As you can see from the list below, shocks are not uncommon in the world’s greatest and most famous horse race but there are some key trends which can usually narrow down your choice at Aintree.
Grand National Winners Since 1945
| Year | Age | Weight | Trainer | |||
| 2017 | One For Arthur | 8 | 10-11 | L Russell | D Fox | 14/1 |
| 2016 | Rule The World | 9 | 10-07 | M Morris | D Mullins | 33/1 |
| 2015 | Many Clouds | 8 | 11-9 | O Sherwood | L Aspell | 25/1 |
| 2014 | Pineau De Re | 11 | 10-6 | R Newland | L Aspell | 25/1 |
| 2013 | Auroras Encore | 11 | 10-3 | S Smith | R Mania | 66/1 |
| 2012 | Neptune Collonges | 11 | 11-6 | P Nicholls | D Jacob | 33/1 |
| 2011 | Ballabriggs | 10 | 11-0 | D McCain Jnr | J Maguire | 14/1 |
| 2010 | Dont Push It | 10 | 11-5 | JJ O’Neill | AP McCoy | 10/1 |
| 2009 | Mon Mome | 9 | 11-0 | V Williams | L Treadwell | 100/1 |
| 2008 | Comply Or Die | 9 | 10-9 | D Pipe | T Murphy | 7/1 |
| 2007 | Silver Birch | 10 | 10-6 | G Elliott | R Power | 33/1 |
| 2006 | Numbersixvalverde | 10 | 10-8 | M Brassil | N Madden | 11/1 |
| 2005 | Hedgehunter | 9 | 11-1 | W Mullins | R Walsh | 7/1 |
| 2004 | Amberleigh House | 12 | 10-10 | D McCain | G Lee | 16/1 |
| 2003 | Monty’s Pass | 10 | 10-7 | J Mangan | B Geraghty | 16/1 |
| 2002 | Bindaree | 8 | 10-4 | N Twiston-Davies | J Culloty | 20/1 |
| 2001 | Red Marauder | 11 | 10-12 | N Mason | R Guest | 33/1 |
| 2000 | Papillon | 9 | 10-12 | T Walsh | R Walsh | 10/1 |
| 1999 | Bobbyjo | 9 | 9-10 | T Carberry | P Carberry | 10/1 |
| 1998 | Earth Summit | 10 | 10-5 | N Twiston-Davies | C Llewellyn | 7/1 |
| 1997 | Lord Gyllene | 9 | 9-10 | S Brookshaw | T Dobbin | 14/1 |
| 1996 | Rough Quest | 10 | 10-7 | T Casey | M Fitzgerald | 7/1 |
| 1995 | Royal Athlete | 12 | 10-6 | J Pitman | J Titley | 40/1 |
| 1994 | Miinnehoma | 11 | 10-8 | M Pipe | R Dunwoody | 16/1 |
| 1993 | VOID | |||||
| 1992 | Party Politics | 8 | 10-7 | N Gaselee | C Llewellyn | 14/1 |
| 1991 | Seagram | 11 | 10-6 | D Barons | N Hawke | 12/1 |
| 1990 | Mr Frisk | 11 | 10-6 | K Bailey | Mr M Armytage | 16/1 |
| 1989 | Little Polveir | 12 | 10-3 | T Balding | J Frost | 28/1 |
| 1988 | Rhyme N Reason | 9 | 11-0 | D Elsworth | B Powell | 10/1 |
| 1987 | Maori Venture | 11 | 10-13 | A Turnell | S Knight | 28/1 |
| 1986 | West Tip | 9 | 10-11 | M Oliver | R Dunwoody | 15/2 |
| 1985 | Last Suspect | 11 | 10-5 | T Forster | H Davies | 10/1 |
| 1984 | Hallo Dandy | 10 | 10-2 | GW Richards | N Doughty | 13/1 |
| 1983 | Corbiere | 8 | 11-4 | J Pitman | B de Haan | 13/1 |
| 1982 | Grittar | 9 | 11-5 | F Gilman | Mr D Saunders | 7/1 |
| 1981 | Aldaniti | 11 | 10-13 | J Gifford | B Champion | 10/1 |
| 1980 | Ben Nevis | 12 | 10-12 | T Forster | Mr C Fenwick | 40/1 |
| 1979 | Rubstic | 10 | 10-0 | J Leadbetter | M Barnes | 25/1 |
| 1978 | Lucius | 9 | 10-9 | GW Richards | B Davies | 14/1 |
| 1977 | Red Rum | 12 | 11-8 | D McCain | T Stack | 9/1 |
| 1976 | Rag Trade | 10 | 10-12 | F Rimell | J Burke | 14/1 |
| 1975 | LEscargot | 12 | 11-3 | D Moore | T Carberry | 13/2 |
| 1974 | Red Rum | 9 | 12-0 | D McCain | B Fletcher | 11/1 |
| 1973 | Red Rum | 8 | 10-5 | D McCain | B Fletcher | 9/1 |
| 1972 | Well To Do | 9 | 10-1 | T Forster | G Thorner | 14/1 |
| 1971 | Specify | 9 | 10-13 | J Sutcliffe | J Cook | 28/1 |
| 1970 | Gay Trip | 8 | 11-5 | F Rimell | P Taaffe | 15/1 |
| 1969 | Highland Wedding | 12 | 10-4 | T Balding | E Harty | 100/9 |
| 1968 | Red Alligator | 9 | 10-00 | S Smyth | B Fletcher | 100/7 |
| 1967 | Foinavon | 9 | 10-0 | J Kempton | J Buckingham | 100/1 |
| 1966 | Anglo | 8 | 10-0 | F Winter | T Norman | 50/1 |
| 1965 | Jay Trump | 8 | 11-5 | F Winter | T Smith | 100/6 |
| 1964 | Team Spirit | 12 | 10-3 | F Walwyn | W Robinson | 18/1 |
| 1963 | Ayala | 9 | 10-0 | K Piggott | P Buckley | 66/1 |
| 1962 | Kilmore | 12 | 10-4 | R Price | F Winter | 28/1 |
| 1961 | Nicolaus Silver | 9 | 10-1 | F Rimell | B Beasley | 28/1 |
| 1960 | Merryman | 9 | 10-12 | N Crump | G Scott | 13/2 |
| 1959 | Oxo | 8 | 10-13 | W Stephenson | M Scudamore | 8/1 |
| 1958 | Mr What | 8 | 10-06 | T Taaffe Sr | A Freeman | 18/1 |
| 1957 | Sundew | 11 | 11-07 | F Hudson | F Winter | 20/1 |
| 1956 | ESB | 10 | 11-03 | F Rimell | D Dick | 100/7 |
| 1955 | Quare Times | 9 | 11-00 | V O’Brien | P Taaffe | 100/9 |
| 1954 | Royal Tan | 10 | 11-07 | V O’Brien | B Marshall | 8/1 |
| 1953 | Early Mist | 8 | 11-02 | V O’Brien | B Marshall | 20/1 |
| 1952 | Teal | 10 | 10-12 | N Crump | A Thompson | 100/7 |
| 1951 | Nickel Coin | 9 | 10-01 | J O’Donoghue | J Bullock | 40/1 |
| 1950 | Freebooter | 9 | 11-11 | B Renton | J Power | 10/1 |
| 1949 | Russian Hero | 9 | 10-08 | G Owen | L McMorrow | 66/1 |
| 1948 | Sheila’s Cottage | 9 | 10-07 | N Crump | A Thompson | 50/1 |
| 1947 | Caughoo | 8 | 10-00 | H McDowell | E Dempsey | 100/1 |
| 1946 | Lovely Cottage | 9 | 10-08 | T Rayson | Capt B Petre | 25/1 |
Grand National Key Trends
- History tells us that the age of the winner will be between 8 and 12
- Only one horse, Many Clouds, has carried more than 11st 7lb to victory since Red Rum in 1977.
- Only one winner in the last 27 years did not have a run in the eight weeks prior to the Grand National
- Only two of the last 19 winners had fallen or unseated their rider more than twice previously so, even though the fences have been modified and horse are better prepared, jumping is still important
- The average odds of the winner over the last six years is 32/1. The race nowadays attracts a better class of chaser and most of the 40 runners this year have earned their place. No outright favourite has won in more than 10 years but it will be the market leaders that attracts the majority of the £150million expected to be wagered on the race at the weekend. Some will be the ‘housewives’ that the newspapers like to target with their ‘Pinstickers’ Guides’ but many will be serious bettors who regard the National as just another race. only one with bigger and broader betting opportunities
- Class is still important in the Grand National and all recent winners have won a race over fences valued at £10,000 or more
- Every winner over the last 25 years had won over at least 3m previously – this is not a race for dubious stayers
Bechers Brook, The Chair, Valentines and Canal Turn – just four of the 16 unique fences that make up a circuit on the National Course at Aintree. The runners have to go around twice to complete the 4m4f, only The Chair and water jump are only jumped once, on the world’s greatest steeplechase and not all will make it home. There were only 16 finishers when the race was run on soft going two years ago.
The first official running of the Grand National was in 1839 and there have been countless stories and myths attached to the race in the years in between – will any rewrite history in 2018?
With several bookmakers advertising that they’ll pay out on each-way bets down the sixth place in the Grand National (one is paying out on the first eight places), here is my Six to Savour in this year’s big race (in no particular order).
Final Declarations – Six to Savour
- SHANTOU FLYER (40/1 with 10Bet and William Hill) was pulled up last year but didn’t have much luck in-running. Has changed stables this season and has been right back to form lately for Richard Hobson. He can’t have the ground soft enough so conditions won’t be an issue.
- WARRIORS TALE (general 50/1) has raced mostly over shorter trips over fences but was just collared over 3m in the Skybet Chase at Doncaster in January and was placed over 3m2f over hurdles. Owner Trevor Hemmings loves to have a runner in the race.
- TIGER ROLL (a general 11/1) travelled strongly throughout when winning the Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham. He’s not overly big so the fences will ask questions of Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old but he’s won over 4m so is unlikely to be stopping if jumping round.
- VIEUX LION ROUGE (a general 33/1) was seventh two years ago and sixth last year, fading in the closing stages on both occasions. But stamina shouldn’t be a problem as he’s won a Grand National Trial over 3m4f and has also won a Becher Chase over the Grand National fences. Lightly-raced this season – will it be his year this time?
- VALSEUR LIDO (66/1 with 10Bet and William Hill) is another running in the Gigginstown colours, but this one is trained by Henry De Bromhead. He is a dual Grade 1 winner over fences running in his first handicap and overpriced if he can recapture his best form. Two recent runs have been over a trip too short.
- I JUST KNOW (a general 25/1) has been the subject of sustained ante-post interest and is a bold-jumping front-runner who made all over 3m6f at Catterick in January. Had a recent pipe-opener over hurdles and still looks well handicapped so should go well.
Randox Health Grand National 2018 Likely Odds
Total Recall, Anibale Fly and Tiger Roll 10/1, Blaklion 11/1, Baie Des Iles 12/1, Seeyouatmidnight 14/1, Minella Rocco and Ucello Conti 16/1, Captain Redbeard 18/1, I Just Know and The Last Samuri 20/1, Gas Line Boy, Milansbar, Raz De Maree, Regal Encore, Shantou Flyer, and The Dutchman 25/1, Vieux Lion Rouge and Alpha Des Obeaux 33/1, Carlingford Lough, Final Nudge and Houblon Des Obeaux 40/1, Lord Windermere, Pleasant Company, Vicente, Vintage Clouds and Warriors Tale 50/1, Bless The Wings, Buywise, Chase The Spud and Childrens List 50/1, Perfect Candidate, Saint Are and Valseur Lido 66/1, Beeves, Delusionofgrandeur, Double Ross, Pendra, Road To Riches, Thunder And Roses and Virgilio 100/1, Walk In The Mill 150/1, Maggio and Tenor Nivernais 200/1
