1991 Grand National
Encyclopedia
The 1991 Grand National was the 145th renewal of the Grand National
horse race
that took place at Aintree Racecourse
near Liverpool
, England
, on 6 April 1991.
It was the last Grand National to be sponsored by Seagram
, a Canadian distillery corporation that had begun sponsoring the world-famous steeplechase
in 1984. Aptly, the race was won by a horse named Seagram, in a time of nine minutes and 29.9 seconds.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
winner Garrison Savannah
looked likely to go on and win when he jumped the 30th and final fence, four lengths clear of his nearest challenger, 11-year-old Seagram. But Seagram made up the ground on the long run-in to secure victory. There was one equine fatality in the race when Ballyhane collapsed and died after finishing.
the horse had previously won the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow
in 1988 and '89 but had pulled up in the most recent renewal when partnered by Hywel Davies
. When reunited with Scudamore, Bonanza Boy bounced back by winning the Ansell's National Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter
three weeks before the National. Scudamore took the ride at Aintree and was, jointly with Chris Grant, the most experienced rider in the race, both taking their eleventh National mounts. The favourite was never in contention, being well to the rear on the first circuit and always just out of reach of the leaders on the second. He picked his way through tired horses to earn fifth place. Bonanza Boy returned for a fourth attempt at the National in 1992
but his best days were behind him and he failed to complete the course for the first time. He also lined up for a fifth and final time in the void race of 1993
and retired from racing in 1994 spending his days opening fetes and local events before passing away in 2011 at the age of 30.
Garrison Savannah
came to Aintree bidding to be only the second horse ever, and the first for over half a century to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
and Grand National in the same year. In partnership of Mark Pitman, son of trainer Jenny Pitman
, the pair were well placed throughout and turned for home disputing the lead. At the penultimate fence the Cheltenham champion kicked on and built a lead of three lengths going to the final flight, which looked decisive when his lead increased after the fence but just as he approached the elbow the horse's stride shortened dramatically and he began virtually running on the spot to be caught in the final strides by the eventual winner. In defeat Garrison Savannah has often been cited in articles and television recollections of gallant National losers and in another ironic twist, his defeat is often likened to that of Crisp in 1973 when caught on the run in in similar circumstances when being ridden by Pitman's father Richard
. Pitman senior also had to recall his sons fate as a BBC reporter taking viewers through a rerun of the race. Garrison Savannah returned for three further attempts at the National, including the void race of 1993 but failed to repeat his performance of his first attempt. He however remains one of just two horses since the war to have won and finished second in chasings two major events in the same season. After a happy retirement, he passed away in 2005 at the age of twenty-two.
Rinus shared co second favourite spot with Garrison Savannah at 7/1, largely on the back of an impressive performance when finishing third in the previous year's race. In company of Neale Doughty, himself a winning rider in 1984
he was going very well, moving up to dispute the lead when he crashed through the twentieth fence and fell, being met with a huge gasp from the crowd in the stands. it proved to be the only time in ten attempts that Doughty had failed to complete the course.
Bigsun was another who had performed well in the National the previous year to finish sixth and with former winning rider Richard Dunwoody
in the saddle, was well backed to improve on that at 9/1. They were in touch with the leaders and looking like they may be about to mount a serious challenge when a very bad mistake at Becher's Brook second time saw the horse come right down on his belly. Dunwoody somehow managed to stay on board but they had been brought to a complete standstill and any hope of victory was gone. They jumped another fence before Dunwoody pulled up with Bigsun having possibly pulled a muscle in the Becher's mistake.
Seagram was naturally popular among coincidence backers who noted the horse carried the name of the sponsors though his price of 12/1 had more to do with his recent victory in the Ritz Club Chase at Cheltenham. His detractors pointed to the horse being the smallest in the field as well as being partnered with the relatively inexperienced Nigel Hawke, one of fourteen riders making the National debut. Seagram was kept in mid division during the first circuit before moving into contention early on the second. Seagram was one of five disputing the lead after jumping the Canal turn but looked to have been beaten into second at the final flight before finding a second wind to streak past the tired Garrison Savannah in the final strides to win by five lengths. His rider Nigel Hawke admitted to being overawed by the attention victory brought and later claimed that he had settled for second place when jumping the final fence. Like many National winners, Seagram failed to achieve anything of note after his victory. He returned to tackle the Aintree fences twice more, once in the National and once in the Becher chase, failing to complete the course on either occasion. A horse once described as easily bored was retired to the hunting field
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
horse race
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
that took place at Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
near Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on 6 April 1991.
It was the last Grand National to be sponsored by Seagram
Seagram
The Seagram Company Ltd. was a large corporation headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that was the largest distiller of alcoholic beverages in the world. Toward the end of its independent existence it also controlled various entertainment and other business ventures...
, a Canadian distillery corporation that had begun sponsoring the world-famous steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
in 1984. Aptly, the race was won by a horse named Seagram, in a time of nine minutes and 29.9 seconds.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
winner Garrison Savannah
Garrison Savannah (horse)
Garrison Savannah was a famous racehorse, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1991 by a short-head from The Fellow with Desert Orchid back in third place. In the same year, he came second in the Aintree Grand National. He won the previous year's Royal & SunAlliance Chase. He had only one race...
looked likely to go on and win when he jumped the 30th and final fence, four lengths clear of his nearest challenger, 11-year-old Seagram. But Seagram made up the ground on the long run-in to secure victory. There was one equine fatality in the race when Ballyhane collapsed and died after finishing.
Leading Contenders
Bonanza Boy was sent off as favourite despite having finished well beaten in his two previous attempts at the race. Under Peter ScudamorePeter Scudamore
Peter Scudamore , known universally as 'Scu', is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey , riding 1,678 winners in his career...
the horse had previously won the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
in 1988 and '89 but had pulled up in the most recent renewal when partnered by Hywel Davies
Hywel Davies
-Biography:Hywel Davies is a freelance fashion writer and journalist based in London.Previously the fashion editor at iconic lifestyle magazine Sleazenation, he has also written for Arena, Vogue, ELLE, Wallpaper, Nylon, Dazed and Confused, Dansk, Self Service, Fashion Inc, Grafik, Time Out, The...
. When reunited with Scudamore, Bonanza Boy bounced back by winning the Ansell's National Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter is a historic market town in Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. The current population is approximately 13,711, though new developments in the town will increase this figure. Uttoxeter lies close to the River Dove and is near the cities of Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and...
three weeks before the National. Scudamore took the ride at Aintree and was, jointly with Chris Grant, the most experienced rider in the race, both taking their eleventh National mounts. The favourite was never in contention, being well to the rear on the first circuit and always just out of reach of the leaders on the second. He picked his way through tired horses to earn fifth place. Bonanza Boy returned for a fourth attempt at the National in 1992
1992 Grand National
The 1992 Grand National was the 146th official renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 4 April 1992....
but his best days were behind him and he failed to complete the course for the first time. He also lined up for a fifth and final time in the void race of 1993
1993 Grand National
The 1993 Grand National was scheduled on 3 April 1993 to be the 147th official renewal of the Grand National horse race, held annually at Aintree near Liverpool, England....
and retired from racing in 1994 spending his days opening fetes and local events before passing away in 2011 at the age of 30.
Garrison Savannah
Garrison Savannah (horse)
Garrison Savannah was a famous racehorse, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1991 by a short-head from The Fellow with Desert Orchid back in third place. In the same year, he came second in the Aintree Grand National. He won the previous year's Royal & SunAlliance Chase. He had only one race...
came to Aintree bidding to be only the second horse ever, and the first for over half a century to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
and Grand National in the same year. In partnership of Mark Pitman, son of trainer Jenny Pitman
Jenny Pitman
Jenny Pitman is a former British racehorse trainer and author. She became the first woman to train a Grand National winner, when Corbiere won the race in 1983. She went on to win a second Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995...
, the pair were well placed throughout and turned for home disputing the lead. At the penultimate fence the Cheltenham champion kicked on and built a lead of three lengths going to the final flight, which looked decisive when his lead increased after the fence but just as he approached the elbow the horse's stride shortened dramatically and he began virtually running on the spot to be caught in the final strides by the eventual winner. In defeat Garrison Savannah has often been cited in articles and television recollections of gallant National losers and in another ironic twist, his defeat is often likened to that of Crisp in 1973 when caught on the run in in similar circumstances when being ridden by Pitman's father Richard
Richard Pitman
Richard Pitman, is a retired jump jockey who rode 470 winners in his career including Lanzarote in the 1974 Champion Hurdle). He also won the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse twice, the Whitbread Gold Cup once and the Hennessy Gold Cup once....
. Pitman senior also had to recall his sons fate as a BBC reporter taking viewers through a rerun of the race. Garrison Savannah returned for three further attempts at the National, including the void race of 1993 but failed to repeat his performance of his first attempt. He however remains one of just two horses since the war to have won and finished second in chasings two major events in the same season. After a happy retirement, he passed away in 2005 at the age of twenty-two.
Rinus shared co second favourite spot with Garrison Savannah at 7/1, largely on the back of an impressive performance when finishing third in the previous year's race. In company of Neale Doughty, himself a winning rider in 1984
1984 Grand National
The 1984 Grand National was the 138th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, in April 1984....
he was going very well, moving up to dispute the lead when he crashed through the twentieth fence and fell, being met with a huge gasp from the crowd in the stands. it proved to be the only time in ten attempts that Doughty had failed to complete the course.
Bigsun was another who had performed well in the National the previous year to finish sixth and with former winning rider Richard Dunwoody
Richard Dunwoody
Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...
in the saddle, was well backed to improve on that at 9/1. They were in touch with the leaders and looking like they may be about to mount a serious challenge when a very bad mistake at Becher's Brook second time saw the horse come right down on his belly. Dunwoody somehow managed to stay on board but they had been brought to a complete standstill and any hope of victory was gone. They jumped another fence before Dunwoody pulled up with Bigsun having possibly pulled a muscle in the Becher's mistake.
Seagram was naturally popular among coincidence backers who noted the horse carried the name of the sponsors though his price of 12/1 had more to do with his recent victory in the Ritz Club Chase at Cheltenham. His detractors pointed to the horse being the smallest in the field as well as being partnered with the relatively inexperienced Nigel Hawke, one of fourteen riders making the National debut. Seagram was kept in mid division during the first circuit before moving into contention early on the second. Seagram was one of five disputing the lead after jumping the Canal turn but looked to have been beaten into second at the final flight before finding a second wind to streak past the tired Garrison Savannah in the final strides to win by five lengths. His rider Nigel Hawke admitted to being overawed by the attention victory brought and later claimed that he had settled for second place when jumping the final fence. Like many National winners, Seagram failed to achieve anything of note after his victory. He returned to tackle the Aintree fences twice more, once in the National and once in the Becher chase, failing to complete the course on either occasion. A horse once described as easily bored was retired to the hunting field
Finishing order
| Position | Name | Jockey Jockey A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:... |
Age | Weight | SP | Distance |
| 1st | Seagram (NZL New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... ) |
Nigel Hawke | 11 | 10-06 | 12/1 | Winner by 5 lengths |
| 2nd | Garrison Savannah Garrison Savannah (horse) Garrison Savannah was a famous racehorse, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1991 by a short-head from The Fellow with Desert Orchid back in third place. In the same year, he came second in the Aintree Grand National. He won the previous year's Royal & SunAlliance Chase. He had only one race... |
Mark Pitman | 8 | 11-01 | 7/1 | 8 lengths |
| 3rd | Auntie Dot | Mark Dwyer | 10 | 10-04 | 50/1 | 25 lengths |
| 4th | Over the Road | Robbie Supple | 10 | 10-07 | 50/1 | Short head |
| 5th | Bonanza Boy | Peter Scudamore Peter Scudamore Peter Scudamore , known universally as 'Scu', is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey , riding 1,678 winners in his career... |
10 | 11-07 | 13/2 F | 1½ lengths |
| 6th | Durham Edition | Chris Grant | 13 | 10-13 | 25/1 | 4 lengths |
| 7th | Golden Minstrel | Tom Grantham | 12 | 10-02 | 50/1 | 6 lengths |
| 8th | Old Applejack | T Reed | 11 | 10-01 | 66/1 | 2 lengths |
| 9th | Leagaune | M Richards | 9 | 10-00 | 200/1 | 4 lengths |
| 10th | Foyle Fisherman | Eddie Murphy | 12 | 10-00 | 40/1 | 12 lengths |
| 11th | Ballyhane | D Murphy | 10 | 10-03 | 22/1 | 1½ lengths |
| 12th | Harley I | G Lyons | 11 | 10-00 | 150/1 | 30 lengths |
| 13th | Mick's Star | Charlie Swan | 11 | 10-00 | 100/1 | 5 lengths |
| 14th | Ten of Spades | John White | 11 | 11-01 | 15/1 | |
| 15th | Forest Ranger | D Tegg | 9 | 10-00 | 100/1 | |
| 16th | Yahoo | Norman Williamson Norman Williamson Norman Williamson is a professional jockey in the Irish National Hunt.- References :... |
10 | 11-01 | 33/1 | |
| 17th | Golden Freeze | Michael Bowlby | 9 | 11-00 | 40/1 |
Non-finishers
| Fence | Name | Jockey Jockey A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:... |
Age | Weight | SP | Fate |
| 1st | Docklands Express | Anthony Tory | 9 | 10-03 | 20/1 | Fell |
| 2nd | Run and Skip | D Byrne | 13 | 10-00 | 66/1 | Fell |
| 5th | Envopak Token | Mark Perrett | 10 | 10-00 | 28/1 | Pulled up |
| 7th (Foinavon Foinavon Foinavon was a relatively undistinguished Irish racehorse, until he became famous for winning the Grand National in 1967 after the rest of the field fell, refused or were hampered or brought down in a mêlée at the 23rd fence. He was at one time owned by Anne, Duchess of Westminster, whose colours... 's) |
Southernair I | Mr. J Simo | 11 | 10-01 | 100/1 | Unseated rider |
| 11th | Joint Sovereignty | L O'Hara | 11 | 10-00 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 15th (The Chair) | Crammer | John Durkan John Durkan Memorial Chase The John Durkan Memorial Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs at Punchestown in December.The race was first run in 1968 and it was run over a distance of 2 miles until 1973... |
11 | 10-02 | 28/1 | Fell |
| 17th | Abba Lad | D Gallagher | 9 | 10-00 | 250/1 | Pulled up |
| 18th | Fraze (CZE Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... ) |
Vaclav Chaloupka | 8 | 11-10 | 100/1 | Pulled up |
| 19th | Master Bob | Jamie Osborne Jamie Osborne Jamie Osborne is a jockey and race horse trainer. Born 28 August 1967 he rode his first winner in March 1986 and in 1999 obtained his trainers licence. Once a favourite of the Queen Mother, he was acquitted of race fixing in 1998.-References:... |
11 | 10-05 | 20/1 | Pulled up |
| 19th | Team Challenge | Ben De Haan | 9 | 10-00 | 50/1 | Refused |
| 20th | Rinus | Neale Doughty | 10 | 10-07 | 7/1 | Fell |
| 20th | The Langholm Dyer | Graham McCourt | 12 | 10-06 | 100/1 | Unseated rider |
| 21st | Mister Christian (NZL New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... ) |
Simon Earle | 10 | 10-00 | 100/1 | Pulled up |
| 21st | Bumbles Folly (NZL New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... ) |
Jimmy Frost | 10 | 10-05 | 150/1 | Pulled up |
| 21st | Solidasarock | Graham Bradley | 9 | 10-04 | 50/1 | Pulled up |
| 22nd (Becher's Brook Becher's Brook Becher's Brook is a fence jumped during the Grand National, a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is jumped twice during the race, as the sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year... ) |
Mr. Frisk | Mr. M Armytage Marcus Armytage Marcus Armytage is a journalist and former National Hunt jockey who won the Grand National as an amateur in 1990, riding Mr Frisk. He was educated at Eton College.... |
12 | 11-06 | 25/1 | Pulled up |
| 22nd (Becher's Brook Becher's Brook Becher's Brook is a fence jumped during the Grand National, a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is jumped twice during the race, as the sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year... ) |
Hotplate | P Niven | 9 | 10-02 | 80/1 | Pulled up |
| 22nd (Becher's Brook Becher's Brook Becher's Brook is a fence jumped during the Grand National, a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is jumped twice during the race, as the sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year... ) |
Blue Dart | H Davis | 11 | 10-02 | 80/1 | Unseated rider |
| 23rd (Foinavon Foinavon Foinavon was a relatively undistinguished Irish racehorse, until he became famous for winning the Grand National in 1967 after the rest of the field fell, refused or were hampered or brought down in a mêlée at the 23rd fence. He was at one time owned by Anne, Duchess of Westminster, whose colours... 's) |
New Halen | S J O'Neill | 10 | 10-00 | 50/1 | Unseated rider |
| 24th (Canal Turn Canal Turn The Canal Turn is a fence on Aintree Racecourse's National Course and thus is jumped during the Grand National steeplechase which is held annually at the racecourse near Liverpool, England.... ) |
Oklaoma (FRA France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... ) |
R Kleparski | 11 | 10-07 | 66/1 | Pulled up |
| 24th (Canal Turn Canal Turn The Canal Turn is a fence on Aintree Racecourse's National Course and thus is jumped during the Grand National steeplechase which is held annually at the racecourse near Liverpool, England.... ) |
Bigsun | R Dunwoody Richard Dunwoody Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider... |
10 | 10-04 | 9/1 | Pulled up |
| 25th (Valentine's) | Huntworth | Mr. P Walter | 11 | 10-08 | 50/1 | Pulled up |
| 26th | General Chandos | Mr. J Bradburne | 10 | 10-03 | 150/1 | Pulled up |