Image by Flickr CC BY 2.0
The Grand National at Aintree is arguably the most iconic event in the jumping discipline and arguably, the world’s most famous horse race overall.
The National is more than just a test of endurance, it’s a theatrical spectacle so dramatic that it captures the imagination of millions across the globe each year.
In existence since 1839, the Grand National has a legacy like no other and its knack for delivering unpredictability and against-the-odds heroics is unmatched.
So, what makes a Grand National winner truly great? There are several different criteria to consider when drawing up lists.
There is probably no one “right” answer when it comes to picking out the greatest ever Grand National winners, though we’ve given it an attempt below. We’ve combined raw records, unforgettable performances and triumphs against adversity in an effort to rank our top 5 Grand National winners. Check out our rundown below.
1. Red Rum (1973, 1974 & 1977)
No discussion of Grand National winners could ever be complete without mentioning Red Rum. The famed charge, whose name is synonymous with horse racing as a whole, remains the only horse in history to win the race on three separate occasions.
He first prevailed back in 1973 when he produced one of the greatest rides the Grand National has ever seen, clawing his way back from an enormous deficit to overtake rival Crisp in a duel that has been immortalised in horse racing lore.
A year later, he was at it again, and despite bearing a challenging weight, he delivered the goods in fine style. In 1977, he completed his hattrick at the age of 12, a feat that only served to underline his enduring stamina and longevity.
Beyond his exploits at Aintree, Red Rum won hearts and minds for his refusal to be beaten and even when he didn’t get to the post first, he often staged astonishing comebacks filled with steely determination, making him the benchmark for greatness in the sport.
2. Tiger Roll (2018 & 2019)
A legend for the modern era, Tiger Roll made history by becoming the first horse since the aforementioned Red Rum to win back-to-back Grand Nationals, securing successive wins at the big show in Aintree in 2018 and 2019.
His first triumph in 2018 was completed against the finest of margins ahead of Pleasant Company, while 12 months later, he successfully defended his title in more emphatic fashion to prove that he wasn’t a one-hit wonder.
What makes Tiger Roll’s achievements especially impressive is that his displays extend beyond Aintree. Gordon Elliott’s gelding showed versatility across distances and types of races right across his illustrious career before retiring in 2022.
3. Mr Frisk (1990)
If speed was the ultimate measure of greatness at the Grand National, then Mr Frisk would undoubtedly hold the crown. Owned by Lois Duffey and trained by Kim Bailey, the speedster blitzed the field when he won at Aintree back in 1990, rampaging home at an incredible time of 8 minutes 47.8 seconds.
That record still stands today, 25 years later, and it will take some beating. Mr. Frisk also has the distinction of being ridden by an amateur jockey, Marcus Armytage, which was one of the rare times an amateur rider won the Grand National.
Mr. Frisk’s gallop to glory in 1990 was virtually flawless. He capitalised on mid-race chaos to storm clear of the pack and held off a late challenge on in the final stretch to claim his spot in the history books.
4. Foinavon (1967)
Sometimes, it isn’t about record times or pulsating performances as favourites that stick in the mind. The Grand National is famed for its upsets and in 1967, a horse named Foinavon became one of the race’s greatest underdog stories, representing the kind of sporting romance that hooks us all.
At the 23rd fence, the race descended into mayhem when many horses refused to jump, were caught in traffic or fell completely. Suddenly, a lone horse managed to pick its way through, striding through beyond the melee to streak clear on his own to win.
Foinavon’s pre-race odds were as high as 100/1, though it isn’t known who, if anyone, backed him to beat those prices. Can you imagine the noise it would generate if a 100/1 long shot on horse betting sites won the Grand National this year? The 23rd face is now named “Foinavon” in honour of that seminal Grand National moment.
5. Neptune Collonges (2012)
Neptune Collonges’s narrow triumph in 2012 wasn’t just a close-run thing, it was officially the closest finish in the entire history of the Grand National, earning him his own unique spot in the race’s annals.
The 2012 edition of the Grand National produced a photo-finish with Neptune Collonges eventually adjudged, after almost two minutes of judges’ deliberations, to have edged out Sunnyhill Boy by just a nose.
As a grey horse, Nepture Collonges joined a small club of other greys to have won at Aintree. Beyond the horse, the emotions at the finish line and the tension thereafter make this win one for the ages.
Other Legendary Mentions
Honourable mentions also go to 2004 winner Amberleigh House (2004), Earth Summit (1998) for completing a treble of Nationals, Aldaniti (1981) for overcoming injury and illness with jockey Bob Champion in the saddle and Red Marauder (2001) for winning under some of the most appalling conditions we’ve witnessed.
