AINTREE GRAND NATIONAL TIMELINE

The Aintree Grand National is the best known horserace in the world, and one that every year seems to produce a fairy tale result. Its long and varied history spans more than a century and a half and this year’s renewal will in fact be the 170th official Grand National.

The race was voided in 1993, was not run during World War II, while a substitute race was staged at the now defunct Gatwick racecourse during the First World War, but these latter winners are not considered to be part of the official record of the race.

In this timeline we look at the result every 10 years from 1847 when the first of 25 Irish-trained winners of the marathon emerged.

1847 The John Courtenay owned and trained Matthew, ridden by Denis Wynne, defeats 25 opponents to become the first Irish-trained winner of the Grand National at Aintree

1857 Seven false starts held up the race before Emigrant, trained and ridden by Charlie Boyce, led home the field of 28 runners to win

1867 Cortolvin becomes the second French-trained winner of the race for Chantilly-based Harry Lamplugh, who saddled the only other winner trained in that country, Huntsman in 1862

1877 Amateur Fred Hobson rode his own Austerlitz to victory, the third of just five winners of the race to do so at the age of five years, the last being Lutteur III in 1909

1887 Victory for the Northern-trained Gamecock who triumphed at 20/1. He was trained near Tarporley in Cheshire

1897 The first of two wins in the race for Manifesto who ran in it eight times. He was third three times, fourth, eighth and just once failed to complete the course. He won again in 1899

1907 Despite breaking a leather before the fourth fence, Alf Newey steered Eremon to victory for Lancashire-based trainer Tom Coulthwaite who won the race on two other occasions

1917 A substitute Grand National was won by Ballymacad, trained by Aubrey Hastings who sent out the winners of the race proper in 1906, 1915 and 1924 and rode the first of these

1927 A then record 37 runners faced the starter, and Sprig, with 12st 4lbs was called home the winner by two commentators from BBC Radio who broadcast the race live for the first time

1937 The Ivor Anthony-trained and Evan Williams-ridden Royal Mail was an appropriately named winner in the presence of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother)

1947 A record 57 runners started as the McDowell’s Irish-trained Caughoo, one of five 100/1 winners of the race, became Ireland’s 13th winner, the race run on Saturday for the first time

1957 A temporary move back to Friday, to try and halt falling attendances, saw Fred Winter ride his first winner on Sundew. He won on Kilmore five years later and trained two winners also

1967 One of the most famous renewals of the race, won in sensational fashion by Foinavon who avoided a melee at the 23rd. He was ridden by John Buckingham who died in December 2016

1977 A famous third win in the race for Red Rum, ridden by Tommy Stack, came a decade after he dead-heated at Aintree in a two-year-old race over 5f. Charlotte Brew is first female rider

1987 The Andy Turnell-trained Maori Venture gave 92-year-old Jim Joel the distinction of replacing Red Rum’s owner Noel Le Mare as the oldest winning owner as 22 finished

1997 The New Zealand-bred and recently deceased Lord Gyllene was called home by Sir Peter O’Sullevan on his 50th and last commentary after a bomb scare saw the race run on Monday

2007 Two new stands are unveiled as 29-y-o Gordon Elliott wins with Silver Birch, Ireland’s sixth winner in nine years, ridden by Robert Power and owned by 26-y-o Brian Walsh

2017 The £1 million Randox Health Grand National will be run over four and a quarter miles and 30 fences, with an off-time of 5.15pm. A maximum 40 runners will compete