Greatest Grand National Runners of All Time

For over 150 years, an equestrian event held in a village at the border of Merseyside and Liverpool has grabbed the attention of horse racing enthusiasts the world over. The Grand National is not just a highlight on the British racing calendar; it’s featured in contemporary culture since the early 20th century – who could forget Elizabeth Taylor’s star turn in National Velvet, for instance?

Watching 40 runners tackle treacherous fences like The Chair and Beecher’s Brook appeals to all manner of racing fans and horse enthusiasts. Each year, more people around the globe tune in to watch this nail-biting steeplechase, finding ways to identify the winning horse and making an event out of backing them. Even the top-level jockeys who compete at the National say that the race is like no other on earth and will freely admit to getting a case of stage fright in the run-up to the big day.  

Of course, since the race was first run in 1839, we’ve seen the world’s most elite thoroughbreds take on the course. While we’ve been treated to many a dramatic moment and edge-of-your-seat finishes by these brave mounts, a handful of truly special horses deserve the crown of being the greatest Grand National runners of all time.  

Mr Frisk 

We kick off this list with the 1990 winner, Mr Frisk. While some of the other horses featured in this article have become so legendary that even people who’ve never watched a horse race before can identify them, Mr Frisk is often overlooked. However, this brave horse set a brand-new record when he romped home to victory that day in April, completing the course in an astonishing 8 minutes and 47.8 seconds.  

Not only that, his jockey, Marcus Armytage, was still at amateur status at the time. The pair set off at a furious pace and headed towards the front of the pack. As the fences bested more accomplished runners and riders, Armytage and Mr Frisk pushed on, even clearing much of the second circuit around the track unchallenged.  

Neptune Collonges 

Many an outcome of a race has been decided by a nose but never had the outcome of the Grand National come down to such a fine point until Neptune Collonges took the win in 2012.  

Trained by Paul Nicholls, Neptune Collonges had clear star quality – and that’s despite racing in the shadows of his legendary stablemates Denman and Kauto Star. However, winning the National by a nose catapulted him into the history books. Adeptly steered by Daryl Jacob, Neptune Collonges literally didn’t give an inch until he was well clear of the post, with Sunnyhillboy a nostril’s length behind him,  

Aldaniti 

The National is a race that inspires plenty of emotions in the people watching and participating in it. But few have captured our collective hearts and minds in the way that Bob Champion and Aldaniti managed to in 1981. When the pair lined up at the start, they stood for more than just elite-level horse racing; they also represented the courage, perseverance and sheer faith needed to overcome the most deadly of odds.  

Both Champion and Aldaniti thought their racing days were over. Bob had been diagnosed with cancer, while Aldaniti suffered an injury so severe that his stable thought he’d never recover and race again.  

But race again Aldaniti and Bob Champion did, conquering the fearsome course and inspiring people the world over to never give up on their dreams. The impact of their journey was so great that it even inspired a major motion picture, Champions, starring John Hurt and Edward Woodward.  

Red Rum  

If there’s one Grand National winner who needs no introduction, it’s Red Rum. This incredible horse won the National not once or twice but a total of three times, and for the best part of the 1970s, he had horse racing fans on the edge of their seats with his Grand National escapades.  

In 1973, Rummy claimed his first victory at Aintree, pipping lead favourite Crisp to the post with not a moment to spare. The following year he returned to defend his title and did so in style, despite carrying top weight (12kg) in the form of Brian Fletcher. Come 1975, Red Rum and Fletcher were aiming for a hattrick, but after placing second, it seemed their hopes of a third National win were dashed.  

Another second-place finish occurred in 1976, but still, Red Rum pressed on. Then, in 1977, Rummy – expertly guided by Tommy Stack – made racing history by romping home a total of 25 lengths ahead of the pack.  

To this day, Red Rum remains the greatest racehorse of all time.