First run in 1949 to celebrate the Tophams purchase of Aintree. No horse has ever managed to win this race and the National in the same season and few tried. The nearest to complete the double in the early days was Lord Seftons IRISH LIZARD who won the race in 1953 before finishing third in the National two days later. Of other winners, LITTLE YID who won a total of four races over the National fences could not see out the National distance, CADAMSTOWN fell in his National attempts whilst JOHN JACQUES nearly got round in 1959

Of the sixties heroes FRESH WINDS blazed the trail until the nineteenth fence in the 1961 National while DAGMAR GITTELL, BARBERYN and RED TIDE, the only other Topham winners to compete in the National all failed to finish. DOZO was to finish fourth in Gay Trips National in 1970

Apart from CHURCHTOWN BOYs heroics in 1977 (when his Topham win was followed up by the performance of his life chasing home Red Rum two days later) the Topham was not really much of a National trial during the seventies. Four other winners attempted the double but only SUNNY LAD managed to complete the course (CHARTER FLIGHT, RIGTON PRINCE and CLEAR CUT failed). OUR GREENWOOD ran in the National of 1980 some five years after his Topham triumph.

The Topham did provide one moment of glory in the saddle for Jonjo O`Neill when he won on CLEAR CUT as he famously failed to complete the course in all his National rides whilst the race also saw the last racecourse appearance of the legendary Flyingbolt widely considered to be the second finest steeplechaser after Arkle. He was way past his prime when he lined up in 1971 and unseated at the fence after Valentines.

The dapple grey Inch Arran was a popular winner for the Queen Mother providing the master of Fairlawne, Peter Cazalet with his final winner before his death the following month.

Mrs Topham died in 1980 and by 1983 the word "Topham" had become something of an irrelevance to the authorities and the word was removed and for the next few years the race was run under a variety of sponsored guises : -

1983 - 84 The Kaltenberg Pils Chase

1985 - 87 The Whitbread Trophy Chase

1988 The Glenlivet Trophy Chase.

In 1989 following the death of the man attributed with revitalising Aintree, the astute clerk of the course, John Hughes the race was re-named in his honour and as the John Hughes Trophy it was run until 2001. For many though the race would always be the "Topham" and in 2002 to the delight of purists like myself the race was re-named the Topham Chase.

The Topham Chase Roll of Honour 1949-1989

1949 CADAMSTOWN (J.Powell) J.Brogan 24

1950 CULWORTH (W.Hall) R.Curran 16

1951 CULWORTH (W.Hall) R.Curran 18

1952 BALYMAGILLAN (Ireland) P.Taaffe 15

1953 IRISH LIZARD (H.Nicholson) R.Francis 17

1954 LITTLE YID (R.Renton) G.Slack 17

1955 STORMHEAD (W.Hall) P.Farrell 14

1956 JOHN JACQUES (W.Wharton) J.Power 10

1957 ROUGHAN (N.Crump) H J East 14

1958 ROUGHAN (N.Crump) F T Winter 16

1959 CLANYON (W Johns-Powell) G.Underwood 19

1960 FRESH WINDS (W.Whiston) S.Mellor 21

1961 CUPID`S CHARGE (P.Cazalet) W.Rees 13

1962 DAGMAR GITTELL (R.Renton) J.Gifford 22

1963 BARBERYN (W.Stephenson) M.Scudamore 20

1964 RED TIDE (R.Turnell) J.King 14

1965 HOPKISS (A.Kilpatrick) E.Harty 13

1966 WALPOLE (H R Price) J.Gifford 24

1967 GEORGETOWN (N.Kubisch) P.Mahoney 23

1968 SURCHARGE (J.Barclay) S.Davenport 16

1969 DOZO (G B Balding) E.Harty 20

1970 CHARTER FLIGHT (R.Turnell) J.Haine 23

1971 RIGTON PRINCE (W A Stephenson) J.Enright 15

1972 SUNNY LAD (T F Rimell) K B White 17

1973 INCH ARRAN (P.Cazalet) D.Mould 14

1974 CLEAR CUT (W.Hall) J J O'Neill 18

1975 OUR GREENWOOD (T W Dreaper - Ireland) T.Carberry 18

1976 LICTOR (E.C Courage) D.Sunderland 12

1977 CHURCHTOWN BOY (M.Salaman) C.Read 26

1978 CANIT (T F Rimell) C.Tinkler 15

1979 ARCTIC ALE (D L Moore - Ireland) Mr J Fowler 23

1980 UNCLE BING (R.Head) J.Francome 24

1981 MR MARLSBRIDGE (D.Gandolfo) P.Barton 18

1982 BEACON TIME (F T Walwyn) K.Mooney 26

1983 TIEPOLINO (K.Bishop) H.Davies 19

1984 FABULOUS (J S Wilson) A.Stringer 23

1985 SMITH'S MAN (Jenny Pitman) M.Perrett 21

1986 GLENRUE (T.Casey) R.Dunwoody 22

1987 STRATH LEADER (J A C Edwards) T.Morgan 15

1988 WIGGBURN (Anne Hewitt) M.Williams 19

1989 VILLIERSTOWN (W A Stephenson) S.Sherwood 7

Topham winners in the National

1949 CADAMSTOWN - 1950 (fell 7th), 1951 (fell 1st)

1953 IRISH LIZARD - 1951 (fell 1st), 1952 (bd 1st), 1953 (3rd), 1954 (3rd), 1955 (11th), 1957 (fell 6th)

1954 LITTLE YID - 1953 (ref 27th), 1955 (pu 25th)

1956 JOHN JACQUES - 1959 (fell 26th)

1959 CLANYON - 1960 (fell 28th)

1960 FRESH WINDS - 1961 (ur 19th) - ran a total of ten times over the National fences

1962 DAGMAR GITTELL - 1963 (pu 29th)

1963 BARBERYN - 1967 (ref 27th)

1964 RED TIDE - 1965 (fell 4th) - ran six times over National fences

1969 DOZO - 1970 (4th)

1970 CHARTER FLIGHT - 1971 (pu 27th)

1971 RIGTON PRINCE - 1972 (pu 23rd)

1972 SUNNY LAD - 1973 (15th), 1974 (16th)

1974 CLEAR CUT - 1975 (fell 2nd)

1975 OUR GREENWOOD - 1980 (fell 23rd)

1977 CHURCHTOWN BOY - 1976 (11th), 1977 (2nd), 1978 (ur 15th), 1979 (fell 22nd), 1980 (bd 3rd)

1982 BEACON TIME - 1983 (hampered & ur 20th)

1985 SMITHS MAN - 1987 (11th), 1988 (pu 3rd)

1986 GLENRUE - 1987 (ur 3rd)

An incredible eleven winners of the Topham won the race on their only ever visit to Aintree (Ballymagillan, Hopkiss, Walpole, Georgetown, Surcharge, Canit, Arctic Ale, Uncle Bing, Mr Marlsbridge, Fabulous & Strath Leader)

The Topham produced a number of Aintree specialists who never went near the National. Dual champion ROUGHAN raced six times over the National fences. 1956 winner STORMHEAD ran in five Tophams and eight races in total. 1961 winner CUPIDS CHARGE who also won a Molyneux Chase at the autumn meeting ran six times over the National fences. 1973 hero INCH ARRAN was unbeaten in both his races over the National fences having won the only running of the BP Chase in October 1972.

The Liverpool Foxhunters Chase

First run in 1923 the Foxhunters was originally run over the same course and distance as the National. After some fairly miserable runnings the race was reduced in distance in 1950. With a few exceptions most of the winners were a fairly mediocre bunch, few tried the exertions of the National and most were found woefully not up to the task. To be frank the race only produced four great winners between 1947 & 1989, MERRYMAN II and GRITTAR went on to taste Grand National victory the following year (and both came to the National with such high reputations that both were favourites), the wonderful CREDIT CALL won a record three Foxhunters from his six starts but was never allowed to take his chance in the National and probably the greatest Hunter Chaser of all time SPARTAN MISSILE chased home Aldaniti in 1981. Sorry but you can forget the rest.

Foxhunters Chase role of honour 1946 - 1989

1946 Not run

1947 LUCKY PURCHASE (S C Banks) Mr J.Nichols 6

1948 SAN MICHELE (H W Metcalfe) Mr A J Cunard 12

1949 BALLYHARTFIELD (M J Makin) Mr J.Straker 5

1950 HILLMERE (Dalton) Mr P.Brookshaw 14

1951 CANDY II (R.Brewis) Mr R.Brewis 17

1952 PAMPEENNE II (H.Alexander) Col H.Alexander 11

1953 SOLO CALL (R.Brewis) Mr R.Brewis 7

1954 DARK STRANGER (L A Colville) Mr J.Bosley 14

1955 HAPPYMINT (J S Wight) Mr A.Moralee 13

1956 MR SHANKS (J A Keith) Mr J.Everitt 8

1957 COLLEDGE MASTER (L.Morgan) Mr L.Morgan 6

1958 SURPRISE PACKET (Mrs S.Richards) Mr T.Johnson 13

1959 MERRYMAN II (N.Crump) Mr C.Scott 10

1960 APRIL QUEEN (M.Fear) Mr J Daniel 8

1961 COLLEDGE MASTER (L.Morgan) Mr L Morgan 8

1962 DOMINION (K.Beston) Mr C Foulkes 12

1963 SEA KNIGHT (W A Stephenson) Mr P Nicholson 15

1964 AERIAL III (M.Fear) Mr J Daniel 8

1965 SEA KNIGHT (W A Stephenson) Mr P NIcholson 14

1966 SUBALTERN (C.Alexander) Mr J Lawrence 13

1967 MINTO BURN (Miss B Johnson) Mr B Surtees 10

1968 JUAN (P.Wills) Mr P Wills 8

1969 BITTER LEMON (V.Rowe) Mr V Rowe 15

1970 LISMATEIGE (P.Wates) Mr A.Wates 5

1971 BRIGHT WILLOW (G.Cure) Mr J.Chugg 15

1972 CREDIT CALL (W A Stephenson) Mr C.Collins 8

1973 BULLOCK`S HORN (R.Turnell) Lord Oaksey 14

1974 LORD FORTUNE (Mrs J Brutton) Mr D.Edmunds 10

1975 CREDIT CALL (W A Stephenson) Mr J.Newton 10

1976 CREDIT CALL (Mrs R.Newton) Mr J.Newton 9

1977 HAPPY WARRIOR (F T Winter) Mr N.Henderson 20

1978 SPARTAN MISSILE (M J Thorne) Mr M J Thorne 19

1979 SPARTAN MISSILE (M J Thorne) Mr M J Thorne 15

1980 ROLLS RAMBLER (F T Winter) Mr O.Sherwood 24

1981 GRITTAR (F.Gilman) Mr C.Saunders 25

1982 LONE SOLDIER (J.Docker) Mr P.Greenall 12

1983 ATHA CLIATH (P.Mullins - Ireland) Mr W P Mullins 8

1984 GAYLE WARNING (J S Dudgeon) Mr A.Dudgeon 17

1985 CITY BOY (Mrs J Mann) Mr T.Thomson-Jones 18

1986 ELIOGARTY (D J G Murray-Smith) Miss C.Beasley 20

1987 BORDER BURG (J S Delahooke) Mr A.Hill 25

1988 NEWNHAM (M A Johnson) Mr S.Andrews 23

1989 CALL COLLECT (J.Parkes) Mr R.Martin 16

Run over four and a half miles until 1950

Run over two miles, seven and a half furlongs between 1950- 1976

Run over two miles, six furlongs from 1977

Foxhunters winners in the National

1947 LUCKY PURCHASE - 1949 (8th)

1948 SAN MICHELLE - 1949 (fell 23rd), 1950 (fell 23rd)

1954 DARK STRANGER - 1955 (fell 10th)

1957/1961 COLLEDGE MASTER - 1958 (pu 18th), 1962 (14th)

1958 SURPRISE PACKET - 1959 (fell 22nd)

1959 MERRYMAN II - 1960 (WON)

1960 APRIL QUEEN - 1961 (fell 1st)

1963 SEA KNIGHT - 1964 (15th) - ran in the Foxhunters four times in total

1964 AERIAL III - 1967 (pu 19th)

1968 JUAN - 1969 (ref 17th)

1971 BRiGHT WILLOW - 1972 (7th)

1973 BULLOCKS HORN - 1972 (ref 11th)

1978/1979 SPARTAN MISSILE - 1981 (2nd), 1983 (ur 22nd), 1984 (16th)

1980 ROLLS RAMBLER - 1982 (ref 22nd)

1981 GRITTAR - 1982 (WON), 1983 (5th), 1984 (10th)

1986 ELIOGARTY - 1984 (15th) - ran in the Foxhunters four times in total

1987 BORDER BURG - 1988 (pu 29th)

1988 NEWNHAM - 1989 (10th)

1989 CALL COLLECT - 1990 (8th)

Lady riders in the Foxhunters 1976 - 1989

Charlotte Brew made history in 1976 when she became the first female rider to compete over the National fences when she partnered Barony Fort to finish last of four finishers and in doing so qualified for the following years National. In 1986 Caroline Beasley made history becoming the first female rider to win a race over the big fences. She had a great record on Eliogarty but was surprisingly not on board when he contested the National in 1984.

1976 Miss Charlotte Brew - BARONEY FORT (4th)

1979 Miss C Caroe - BLACK FRIAR (bd 1st)

Mrs D Grissell - MOONSTONE LAD (fell 1st)

Mrs Rosemary White - KING KONG II (ur 7th)

Mrs Jane Sloan - NEW ARCTIC (ur 15th)

1980 Mrs Janet Selley - SEA SWELL (6th)

Mrs Rosemary White - KING KONG II (fell 13th)

1981 Mrs Jenny Hembrow - SANDWILLAN (13th)

1982 Miss T Gray - NEW FORMULA (6th)

1984 Miss Margaret Wilson - ROADHEAD (fell last)

1985 Miss Caroline Beasley - ELIOGARTY (ur 7th)

Mrs C.Elliiott - BUECHE GIOROD (5th)

Mrs N.Oliver - WISE LADY (fell 10th)

1986 Miss Gee Armytage - GALA PRINCE (4th)

Mrs J.Arthur - VEREMENTE (ref 15th)

Miss Caroline Beasley - ELOGARTY (1st)

Mrs Joy Carrier - KING SRUCE (12th)

Miss Sue French - JUST A GHOST (fell 7th)

1987 Miss Caroline Beasley - ELIOGARTY (2nd)

1988 Miss J.Barrow - LE BAMBINO (13th)

Miss Caroline Beasley - ELIOGARTY (fell 10th)

Miss Katie Rimell - THREE COUNTIES (fell 10th)

Two lost races

The Champion Chase

First run in 1881 the Champion Chase was initially designed as a "consolation" race for horses who had failed in the National the day before and is notable in 1936 for confirming GOLDEN MILLER`s dislike of Aintree when he famously fell at the first fence in the Champion Chase the day after he had sensationally unseated in the National. When the race was moved to the Autumn meeting in 1940 the race seemed something of an irrelevance although it did provide PRINCE REGENT with some compensation for his failure in the National the previous April. In 1946 it was worth more than both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle combined but the race was on borrowed time when it was moved back to the Spring meeting in competition with the newly instigated Topham Trophy. The race quietly slipped from the calender after 1950.

Role of honour

1946 PRINCE REGENT (Ireland) T.Hyde 3

1948 LUAN CASCA (H.Smythe) T.Molony 8

1949 FREEBOOTER (R.Renton) T.Molony 6

1950 FINNURE (Beeby) R.Francis 5

N.B : The race was not run in the 1945-46 season and in 1946-47 staged at the Autumn meeting. In the 1947-48 season the race was brought back to the Spring meeting which meant that the race was not staged during 1947.

Further reading : The Complete Record - issue 39 (Paul Davies - 2005)

The Stanley Chase

Whilst the idea of a novice chase run over the National fences may seem like madness to todays racegoer, the Stanley Chase was a fixture of the Spring meeting from 1893. Run over two and a half miles with (until 1935) the water jump as the first fence it was traditionally run on the opening day of the National meeting. From 1936 an additional National fence was added next to the Chair which would eventually form part of the Mildmay course. This became perhaps more realistically the first fence. The race never took in the Chair. During its history it produced four winners who would go on to triumph in the National (Jerry M, Ally Sloper, Gregalach and Kellsboro` Jack) whilst four others (Kirkland, Rubio, Troytown and Bogskar) contested the Stanley Chase without success. Despite its ability to attract good runners, the Stanley is remembered as a pretty scary race best consigned to the dustbin of Aintree history. Perhaps it is the notorious 1947 running when all sixteen horses fell (Billykin was remounted to win) that the Stanley Chase is remembered for. After that farcical running the race was on borrowed time, the winners did not amount to much and the announcement of the building of a "nursery course" for potential National runners with scaled down versions of the fences effectively sealed the races fate. The construction of the Mildmay Course rendered the Stanley Chase obsolete and few mourned its passing in 1952.

Role of honour

1946 LUAN CASCA (H.Smythe) A.Brabazon 16

1947 BILLYKIN (rem) (C.Nicholson) T.Molony 16

1948 BLAKELY GROVE (I.Anthony) J.Maguire 13

1949 CARMODY (W.Stephenson) T.Molony 14

1950 KNUCKLEDUSTER (J.Gosden) A.Jarvis 7

1951 SHAEF (J.Gosden) A.Jarvis 6

1952 FINVARRA (A S Kilpatrick) R.Morrow 6

Further reading : The Complete Record - issue 49 (Paul Davies - 2008)

Spring Highlights

The Topham & The Foxhunters

The Topham Trophy - a very very brief history 1949-1989