"stewards for excessive use of the whip on Ballabriggs. The horse's trainer, Donald McCain, Jr., indicated that he will likely return to Aintree for the 2012 National seeking the first back-to-back wins since Red Rum in 1974: ""I'd have thought next season will revolve around the National and he may well go to the Becher Chase [in December] as well."" 2011 Grand National The 2011 Grand National (known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 164th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race held at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase began at"
"first time in his terrestrial television commentary career. 2017 Grand National The 2017 Grand National (officially known as the 2017 Randox Health Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 170th official running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase over a distance of took place on 8 April 2017, the final day of a three-day meeting. A maximum field of 40 runners competed for a share of a prize fund of £1 million. Randox Health is the new sponsor of the main race and the festival itself for the next five years."
"2017 Grand National The 2017 Grand National (officially known as the 2017 Randox Health Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 170th official running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase over a distance of took place on 8 April 2017, the final day of a three-day meeting. A maximum field of 40 runners competed for a share of a prize fund of £1 million. Randox Health is the new sponsor of the main race and the festival itself for the next five years. It was broadcast live on television by ITV"
"Red Rum Handicap Chase The Red Rum Handicap Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Mildmay course at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in early April. The event is named in memory of Red Rum, a three-time winner of the Grand National in the 1970s. It was formerly known as the Aintree"
"The Becher Chase was upgraded to Grade Three by the British Horseracing Board from its 2014 running. ---- Becher Chase The Becher Chase is a Grade Three National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged six years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 2 furlongs (3 miles 1 furlong and 188 yards, or 5,201 metres), and during its running there are twenty-one fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in November or December. It is run"
"Grand Sefton Steeplechase The Grand Sefton Handicap Chase is a National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged six years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (2 miles 5 furlongs and 19 yards, or 4,242 metres), and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place in December. It was first run over a one hundred year period from 1865 to 1965 as part of Ainree's autumn meeting and was run over a distance of just under"
"Gainsborough Chase The Gainsborough Chase is a National Hunt handicap steeplechase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 3 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late January or early February. The race was first run in 1954 and in the sixties was won three times by Mill House. The Gainsborough Chase name was dropped in 1991, when the race was renamed the Agfa Diamond Chase, a Limited Handicap holding Grade 2 status. Agfa sponsored the race until 2007. The"
"three deaths with questions raised as to the suitability of all three runners to compete in the National. Over the course of the years ahead the qualification standards for horses to take part were tightened. 1998 Grand National The 1998 Grand National (known as the Martell Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 151st official renewal of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 4 April 1998. The race was won in a time of 10 minutes and 51.5 seconds and by a distance of 11 lengths by the 7/1 favourite Earth Summit,"
"part at all. As a result, many modern books and websites state six finishers in a field of twenty-six runners instead of the seven from twenty-eight recorded by the press of the time. 1847 Grand National The 1847 Grand National Steeplechase was the ninth official annual running of a Handicap Steeple-chase Horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on 3 March 1847 and attracted a then record field of twenty-six runners. It was won by Mathew, ridden by Denny Wynne in the colours of County Cork landowner, John Courtenay. This was the first time the race was"
"Becher Chase The Becher Chase is a Grade Three National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged six years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 2 furlongs (3 miles 1 furlong and 188 yards, or 5,201 metres), and during its running there are twenty-one fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in November or December. It is run over the same fences as Aintree's most famous race, the Grand National, and it serves as an early-season"
"of 1.1 million on the previous year, and attracted a 59% share of the television audience. 2016 Grand National The 2016 Grand National (officially known as the 2016 Crabbie's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 169th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase took place on 9 April 2016, the final day of a three-day meeting. A field of 39 runners competed for a share of a prize fund of £1 million. The 2016 National was won by shot Rule The World, ridden by David Mullins and trained by"
"in the modern era. Only the first three were officially recorded. However there are several detailed reports of the race published in the national and regional newspapers of the time. While each report presents some minor differences, a more detailed picture of the fate of each runner can be taken from the agreement of the majority of reports. 1851 Grand National The 1851 Grand National was, at the time, the 14th renewal of a handicap steeplechase horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 26 February 1851. However, this was later retrospectively recorded as the 13th official"
"race last carried Grade 2 status in 1997 and in recent years it has become a normal (all be it valuable) Class B handicap, currently sponsored by Betfred. The 1985 edition was a walkover. Gainsborough Chase The Gainsborough Chase is a National Hunt handicap steeplechase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 3 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late January or early February. The race was first run in 1954 and in the sixties was won three times"
"2004 Grand National The 2004 Grand National (known as the Martell Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 157th official annual running of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 3 April 2004 and attracted the maximum permitted field of 40 competitors for total prize money of £600,000 including £348,000 to the winner. 39 of the 40 original entrants took part in the race – Tyneandthyneagain was withdrawn. On the run-in after the final fence (where Hedgehunter fell when in close contention), any one of three horses looked capable of clinching victory, but"
"Clouds in 2017. Many Clouds Chase The Many Clouds Chase is a Grade Two National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (3 miles and 210 yards, or 5,020 metres), and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped. It is scheduled to take place each year in early December. The race is sponsored by Rewards4Racing and was first run as a Listed race in 2011. It was awarded Grade Two status and renamed in"
"since 1946 (3 wins): Leading jockey since 1946 (3 wins): Leading trainer since 1946 (4 wins): Fox Hunters' Chase The Fox Hunters' Chase is a National Hunt steeplechase in England for amateur riders which is open to horses aged six years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April. The Fox Hunters' is one of only three races run over the Grand National fences at the Aintree Festival, the other two races being the Topham Chase and the Grand"
"Many Clouds Chase The Many Clouds Chase is a Grade Two National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (3 miles and 210 yards, or 5,020 metres), and during its running there are nineteen fences to be jumped. It is scheduled to take place each year in early December. The race is sponsored by Rewards4Racing and was first run as a Listed race in 2011. It was awarded Grade Two status and renamed in honour of Many"
"three miles. Originally, the Grand Sefton was one of the most important events of the autumn, but after the Second World War its popularity waned as Aintree's fortunes foundered. In 2003, the race was revived and run on the first day of the November Becher Meeting and run over the same fences as Aintree's most famous race, the Grand National. It is now usually run on the first Saturday in December. Grand Sefton Steeplechase The Grand Sefton Handicap Chase is a National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged six years or older. It is run"
"2016 Grand National The 2016 Grand National (officially known as the 2016 Crabbie's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 169th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase took place on 9 April 2016, the final day of a three-day meeting. A field of 39 runners competed for a share of a prize fund of £1 million. The 2016 National was won by shot Rule The World, ridden by David Mullins and trained by Mouse Morris. In second place was the joint-favourite The Last Samuri. Sixteen of the 39 runners"
"finishing post. 2005 Grand National The 2005 Grand National (known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 158th official annual running of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 9 April 2005 and attracted the maximum permitted field of 40 competitors for total prize money of £700,000 including £406,000 to the winner. The nine-year-old 7/1 favourite Hedgehunter, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins, won the race by 14 lengths, in a time of 9 minutes 21 seconds. 40/1 shot Royal Auclair finished second, from 66/1-rated"
"failed to reach the finishing post. Official BBC coverage of the 2006 Grand National 2006 Grand National The 2006 Grand National (known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 159th official annual running of the Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 8 April 2006 and attracted the maximum permitted field of forty competitors for total prize money of £689,360 including £399,140 to the winner. 11–1 Irish shot Numbersixvalverde, ridden by Niall Madden, won the race, ahead of 5–1 joint-favourite and the previous year's winner Hedgehunter in second place. The other"
"Melling Chase The Melling Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres), and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early April. The event is named after Melling, a nearby village which is made famous by Melling Road, a public road which crosses the racecourse. It was established in 1991, and it has held Grade 1 status"
"and Cornelius Lysaght. The radio commentary team was Ian Bartlett, Peader Flanagan and Dave Smith, with Lee McKenzie calling the runners home for the first time. 2002 Grand National The 2002 Grand National (known as the Martell Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 155th official renewal of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 6 April 2002. The race was won by eight-year-old 20/1 shot Bindaree, ridden by Jim Culloty and trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies at Grange Hill Farm in Naunton, Gloucestershire, by a distance of 1¾ lengths from What's Up"
"Thistlecrack in 2016. The 1989 running was abandoned because of snow. ---- Liverpool Hurdle The Liverpool Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong , and during its running there are thirteen hurdles to be jumped.. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early April. The event was established in 1974, and it was originally held at Ascot. During the first part of its history it was called the Long Distance Hurdle, and"
"race called the Grand Liverpool SteepleChase, was held at Aintree Racecourse which was the first of three unofficial precursors of the race which would become known as The Grand National. Bretherton took part in this race, coming third on a horse named Cockahoop. During the race the rider Horatio Powell, riding the favourite, Laurie Todd, fell from his horse and it was alleged that Bretherton deliberately steered his horse towards him in order to prevent him remounting. Powell was knocked back to the ground and forced to retire from the race through injury. He did not however lodge any protest"
"overtaken. Since 2017 the race has been sponsored by Betway. Most successful horse (4 wins): Leading jockey (5 wins): Leading trainer (5 wins): Aintree Hurdle The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are eleven hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in early April. The event was established in 1976, and it was originally run over"
"classed at Grade 2 level. The race was transferred to Aintree in 2004, and since then it has been named after the nearby city of Liverpool. Its original distance has been extended by 110 yards. The Liverpool Hurdle was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2010, and it currently takes place on the final day of the three-day Grand National meeting. Prior to 2013 it was the opening race on the first day of the meeting. The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the World Hurdle, and the last to win both races in the same year was"
"Aintree had been the site of private races between the Molyneux family and their friends, including the Stanleys. Lord Sefton leased land at Aintree to the Waterloo Hotel (a hotel in Liverpool's Ranelagh Street) to help establish what is now Aintree Racecourse, home of the Grand National Steeplechase, of which he was one of the principal sponsors and a committee member. In London, he acquired the nickname 'Lord Dashalong' because of his fondness for racing through the streets in a carriage with four horses; along with Lord Worcester, Lord Barrymore, Sir John Lade, Colonel Berkeley and Charles Buxton, Lord Sefton"
"passing, he was buried in an adjacent field with an engraved stone marking his resting place. Lottery (horse) Lottery was the winner of the 1839 Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree, near Liverpool, England. This is often stated as the first running of this famous race as it was the first to truly attract National interest in the United Kingdom. It was actually recorded by the press of the time as the fourth running, but the previous three races failed to capture the imagination and were quickly forgotten. One Victorian commentator claimed that Lottery could trot faster than most of his"
"Clarence House Chase The Clarence House Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in January. The event was sponsored from its inauguration to 2013 by the bookmaker Victor Chandler. It was registered as the Clarence House Chase, but it was usually referred to by its sponsored title. In 2014 the"
"Clarence House Chase The Clarence House Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in January. The event was sponsored from its inauguration to 2013 by the bookmaker Victor Chandler. It was registered as the Clarence House Chase, but it was usually referred to by its sponsored title. In 2014 the"
"close second in the 1987 Champion Hurdle), Zaccio, Café Prince, Bon Nouvel, Neji, Oedipus, Elkridge, Bushranger, Battleship (in 1938 became the only winner of this race and the Aintree Grand National), Jolly Roger and Good and Plenty. The race has also been held at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course as well as the steeplechase meets at Fair Hill, Maryland and Charlottesville, Virginia. The Grand National (sometimes called the American Grand National to distinguish it from the race held at Aintree in England) is one of the oldest races in steeplechasing and one of the most important outside Europe. The"
"Topham Chase The Topham Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt handicap chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of 2 miles and 5½ furlongs (4,325 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in April. From 1989 to 2001 the race was named to commemorate the late clerk of the course John Hughes. In April 2012 the race was won by Always Waining, trained by Peter Bowen ridden by Tom O'Brien. It was his third consecutive winning of the race. The inaugural running"