Grand National Facts

42) In 1977, at the age of 12, the legendary Red Rum came back for his historic third victory - a feat unparalleled in racing history. In 1978 he was the pre-race favourite but had to pull out on the day due to injury. Appropriately, "Rummy" is now buried by the winning post at Aintree.

43) Jockey Bob Champion was diagnosed as having testicular cancer in 1979. Champion had undergone debilitating chemotherapy and lengthy hospitalisation. During his ordeal, one of the thoughts which kept him going was of riding Aldaniti in the National. His dream was realised in 1981 when Aldaniti saw off the late challenge of Spartan Missile and his 54-year-old rider John Thorne to the adulation of the crowd. His feat was immortalised in the film "Champions". Tragically, John Thorne was killed 11 months later in a point-to-point.

44) When Crisp was defeated after leading all the way before being caught in the last stride by Red Rum in 1973, his jockey was Richard Pitman. Ten years later, his former wife, Jenny Pitman became the first woman to train a National winner when Corbiere hung on to beat the fast-finishing Irish challenger, Greasepaint.

45) The late Captain Tim Forster OBE saddled three National winners during his 36-year training career. His first success came in 1972 with Well To Do. Forster, a renowned pessimist, only declared the horse to run with 15 minutes to spare, as he was uncertain whether to risk the horse at Aintree. His next victory came in 1980 when the American horde Ben Nevis landed the 1980 race under amateur rider Charlie Fenwick, who was told by the trainer to "keep re-mounting". Captain Forster's final win came in 1985 with Last Suspect, ridden by Hywel Davies, who only months before had been virtually brought back from the dead by first aid after a crushing racecourse fall.

46) In 1982 Geraldine Rees became the first female jockey to complete the Grand National course riding Cheers. Rosemary Henderson is the only other female rider to repeat the feat. She rode her own horse, the 13-year-old Fiddlers Pike, when finishing fifth at 100/1 in 1994!

47) At 48, Dick Saunders became the oldest successful National rider on Grittar in 1982, his first and only Grand National ride. He also became the only member of the Jockey Club to ride a National winner. He is now a steward at the meeting.

48) Jenny Pitman, the first ever woman to train a National winner with Corbiere in 1983, repeated the feat in 1995 with Royal Athlete, having been denied four years earlier when her horse Garrison Savannah was caught in the final yards after jumping the last in the lead, ridden by her son, Mark.

49) The greatest number of horses ever to finish was 23 in 1984. Hallo Dandy, ridden by Neale Doughty, was the winner, beating Greasepaint who finished runner-up for the second year running, with Jenny Pitman's Corbiere, winner the previous year, back in third.

50) In the 1988 National, the well-fancied Rhyme 'n' Reason's chances were virtually written off after he sprawled badly on landing at Becher's on the first circuit. Somehow, jockey Brendan Powell managed to stay on board and Rhyme 'n' Reason worked his way steadily back into the race, eventually going on to catch Durham Edition on the run-in, winning by four lengths.

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