1983 - Corbiere
Aintree debutants (22)
Beech King, Bonum Omen, Canford Ginger, Colonel Christy, Corbiere, Duncreggan*, Fortina's Express, Greasepaint, King Spuce, Mender*, Menford*, Midday Welcome*, Mid Day Gun, Never Tamper, Oakprime*, Peaty Sandy*, Pilot Officer, Political Pop*, The Lady's Master*, Tower Moss*, Venture to Cognac, Williamson*
Winners at Aintree
Beacon Time - Topham 82
Grittar - Grand National 82
3.20 THE SUN GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE £39,483 to the winner, £13,656 to the second, £6,698 to the third & £3,219 to the fourth (82 entries)
2 2101-02 GRITTAR (Trainer Frank Gilman) 10, 11-12 - Paul Barton - The 1982 hero had had an interrupted preparation and had finished tired on his last start at Nottingham which did not bode well for a repeat performance.
3 1P2333 VENTURE TO COGNAC (Fred Winter) 10, 11-12 - Mr Oliver Sherwood - Top novice hurdler in 1978-79 winning Sun Alliance Hurdle at the Festival. He had looked a future champion chaser but shoulder injuries, back problems and lameness prevented him from reaching the top. He was still very useful though having won seven chases. Finished seventh in the 1982 Gold Cup when he was finally fit to run in it. He was staying sound this season and had managed seven runs although was not proving as good as we hoped he would be.
4 220314 TACROY (Francis Flood in Ireland) 9, 11-9 - Frank Berry - Very useful Irish chaser who had won the Arkle Perpetual Cup at Leopardstown in 1981 and the Punchestown Chase later that year. Had been sold during the week running up to the race and would be trained in the UK after the National. Had finished fifth in the Irish National five days earlier.
5 1422/21 SPARTAN MISSILE (Nicky Henderson) 11, 11-7 - Hywel Davies - Runner up in 1981 but had broken down badly at Ascot on his next start. Off the course for nearly two years he had shown he had retained his ability by winning a chase at Newbury on his second start back from injury.
6 300112 CORBIERE (Jenny Pitman) 8, 11-4 - Ben de Haan - Very promising novice chaser in 1981 but injury had kept him of the course for nearly a year. A spell over hurdles on his return had sharpened him up and he had finished fifth in the Hennessy behind future Gold Cup winner Bregawn. Won the Welsh National beating Pilot Officer by a head and had then won at Doncaster. Last time had finished two length second in the National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival. Very strong claims.
7 4-40423 KING SPRUCE (Michael O`Brien in Ireland) 9, 11-4 - Mrs Joy Carrier - Interesting Irish challenger ridden by his American owner. Only won two races but one had been when springing a 20-1 surprise to land the 1982 Irish Grand National. Narrowly beaten by Carrow Boy in a valuable chase at Leopardstown and fourth in the Cathcart Chase at the Festival.
8 101F-14 ROYAL MAIL (Stan Mellor) 13, 11-4 - Mr Tim Thomson-Jones - Getting a little long in the tooth but had won a hunter chase at Lingfield on his reappearance before running badly last time.
9 413321 PEATY SANDY (Mrs Helen Hamilton) 9, 11-3 - T G Dun - Very useful Scottish chaser. Enjoyed a very successful 1980-81 season becoming the first Scottish trained winner of the Welsh National. Not quite so prolific this year and had finished a distant third behind Corbiere & Pilot Officer in this seasons renewal. Won twice this term at Newcastle and Kelso. Appeared to have a very good chance of becoming Scotland`s second winner of the National.
10 243312 POLITICAL POP (Michael Dickinson) 9, 11-3 - Graham Bradley - In the absence of the ante-post favourite Ashley House this was the main hope from the all conquering Dickinson stable. A winner of 8 of his 14 starts including twice at the Festival, the Mildmay of Flete in 1981 and the Kim Muir in 1982.
11 0-110BP THE LADY`S MASTER (M C Duggan in Ireland) 12, 11-2 - Mr Willie Mullins - At twelve he was somewhat old to be making his Aintree debut but he had been an easy winner of the valuable Galway Plate in the summer.
13 043221 CARROW BOY (W.Durkan in Ireland) 11, 10-12 - Gerry Newman - Enjoying another phenomenally busy season as this would be race number fifteen of the campaign. Winner of a valuable race at Leopardstown in January.
14 002111 BONUM OMEN (Fulke Walwyn) 9, 10-9 - Kevin Mooney - Something of a late developer who had come into the reckoning with three long distance chase wins at the turn of the year. Stamina would not be a problem (won four mile chase at Cheltenham on New Years Day and the Brooke Bond Oxo National at Warwick) and if his jumping held up he looked to have an excellent chance.
15 012123 MID DAY GUN (John Webber) 9, 10-8 - Graham McCourt - Wins at Worcester and Warwick this season and he had twice had rival Political Pop behind him.
16 F14202 PILOT OFFICER (Mrs Mercy Rimell) 8, 10-7 - Sam Morshead - Five time winner over fences in 1980-81 and runner up to Corbiere in the Welsh National this year.
17 11-2P00 BEACON TIME (Ginger McCain) 9, 10-6 - Jonjo O`Neill - Had enjoyed an excellent season in 1981-82 when trained by Fulke Walwyn, his five wins included a runaway success in the Topham. Sold at the Ascot May sales to Ginger McCain he had so far failed to reproduce the form.
18 313F10 GREASEPAINT (Michael Cunningham in Ireland) 8, 10-9* - Mr Colin Magnier - Useful Irish chaser who had won the Kim Muir at the Festival by three lengths. The best of the Irish challenge.
19 F0F000 BEECH KING (P.Woods in Ireland) 9, 10-3 - Mr P.Duggan - A former winner of the Kerry National at Listowel but had shown absolutely nothing this term.
20 202432 FORTINA`S EXPRESS (W Arthur Stephenson) 9, 10-3 - Peter Scudamore - Six times winner and running well this season without getting his head in front. Just touched off in Greenalls Chase at Haydock last time out.
21 04-3442 HOT TOMATO (Bill Clay) 11, 10-2 - John Burke - Useful in 1980-81 winning three times and finished fourth in the Topham. Showed very little thereafter but showed a slight return to form last time out.
23 403043 THREE TO ONE (Ken Oliver) 12, 10-2 - Phil Tuck - Fell at second Bechers in 1980, Third to Aldaniti in 1981 but a first fence faller twelve months later. Had followed up that disappointment by finishing second in the Scottish National and had later won at Hexham and Carlisle. Now at the veteran stage.
24 023320 HALLO DANDY (Gordon Richards) 9, 10-0 - Neale Doughty - Six times winner over fences. Not got his head in front this season but had been running consistently well in good company in the north. Each-way claims.
26 000210 DUNCRREGGAN (S A KIrk in Ireland) 10, 10-0 - Gerry McGlinchey - Tough Irish challenger who had won a small race at Perth in 1982 but had flopped in the Scottish National later that year.
27 413101 KEENGADDY (Nick Gaselee) 10, 10-0 - Steve Smith-Eccles - Ex-Irish challenger winner of seven chases in the UK. Three wins this season and had shown form over the unique fences when chasing home Beacon Time in last years Topham.
28 223043 COLONEL CHRISTY (Hugh O`Neill) 8, 10-0 - Philip Hobbs - Full brother to 1974 Gold Cup winner Captain Christy. Mud lover who liked Plumpton but his finest moment had come as a six year old when he landed Warwick`s Brooke Bond Oxo National in 1981. Capable of running a big race with conditions in his favour.
29 032034 MENDER (Roddy Armytage) 12, 10-0 - Anthony Webber - Hadn`t won since landing a valuable chase at Ascot in 1981 but had been running well in handicaps although he had fallen twice earlier in the season.
30 004-000 DELMOSS (Fulke Walwyn) 13, 10-0 - Bill Smith - Running in his fourth National. Shown nothing in three starts since his fourth place last year.
32 02014F MENFORD (KIm Bailey) 8, 10-0 - Mark Perrett - Ex-Irish runner having first start for new connections.
33 0P4001 OAKPRIME (David Nicholson) 8, 10-0 - Richard Linley - Beat Williamson at Newbury last time but had not fulfilled the promise he had showed as a novice.
34 000343 THE VINTNER (M P Naughton) 12, 10-0 - Chris Grant - Running in his fourth National and yet to complete the course. Fourth in the 1982 Midlands National and a long way behind Political Pop at Wincanton last time.
35 3031/02- ARRIGLE BOY (D.Eddy) 11, 10-0 - Chris Pimlott - A winner of four small races the last being a hunter chase at Newcastle in 1981. Had last seen a racecourse in October 1981. No chance whatsoever.
36 140P04 ARTISTIC PRINCE (Mrs Jenny Pitman) 12, 10-0 - Colin Brown - Running in third National. First fence faller in 1982. Beat Colonel Christy in small race at Kempton in November. Ran excellent race to finish fourth in the Kim Muir at the Festival on his last start.
37 30F002 YER MAN (A J McNamara) 8, 10-0 - Val O`Connell - Tough cookie - This would be his sixteenth outing of the season. From twenty two starts in 1981-82 he had finished third in the National Hunt Handicap Chase and fourth in the Topham. 80-1 seemed ridiculously long odds.
38 031304 O`ER THE BORDER (Pat O`Connor) 9, 10-0 - Mr Pat O`Connor - Had looked a promising novice in 1980 with a win at Ascot but hadn`t fulfilled that early promise and had recently changed hands.
39 1B3332 CANFORD GINGER (David Elsworth) 8, 10-0 - James H Davies - Missed 1981-82 but having a very busy season, this would be his fifteenth start. Second to subsequent Irish Grand National winner Bit of a Skite in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival.
40 301000 MONTY PYTHON (Mrs Jenny Pitman) 11, 10-0 - P O`Brien - Bechers had been his downfall in two previous visits to Aintree. Won a small race at Towcester and had shown some form this season but would be struggling again.
41 311202 WILLIAMSON (Mrs M Eaton) 9, 10 - 0 - Charlie Mann - Won a point-to-point in 1980, a novice chase at Hereford in 1982 and two small races this term at Newbury & Wolverhampton.
42 0-3400U MIDDAY WELCOME (Capt J.Wilson) 12, 10-0 - Mrs Geraldine Rees - Formally quite useful but had not won since 1980 and looked out of his depth.
43 443-000 SYDNEY QUINN (C C Trietline) 11, 10-0 - P.Double - Twice placed in the Foxhunters (twenty length second to Grittar in 1981, fourth in 1982) but had shown nothing in handicap company this term.
44 143340 THAT`S IT (J A Gilbert) 9, 10-0 - G.Holmes - Moderate mare who had won just three times the last being a small race at Southwell in October.
45 43140P TOWER MOSS (A S Neaves) 10, 10-0 - Richard Rowe - Sole grey of the race. Five time winner over fences. Won at Sandown in January but mostly plied his trade at the small southern meetings. Hopelessly outclassed in the MIldmay of Flete at the Festival. No chance.
46 444010 NEVER TAMPER (J H Baker) 8, 10-0 - John Williams - Won at Newton Abbot on the first day of the season and again at the south western track in March.
S.P : 6-1 Grittar, 15-2 Bonum Omem, 9-1 Spartan Missile, 12-1 Peaty Sandy, 13-1 CORBIERE, 14-1 Greasepaint & Mid Day Gun, 15-1 Keengaddy, 20-1 Fortinas Express, 22-1 Pilot Officer, 25-1 Beacon Time & Three to One, 28-1 King Spruce, Political Pop & Venture To Cognac, 33-1 Canford Ginger, Carrow Boy & Tacroy, 50-1 Delmoss, Mender & Royal Mail, 60-1 Beech King & Hallo Dandy, 66-1 Artistic Prince, Colonel Christy, Oakprime & The Vintner, 75-1 Duncreggan, 80-1 Yer Man, 100-1 Arrigle Boy, Hot Tomato, Menford & Williamson, 150-1 Monty Python, 200-1 O`er The Border, That`s It & The Lady`s Master, 300-1 Sydney Quin & Tower Moss, 500-1 Midday Welcome & Never Tamper
The Anoraks Choice : Bonum Omen
Each-Way : Venture to Cognac
Result
1st CORBIERE - Ben de Haan
2nd GREASEPAINT - Mr C.Magnier
3rd YER MAN - T V O'Connell
4th HALLO DANDY - Neale Doughty
5th GRITTAR - Paul Barton
6th COLONEL CHRISTY - P.Hobbs
7th POLITICAL POP - Graham Bradley
8th VENTURE TO COGNAC - Mr O.Sherwood
9th PEATY SANDY - T G Dunn
10th DELMOSS - Bill.Smith
Time : 9 minutes, 47.4 seconds
Distances : Three quarters of a length & twenty lengths
Owned by Brian Burrough
Trained by Jenny Pitman in Upper Lambourn in Berkshire
OF THE forty one runners, fourteen had more Nationals in them (BEECH KING, CANFORD GINGER, COLONEL CHRISTY, CORBIERE, GREASEPAINT, GRITTAR, HALLO DANDY, MID DAY GUN, NEVER TAMPER, PILOT OFFICER, SPARTAN MISSILE, TACROY, THREE TO ONE & YER MAN)
ARRIGLE BOY - Raced two more times that season. Finished tailed off in his next race at Kelso and lost his irons after the first fence in his final start at Hexham and had to be pulled up. He wasn`t seen out again.
ARTISTIC PRINCE - Raced once more in an amateur riders chase at Chepstow in February 1984.
BEACON TIME - Missed the 1983-84 season and never reached the frame thereafter although to his credit he twice returned to Aintree and twice completed the course finishing tenth in the 1985 Topham and starting at 100-1 last of fourteen finishers in the 1986 Foxhunters. Last raced at Bangor in May 1987.
BONUM OMEN - Sadly the National seemed to have had an adverse effect on him as he showed no form for the rest of his career. He last ran at Worcester in March 1985.
CARROW BOY - He didn`t race much more after this (he had been very busy up until that point to be fair) - he was seen in a hurdle race at Bellewstown in August 1984 and last raced at Sligo later that month.
DELMOSS - This veteran of four Nationals had earned his retirement.
DUNCREGGAN - The races only fatality. He broke his neck when he fell at the Canal Turn and was killed instantly.
FORTINA`S EXPRESS - Never ran in another National but became an Aintree stalwart running in the next four Tophams finishing seventh, sixth, thirteenth and runner up to Strath Leader in 1987 in what was his final race. He also won six races including the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby in 1985.
HOT TOMATO - Won a seller at Fontwell in September 1983. He died in training in 1984.
KEENGADDY - Finished last of ten finishers in the Whitbread on his next start. He won a small race by a distance at Wincanton the following September but was lightly raced thereafter. He was seen at Ludlow in May 1986.
KING SPRUCE - Fell in a competitive handicap at the Punchestown Festival on his next start. He then was sent over to the UK to be trained by Grand National winning trainer Bob Champion. He returned to Aintree in 1985 unseating Mrs Carrier at the Chair in the Topham and the following year finished 12th in the Foxhunters. He also finished second to the great Wayward Lad in a two runner race at Doncaster n 1984. He last raced at Newton Abbot in September 1986.
OAKPRIME - Showed very little and ended up in the hands of David Pitcher. At the age of fourteen he pulled up in a point-to-point at Kingston Blount.
O`ER THE BOARDER - Showed nothing in hunter chases but fared better between the flags winning on his final racecourse appearance at Tweseldown in May 1989 aged fifteen.
MENDER - He was twelve when he ran in the National which appears to have been his last race.
MENFORD - Finished unplaced in a chase at Bangor and a hurdle at Towcester. Won a chase at Southwell in 1984. Missed the following season and showed nothing thereafter. Last seen unseating in a selling hurdle at Sedgefield in May 1987.
MIDDAY WELCOME - Ran next in an amateur riders hurdle at Newton Abbot in May. Last seen pulling up lame in a selling hurdle at Plumpton in January 1985.
MONTY PYTHON - Another in the twilight of his career. He ran two more times that season and was not seen out again after finishing down the field in a chase at Towcester in May.
PEATY SANDY - Never returned to Aintree but remained a fine servant for his connections winning eight more races including five at Newcastle (four in the 1985-86 season alone). He failed miserably in two Welsh Nationals and finished lame when a distant sixth in the 1986 Scottish National. He did manage to win one big race, the 1987 Eider Chase. He last ran at at Ayr in January 1988 when he fell for the first time in his career.
POLITICAL POP - Still only nine when he ran at Aintree I can find no record of him racing again under rules.
ROYAL MAIL - Another fine Aintree stalwart had run his final race.
SYDNEY QUIN - Showed nothing in handicaps in 1983-84. Last raced at Fontwell in May 1984.
THAT`S IT - Fell at Market Rasen on his next start and missed the following season. Raced just two more times last racing at the Lincolnshire course in June 1984.
THE LADY`S MASTER - Ran fourteen times the following season mostly for David Nicholson. Enjoyed something of a revival winning a Sandown handicap by twenty lengths from Tower Moss and also finished fourth in the Mackeson Gold Cup. Returned to Ireland and continued racing until he was fifteen.
THE VINTNER - Ran two more times that season and was retired.
TOWER MOSS - Only won once in eighteen subsequent races but when he did in October 1983 he broke the two mile course record at Plumpton. Last raced at Kempton in November 1985.
WILLIAMSON - Ran fourteen times the following season winning twice at Plumpton in February and April. Last seen pulling up in a hunter chase at Newbury in March 1986.
VENTURE TO COGNAC - Injury may have prevented him from reaching the top over fences but after Aintree he went on to become an excellent hunter chaser winning three hunter chases in 1983-84 culminating with a five length victory over Spartan Missile in the Christies Foxhunters Chase at the Festival. Two years later he nearly managed a big race double when he was touched off by Eliogarty in the closing stages of the Aintree Foxhunters in what was his final race.
1984 - Hallo Dandy
Aintree debutants (23)
Ashley House*, Burnt Oak, Bush Guide*, Carl`s Wager*, Clonthurtin, Door Step, Doubleuagin, Earthstopper*, Eliogarty, Fauloon, Fethard Friend, Fortune Seeker*, Golden Trix*, Hazy Dawn*, Hill of Slane, Imperial Black, Jacko*, Jivago de Neuvy*, Lucky Vane, Midnight Love*, Silent Valley*, The Drunken Duck*, Two Swallows*
Winners at Aintree
Corbiere - Grand National (1983)
Grittar - Grand National (1984)
3.20 THE SEAGRAM GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE £40,862 to the winner, £14,132 to the second, £6,936 to the third & £3,338 to the fourth (141 entries)
1 0F4202 CORBIERE (Jenny Pitman) 9, 12-0 jockey – Ben de Haan – 1983 hero had not managed to get his head in front this season and had had an interrupted preparation following the Eider Chase. Despite carrying seven pounds more he would be fancied for a repeat victory.
2 0-22002 ASHLEY HOUSE (Michael Dickinson) 10, 11-13 – Graham Bradley – Ex-Irish chaser, a winner over flat and hurdles in his native Ireland. He won three of his four novice chases in the UK in 1981-82 and had an excellent season the following year winning four more races including the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock. Was one of Michael Dickinsons “famous five” finishing fifth in the Gold Cup and was ante-post favourite for the 1983 National but was pulled out at the last minute due to the heavy ground. Without a win this season there was a feeling that perhaps his best chance had come and gone.
3 20-3330 GRITTAR (Frank Gilman) 11, 11-10 – John Francome – Not the force of old but had shown he still retained some ability with his third place in the Whitbread Trial at Ascot. Very poor last time out at Market Rasen
4 1F212-1 ELIOGARTY (J L Hassett in Ireland) 9, 11-5 – Mr Donal Hassett – The best hunter chaser in Ireland, a winner of eight of his twelve starts under rules and created history when he carried Caroline Beasley to victory in the 1983 Foxhunters becoming the first lady to ride a winner at the Festival. By-passing Cheltenham for an attempt at the National Miss Beasley was not to be in the saddle and riding plans were the cause of much speculation with several top jocks rumoured to be in the fray. In the end the ride went to a little-known Irish amateur making his Aintree debut and his odds lengthened
5 1U-2132 SPARTAN MISSILE (Nicky Henderson) 12, 11-4 – Mr John White – Unseated at second Bechers in 1983. Not as good since he returned from injury in 1983 but still managed a win at Stratford (where he was still pretty much unbeatable) and finished a hard fought five length second in the Foxhunters at the Festival.
6 114021 MIDNIGHT LOVE (Denys Smith) 9, 11-4 – Chris Grant - Unbeaten in five chases in 1981-82, not so good the following season (tailed off in Gold Cup) but three time winner this season including valuable Greenall Whitley Breweries Chase at Haydock last time.
7 2P-0002 GREASEPAINT (Dermot Weld) 9, 11-2 – Tommy Carmody - Runner up in 1983 and fancied for another strong performance. Been steadily brought to peak this season.
8 4F0-203 EARTHSTOPPER (Gaye Kindersley) 10, 11-1 – Richard Rowe - Classy individual but prone to make mistakes (fallen in both a Hennessy & a Gold Cup). Yet to win for new connections.
9 324044 JIVAGO DE NEUVY (FR) (John Webber) 9, 11-0 – Mr Roger Grand - Fifteen times winner over cross country fences in France. Moved to the UK for an attempt in this race but not shown enough yet.
10 1-11321 LUCKY VANE (Toby Balding) 9, 10-13 – John Burke - National debutant who stayed forever winning three times this season including the Eider Chase. Best of the National newcomers.
11 1-00PF0 FAULOON (Fulke Walwyn) 9, 10-13 – Bill Smith – Winner of four chases including over the Mildmay course in 1983. Showed nothing this season pulling up in the Hennessy.
12 420143 FETHARD FRIEND (Francis Flood in Ireland) 9, 10-12 – Gerry Newman - Very useful Irish chaser finished second in 1982 Irish National and winner of Munster National. Punchestown specialist but his sole win this season was over timber at Fairyhouse.
13 10/11-01 BROOMY BANK (John Edwards) 9, 10-12 – Mr Jim Wilson - Flopped when he first tried these fences in 1982 Topham and lightly raced since then but winner of Kim Muir at the Festival on last start and had obvious claims.
14 1P/U134 SILENT VALLEY (FR) (I D Jordon) 11, 10-8 – T G Dun - Fragile individual who had twice come back from career threatening injuries winning both times. Winner at Ayr in November and if his legs stood up to the task he could go well.
15 40FF00 HAZY DAWN (Terry Casey in Ireland) 9, 10-9* – Mr Willie Mullins - Winner of 1982 National Hunt Chase at the Festival but shown very little since. Jumping also a problem having fallen four times already this season.
16 122132 BURNT OAK (David Nicholson) 8, 10-7 – Peter Scudamore - Front running winner of 1982 Grand Military Gold Cup who had already won twice at Newbury this season.
18 P03044 TACROY (Pat O`Connor) 10, 10-7 – Frank Berry – Struggled in 1983 and had not really been showing his best for new connections until he ran a close fourth in the Greenall Whitley at Haydock.
19 412100 IMPERIAL BLACK (Neville Crump) 8, 10-7 – Colin Hawkins - Formally trained by Ginger McCain. A prolific winner in the north but not good enough to lift this.
20 110424 BUSH GUIDE (John Alder) 8, 10-5 – Miss Valerie Alder - Winner of Ladbroke Trophy at Newcastle and another with good form in the north. Likely to give his very competent lady rider a safe passage.
21 302P00 POYNTZ PASS (Pat O`Connor) 9, 10-5 – H.Rogers – Ex-Irish chaser a winner of nine races in Ireland. Moved to the UK during the season and was running for the sixteenth time. Finished eleventh in the Topham two days before. Impossible to fancy but should jump round.
22 100000 DOUBLEUAGAIN (A.Geraghty in Ireland) 10, 10-5 – Tom Morgan - Winner of 1982 Mildmay of Flete but not as good thereafter. Very fortunate winner of valuable chase at Punchestown in December when his three rivals departed at the last fence. Very little shown since then and others made more appeal.
23 3/14P-PF THE DRUNKEN DUCK (Brod Munro-Wilson) 11, 10-3 – Alan Brown - Another Cheltenham Festival winner, this time 1982 Foxhunters, Lightly raced and nothing shown in two starts this term.
24 204404 MID DAY GUN (John Webber) 10, 10-3* – Graham McCourt – First fence faller when fancied in 1983. Then fell in the Whitbread before a French trip to Auteuil in May yielded nothing. His fourth place in the Welsh National was his best form this season.
25 002000 DOOR STEP (Mouse Morris in Ireland) 8, 10-2 – Mr John Queally – A winner of five chases and a point-to-point in Ireland. Second in the 1982 National Hunt Chase but no recent form.
26 420002 YER MAN (A J McNamara in Ireland) 9, 10-2 – Val O`Connell – Ran the race of his life to finish third in 1983 and followed up with a win in an amateur riders event at Tramore in June. Having another busy season (this would be his fifteenth race) and his three quarter length second to the useful Drumlargan in the Punchestown Grand National Trial showed that he had an each way chance.
27 2FP-P00 PILOT OFFICER (Mercy Rimell) 9, 10-2 – Mr Adrian Sharpe – Faller at the Chair in 1983 but had showed nothing this season and finished down the field in the Kim Muir on his latest start.
28 04-12P2 HALLO DANDY (Gordon Richards) 10, 10-2 – Neale Doughty – Fourth last year and a winner of a competitive chase at Ayr in October. Pulled up on the Hennessy and lightly raced since. Each way prospects.
29 00PB30 ANOTHER CAPTAIN (A.Scott) 12, 10-1 – Andrew Stringer – A first fence faller in 1981 he had won a few small races since that brief experience but this season showed little. Pulled up in the Welsh National and down the field in the Eider.
30 UP-2PF1 CARL`S WAGER (Michael Dickinson) 9, 10-2* – Mr Ronnie Beggan - A winner of six chases including at Wolverhampton on his latest start. One of Michael Dickinsons last runners in the National.
31 333443 HILL OF SLANE (Alan Jarvis) 8, 10-2* – Steve Smith-Eccles - Leading juvenile hurdler in 1980 and very useful long distance hurdler in 1982 when he won Rendlesham Hurdle and was runner up in the Stayers Hurdle. Not so good over fences but had won three times and was fourth at the Cheltenham Festival last time.
32 0-4240P JACKO (David Nicholson) 12, 10-0 – Sam Morshead* – At the veteran stage this winner of nine chases he had shown he still retained ability with a second place in a valuable long distance chase at Cheltenham in January.
33 FP4031 TWO SWALLOWS (Roddy Armytage) 11, 10-0 – Anthony Webber - Useful novice chaser in 1980-81. Won predecessor of Racing Post Chase in 1982. Tailed off last at ridiculous odds of 200-1 in King George VI Chase this year before showing a return to form when beating Ashley House at Nottingham last time.
34 -002000 BEECH KING (P.Woods in Ireland) 10, 10-1* – P Kiely – Unseated at first Bechers in 1983 and only a little form shown this season. One of the Irish outsiders.
35 430030 THREE TO ONE (Ken Oliver) 13, 10-2* – Phil Tuck – Still retained some ability but this would be his fifth National and he was getting very long in the tooth.
36 33F0-UP ROMAN GENERAL (Brod Munro-Wilson) 11, 10-3* – Maj Malcolm Wallace - A winner of three hunter chases in the past three seasons. Finished third in a substandard Foxhunters in 1983. No chance.
37 000002 FORTUNE SEEKER (J R Cox in Ireland) 9, 10-0 – Paul Barton - Irish chaser having a busy season, This would be his fourteenth race of a season which had yielded one win at Fairyhouse
38 21100F GOLDEN TRIX (B L Chinn) 9, 10-1* – Kevin Mooney – Won four chases on the bounce in 1982-83 and continued on the upgrade with wins this year at Cheltenham and Plumpton.
39 0330F0 CANFORD GINGER (David Elsworth) 9, 10-1* – Colin Brown – Finished down the field in the Kim Muir. Brought down at the Chair when behind last year and no prospect of faring any better now.
41 120420 CLONTHURTIN (Arthur Moore in Ireland) 10, 10-0 – Tom Taaffe - Irish chaser, a winner at Fairyhouse in December. Having twelfth start this season.
42 4U4212 KUMBI (D “Ginger” McCain) 9, 10-0 – Kevin Doolan - Five times winner over fences and showed a liking to the fences when a close third in last years Topham. First runner for Ginger McCain since Red Rum that might be good enough to sneak a place.
S.P : 9-1 Greasepaint, 12-1 Broomy Bank, Grittar & Lucky Vane, 13-1 HALLO DANDY, 16-1 Corbiere & Eliogarty, 18-1 Spartan Missile, 20-1 Ashley House, 22-1 Fethard Friend, 25-1 Burnt Oak & Yer Man, 28-1 Carl`s Wager, Midnight Love, Tacroy & Two Swallows, 33-1 Bush Guide, Earthstopper, Hill of Slane, Pilot Officer & Silent Valley, 40-1 Mid Day Gun, 50-1 Fauloon, Golden Trix, Imperial Black & Jivago de Neuvy, 66-1 Another Captain, Beech King, Jacko & Three to One, 100-1 Canford Ginger, Clonthurtin, Door Step, Doubleuagain, Fortune Seeker, Hazy Dawn, Kumbi, Poyntz Pass, Roman General & The Drunken Duck
Jockey change : *Niall Madden (listed as rider for Jacko in racecard)
The Anoraks Selection : BROOMY BANK
Each Way : LUCKY VANE
Result
1st HALLO DANDY - Neale Doughty
2nd GREASEPAINT - Tommy Carmody
3rd CORBIERE - Ben de Haan
4th LUCKY VANE - John Burke
5th EARTHSTOPPER - Richard Rowe
6th TWO SWALLOWS - Anthony Webber
7th FETHARD FRIEND - Gerry Newman
8th BROOMY BANK - Mr A J Wilson
9th JIVAGO DE NEUVY - Mr R Grand
10th GRITTAR - John Francome
11th HILL OF SLANE - Steve Smith-Eccles
12th TACROY - Frank Berry
13th DOUBLEUAGAIN - Tom Morgan
14th BEECH KING - P.Kiely
15th ELIOGARTY - Mr Donal Hassett
16th SPARTAN MISSILE - Mr J White
17th YER MAN - T V O'Connell
18th FAULOON - Bill Smith
19th ANOTHER CAPTAIN - Andrew Stringer
20th MID DAY GUN - Graham McCourt
21st POYNTZ PASS - H.Rogers
22nd JACKO - Sam Morshead
23rd CANFORD GINGER - Colin Brown
*****A RECORD WHICH STANDS TO THIS DAY*****
Time : 9 minutes, 21.4 seconds
Distances : Four lengths & one and a half lengths
Trained by Gordon Richards at Greystoke in Cumbria
CORBIERE, GREASEPAINT, LUCKY VANE, FAULOON, FETHARD FRIEND, BROOMY BANK, HALLO DANDY, HILL OF SLANE, TACROY, CLONTHURTIN & KUMBI would all line up again the following year and DOUBLEUAGAIN a year later.
ANOTHER CAPTAIN – At twelve it was probably not a surprise that he had earned his retirement.
ASHLEY HOUSE – Off the course for nearly two years he re-appeared in the 1986 Kim Muir at the Festival finishing unplaced. Now trained by Paddy Prendergast he did manage a win in a small race at Killarney in May. He last raced when finishing down the field in that years Galway Plate.
BEECH KING – Finished eighth in the Irish Grand National on his next start but only raced twice thereafter.
BURNT OAK – Returned to Aintree the following year and blazed the trail in the Topham until taking the most bone-crunching fall at the fence before Bechers – how he survived was a miracle yet he continued racing and was revitalised during 1986-87 when he won five times including the Grand Military Gold Cup. Something of a Sandown specialist he collapsed and died when still in contention in the Alanbrooke Chase at the Surrey course on his next start. He was commemorated jointly with the Queen Mothers Special Cargo with a race named in their honour.
BUSH GUIDE – Ran once again that season at Hexham in May. Only managed one win in seventeen starts over the next four seasons at Kelso in January 1988.
CANFORD GINGER – Didn`t race under rules again but was running in point-to-points at the age of fourteen.
CARL`S WAGER – Finished a never dangerous seventh in the Scottish National seven days later and just held on to land a small race at Uttoxeter in May. Not seen after pulling up in two small races in the autumn of 1984, the last at Plumpton in September.
DOOR STEP – Moved to Jimmy Fitzgeralds stable and won twice in 1984-85 at Catterick and Newcastle. Lightly raced thereafter, a return to Aintree in 1987 ended with a first fence fall in the Foxhunters.
EARTHSTOPPER – Collapsed and died moments after passing the winning post.
ELIOGARTY – Reunited with Caroline Beasley he was a never dangerous tenth in the Irish National. The following season won three hunter chases in Ireland including at the Punchestown Festival. His return to Aintree in the Foxhunters ended at the big ditch when he unseated. For the 1985-86 season he was trained in the UK by David Murray-Smith and having made history in the Cheltenham Foxhunters he created his own bit of Aintree magic by carrying Miss Beasley to a fifteen length victory in the Foxhunters – the first time a woman had won over the unique fences. Two more wins followed in 1986-87 and a one & a half length second in the Foxhunters. There were two final victories at the ripe old age of thirteen but a final visit to Aintree in the 1988 Foxhunters ended at Bechers.
FORTUNE SEEKER – Never returned to the UK. He ran sixteen times in Ireland the following season and finished seventh in the Irish National, ran twelve rimes in 1985-86 and ten in 1986-87
GOLDEN TRIX – Ran credibily in a good field when third at Cheltenham on his next start (ridden by Italian champion Giannantonio Colleo). Lightly races thereafter his career ended on a low note when he refused at Plumpton in November 1985.
GRITTAR – After his lacklustre display it was believed he would be retired but he turned up again in 1986 in two small races. Sadly he pulled up lame at Wolverhampton that March.
JACKO – Showed some form in his thirteenth year but didn`t get his head in front. Was running in hunter chases aged fourteen with his final start coming at Towcester in May 1986.
JIVAGO DE NEUVY – Returned to France and won a steeplechase at Vichy in June. Not seen after falling at Dieppe in August 1984.
HAZY DAWN – Next seen pulling up in an amateur riders hurdle at Punchestown in November and that was it.
MID DAY GUN – Beat future National winner Last Suspect at Warwick in February 1985. He also finished unplaced in the Welsh National and flopped badly in the Whitbread. Won a small race in Uttoxeter in October and last ran at Cheltenham after another lacklustre display the following month.
MIDNIGHT LOVE – Finished third at Kelso on his next start in November and sadly was killed in a fall at Haydock later that month.
PILOT OFFICER – Showed little in three starts in 1984-85 – last raced at Sandown in December 1984.
POYNTZ PASS – Finished fourth in the Topham in 1985 and won a small race at Cheltenham in April. Later bought by Broderick Munro-Wilson and became a regular in the Foxhunters finishing third in 1986, unseated after losing his irons in 1987 and ninth in 1988 in what was his final start under rules.
ROMAN GENERAL – Finished last in a small hunter chase at Leicester in March 1985 on his only other start under rules.
SILENT VALLEY – Pulled up in the Scottish National a week later. A grand servant to connections he stayed in training until he was sixteen winning at the age of thirteen and fourteen
SPARTAN MISSILE – Showed he still retained his ability with victory in a hunter chase named after his late owner at Stratford in March 1985. It was his twenty fourth and final victory. Two weeks later he finished very lame in the Cheltenham Foxhunters and was denied the long retirement he so richly deserved.
THE DRUNKEN DUCK – Ran well in handicaps & hunter chases the following season winning at Bangor in March and Sedgefield in April. Last raced at Ayr on Scottish Grand National day 1986.
THREE TO ONE – Now thirteen and a veteran of five Nationals he ran just one more time unseating at Carlisle in April.
TWO SWALLOWS – Having run such a good race at Aintree he tried his luck in the Scottish equivalent but was pulled up. He didn`t race again.
YER MAN – Pulled up in the Irish Grand National on his next start. Didn`t win in eleven starts in what was his final season last running at Limerick in March 1985.
1985 - Last Suspect
Aintree debutants (23)
Blackrath Prince*, Classified, Crosa*, Drumlargen, Dudie, Glenox*, Greenhill Hall*, Immigrate*, Knockawad*, Last Suspect, Leney Dual*, Musso*, Northern Bay, Onapromise, Our Cloud*, Roman Bistro*, Royal Appointment*, Rupertino, Scot Lane*, Shady Deal*, Solihull Sport*, Tubertelly*, West Tip
Winners at Aintree
Corbiere - Grand National (1983)
Hallo Dandy - Grand National (1984)
3.20 : SEAGRAM GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE (100 entries), £54,314 to the winner, £14,103 to the second, £6,876 to the third & £3,308 to the fourth
1 402441 CORBIERE 10, 11-10 (Mrs Jenny Pitman) - Peter Scudamore - 1983 hero and third a year later. A spell of hunting had fine tuned him and he had won for the first time since his National triumph when winning at Chepstow. With regular pilot Ben de Haan injured the champion jockey was on board and had his best chance so far of winning a race that had thus far eluded him
2 F1P413 DRUMLARGAN 11, 11-8 (E J O'Grady - Ireland) - John Francome - Top class Irish challenger winner of 1983 Whitbread Gold Cup, third in 1984 Gold Cup and runner up in inaugural Bettered Bowl. Not quite so good this year pulling up in Hennessy but enjoyed a bloodless win at Gowran Park in February. A final National ride for the "greatest" jockey.
4 P-03332 GREASEPAINT 10, 10-13 (D K Weld - Ireland) - Tommy Carmody - Runner up in the past two Nationals he had not won for over two years but was still running credibly in top handicaps in Ireland and another big run was expected.
5 4-10213 LUCKY VANE 10, 10-13 (G B Balding) - John Burke - Fourth last year and aimed for this all season. Winner of the four mile chase at Cheltenham and second in the Welsh National. One of the leading fancies.
6 21-2410 HALLO DANDY 11, 10-12 (G.Richards) - Graham Bradley - Fourth in 1983 and last years hero. Beat Crosa by thirty lengths at Kempton. Replacement jockey with regular rider on the sidelines.
7 10-4430 BROOMY BANK 10 10-7 (J A C Edwards) - Mr Jim Wilson - Eighth last year. No longer the force of old but showed some form when third behind West Tip at Hereford. His time had probably come and gone.
8 430-001 FETHARD FRIEND 10, 10-7 (J A C Edwards) - Paul Barton - Ran very well in this last year eventually finishing seventh. Now trained in the UK he had beaten Topham winner Smiths Man at Wolverhampton on his last start
9 122113 CLASSIFIED 9, 10-7 (N J Henderdon) - John White* - Very reliable chaser over two and a half miles. Twice placed at the Festival. Putting the theory that two and half mile specialists adapt well in the National to the test.
10 40-1240 TACROY 11, 10-3 (M.Masson) - Andrew Stringer - Pulled up in 1983 and unplaced in 1984. In fair form this season winning at Plumpton in November and finishing fourth in Welsh National but no reason to think he would fare any better third time.
11 10P-12P LAST SUSPECT 11, 10-2 (Capt T A Forster) - Hywel Davies - Formally useful when trained in Ireland. Still capable as wins at Chepstow last season (where he beat Corbiere) and Worcester this. However moody on occasions and connections were not that hopeful
12 0434U0 SCOT LANE 12, 10-1 (M.Tate) - Craig Smith - Cheltenham specialist, dual winner of National Hunt Handicap Chase in 1982 & 1983 and fourth in Gold Cup last year. Fifth behind West Tip at the Festival this year and probably too old for this now.
13 031111 WEST TIP 8, 10-1 (M.Oliver) - Richard Dunwoody - Thrown in at the weights and on a five timer with victories victories in the Mildmay Memorial at Sandown and four length winner of the National Hunt Handicap Chase . Excellent chance.
15 1U0100 KUMBI 10, 10-0 (D.McCain) - Kevin Doolan - Unseated at nineteenth last year when in rear. Won three times this season and running credibly in big handicaps.
17 2210P0 MUSSO 9, 10-0 (F T Winter) - Mr Simon Sherwood - Winner of amateur riders race at Ascot in November. Not shown anything since and was one to be treated with caution.
18 310030 DUDIE 7, 10-0 (P.Mullins) - Tony Mullins - Tough individual (ran eighteen times last season). Won amateur riders chase at Punchestown in December and finished unplaced in Kim Muir at the Festival. Lot of miles on the clock for the youngest runner in the field.
19 321-403 RUPERTINO 10, 10-0 (E H Owen Jnr) - Robert Stronge - Winning handicap chaser, lightly raced this season returning to form behind the useful Earls Brig on his last start at Wetherby.
20 0330P0 IMPERIAL BLACK 9, 10-0 (Capt N F Crump) - Colin Hawkins - Fell at Bechers second time when behind last year . Ran a blinder to finish third behind Wayward Lad at Haydock in November but then off the course for three months and not shown much since.
21 4-PP3F0 SHADY DEAL 12, 10-0 (J T Gifford) - Richard Rowe - Winner of 1982 Whitbread Gold Cup but not shown anything since. No chance.
23 131000 TUBBERTELLY 8, 10-0 (M.Hourigan - Ireland) - Tom Taaffe - Twice winner in small events in Ireland but lost his way somewhat recently. Other Irish challengers made more appeal.
25 431-143 TALON 10, 10-0 (R C Armytage) - Anthony Webber - Useful hunter chaser finishing third in 1984 Foxhunters and filled the slace in this years Cheltenham Foxhunters. Beat rival Captain Parkhill in a small race at Carlisle in the autumn. Each way prospects.
26 000004 ONAPROMISE 9, 10-0 (D.Smith) - Alan Brown - Dual winner in the autumn of 1983 but missed rest of the season and shown very little since. Recently changed hands.
27 011240 KNOCKAWAD 8, 10-0 (M.Hourigan - Ireland) - Kevin O'Brien - Successful over both hurdles and fences in Ireland this season and had also chased home one of the top Irish chasers Buck House.
28 032330 BLACKRATH PRINCE 9, 10-0 (G B Balding) - Brian Reilly - Not shown anything that would suggest he was good enough for this.
29 00-0003 HILL OF SLANE 9, 10-0 (A P Jarvis) - Steve Smith-Eccles - Eleventh in this last year. Off the course until February and not likely to fare any better this year.
30 034400 ROYAL APPOINTMENT 10, 10-0 - Padge Gill* - Tough cookie winning four of his eighteen starts in 1983-84 . Not so busy this year and yet to win. Unlikely to be in the frame.
31 0FF-000 SOLIHULL SPORT 11, 10-0 (J L Spearing) - Sam Morshead - Won four mile chase at Cheltenhams new year fixture in 1984 but shown nothing this season and could be discounted.
32 430014 CLONTHURTIN 11, 10-0 (A L T Moore - Ireland) - Mr Tim Thomson-Jones - Fell at first Bechers in 1984. Having fourteenth start in a season that had already yielded two wins at Leopardstown.
33 0042-00 FAULOON 10, 10-0 (F.Walwyn) - Kevin Mooney - Completed in rear last year but little shown in two starts this year and had no chance whatsoever
34 310220 BASHFUL LAD 10, 10-0 (M.Oliver) - Graham McCourt - Ex-Irish. Tough cookie who had won four times during a busy 1983-84 and had finished ninth in the Topham having led early. Just one win this season at Ludlow in November. Big ask.
35 3-23200 CROSA 10, 10-0 (J C Fox) - Stan Moore - Only mare in the field. A winner of seven chases all in very minor company.
36 114111 MR SNUGFIT 8, 10-0 (M W Easterby) - Phil Tuck - A winner nine times over fences he never got into the 1984 Topham and could only finish seventh, With five victories this season he was one of the most improved horses in the field and was beautifully handicapped for this. One of the leading fancies.
37 112244 GLENFOX 8, 10-0 (S.Mellor) - Mr D.Gray - Ex-Irish chaser and former point to point winner Thirty length winner of a conditional jockeys event at Newbury earlier in the season.
38 0040-00 NEVER TAMPER 10, 10-0 (J H Baker) - Colin Brown - Nearly got round in 1983. Won three times in the west country in the summer of 1983 but was then off the course for fifteen months and shown nothing in two starts since his comeback. No chance whatsoever.
39 P4P0P0 ROMAN BISTRO 9, 10-0 (J T Gifford) - Paul Nicholls - Six wins over fences all in small races. Nothing shown in the latest season.
40 213PP2 CAPTAIN PARKHILL 12, 10-0 (B.McLean) - Chris Grant - Only won once in the past four seasons (a small race at Hexham in October). Making his National debut but was something of a course specialist having run in three Tophams finishing third in 1982 and fourth in 1984.
41 40-0030 LENEY DUAL 10, 10-0 (D F Pitcher) - Mr David Pitcher - Formally useful when trained by Fred Winter but had lost his way this season and was making his first start for his ambitious but hopelessly inexperienced amateur owner/trainer/rider.
42 21-2344 OUR CLOUD 9, 10-0 (S.Shields - Ireland) - Mr John Queally - Irish challenger who won at Perth last season. Consistent this year without getting head in front. Experienced Irish amateur in board.
44 4P010P IMMIGRATE 12, 10-0 (G.Richards) - J.Hansen - Having his fourteenth start of a season which had yielded five victories but all in very minor company,
45 22121P GREENHILL HALL 9, 10-0 (C W Thornton) - D.Wilkinson - Two wins in the autumn at Sedgefield and Southwell but hopelessly outclassed.
46 142F21 NORTHERN BAY 9, 10-0 (T T Bill) - Philip Hobbs - Only managed one win in his first twenty three chases but he had shown vastly improved form to land the four mile National Hunt Chase at the Festival. Easy way claims.
Paul Croucher listed as the rider of Classified in the race card, Mr John White took the ride. Mark Perrett down to ride Glenfox. Mr John White down to ride Royal Appointment in the racecard
S.P : 13-2 Greasepaint & West Tip, 8-1 Drumlargan, 9-1 Corbiere, 10-1 Lucky Vane, 12-1 Mr Snugfit, 14-1 Hallo Dandy, 16-1 Fethard Friend, 20-1 Classified, 25-1 Hill of Slane & Kumbi, 28-1 Scot Lane, 33-1 Broomy Bank, Rupertino, Tacroy & Talon, 50-1 Bashful Lad, Clonthurtin, Dudie, Glenfox, LAST SUSPECT, Musso, Shady Deal & Tubbertelly, 66-1 Blackrath Prince, Fauloon, Imperial Black, Knockawad, Northern Bay & Royal Appointment, 100-1 Captain Parkhill, Crosa, Immigrate, Leney Dual, Onapromise & Solihull Sport, 150-1 Our Cloud & Roman Bistro, 200-1 Greenhill Hall & Never Tamper
The Anoraks Selection : LUCKY VANE
Each way : BROOMY BANK
Result
1st LAST SUSPECT - Hywel Davies
2nd MR SNUGFIT - Phil Tuck
3rd CORBIERE - Peter Scudamore
4th GREASEPAINT - Tommy Carmody
5th CLASSIFIED - John White
6th IMPERIAL BLACK - Colin Hawkins
7th RUPERTINO - Robert Stronge
8th SCOT LANE - Craig Smith
9th GLENFOX - Mr Dennis Gray
10th BLACKRATH PRINCE - B.Reilly
11th CAPTAIN PARKHILL - Chris Grant
Time : 9 minutes & 42.7 seconds
Distances : One and a half lengths & three lengths
Trained by Captain Tim Forster at Letcombe Bassett in Oxfordshire
CORBIERE, DRUMLARGAN, GREASEPAINT, HALLO DANDY, BROOMY BANK, FETHARD FRIEND, CLASSIFIED, TACROY, LAST SUSPECT, WEST TIP, DUDIE, RUPERTINO, IMPERIAL BLACK, MR SNUGFIT & NORTHERN BAY would all run again in 1986 whilst KUMBI would not return until 1988.
BASHFUL LAD - Never returned to Aintree but was kept very busy running thirty nine times over the next three seasons winning five including twice at Ludlow. Last raced at Wolverhampton in December 1987.
BLACKRATH PRINCE - Only raced two more times and was killed when slipping up at Leicester in December 1985.
CAPTAIN PARKHILL - This old Aintree warrior reverted back to the shorter distance the following year but fell early in the Topham. In 1987 on what was his only start of the season at the age of fourteen he finished last of sixteen finishers in the Foxhunters (at odds of 100-1). It was his sixth start over the Aintree fences and his last racecourse appearance.
CLONTHURTIN - Did not race again.
CROSA - Won her next start at Warwick in April and ran two more times that spring before being retired to the paddocks.
FAULOON - Only ran once over rules (in a hunter chase in 1987) but did win a point-to-point.
GLENFOX - Won handicaps at Stratford and Newbury the following season but was listed as "dead" in the 1985-86 Chasers & Hurdlers.
GREENHILL HALL - Showed very little thereafter continuing to race until 1989 when he pulled up lame at Market Rasen and was retired.
HILL OF SLANE - Ran nine times the following season and twelve in 1986-87 winning a small race at Leicester in March 1987. Missed the following season and was last seen pulling up in a handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter in October 1988.
IMMIGRATE - He was twelve yeas old so didn`t have many more miles on the clock. Finished lame on his only other start when tailed off at Uttoxeter in September 1985.
KNOCKAWAD - Ran without any success in three hurdles in Ireland in the autumn of 1985 and disappeared.
LENEY DUAL - Ran poorly in a variety of amateur riders events usually pulling up. Last seen finishing tailed off at Ascot in November 1987.
LUCKY VANE - Missed the following season but returned at the age of eleven to win at Sandown in November and ran credibly in the Welsh National. Lost his way thereafter and was last seen at Exeter in November 1987.
MUSSO - Ran in hunter chases the following season but tended to break blood vessels and was not seen out again after pulling up at the Folkestone United Hunts meeting.
NEVER TAMPER - Won his next start at Taunton at the end of May but was lightly raced thereafter last running at Newton Abbot in August 1987.
ONAPROMISE - Got tailed off early in the Midlands National and pulled up. Returned to Aintree in 1986 and was again tailed off early and pulled up in the Topham. Last raced at Ludlow in April 1988.
OUR CLOUD - Pulled up in his final two starts of the season and didn`t show a great deal in 1985-86. He was then sold to run in Scandanavia. Trained in Norway between 1986 and 1987 he ran fourteen times. He didn`t manage a win but did finish second in the 1987 Norwegian Grand National on what was his final start.
ROMAN BISTRO - Pulled up on his next start at Fontwell and was listed as dead at the end of the season.
ROYAL APPOINTMENT - Still only ten the National was his last start under rules.
SCOT LANE - Ran twice more that season including a credible third place in the Golden Miller Chase at Cheltenham later that month. Then reappeared bizarrely at the age of thirteen in August 1987 over hurdles.
SHADY DEAL - Got hopelessly tailed off early in the Whitbread Gold Cup on his next start and was pulled up before half-way. Showed nothing in five starts the following season.
SOLIHULL SPORT - Appeared moody when pulling up in the Midlands National later in the season. Failed to finish in three of his four starts the following season, pulling up on his last start at Cheltenham on New Years day 1986.
TALON - Third in a hunter chase at Doncaster was his only shred of form in four starts the following season.
TUBBERTELLY - Possibly the least talented animal ever to line up in an eighties National. After Aintree he pulled up in the Irish National on what was his final start in Ireland He then moved to the UK to be campaigned in hunter chases. His form figures over the next three seasons read : - B0R-P-P0PPP.
1986 - West Tip
Aintree debutants (18)
Acarine, Another Duke*, Ballinacurra Lad*, Ballymillan*, Door Latch*, Essex*, Lantern Lodge*, Little Polveir, Monanore, Mount Oliver*, Plundering, Port Askaig*, Sommelier*, Ten Cherries*, The Tsarevich, Tracy's Special, Why Forget*, Young Driver
Winners at Aintree
Corbiere - Grand National (1983)
Gayle Warning - Foxhunters (1984)
Hallo Dandy - Grand National (1984)
Last Suspect - Grand National (1985)
3.20 SEAGRAM GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE (109 entries), £57,524 to the winner, £17,416 to the second, £8,563 to the third & £4,136 to the fourth
1 32112F ESSEX (HUN) 8, 12-0 (V.Chaloupka - Czechoslovakia) - Mr Vaclav Chaloupka - First runner from behind the Iron Curtain since the two Soviet challengers in 1961 and the first Czech runner in over fifty years. No experience of UK racing and an early faller in the Velka Pardubicka (at a relatively small hedge) on his last start
2 000412 CORBIERE 11, 11-7 (Mrs Jenny Pitman) - Ben de Haan - 1983 hero and twice third subsequently. Ran poorly in Welsh National but bounced back to winning ways at Warwick in February. Expect another game performance
3 3P-0020 DRUMLARGAN 12, 11-6 (E J O'Grady) - Tommy Ryan - Former top chaser but not the force of old. Pulled up in this in 1985 and only a smattering of form shown since when chasing Bobsline at Down Royal in February.
4 212222 KILKILOWEN 10, 11-3 (J T R Dreaper) - Ken Morgan - Very consistent Irish chaser and pretty good hurdler (one win this season had come over timber at Limerick). Finished third in last years Topham and had a reputation as a very good jumper. The question was - would he stay ?
5 12P1-11 LAST SUSPECT 12, 11-2 (Capt T A Forster) - Hywel Davies - Surprise 50-1 winner of this last year and kept in training for another assault after plans for retirement were shelved. In fine form winning twice at Chepstow beating Corbiere by fifteen lengths on the second occasion. Would go close.
6 31F233 DOOR LATCH 8, 11-0 (J T Gifford) - Richard Rowe - Winner of the SGB Chase at Ascot and third in the Hennessy. Not quite top class (he flopped in 1985 Gold Cup) but not far below. A very interesting runner and if he took to the fences he would have an outstanding chance.
7 0-132P0 ACARINE 10, 10-13 (P W Harris) - Robert Stronge - Very useful front runner who ran well in a number of top handicaps last season. Won at Worcester in November but had not shown much since.
8 220001 WEST TIP 9, 10-11 (M.Oliver) - Richard Dunwoody - Faller at second Bechers when in contention and would surely have gone close last year had he stood up. Not in quite so sparkling form since but won at Newbury two weeks before the National. Would be one of the favourites.
9 242-313 GREASEPAINT 11, 10-9 (D K Weld - Ireland) - Tommy Carmody - Aintree veteran running in his fourth National, twice second and fourth last year. Won a small race at Tramore to qualify for the race and his time had probably been and gone.
10 032310 BALLINACURRA LAD 11, 10-8 (M C Pipe) - Graham Bradley - Useful when trained in Ireland. Winner at Sandown for new connections and had each-way prospects.
11 0F-2241 HALLO DANDY 12, 10-8 (G.Richards) - Neale Doughty - 1984 hero and a surprise first fence faller last year. Winner at Ayr on his last start and could still be capable of putting up a good showing once again.
12 12-PP02 MR SNUGFIT 9, 10-7 (M W Easterby) - Phil Tuck - Considered by many to be an unlucky loser last year when just touched off close home by Last Suspect. Sold to Terry Ramsden with the race in mind. Had a quiet preparation but ran well at Carlisle last time and was very fancied to go one better this year.
13 024021 THE TSAREVICH 10, 10-7 (N J Henderson) - John White - Formally a moody individual he had regained his enthusiasm winning seven chases over the last two years including back to back wins in the Mildmay of Flete at the Festival. Went very well for his young rider. Would another two and half mile specialist excel at Aintree ?
14 220001 LANTERN LODGE 9, 10-7 (P.Mullins - Ireland) - Tony Mullins - Former winner of Kerry National but had his problems and been running over hurdles to tune him up for this.
15 1/30-4PP TRACYS SPECIAL 9, 10-6 (A.Turnell) - Steve Knight - Very useful two seasons ago winning five times but lightly raced since and shown nothing this season.
16 0-10100 BROOMY BANK 11, 10-3 (J A C Edwards) - Peter Scudamore - Unplaced in 1984 and unseated having been hampered in 1985. Running in long distance handicaps and whilst he failed in Welsh and Warwick Nationals he had won at Worcester and Cheltenham and had run well in the Kim Muir on his last start. Each way claims.
17 130-000 CLASSIFIED 10, 10-3 (N J Henderson) - Steve Smith-Eccles - Two and half mile specialist who finished fifth last year. Showed a return to form in the Mildmay of Flete at the Festival and had each way prospects.
18 12111/3 GAYLE WARNING 12, 10-9* (J G Dudgeon) - Mr Sandy Dudgeon - Ultra consistent and game hunter chaser who won five times in 1983-84 including the Foxhunters. Unraced last season and showed he still had ability on his comeback but this was a huge ask.
19 142003 WHY FORGET 10, 10-7* (W A Stephenson) - Ridley Lamb - Tough and consistent northern chaser who rounded off the previous season with third places in both the Scottish National and Whitbread Gold Cup. Twice a winner in the north this year and held each way claims.
20 00400-2 ANOTHER DUKE 13, 10-4* (P.Davis) - Paul Nicholls - Leased by the BBCs Des Lynam but a second place in a small hunter chase on his only start this season was hopelessly inadequate form. No chance that Des would be interviewing himself after the race.
21 214/040 PLUNDERING 9, 10-1* (F T Winter) - Simon Sherwood - Finished fourth in the memorable 1984 Whitbread but jarred himself and missed the following season. Efforts so far showed he may not be the horse he was.
22 40F-0PP TACROY 12, 10-1* (G A Calvert) - Andrew Stringer - Subject to massive gambles in the past but he had failed before and, getting on in years he had no chance.
23 234P00 IMPERIAL BLACK 10, 10-0 (D.McCain) - Reg Crank - Fell at Bechers second time in 1983 and a back marker in 1985. Showed little this season and impossible to give much of a chance.
24 4030-00 RUPERTINO 11, 10-0 (E H Owen Jnr) - Gareth Charles-Jones - Ran a blinder in this last year having been down on his nose at the first. Not shown that much this year.
25 23-0100 SOMMELIER 8, 10-0 (R S Gow) - Tom Taaffe - Broke down in the Warwick National when going well but untested over the course and this would be a big ask.
26 4FP020 YOUNG DRIVER 9, 10-0 (J S Wilson) - Chris Grant - Useful in Ireland in 1983-84 but off the course last season and hadn't shown too much in this his second spell in Scotland.
27 1-21141 MONANORE 9, 10-0 (W.Hamey - Ireland) - Tom Morgan - Strong Irish fancy having won the valuable Thyestes Chase this year.
28 3-43344 DUDIE 8, 10-0 (D.McCain) - Kevin Doolan - Blazed the trail until the nineteenth fence last year. Recently changed hands and making debut for new connections. Not expected to do any better.
29 20-0411 KNOCK HILL 10, 10-0 (J.Webber) - Mark Dwyer - Stayed forever as evidenced by his last two wins over four miles at Cheltenham on New Years day and in the Warwick National. Had also finished second in the 1985 Topham. A note of caution though, on occasions his jumping was decidedly suspect.
30 F-23P01 BALLYMILAN 9, 10-0 (F.Sheridan) - Colin Hawkins - Fair chaser who normally picked up a chase a season and this year won at Newbury. Not good enough for this though.
31 213224 FETHARD FRIEND 11, 10-0 (J A C Edwards) - Paul Barton - Finished fifth in 1984 and pulled up last year. In good form early in the season winning at Newton Abbot and Stratford. Not shown anything since that would suggest it would be a case of third time lucky.
32 PF030F LATE NIGHT EXTRA 10, 10-2* (K C Bailey) - Mr Tim Thomson-Jones - Surprising to see this one in a National as he seemed to hate the place when jumping badly and flopping when favourite for 1984 Topham. Missed 1984-85 and impossible to fancy on his form since his return.
33 304-444 MASTER TERCEL 10, 10-7* (D T Thom) - Dermot Browne* - Won three times last season but showed very little this term and impossible to fancy.
34 320320 ST ALEZAN 9, 10-2* (M.Tate) - Craig Smith - Was very useful in 1983-84 winning four chases and finishing runner up in a Mackeson Gold Cup. Then off for a year and no-where near as good since although he had finished the course in last years Topham.
35 2P-0322 PORT ASKAIG 11, 10-0 (Capt T A Forster) - Graham McCourt - Formally inconsistent and prone to making mistakes but put up two good performances recently with a second in the Warwick National and runner up to Maori Venture at Lingfield having been clear at half way.
36 3-PP201 LITTLE POLVEIR 9, 10-3* (J A C Edwards) - Colin Brown - Half brother to 1981 Gold Cup winner Little Owl. Fairly useful chaser winning at Ludlow on his last start.
37 P4-P400 DOUBLEUAGAIN 12, 10-0 (C.Holmes) - Charlie Mann - Finished down the field in 1984 when trained in Ireland. Shown nothing in the UK over the past two seasons and was completely outclassed,
38 1111-0U TEN CHERRIES 11, 10-0 (Mrs Mercy Rimell) - Adrian Sharpe - Very useful hunter chaser in 1984-85 winning four times including over four miles at Cheltenham. Shown nothing in two starts this season in handicaps and was impossible to fancy.
39 002321 NORTHERN BAY 10, 10-0 (T T Bill) - Philip Hobbs - Early faller last year, this one stayed forever and won at Wolverhampton on his last start after finishing runner up in the Warwick National.
40 0P3043 MOUNT OLIVER 8, 10-0 (M.Scudamore) - John Bryan - Six times winner over fences but shown this season that he was not up to the task.
*Eamon Murphy was due to ride Master Tercel and he would have been the youngest rider in the race. However, he was injured in a fall in the Aintree Chase and had to forego the ride. Dermot Browne was his last minute replacement.
S.P : 13-2 Mr Snugfit, 15-2 WEST TIP, 9-1 Door Latch, 14-1 Corbiere & Last Suspect, 16-1 Greasepaint, Hall Dandy & The Tsarevich, 18-1 Knock Hill, 20-1 Ballinacurra Lad, Broomy Bank, Classified & Monanore, 25-1 Kilkilowen & Plundering, 33-1 Acarine & Northern Bay, 35-1 Fethard Friend, Port Askaig & Why Forget, 40-1 Drumlargan, 50-1 Ballymilan, Gayle Warning & Sommelier, 66-1 Imperial Black, Little Plover, Rupertino, Ten Cherries & Young Driver, 100-1 Dudie, Essex & Lantern Lodge, 150-1 Master Tercel, St Alezan & Tracy's Special, 200-1 Another Duke & Tacroy, 500-1 Doubleuagain, Late Night Extra & Mount Oliver
The Anoraks Selection : MR SNUGFIT
Each Way : Classified & Sommelier
Result
1st WEST TIP - Richard Dunwoody
2nd YOUNG DRIVER - Chris Grant
3rd CLASSIFIED - Steve Smith-Eccles
4th MR SNUGFIT - Phil Tuck
5th SOMMELIER - Tom Taaffe
6th BROOMY BANK - Peter Scudamore
7th THE TSAREVICH - John White
8th MONANORE - Tom Morgan
9th LITTLE POLVEIR - Colin Brown
10th GREASEPAINT - Tommy Carmody
11th NORTHEN BAY - Philip Hobbs
12th HALLO DANDY - Neale Doughty
13th KILKILOWEN - Ken Morgan
14th IMPERIAL BLACK - Reg Crank
15th RUPERTINO - G.Charles-Jones
16th WHY FORGET - Ridley Lamb
17th GAYLE WARNING - Mr A Dudgeon
Trained by Michael Oliver in Droitwich
Time : 9 minutes, 33 seconds
ACARINE - Won the Norwegian Grand National that September at Ovrevoll and the Bagshot Chase at Ascot on his only two starts the following season. Went on to become one of the leading hunter chasers in 1987-88 winning twice at Nottingham and Fakenham and started favourite in both the Christies Foxhunters and Aintree Foxhunters (he finished third and fourth). Won Charissma Gold Cup the following October and finished third in the Bagshot Chase (a race he ran in in three consecutive years) at Ascot on his last start under rules. A wonderful servant for connections.
ANOTHER DUKE - Already thirteen he raced two more times that season (failing to finish both times) and was retired.
BALLYMILLAN - Showed very little the following season pulling up three times in four starts (including Welsh National). Last raced at Warwick in November 1989.
BALLINACURRA LAD - Returned to Ireland and showed very little (apart from finishing second to Monanore in a valuable chase at Punchestown in December 1986). At the age of fourteen he lined up in the 1989 Irish Grand National (he was pulled up).
BROOMY BANK - Showed nothing in five starts the following season pulling up in four out of five starts (including Kim Muir and Midlands National). Last raced at Towcester in May 1987.
DOUBLEUAGAIN - Returned to Aintree three more times, pulled up in the 1987 Topham, finished eighth in the 1988 Foxhunters and at the age of fifteen was a first fence faller in 1989 Foxhunters. He unseated at the first in his next race at Perth a month later.
DOOR LATCH - Never returned to Aintree which was a pity. Finished down the field on his next start, the Whitbread Gold Cup. The following season he proved he was just short of the top winning a second SGB Chase at Ascot before finishing second in the King George, third in the Gold Cup and fifth in the Whitbread. His jumping still let him down from time to time (he fell in the Hennessy and on his seasonal debut). He missed 1987-88 and that was it really. He tried a couple of comebacks but they came to nothing. Last raced at Sandown in March 1990.
ESSEX - Returned to Czechoslovakia. Not sure what happened to him as he didn`t run in the Velka Pardubicka again.
DUDIE - Apart from filling the runners up spot in 1988 Mackeson Gold Cup he didn`t really hit the headlines although he ran consistently well in handicaps in the south east and midlands. He won five chases in total. He last raced in December 1990 at Lingfield.
FETHARD FRIEND - Won a hunter chase at Ludlow in 1988 and finished fourth in the Kim Muir and third in the Aintree Foxhunters.
GAYLE WARNING - Another oldie who raced just one more time finishing last in a hunter chase on Scottish Grand National day at Ayr.
GREASEPAINT - Showed nothing in seven starts the following season. Wisely he was not asked to try his luck at Aintree again.
HALLO DANDY - The 1984 hero was retired.
IMPERIAL BLACK - Won his next start at Ludlow in May and continued running throughout the summer of 1986 winning twice at Bangor. In August he was sent to Perth and was leading in a handicap chase when he broke down so badly that he had to be destroyed.
KILKILOWEN - No record of him racing under rules again.
KNOCK HILL - Did not return to Aintree but continued running with success in long distance chases winning the four miler at Cheltenham in January 1989 and a head victory over Cranlome in the 1988 Midlands Grand National. Sadly he continued racing until the age of 15 when he broke down so badly in a chase at Worcester in April 1991 that he was robbed of the retirement he so richly deserved.
LANTERN LODGE - Finished second in a handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival on his next start. Raced over hurdles and fences the next season.
LAST SUSPECT - Surprisingly kept in training for another season and appeared to have lost his enthusiasm for the game with two lacklustre displays. However ended his career on a high with victory at Chepstow in March and retired in glory.
LATE NIGHT EXTRA - Didn`t appear to like Aintree but he rounded off the season with wins at Hereford and Towcester in May. Won twice the following season, both at Hereford. In 1987-88 he won a valuable chase at Lingfield in March. Last raced in the Golden Miller Chase at Cheltenham in May 1988.
MASTER TERCEL - Didn't show much thereafter. Last seen pulling up at Wolverhampton in November 1987
MOUNT OLIVER - Did not return to Aintree but continued racing until April 1992 winning five times over the next six seasons. He retired at the age of fourteen at the Cheltenham United Hunts meeting.
MR SHUGFIT - Pulled up in Scottish National on next start. Was being aimed for a third National the following year when he died in training.
PORT ASKAIG - Broke a blood vessel in a two runner Crudwell Cup at Warwick on his final start in March 1987.
RUPERTINO - Finished third on next start at Bangor, pulled up in Midlands Grand National and fell on his final race at Wetherby in May
SOMMELIER - Pulled up in Midlands Grand National on his next start and was subsequently "fired". Operation may not have been a success as he did not race again.
TACROY - Pulled up in the Scottish National on his next start. Stayed in training for one more season running seven times without success. Last raced at Southwell in April 1987.
TEN CHERRIES - Finished second in a hunter chase at Hereford at the end of the season and was last seen filling the runners up spot in a hunter chase at Sandown in March 1987