The greatest GN ever, and the saddest story all rolled into onePositionNameJockeyAgeHandicap (st-lb)SPDistance
01Red RumBrian Fletcher810-59/1¾ Length
02CrispRichard Pitman1012-09/125 Lengths
03L’EscargotTommy Carberry1012-011/1
04Spanish StepsPhilip Blacker1011-1316/1
Red Rum 2 years younger than Crisp, yet Crisp was giving him 23lbs and only lost by 3/4 length, whist L'Escargot the same age and weight as Crisp is 25 lengths back in 3rd.
Crisp what a horse.
The Pilgarlic kept coming back for more - never won it, but will never have had an easy race and if I remember correctly (definitely not an edit!) placed more than once to reward each-way support.Was thinking what a good run the Evan Williams and the Ruckers had with State of play and Cappa bleu did they place 5 times between them ?
He also finished 2nd in the 1976 Topham and 4th in the 1981 Foxhunters' Chase when ridden by Nigel Twiston-Davies. Altogether he jumped 156 National-type fences which is six more than Red Rum achieved. But did he ever win a race of any note?The Pilgarlic kept coming back for more - never won it, but will never have had an easy race and IIRC placed more than once to reward each-way support.
if I remember correctly (definitely not an edit!) placed more than once to reward each-way support.
"I can neither confirm nor deny that, officer."Are the abbreviation police asleep ?
And best of all, you didn't throughout the race have to listen to that God-awful music they've wheeled out ever since that lousy movie.![]()
1973 RED RUM V CRISP
One of the very best.... Red Rum v Crisp in the 1973 Grand National Enjoyshare.google
I was there that day, out on the course (free), I thought Crisp had won, he was so far clear, and the loudspeaker broke down
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Yes, I think I was the only one of the clan gathering that day who didn’t back it when it won. The brothers had been on it the year before and renamed it Hedgehumper and Hedgebiter but they stuck with it.On Hedgehunter when he fell at the last in 2004. Don't see too many horses fall at the last there, but they all looked legless. Must have gone some pace.
He won in 2005 and then was placed in 2006 after also finishing 2nd behind War Of Attrition in the Gold Cup. Some horse.
Antony Worrall Thompson on BBC Saturday Kitchen kept telling people that "Hedge Trimmer" was a certainty for the National. Used to get wall-to-wall coverage akin to the FA Cup Final.Yes, I think I was the only one of the clan gathering that day who didn’t back it when it won. The brothers had been on it the year before and renamed it Hedgehumper and Hedgebiter but they stuck with it.
I remember the brother immediately older than me saying straight after the first run saying, ‘Hedgehunter will win next year. He ran with the choke out the whole way there.’