Grand National History 1909 - 1900
Aintree Grand National 1909
The 1909 Grand National was won by the favourite "Lutteur III" ridden by Georges Parfrement and unsurprisingly none of last years first four finished so high again, with only "Tom West" who had finished in the top four in either of the last two years going so high. "Lutteur III" was the first horse since "Drumcree" in 1903 to win after starting as favourite and one of four horses in the last nine years to finish in the top four when carrying a number in their name.
"Judas" finished second ridden by Robert Chadwick who would win a year later on "Jenkinstown" with "Caubeen" ridden by 1905 winner Frank Tich' Mason followed of course by "Tom West" as thirty two horses raced with exactly half of them finishing. The thirty two starters was the most runners since 1850, which also began with thirty two and would not be beaten until thirty five began the race in 1921, but only four finished that year.
Aintree Grand National 1908
For the eighth year running the Grand National again began with over twenty horses taking part, a trend which would continue beyond 1908 with this years field of 24 putting on yet another fantastic display for all those watching. It was though to the disappointment of those who had placed their money on the favourites and to the absolute joy of those who had staked their money on "Rubio" the horse that started at 66-1.
"Rubio" was not expected to finish in the top half a dozen at least, but surprised many with the widest odds of a winner this century as the horse ridden by Henry Bletsoe past the winning post followed by "Mattie" in second with shorter odds of 25-1. "The Lawyer III" finished third and was the only horse that may have been expected to finish this high with odds of 100-7 followed by another long shot horse "Flaxman" at 33-1.
Aintree Grand National 1907
Alfred Newey finished in the top four for the second time, but this time he went two better than his third in 1905 by winning the 1907 Grand National riding the relative novice "Eremon". "Eremon" was though expected to perform very well which his 8-1 odds showed. During the race the jockey broke a stirrup at the first fence but did well enough to stay on and lead at the Canal Turn on the first circuit before another strange Grand National event took place when "Rathvale" who had unseated it's jockey came up alongside "Eremon" and tried to viciously bite the horse. Alfred Newey tried to scare the horse away with his whip but with no success as the paid raced side-by-side for an entire circuit until finally pulling away to win the race over "Tom West" by six lengths.
Aintree Grand National 1906
"Ascetic's Silver" won the 1906 Grand National with large odds of 20-1 while being ridden by Aubrey Hastings who also trained the horse for the event. "Red Lad" finished in second at 33-1 and became the first horse to finish in the top four to carry the first name 'Red' and one of only three horses to ever finish so high with that name. The other two horses being the famous three-time winner "Red Rum" and "Red Alligator" who won in 1968. "Aunt May" finished third with odds of 25-1 and "Crautacaun" finished just behind in fourth.
Aintree Grand National 1905
Jockey Frank 'Tich' Mason and "Kirkland" both finally won the Grand National in 1905 after several years of coming very close, none closer that second place in 1904. The jockey born in Liverpool steered "Kirkland" to a three-length victory with the pair finishing in the top four for the third year running. The two began with odds of 6-1 and edged out another former winning jockey Percy Woodland riding "Napper Tandy" to second place. "Buckaway II" finished third as a huge outsider with odds of 100-1 followed by "Ranunculus" in fourth.
Aintree Grand National 1904
The 1904 Grand National was won by "Moifaa" who had come from New Zealand to compete and it was an amazing achievement winning the race, especially when you consider the route "Moifaa" took to get there. The ship which brought "Moifaa" to the UK was unfortunately shipwrecked leaving the horse considered lost at sea until he was found stranded on a small outcrop off the coast of southern Ireland. The horse had swum an unbelievable 50 miles to reach this point and was nursed back to fitness before winning the National that year.
"Moifaa" started with odds of 25-1 and won for Spencer Gollan the owner who had brought the horse over with Arthur Birch the winning jockey. "Kirkland" finished second, "The Gunner" finished third and the fourth placed finisher was "Shaun Aboo" who wasn't quoted with any odds before the race becoming the first horse to finish in the top four without odds since "Columbine" who finished third in 1873.
Aintree Grand National 1903
"Drumcree" the runner up in 1901 and favourite last year only to finish outside of the top four was to return as favourite again in the 1903 Grand National with odds of 13-2. The horse ridden by Percy Woodland was one of seven to finish from twenty-three starters and edged out three horses, which were something of a feature in years past. The three horses themselves were "Detail" who finished second, "Manifesto" returning again and finishing third with "Kirkland" in fourth.
From the former winners "Ambush II" ran again for prince turned king, King Edward VII, but the horse fell, as he became the first horse to represent a reigning monarch. "Manifesto" now 15 raced again and for the first time since his early Nationals was not top weight but four pounds lighter than "Ambush II" at 12 stone 3lbs.
Aintree Grand National 1902
By 1902 "Manifesto" was 14 years old and past his peak, he had participate for several years at a much heavier weight than his competitors and was no longer as fancied to win the race especially as he started at 12 stone 8lbs. He started with odds of 100-6 and was ridden by Ernie Piggott with the favourite being last years runner up "Drumcree" who set off out in front as Ernie employed the tactics of keeping towards the back early on. As "Manifesto" approached the Canal Turn on the last lap he was a long way from the front, but responded like a champion making up lots of ground on the leaders. It wasn't enough though as the horse eventually finished third behind winning horse "Shannon Lass" and second placed "Matthew" who began at 50-1. The horse called "Detail" finished in fourth ridden by last years winning jockey Arthur Nightingall.
Aintree Grand National 1901
Arthur Nightingall made it a three Grand National victories in 1901 when he rode "Grudon" to victory for owner and trainer Bernard Bletsoe ahead of "Drumcree" who would win two years later. "Grudon" began at 9-1 with "Drumcree" a 10-1 bet as the pair along with "Buffalo Bill" finished ahead of pre-race 5-1 favourite "Levanter" ridden by Frank Mason who would also win the National four years later.
Aintree Grand National 1900
"Ambush II" owned by The Prince of Wales won the 1900 Grand National which was moving into a new century as the Prince who has long been a follower of the event, would later become King Edward VII. "Barsac" finished second ridden by Mr. W Halsey with "Manifesto" in third carrying 12 stones 13 lbs, a very heavy weight as his reputation again worked against him giving all other horses at least a 48 pound advantage. "Manifesto" almost managed to win, as both he and "Ambush II" were level coming into the final straight before the weight finally became too much with the jockey easing the horse to the finish line.
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