2010, Dont Push It

A.P. McCoy was the greatest jockey most of us will see in our lives, but the one that almost got away on his long roll of honour was the Grand National. He’d suffered many disappointments in the race including the deaths of his mounts Eudipe and Synchronised and had bad luck on Blowing Wind and Clan Royal, before he lined up on the 10/1 joint favourite Don’t Push It, 10 years ago.

Don’t Push It was a classy horse who had taken on Denman in his novice days. He’d warmed up with a PU in the Pertemps in Cheltenham but was well fancied on the day and he also provided a first win in the race for J.P. McManus.

In his autobiography McCoy said: “When I finally did win the race, on Don’t Push It, the release I felt was extraordinary. It was probably the first time I’d ever felt such an overwhelming sense of relief after a horse race.

“People with no interest in horse racing know about the Grand National. the kind of people who when they hear you are a jockey, ask if you won the Grand National. After 14 years of saying no, now I could actually say yes.”

2000, Papillon

Again, despite all his big race wins, it’s the victory for his father Ted, led up by his brother and sister Ted and Katie, aboard Papillon in the 2000 Grand National that Ruby Walsh recalls as his best day in the saddle at the age of 20.

Papillon, owned by Betty Moran had finished second in the Irish Grand National in 1998 behind the subsequent Grand National winner Bobbyjo. He also had good form at shorter distances including a win in the Paddy Power Dial a Bet Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas beating a Champion Chase winner in Klarion Davis, Opera Hat and Merry Gale. On the day of the National, a gamble backed him down to 10/1 from twice those odds and he held off Mely Moss up the run-in.

“I spotted Dad in the crowd, I knew well what this meant to him. Greatest day of my life,” Ruby recalls in his autobiography.

He was unlucky going back for a repeat in 2001 as he was baulked at the second big ditch in the muddy race where he was remounted to finish fourth behind Red Maurader the following year.

1995, Royal Athlete

Twenty-five years ago this week Royal Athlete galloped past the Aintree post to become Jenny Pitman’s second Grand National winner (third if Esha Ness’s unfortunate ‘win’ in the void race in 1993 was considered) and the Queen of Aintree had also gone close with Garrison Savannah.

Pitman had trained the chesnut gelding for a very good novice season but he was prone to jumping errors. He had fallen in the Sun Alliance Chase but that season brought him five wins including the Reynoldstown at Ascot and a novice chase at the big Aintree and Ayr meetings. He had finished third in the Gold Cup in 1993, nine lengths behind Jodami, and went off at 9/1 fourth favourite for the void Grand National where he fell. He also fell in the Irish National a few weeks later.

A bad fall resulting in injury in the Hennessy in November 1993 when he carried top-weight of 11st 10lb, had brought his season to a halt and when he returned in January 1995, he disappointed in his four runs, twice as favourite. It meant he carried only 10st 6lb and went off at 40/1 in the National under Jason Titley. Always well placed, he came through to lead before the last and ran on strongly to beat the previous year’s winner Party Politics by seven lengths.

1970, Gay Trip

The 1970 Grand National had a small field of 28 and Gay Trip (15/1) won the race by 20 lengths, giving jockey Pat Taaffe his second winner and trainer Fred Rimell his third as only seven horses finished the race. Two Springs, who went off favourite, was one of nine horses who fell at the first big ditch, and the following year’s winner, Specify, fell at second Bechers as only 13, less than half, had survived the first circuit. The field was reduced to eight by the second Canal Turn.

Pat Taaffe and Eddie Harty on Dozo appeared to have it between them at the second last but Gay Trip surged on and went clear up the run-in, full of running despite carrying top-weight and never having won over further than two and half miles. Vulture took second, Miss Hunter, at 33/1, was third and a tired Dozo fourth.