1956 - ESB
The winner
ESB was as tough as they came. After his exertions at Aintree he reappeared in May at Hurst Park finishing second in the valuable Queen Elizabeth Chase. The following year he won the Great Yorkshire Chase for a second year, finished unplaced in the Gold Cup and finished eighth behind Sundew in the National. In 1957-58 he finished sixth in what was his last appearance in the National having won over the Mildmay fences at the Yuletide meeting on the way. He may have run in his last National but he he was not finished with Aintree. He won a Lancashire Chase at Manchester, a Grand Sefton Trial at Hurst Park and finished second and third in the 1959 & 1960 Tophams. This remarkable animal ran for the final time at Aintree aged fourteen in November 1960 in what was his last race. Leading at the last he eventually finished third in the Grand Sefton. A truly wonderful servant to his connections he enjoyed a long and happy retirement at his owners estate in Warwickshire. He died in 1976.
Leading Fancies
Favourite was an Aintree debutant MUST who started at 7-1. He was a fine jumper and stayed forever as he had shown when beating a competitive field over four miles at Cheltenham over the Christmas period. He had not been seen out since finishing fourth in the Mildmay Memorial at Sandown. SUNDEW started next best at 8-1. He had been beaten by ESB at Manchester but had won the Hurst Park Grand National Trial where he had had last years hero Quare Times (missing this year through injury) behind him. CAREY`s COTTAGE had not managed to win all season but he had finished third in a Munster National and second in a Kerry National and was running for new connections. Following a spell over hurdles 100-7 shot ESB had won at Birmingham and Haydock before beating Sundew at Manchester. The most popular winner would be the Queen Mother`s DEVON LOCH. One of two horses in the field carrying the royal colours he had won at Lingfield and Sandown in the autumn before finishing fifth in the King George. Thereafer he had been third in the Mildmay Memorial at Sandown (finishing a place ahead of Must) and finished third in the National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival. He had an excellent chance in what was a smaller than usual field. Of the others previous winners EARLY MIST and ROYAL TAN were lining up again and special mention should be made of POLONIUS who was incredibly having his eighteenth race of the season.
GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (56 entries), 4 1/2 miles £8,695 5s to the winner
1 4000-03 EARLY MIST 11, 12-2 (M V O`Brien - IRE) B.Marshall
2 F00-010 ROYAL TAN 12, 12-1 (M V O`Brien - IRE) T.Taaffe
4 13F110 MARINER`S LOG 9, 11-11 (G.Beeby) R.Emery
5 -411033 DEVON LOCH 10, 11-4 (P.Cazalet) R.Francis
6 F2-F112 SUNDEW 10, 11-4 (F.Hudson) F T Winter
7 121311 ESB 10, 11-3 (T F Rimell) D V Dick
8 4-12F23 HIGH GUARD 9, 11-1 (N.Crump) A P Thompson
9 01F004 MUCH OBLIGED 8, 11-0 (N.Crump) M.Scudamore*
10 00-1322 DUNBOY II 12, 11-0 (J S Wight) Mr R Brewis
11 3-2342F CAREY`S COTTAGE 9, 10-13 (G.Balding) R.Turnell
12 1F-4202 ARMORIAL III 7, 10-10 (F T Walwyn) J.Dowdeswell
13 122-043 MERRY WINDSOR 8, 10-10 (D.Doyle) L.McMorrow
14 2F-F214 MUST 8, 10-10 (A S Kilpatrick) R.Morrow
15 0-31112 KEY ROYAL 8, 10-8 (W.Stephenson) T.Molony
16 143231 M`AS-TU-VU 10, 10-6 (P.Cazalet) A.Freeman
17 F020-00 REVEREND PRINCE 10, 10-5 (P.Dufosee) Mr C Pocock
18 R/R-2 WITTY 11, 10-4 (W.Hall) P A Farrell
19 /0440 DOMATA 10, 10-4 (F.Cundell) D.Ancil
20 230200 POLONIUS 10, 10-3 (G.Burnham) E F Kelly*
21 11F140 ATHENIAN 7, 10-3 (G.Balding) R J Hamey
22 0-31430 GENTLE MOYA 10, 10-2 (C.Bewicke) G.Milburn*
23 F0F-002 NO RESPONSE 10, 10-1 (J.Osborne - IRE) C.Finnegan
24 30-10FU CLEARING 9, 10-1 (W.Stephenson) J A Bullock
25 141042 EAGLE LODGE 7, 10-0 (M.Feakes) A.Oughton
26 F02033 ONTRAY 8, 10-0 (L S Briggs) R.Curran*
28 20-0004 WILD WISDOM 11, 10-0 (J.Ford) Mr L Bridge*
29 -033400 BORDER LUCK 11, 10-0 (J R Bower) M O`Dwyer*
30 021311 PIPPYKIN 8, 10-0 (S.Parker) J.Power
31 -020421 MARTINIQUE 10, 10-0 (G R Owen) S.Mellor
* H J East down to ride Much Obliged in the racecard
* Mr C Hailstone down to ride Polonius in the racecard
* Mr J Straker down to ride Gente Moya in the racecard
* N.Wilkinson down to ride Ontray in the racecard
* A.Grantham down to ride Wild Wisdom in the racecard
* P.Major down to ride Border Luck in the racecard
Non Runners : 3 QUARE TIMES (P.Taaffe), 27 VICTORY MORN (J.Cuddihy), 32 VENETIAN LAW, 33 SUN CLASP (K.Maudsley)
S.P : 7-1 Must, 8-1 Sundew, 10-1 Carey`s Cottage, 100-7 Devon Loch, ESB & Pippykin, 100-6 Ontray, 20-1 Armorial III, 22-1 Gentle Moya, High Guard & Mariner`s Log, 25-1 Early Mist, 28-1 Key Royal, Merry Windsor & Royal Tan, 40-1 Martinique, M`as-tu-Vu & Reverend Prince, 50-1 Much Obliged & No Response, 66-1 Athenian, Border Luck, Clearing, Domata, Dunboy II, Merry Windsor, Polonius, Wild Wisdom & Witty
Aintree debutants (10)
Armorial III, Athenian, Devon Loch*, Domata*, Dunboy II*, Merry Windsor*, Much Obliged, Must, Polonius*, Reverend Prince*
Winners at Aintree
Border Luck - Valentine Chase (1951)
Early Mist - Grand National (1953)
Gentle Moya - Grand Sefton Chase (1955)
Royal Tan - Grand National (1954)
Uncle Barney - Valentine Chase (1952)
Result
1st ESB - D V Dick
2nd GENTLE MOYA - G.MIlburn
3rd ROYAL TAN - T.Taaffe
4th EAGLE LODGE - A.Oughton
5th KEY ROYAL - T.Molony
6th MARTINIQUE - S.Mellor
7th CAREY`S COTTAGE - R.Turnell
8th CLEARING - J A Bullock
9th WILD WISDOM - Mr L Bridge
Time : 9 minutes 21 2/5 seconds.
Distances : 10-10-1/2-15-20
Owned by Mrs LCarver
Trained by Fred Rimell at Kinnersley,Worcestershire
1957 - Sundew
Leading Fancies
In attempt to halt the trend of declining crowds Mrs Topham decided to revert to the Nationals traditional day and this year the race was run on the Friday of the meeting. Judging by the sparse crowds the effort was not a success. Starting favourite at 5-1 was GOOSANDER on the back of three straight wins having won twice at Haydock including the Grand National Trial. MUCH OBLIGED at 10-1 had been travelling sweetly when he had fallen five from home in 1956 and he had been very impressive at Sandown earlier in the season when landing the Mildmay Memorial although he had been behind ESB in the Great Yorkshire Chase. 12-1 shot GLORIOUS TWELFTH had finished second in the Grand Sefton and won a small race at Leicester. He had twice chased Much Obliged home. Another behind Much Obliged at Sandown was 100-7 shot HART ROYAL who had won three times this season, his biggest success been when winning the Lancashire Chase at Manchester. The leading Irish challenger was TUTTO who had been running non-stop since the previous June. This was to be his twelfth start. He had won four times including a surprise win in the Leopardstown. It had to be conceded though that it was a slightly weaker Irish challenge this year. SUNDEW was the only jumper in his trainer Frank Hudsons small yard at Henley-In-Arden. A big imposing horse he had twice run in the National and twice fallen, the second time when he was still in contention when his race ended at second Bechers. This year he had finished last of seven finishers in the Grand Sefton, finished third in the Great Yorkshire Chase and won his last start, the Grand International Chase at Sandown where he had made all the running and beaten Glorious Twelfth by six lengths. He started at 20-1 as did last years hero ESB who was running consistently all season and had beaten several of his rivals in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster on his last start.
GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE (68 entries), 4 1/2 miles £8,793 10s to the winner
1 2-23331 ESB 11, 11-13 (T F Rimell) D V Dick
2 313113 ROSE PARK 11, 11-13 (P.Cazalet) G.Nicholls
4 103-000 ROYAL TAN 13, 11-12 (M V O`Brien - IRE) T.Taaffe
5 42F010 FOUR TEN 11, 11-11 (A S Kilpatrick) R.Morrow
6 4-40111 GOOSANDER 9, 11-7 (N.Crump) H J East
7 F-00231 SUNDEW 11, 11-7 (F.Hudson) F T Winter
8 1FF114 MUCH OBLIGED 9, 11-4 (N.Crump) M.Scudamore
9 102210 ICELOUGH 11, 11-3 (T J Taaffe - IRE) P.Taaffe
10 F-03330 ARMORIAL III 8, 11-1 (F T Walwyn) J A Bullock
11 321222 GLORIOUS TWELFTH 8, 11-1 (R.Renton) B.Wilkinson
12 322U01 MERRY THROW 9, 10-12 (W.Dutton) T.Brookshaw
13 /0001P VIRGINIUS 8, 10-12 (M V O`Brien - IRE) Mr A.Lillingstone
14 021311 HART ROYAL 9, 10-10 (I.Lomax) P.Pickford
15 F-23120 ATHENIAN 8, 10-7 (G.Balding) D.Ancil
16 111441 WYNBURGH 7, 10-7 (P.Wilkinson) M.Batchelor
17 - 143011 GENTLE MOYA 11, 10-6 (C.Bewicke) G.Milburn
18 -23000 CAREY`S COTTAGE 10, 10-6 (G.Balding) T.Shone
19 113421 TUTTO 10, 10-6 (M.Pollard - IRE) J.Lehane
20 044-210 RENDEZ-VOUS III 9, 10-6 (H G Bowsher) A.Freeman
21 102113 SYDNEY JONES 10, 10-5 (P.Tory) Mr M Tory
22 421134 FELIAS 9, 10-5 (F T Walwyn) W.Rees
23 -441FF2 CHINA CLIPPER II 10, 10-3 (R.Turnell) Maj W D Gibson
24 433300 IRISH LIZARD 14, 10-2 (H.Nicholson) D.Nicholson
25 00401F SANDY JANE II 10, 10-2 (P.Murphy) H R Beasley
26 U0-3140 CLEARING 10, 10-1 (W.Stephenson) R.Curson
27 U42411 MORCATOR 10, 10-0 (G R Owen) L.McMorrow
28 P20321 RED MENACE 8, 10-0 (W.Dutton) L.Wigham
29 -0P0003 THE CROFTER 9, 10-0 (W D Francis) J.Power*
30 210300 TIBERETTA 9, 10-0 (E.Courage) A.Oughton*
31 F4R0P0 GO-WELL 9, 10-0 (A S Kilpatrick) Capt P.Bengough*
32 0D-0032 WILD WISDOM 12, 10-0 (L.Bridge) Mr L.Bridge
35 012400 FAHRENHEIT 10, 10-0 (J J Marshall - IRE) T O`Brien
36 /P03 MONKEY WRENCH 12, 10-0 (W.Stephenson) R J Hamey*
37 041F14 WAKING 13, 10-0 (J.Burgess) Capt A W C Pearn
38 -0F4040 CHERRY ABBOT 12, 10-0 (C H Ferrie) G.Underwood
* P J Fitzgerald down to ride The Crofter in the racecard
* E F Kelly down to ride Tiberetta in the racecard
* D.Elsworth down to ride Go-Well in the racecard
* D.Goose down to ride Monkey Wrench in the racecard
The following horses were confirmed to run and appeared in the racecard but were withdrawn : -
3 SAM BROWNTHORN (Mr J R Cox), 33 EAGLE LODGE (A.Oughton), 34 RONDINO (G.Mann)
S.P : 5-1 Goosander, 10-1 Much Obliged, 12-1 Glorious Twelfth, 100-7 Hart Royal, 100-6 Tutto, 20-1 ESB, Rendez-Vous III, SUNDEW, 25-1 Sydney Jones & Wynburgh, 28-1 Gentle Moya, Icelough, Rose Park & Royal Tan, 33-1 Red Menace, 40-1 Merry Throw & Sandy Jane II, 45-1 Clearing & Felias, 50-1 Armorial III, Carey`s Cottage, Four Ten, Morcator & Virginius, 66-1 Athenian, Cherry Abbot, China Clipeer II, Fahrenheit, Go-Well, Irish Lizard, Monkey Wrench, The Crofter, Tiberetta, Waking & Wild Wisdom
Aintree Debutants (19)
China Clipper II*, Fahrenheit*, Felias*, Four Ten, Go-Well*, Hart Royal, Icelough*, Merry Throw, Monkey Wrench*, Morcator*, Red Menace*, Sandy Jane II*, Sydney Jones, The Crofter, Tiberetta, Tutto*, Virginius*, Waking*, Wynburgh
Winners at Aintree (4)
ESB - Grand National (1965)
Gentle Moya - Grand Sefton Chase (1955)
Irish Lizard - Molyneux Chase (1948), Topham Trophy (1953)
Royal Tan - Grand National (1954)
Result
1st SUNDEW - F T Winter
2nd WYNBURGH - M.Batchelor
3rd TIBERETTA - A.Oughton
4th GLORIOUS TWELFTH - B.Wilkinson
5th THE CROFTER - J.Power
6th GOOSANDER - H J East
7th SYDNEY JONES - Mr M Tory
8th ESB - D V Dick
9th MERRY THROW - T.Brookshaw
10th SANDY JANE II - H R Beasley
11th GENTLE MOYA - G.Milburn
Time : 9 minutes, 42 1/5 seconds
Distances : 10-10-1/2-15-20
Owned by Mrs G.Kohn
Trained by Frank Hudson in Henley-on-Arden, Warwickshire
The Winner
After the National Sundew disappointed in the inaugural Whitbread Gold Cup and was put away for the season. After a spin over hurdles at Nottingham he returned to Aintree to finish fifth behind Wynburgh in the Grand Sefton. All was set for another attempt on the National but tragically in his next start three weeks later whilst leading in a small race at Haydock he fell at the water jump, broke his shoulder and had to be destroyed. A race was named after him at the course where he met his end and the racename continued into the late seventies. It boasted an impressive list of winners including L`Escargot, Pendil and Bula (the latter two trained by Sundews jockey Fred Winter).
1958 - Mr What
The winner
Mr What never won another race despite being extensively campaigned over the next five seasons. He became something of an Aintree regular appearing in each of the next five Nationals. He finished a distant third behind Oxo in 1959, fell at second Bechers when in contention in 1960 and was only eleventh (on firm ground that he hated) in 1961. In 1962 for new connections (he was now trained in England) he ran a superb race to finish third behind two Aintree old timers, Kilmore and Wyndburgh on the heavy ground he so loved. His last National was an anti-climax as he refused on the first circuit. On that occasion he was ridden by a young Irish jockey called Tommy Carberry who was having his first National ride.
Leading Fancies
Running the National on a Friday had been a miserable failure so Mrs Topham reversed the idea. Traditionalists may not have been pleased but in a post war world where Saturday was the recognized day of leisure it was the only viable option to stage the race on a Saturday and I wonder in this ever changing world when we will be embracing a Sunday National ? With Sundew sadly meeting his end at Haydock favouritism went to his vanquished rival of twelve months ago, WYNDBURGH who had reversed the placings with Sundew in the Grand Sefton and then won the gruelling Eider Chase at Newcastle unchallenged. The only blot in an otherwise successful campaign had been when he had unseated his rider at he last fence when in contention in the Mildmay Memorial. He started at 6-1. Next up at 100-7 came GOOSANDER, a distant fifth behind Wyndbugh in the Eider and he was the only marker leader without a win all season. Having said that he liked Aintree and had run the race of his life in the National twelve months ago having been up with the leaders throughout before fading to finish sixth. No doubt it was the form shown in that race which made him so popular with punters. The leading Irish challenger was MR WHAT. He had won the Troytown Chase (beating Sentina) and had also won two other chases in a busy season (this was to be his ninth start of the campaign). He was one of five runners starting at 18-1. The others were HART ROYAL, a first fence faller in 1957 but with two wins from four starts this year and three very robust individuals, the National Hunt Handicap Chase winner SENTINA (eleventh race of the season), EAGLE LODGE (twelfth race) with five wins under his belt at Kempton, Hurst Park, Plumpton and twice at Fontwell and SPRINGSILVER (fourteenth race) who had won the Birdlip Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and had been running consistently since the previous summer winning over both fences and hurdles in his native Ireland.
GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE (sponsored by Irish Hospital Sweepstakes) 4 1/2 miles, £13,719 to the winner
1 0-10B03 ESB 12, 11-12 (T F Rimell) D V Dick
3 0-04020 GOOSANDER 10, 11-7 (N.Crump) T.Molony
4 213100 WISE CHILD 10, 11-6 (C.Bewicke) S.Hayhurst
5 004340 GLORIOUS TWELFTH 9, 11-3 (R.Renton) B.Wilkinson
6 1413U1 WYNDBURGH 8, 11-3 (K.Oliver) M.Batchelor
7 121-214 COLLEDGE MASTER 8, 11-2 (R.Turnell) W.Rees
8 -442220 LONGMEAD 8, 11-1 (J.Corbett - IRE) G W Robinson
9 200F00 HOLLY BANK 11, 10-13 (W.Hide) Mr P.Brookshaw
10 2F13-1F ACE OF TRUMPS 10, 10-12 (C.Nicholson) P A Farrell
11 013024 ATHENIAN 9, 10-11 (P.Cazalet) D.Ancil
12 123U01 SENTINA 8, 10-11 (T W Dreaper - IRE) P.Taaffe
13 F-03101 HART ROYAL 10, 10-11 (I.Lomax) P.Pickford
14 -112033 GREEN DRILL 8, 10-10 (C.Bewicke) G.Milburn
16 324420 SYDNEY JONES 11, 10-12* (P.Tory) Mr M.Tory
17 10/2-022 VALIANT SPARK 9, 10-7 (E.Champneys) M.Scudamore
18 430302 TIBERETTA 10, 10-6 (E.Courage) G.Slack
20 0-0P104 RENDEZ-VOUS III 10, 10-3 (W.Wightman) J A Bullock
21 340000 BROOKLING 9, 10-3 (G.Wells - IRE) T.Taaffe*
22 240431 SPRINGSILVER 8, 10-4 (C.Magnier - IRE) F T Winter*
23 102204 NEVER SAY WHEN 9, 10-2 (F.Cundell) S.Mellor
24 -31B221 PIPPYKIN 10, 10-5* (W.Whiston) T.Brookshaw
26 /22P-0 PRINCESS GARTER 11, 10-3* (E.Davies) Mr W.Roberts
27 F-20000 MUST 10, 10-1 (W.Pilkington) R.Morrow
28 140F00 SOUTHERNTOWN 12, 10-1 (P.Doherty) P.Cowley
29 0F0400 THE CROFTER 10, 10-0 (W D Francis) J.Power
30 3P0B00 MOSTON LANE 9, 10-0 (R,Ward) - R E Jenkins*
31 3P0B0 RICHARDSTOWN 10, 10-0 (M.Neville -IRE) J.Morrissey*
32 410131 EAGLE LODGE 9, 10-0 (M.Feakes) A.Oughton
33 012112 MR WHAT 8, 10-6 (T.Taaffe - IRE) A.Freeman
34 430300 COMEDIANS FOLLY 10, 10-0 (L G Scott) Mr D.Scott
35 P/PPF0-4 FROZEN CREDIT 12, 10-12* (W.Ransom) Mr P.Ransom
* J.Gale down to ride Brookling in the racecard
* W J Brennan down to ride Springsilver in the racecard
* L.Wigham down to ride Moston Lane in the racecard
* C.Finnegan down to ride Richardstown in the racecard
Non Runners : 2 SAM BROWNTHORN (-), 15 BREMONTIER (A.Rosslo), 19 TOP TWENTY (F.Shortt), 25 BELROBIN (John Lehane)
S P : 6-1 Wyndburgh, 100-7 Goodander, 18-1 Eagle Lodge, Hart Royal, MR WHAT, Sentina, Springsilver, 20-1 Valiant Spark, 22-1 Athenian, Pippykin, 25-1 Colledge Master, 28-1 Brookiling, ESB, Glorious Twelfth, Green Drill, Longmead, Sydney Jones, Tiberetta, 40-1Ace Of Trumps, Richardstown, The Crofter, 45-1 Rendez Vous III, Wise Child, 50-1 Holly Bank, Must, Never Say When, 66-1 Comedians Folly, Frozen Credit, Moston Lane, Princess Garter, Southerntown
Aintree debutants (10)
Comedians Folly*, Frozen Credit*, Green Drill, Holly Bank*, Longmead*, Mr What, Richardstown, Southerntown, Springsilver*. Valiant Spark
Winners at Aintree
Ace of Trumps - Becher Chase (1956)
Colledge Master - Foxhunters Chase (1957)
ESB - Grand National (1956)
Tiberetta - Becher Chase (1957)
Wyndburgh - Grand Sefton Chase (1957)
Result
1st MR WHAT - A.Freeman
2nd TIBERETTA - G.Slack
3rd GREEN DRILL - G.Milburn
4th WYNBURGH - M.Batchelor
5th GOOSANDER - T.Molony
6th ESB - D V Dick
7th HOLLY BANK - Mr P.Brookshaw
Time : 9 minutes, 59 4/5 seconds
Distances : 30-15-15-20-12
Owned by D J Coughlan
Trained by Tom Taaffe in Ireland