed a long distinguished career that had netted ten wins since 1976 (he had finished second in the 1976 Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle at the Festival and had also finished third in the 1977 Scottish National). Brought down at the melee at the Chair in 1979 on his last visit to Aintree. Liked firm ground and was at his best at small summer meetings winning four times at the beginning of this season at Devon & Exeter & Newton Abbot. No realistic chance in a National though.
38 F03003 RATHLEK (D.Greig) 11, 10-1* - Paul Barton - Pulled up in the closing stages last year. Had finished third to Royal Exile at Sandown earlier in the season but was not expected to do any better this year.
39 30-01U0 THREE OF DIAMONDS (Martin Pipe) 9, 10-0 - Paul Leach - A first National runner for a small west country stable. He had won at Newton Abbot in December but had finished tailed off at Taunton last time. One of the outsiders.
40 0020UF KININVIE (Brian Forsey) 12, 10-0 - Philip Hobbs - Ran well for a circuit last year but had shown very little since and his jumping was becoming a problem.
41 F00P00 DEIOPEA (W.Sheedy) 10, 10-0 - Mrs Linda Sheedy - Half brother to Spartan Missile but nowhere nearly as good. Won a couple of hunter chases in 1977 and a couple of small races since then but was outclassed in this company.
Non Runner : 17 ARTISTIC PRINCE - B.Smart (lame)
Irish jockey Liam Ò`Donnell who rode Tied Cottage in some of his later races was listed as the jockey for Delmoss in the racecard but Irish champion Frank Berry took the ride.
S.P : 8-1 Spartan Missile, 10-1 ALDANITI, 11-1 Rubstic, 14-1 Zongalero, 16-1 Rpyal Exile, Royal Mail & Royal Stuart, 20-1 Cheers, Senator Maclacury & The Vintner, 25-1 Coolishall, 33-1 Barney Macclyvie, Carrow Boy, Kilkilwell, Martinstown & Sebastian V, 40-1 Another Captain & Another Propsect & So, 50-1 Chumson, Delmoss, Drumroan, Lord Gulliver, Might Be, Pacify & Rathlek, 66-1 Choral Festival, 100-1 Bryan Boru, Casamayor, Deiopea, Kininvie, Kylogue Lady, My Friendly Cousin, No Gypsy, Son and Heir, Tenecoon & Three of Diamonds
The Anoraks Choice : Royal Mail
Each Way : Another Prospect & Royal Stuart
Result
1st ALDANITI - Bob Champion
2nd SPARTAN MISSILE - Mr M J Thorne
3rd ROYAL MAIL - Philip Blacker
4th THREE TO ONE - Mr T G Dun
5th SENATOR MACLACURY - J P Harty
6th ROYAL EXILE - Ben de Haan
7th RUBSTIC - Maurice Barnes
8th COOLISHALL - Bill Smith
9th RATHLEK - Paul Barton
10th SO - John Francome
11th SEBASTIAN V - Ridley Lamb
12th CHEERS - Peter Scudamore
Time : 9 minutes, 47.2 seconds
Distances : Four lengths & two lengths
Trained by Josh Gifford at Findon, Sussex
Useless piece of trivia
Irish jockey Martin Lynch (who enjoyed success with trainer John Upson and rode Nick the Brief to two victories in the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown) had a very brief first National experience, hitting the turf at the very first fence when unseated from Barney MacClyvie. Lynch would have to wait another eleven years before he would have another go when he was drafted as a last minute replacement for the injured Adrian Maguire on the Gold Cup winner Cool Ground in 1992.
The first five home ALDANITI, SPARTAN MISSILE, ROYAL MAIL, THREE TO ONE and SENATOR MACLACURY were all to line up in future Nationals as would ANOTHER CAPTAIN, CARROW BOY, CHEERS, CHORAL FESTIVAL, COOLISHALL, DELMOSS, MARTINSTOWN, RATHLEK, ROYAL STUART, THE VINTNER and THREE OF DIAMONDS.
So what became of the other twenty three ?
ANOTHER PROSPECT - A thirty length third place at Stratford on his first start the following season was his best performance in an otherwise poor year which saw him pull up in the Welsh National. No record of him running under rules after finishing unplaced at Market Rasen in March 1982.
BARNEY MACLYVIE - Finished third in a valuable race at Ascot the following November on his only other visit to the UK.
BRYAN BORU - Showed nothing in four starts after Aintree that season and was sold. His form greatly improved the following season for his new connections and he beat fellow National rival Tenecoon at Ludlow. He last ran at Hereford in May 1982.
CASAMAYOR - Ran twice more that season without troubling the judge. Last seen finishing tailed off in a hunter chase at the Folkestone United Hunts meeting in 1982.
CHUMSON - Unseated his rider in the Whitbread Gold Cup on his next start. Listed as dead at the end of the season.
DEIOPEA - Turned out at Worcester in a big field five days later and finished unplaced. This proved to be his last start under rules.
DRUMROAN - Finished the season tailed off in both the Scottish and Midlands Grand Nationals. He was then sold and at the age of fourteen found himself trained in France where he was placed three times at Auteuil. In an audacious move his new connections sent him to contest the 1982 Cheltenham Gold Cup where he was pulled up after trailing for a circuit. Bizarre to say the least.
KILKILWELL - Finished a distant twelfth in the Irish Grand National.
KININVIE - Did not race again. (He was 12 so he had earned his retirement).
KYLOGUE LADY - Finished fourth behind Luska and future Grand National winner Last Suspect in the Irish Grand National two weeks after Aintree. Later seen running in rear in the valuable Free Handicap Chase at Punchestown and Navans Troytown Chase that autumn.
LORD GULLIVER - Pulled up in the Welsh National. He last ran at Nottingham in January 1982. Listed as dead at the end of the 1981-82 season.
MIGHT BE - Finished second in three consecutive races after the National. Ran just once the following season winning at Stratford in September 1981.
MY FRIENDLY COUSIN - Showed nothing in nine starts and even raced in selling chases which was a shame. Last ran at Southwell in April 1983.
NO GYPSY - Continued running at the late summer/autumn meetings over the next two seasons, twice finishing lame. Last raced at Plumpton in September 1982.
PACIFY - Pulled up in the Midlands National on his next start. Won two small races within seven days of each other at Southwell and Plumpton in September 1981 and later returned to point to points.
ROYAL EXILE - Twelve by the time of his National challenge I can find no record of him running again.
RUBSTIC - Pulled up in the Midlands Grand National at the end of the season. He reverted to hunter chases the following season running credibly without managing to get his head in front. Last raced at Ayr in May 1982.
SEBASTIAN V - This fine servant to connections had run his last race.
SO - Finished fourth in a small race at Newton Abbot on his next start and ended the season with a fall in the Golden Miller Chase at Cheltenham. Last ran at Worcester in October 1981.
SON AND HEIR - Pulled up at Uttoxeter on his next start later that month. Listed as dead at the end of the season.
TENECOON - Finished unplaced in the Whitbread on his next start and then won twice at Hereford in April and May (had four former National runners Shifting Gold, Casamayor, Kick On & Another Dolly behind him in the April race). Another Hereford victory followed the following season and he continued to run well in small handicaps. He missed the 1982-83 season and was last seen running poorly as a fifteen year old. He last raced at Hereford in January 1984.
ZONGALERO - Ran in four hunter chases over the next two seasons and failed to complete in each one with form figures PFU-R. A sad end to a fine career he refused at Ascot when tailed off in April 1983. He had a bar named after him at Wolverhampton racecourse.
1982 - Grittar
Aintree debutants (17)
Again The Same*, Cold Spell*, Current Gold*, Deep Gale*, Deer Mount*, Gandy VI*, Good Prospect*, Hard Outlook*, Loving Words*, Man Alive, Mullacurry*, Peter Scot*, Rambling Jack*, Saint Fillans*, Tiepolino, Tragus*
Winners at Aintree
ALDANITI - Grand National 1981
ROLLS RAMBLER - Foxhunters 1980
3:20 THE SUN GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE £39,152 to the winner, 2nd : £13,540, 3rd : £6,640, 4th : £3,190 (81 entries)
1 30-3101 ROYAL MAIL (Stan Mellor) 12, 11-10 Bob Davies* - Third last year before finishing down the field in the Whitbread. A lucky winner at Chepstow in December when the leader fell at the last. Also won at Doncaster but flopped when fancied in the Hennessy.
2 P/11-00 ALDANITI (Josh Gifford) 12, 11-9 Bob Champion - The 1981 hero and still fancied for a dream repeat but he had been behind in both his starts this year, the Whitbread Trial at Ascot and the Greenall Whitley Breweries Chase at Haydock.
3 3/214-20 AGAIN THE SAME (John Edwards) 9, 11-8 Jonjo O`Neill - A winner of seven chases including a convincing win in the 1980 National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival (where he had todays rivals Current Gold, Peter Scot, Royal Stuart & Good Prospect toiling in his wake). Just two starts this season and he could be forgiven his disappointing show in the Greenalls as he had finished lame.
5 200000 CARROW BOY (W.Durkan - Ireland) 10, 11-7 Gerry Newman - Hampered when he fell at the tenth last year when leading. Kept very busy by connections running thirteen times since last year with only a second place at Ayr to show for his efforts. Seemed an ideal Topham type but was trying the harder challenge again.
6 11-3120 GRITTAR (Frank Gilman) 9, 11-5 Mr C "Dick" Saunders - Champion hunter chaser of 1980-81 landing the Cheltenham/Aintree Foxhunters double. Finished a distant sixth in a big field for the 1982 Gold Cup. A worthy favourite.
7 P-0P0P1 PETER SCOT (David Gandolfo) 11, 11-5 Paul Barton - A good "old fashioned" staying chaser. Winner of the Welsh National in 1979 and the Mildmay Memorial at Sandown in 1981. Appeared to be on the downgrade until picking up a small race at Nottingham on his last start.
8 P00311 TRAGUS (David Morley) 10, 11-5 Peter Scudamore - A prolific winner with seventeen wins since 1976 yet considered a bit of an unpredictable sort with delicate forelegs. At his best he would have a great chance as witnessed by his beating of Night Nurse in the 1981 Gainsborough Chase and his Great Yorkshire Chase victory of the same year.
9 000000 DEEP GALE (Edward O`Grady - Ireland) 9, 11-2 T J Ryan - Packed a lot into a relatively short career. He was the subject of a massive gamble for the 1980 National Hunt Chase based on one point to point success. He fell and the following day lined up in of all contests the Stayers Hurdle. The following year he started favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle and later won a valuable event at the Punchestown Festival. In the autumn of 1980 he notched up five victories over fences before succombing to the dreaded cough. This season.....absoutely nothing in nine starts.
10 0/01000 MAN ALIVE (Gordon Richards) 11, 11-1 T G Dun - Almost white chaser. Very popular and very versatile with wins over fences, hurdles and on the flat. A last minute absentee in 1980 due to the ground. In his younger days he had won the Mackeson Gold Cup. Missed the 1980-81 season and was not as effective since his return to action, victory in a small race at Carlisle being the highlight.
12 311311 MULLACURRY (Arthur Moore - Ireland) 10, 10-12 Mr Tom Taaffe - Useful Irish chaser who had won twice at Ayr this term and landed a valuable race at Leopardstown. Sound each-way prospects.
13 11111/2 ROLLS RAMBLER (Fred Winter) 11, 10-12 Mr Jim Wilson - Already a winner over these fences when landing the 1980 Foxhunters. Ended the season champion hunter chaser as he had also won the Cheltenham Foxhunters and the valuable Horse & Hound Cup at Stratford. Missed 1980-81 and ran well to finish second in the Foxhunters two days earlier on his comeback. Slightly surprising to see him line up again so soon.
14 31-0210 LOVING WORDS (John Thorne) 9, 10-11 Richard Hoare - Won the valuable Brooke Bond Oxo National at Warwick in impressive fashion from a the large field which included rivals Hard Outlook, Jimmy Miff & The Vintner.
15 1F1200 SAINT FILLANS (Maurice Camacho) 8, 10-11 Phil Tuck - Second season chaser, won seven chases in a row before finishing second behind Gold Cup runner-up Bregawn at Kempton. Leading when running out at half way in the valuable Greenall Whitley Breweries Chase at Haydock on his last start.
16 4302U0 GOOD PROSPECT (John Edwards) 13, 10-10 Richard Linley - Top long distance hurdler in 1976 winning the Golden Hurdle Final at the Festival. Not so effective over fences but landed his second Festival victory in the 1980 Kim Muir. However, it was not his ten victories over fences he would be remembered for but for two races in March 1981 when he twice unseated his very famous owner/rider HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. During that month he was probably the most famous horse in training. He had since changed hands.
17 112-PPB CURRENT GOLD (Gordon Richards) 11, 10-8 Neale Doughty - Not managed to complete the course this season but don`t be fooled. This was still a very useful northern staying chaser. Winner of the 1981 National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival and twice placed in the Scottish Grand National. Sound each way claims.
18 431304 GANDY VI (John Thorne) 13, 10-9 Niall Madden - Ex-Irish chaser who had won seven chases in four seasons in the UK. Landed a handicap at Newton Abbot ahead of a large field and was a useful soul. But, seriously - thirteen years old and making an Aintree debut. Others made more appeal.
19 11F002 OLD SOCIETY (Michael O`Brien - Ireland) 8, 10-9 P.Walsh - Irish chaser making his UK debut, campaigned over hurdles and fences he had won twice at Naas & Punchestown this year.
20 002-000 ROUGH AND TUMBLE (Fred Winter) 12, 10-8* John Francome - A distant second in 1980 , leg trouble had kept him away last year. Off the course for over a year he had finished tailed off in the Kim Muir at the Festival and wasn`t showing much in hunter chases. The best days were behind him.
21 0PP342 THE VINTNER (M Naughton) 11, 10-7 Dermot Browne - He pulled up in the past two Nationals and had finished down the field in the Whitbread after his Aintree exertions last year. Showing better form this season in long distance chases finishing second to the useful Strombolus at Doncaster and fourth in the Eider.
22 UF1-00P ROYAL STUART (Stan Mellor) 11, 10-4 Mr Dennis Gray - His leather broke when he was unseated last year and after that he fell in the Irish Grand National before ending his season on a high with a win at Warwick. . No form in three starts this term. Best days clearly behind him.
23 PF0-100 DELMOSS (Faulke Walwyn) 12, 10-3 Bill Smith - A surprising faller early on last year he had moved to new connections in the UK and started brightly winning by a wide margin at Cheltenham. Disappointing thereafter.
24 200P0P MARTINSTOWN (David Morley) 10, 10-3 Miss Charlotte Brew - Won a valuable race at Cheltenham in 1980-81 and a faller in the latter stages of the National. Shown nothing since. Recently changed hands and was now running in the colours made famous by Baroney Fort. A second National for Aintree pioneer Charlotte Brew.
25 4-04001 THREE TO ONE (Ken Oliver) 11, 10-3 Ridley Lamb - Ran the race of his life to finish fourth last year. Behind in the Eider but won a small race at Hexham on Gold Cup day.
26 0314-20 SUN LION (Nicky Henderson) 12, 10-3* Steve Smith-Eccles - Useful hunter chaser winning a twenty five runner hunter chase at Cheltenham in April 1981. Adapted well to these fences when finished third behind Grittar in the 81 Foxhunters.
27 4-33130 HARD OUTLOOK (Andrew Wates) 11, 10-1 Anthony Webber - Winner at Nottingham this term and behind Loving Words at Warwick. Jumped well but others made more appeal.
29 442423 TIEPOLINO (Peter Cundell) 10, 10-4* Hywel Davies - Prolific winner in 1979-80 winning five times. Not won thereafter and had earned a reputation for being unreliable despite finishing in the frame twelve times.
30 2010-30 COOLISHALL (Broderick Munro-Wilson) 13, 10-3* Ron Barry - Now at the veteran stage. Only raced twice since finishing a long way behind Aldaniti twelve months ago.
32 10-0000 SENATOR MACLACURY (J J Walsh - Ireland) 8, 10-0 P.Kiely - Ran well last year to finish fifth but shown nothing for new connections this season.
33 0424P2 ARTISTIC PRINCE (Mrs Jenny Pitman) 11, 10-0 Colin Brown - Faller in the closing stages in 1979 and a last minute withdrawal when fancied last year. Hadn`t won for a while but would have won at Ascot had he not blundered his chances away at the last fence and had finished third in the Welsh National. Getting on but still had an outside chance.
34 4U10P4 JIMMY MIFF (I.Wardle) 10, 10-1* Michael Williams - A faller at second Bechers in 1980, showed nothing the following season but had picked up two small races in the autumn at Haydock & Straford.
35 322430 CHEERS (C.Mackenzie) 10, 10-0 Mrs Geraldine Rees - Finished last of the eleven finishers in 1981. Unlikely to go any closer for new connections and his glamorous rider.
36 000341 MONTY PYTHON (Mrs Jenny Pitman) 10, 10-0 Ben de Haan - Six wins over fences in four seasons. Fell at Bechers in 1980 Topham. Not shown a great deal this season but had won a small race at Kempton on his last start.
37 1/4302-3 COLD SPELL (Stan Mellor) 10, 10-0 Steve Jobar - Took three seasons to win over fences. Third in the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown on his only start this term.
38 3P-000P THIS WAY (Tim Forster) 11, 10-2* Clive Candy - Point-to-point winner and winner of a small novice event at Wolverhampton in 1979. Shown very little since except for a superb third place in the 1981 Topham when he looked to have winning chance until he blundered at the last fence. Had reverted to type thereafter.
39 F-233P4 CHORAL FESTIVAL (M J Low) 11, 10-4* Mr Mark Low - Running in small events showing some form in the autumn. Ran well for a time last year before pulling up on the second circuit.
40 4F0041 DEER MOUNT (Mrs M Babbage) 8, 10-0 J P Byrne - Sole mare in the field. Shock 33-1 winner of the Red Rum Novices Chase here in 1980. Not shown a great deal since then although had won at Devon & Exeter on his last start.
41 04040U RATHLEK (Reg Hollinshead) 12, 10-12* Mr John Carden - Nearly got round in 1980 and finished some way behind in 1981. Unseated rider at the second fence on his first start for new connections. No chance at all for his amateur rider who was yet to get further than the eighth fence in four previous attempts.
42 3P00U3 THREE OF DIAMONDS (P O`Connor) 10, 10-0 Mr Pat O`Connor - Fell at Canal Turn when behind last year and pulled up in the Welsh National this term. No chance whatsoever.
S.P : 7-1 GRITTAR, 17-2 Royal Mail, 12-1 Aldaniti & Three to One, 14-1 Tragus, 16-1 Again the Same, Loving Words, Mullacurry, Rambling Jack & Rough and Tumble, 20-1 Rolls Rambler & Senator Maclacury, 25-1 Current Gold, 33-a Coolishall, Man Alive & Old Society, 40-1 Carrow Boy, Cold Spell & Royal Stuart, 50-1 Artistic Prince, Delmoss, Gandy VI, Good Prospect, Hard Outlook & Jimmy Miff, 50-1 Sun Lion, The Vintner & Tiepolino, 66-1 Cheers & Monty Python, 100-1 Choral Festival, Deer Mount, Martinstown, Rathlek, This Way & Three of Diamonds
The Anoraks selection : ROYAL MAIL
Each Way : RAMBLING JACK & THREE TO ONE
Robert Earnshaw, the intended partner of Gandy VI missed the ride following a heavy fall in the opening Sun Ratings Chase on Badsworth Boy. Niall Madden took the ride. Earnshaw who had ridden the winner of the Gold Cup this year on Silver Buck never got to ride in the race.
Philip Blacker was due to partner Royal Mail but was injured in a fall at Ludlow on the eve of the race. Bob Davies who had won on a spare rode on Lucius in 1979 and a year later stepped in to ride Zongalero to finish second was now on board.
Result
1st GRITTAR - Mr C Saunders
2nd HARD OUTLOOK - A.Webber
3rd LOVING WORDS (rem) - R.Hoare
4th DELMOSS- Bill Smith
5th TRAGUS - Peter Scudamore
6th CURRENT GOLD - Neale Doughty
7th THREE OF DIAMONDS - Mr P O'Connor
8th CHEERS - Mrs G.Rees
Time : 9 minutes 12 seconds
Distances : Fifteen lengths & a distance
Trained by Frank Gilman in Morcutt, Leicestershire
With thirty one of the thirty nine aged ten or over it was perhaps not surprising that few of the class of 82 returned to Aintree. Only GRITTAR, ARTISTIC PRINCE, CARROW BOY, DELMOSS, MONTY PYTHON, ROYAL MAIL, THE VINTNER, and THREE TO ONE had more Nationals in them.
AGAIN THE SAME - Technically a fatality although it was not reported as one at the time. He was found to have broken a bone behind his knee and he was put down.
ALDANITI - Was retired immediately after his National failure. However, he remained in the limelight and was used to raise money for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust by way of public appearances. In 1987 he walked between Buckingham Palace to Liverpool netting £820,000. He paraded before the National that year. He spent his retirement at his owners farm in Sussex dying peacefully in March 1997.
CHEERS - Pulled up on his next start at Southwell at the end of his month. Returned very lame and sadly had to be destroyed a few days later.
CHORAL FESTIVAL - Went hunter chasing finishing second at Bangor in May 1983 on his final racecourse appearance.
COLD SPELL - Started favourite for the Midlands Grand National on his next start and finished third behind Bridge Ash. He then won his next race at Stratford in May. Another victory at Stratford followed in September 1982. This was to be his last win. He continued racing until 1984 finishing unplaced in the Midlands Grand National on his final start.
COOLISHALL - This fine Aintree warrior had run his last race.
CURRENT GOLD - Already twelve his career was nearly over and he showed nothing in two starts at Cheltenham the following October.
DEEP GALE - Didn`t run under rules in the UK again and later was sent point-to-pointing where he raced with some success winning five Irish points between 1984 & 1986
DEER MOUNT - Unseated his rider on his next start at Hexham later in the month. He didn`t race under rules again.
GANDY VI - Pulled up on the Midlands National on his next start he raced for one more season winning a Taunton hunter chase. He last ran at Stratford in April 1982.
GOOD PROSPECT - Already thirteen by the time of his Aintree debut he raced just one more time finishing nine lengths behind Cockle Strand in fourth place in the Scottish National.
HARD OUTLOOK - Looked badly out of sorts on his next run at Sandown in November 1982 and he didn`t run again that season. He pulled up in two small races at Lingfield & Folkestone and was listed as dead at the end of the 1983-84 season.
JIMMY MIFF - A grand servant to connections he continued racing until 1990 (he raced for an incredible fifteen straight seasons). He ran in a total of one hundred and fifty two races under rules (a record for a Grand National runner) including six appearances in the Midlands Grand National.
LOVING WORDS - Considering how fresh he finished he would have gone into many notebooks as a future National contender but he was only to have two more races. He disappointed in the Scottish National finishing last of nine finishers and pulled up at Devon & Exeter on his final start in December 1982.
MAN ALIVE - Continued his winning ways with victory in a Perth Chase in May. Raced eleven times in 1982-83 winning twice in the summer at Southwell and Market Rasen. Proving he was a much better horse on firmer ground he notched up his fifth & sixth wins at Carlisle in the autumn of 1983. He returned to Aintree twice for the Topham (then run as the Kaltenberg Pils Chase) blazing the trail in 1983 and looking all over the winner when he sensationally ran out at the third last fence. In 1984 in what was an inauspicious final racecourse appearance he fell at the very first fence giving Jonjo O`Neill a crashing fall (which ruled him out of that years National).
MARTINSTOWN - A distant last of five finishers in the Midlands National on his next start he disappeared for a few seasons from the professional game but turned up in the 1985 Foxhunters ridden by David PItcher. He fell at the first fence.
MULLACURRY - Pulled up in the Irish Grand National on his next start. In 1983 he moved to Jimmy Fitzgeralds yard and went on to prove very useful winning five times at Ayr, Doncaster, Newcastle, Perth and Wetherby.
PETER SCOT - Won a small race at Nottingham in December 1983. Last ran at Worcester in March 1984.
RAMBLING JACK - Pulled up in the Scottish National on his next and final start.
RATHLEK - Continued racing until 1984. Didn`t show much under rules, his best performance finishing fourth in a big field at Ludlow in May 1983 when ridden by future Grand National winning trainer Steve Brookshaw. Fared much better in points winning two in 1983 and two in 1984.
ROLLS RAMBLER - After his Aintree exertions he was retired.
ROUGH AND TUMBLE - Ran just one more time pulling up at Stratford on the last day of the season.
ROYAL STUART - Pulled up in the Midlands National and was later seen running in a couple of novice hurdles. Won a point to point in May 1984.
SAINT FILLANS - Still only eight yet I can find no record of him running under rules again.
SENATOR MACLACURY - Didn`t show much in a handful of races over the next couple of seasons.
SUN LION - Returned to hunter chases and ran four more times that season, running well but without getting his head in front. He last raced at Leicester in February 1984 at the age of fourteen finishing tailed off.
THIS WAY - Finished last in a small race at Worcester in May on his next start after Aintree and showed nothing in two hunter chases the following season.
THREE OF DIAMONDS - Pulled up in the Midlands National on his next start. The following season finished fourth in a hurdle race. Last ran at Doncaster in December 1982.
TIEPOLINO - Raced both in hunter chases and handicaps over the next two seasons. Successful twice in 1982-83, in a small three runner race at Worcester when his two rivals both fell and then the highlight of his career, a hard fought victory over the National fences in the Topham. He last raced in the 1984 Topham where he failed to sparkle, unseating his rider five out when tailed off.
TRAGUS - His notoriously fragile legs gave way as after the race he was found to have strained a tendon. He did not race again.