Most common winning age

Nine-year-old horses have won 47 of the 176 runnings of the Grand National where the

winner’s age was recorded.

Oldest winner

Peter Simple (1853) is believed to be the oldest winner of the Grand National at around 15

years of age, although the records are unclear and that he may have been anything

between 12 and 17. The two fully substantiated oldest winners are 13-year-olds - Why Not

(1894) and Sergeant Murphy (1923).

Youngest winner

Alcibiade (1865), Regal (1876), Austerlitz (1877), Empress (1880) and Lutteur III (1909) were

all aged five when successful in the Grand National. Since 2012, only seven-year-olds and

upwards can take part. The last seven-year-old to succeed was Noble Yeats in 2022.

Winning ages in the last 30 runnings

7-y-o (1 winner) Noble Yeats (2022)

8-y-o (6 winners) Bindaree (2002), Many Clouds (2015), One For Arthur (2017), Tiger Roll

(2018), Minella Times (2021) and I Am Maximus (2024).

9-y-o (9 winners) Lord Gyllene (1997), Bobbyjo (1999), Papillon (2000), Hedgehunter

(2005), Comply Or Die (2008), Mon Mome (2009), Rule The World (2016), Tiger Roll

(2019) and Corach Rambler (2023).

10-y-o (7 winners) Rough Quest (1996), Earth Summit (1998), Monty’s Pass (2003),

Numbersixvalverde (2006), Silver Birch (2007), Don’t Push It (2010) and Ballabriggs (2011).

11-y-o (5 winners) Miinnehoma (1994), Red Marauder (2001), Neptune Collonges (2012),

Auroras Encore (2013) and Pineau De Re (2014).

12-y-o (2 winners) Royal Athlete (1995) and Amberleigh House (2004).

Betting's biggest shocks

100/1 - Mon Mome (2009), Foinavon (1967), Caughoo (1947), Gregalach (1929) and

Tipperary Tim (1928).

66/1 - Auroras Encore (2013), Ayala (1963), Russian Hero (1949), and Rubio (1908).

50/1 - Last Suspect (1985), Anglo (1966), Sheila’s Cottage (1948), Forbra (1932) and Noble

Yeats (2022).

Shortest priced winners

Poethlyn (1919) at 11/4

Huntsman (1862) at 3/1

Roquefort (1885) at 100/30

Since the turn of the century, six winners have been clear or joint favourites.

The most recent favourite to succeed is I Am Maximus (7/1 Joint-Favourite) in 2024.

Golden Miller is the shortest-priced Grand National favourite ever, going off at 2/1 in 1935.

The 1934 winner unseated his rider at the 11th fence.

Other short-priced favourites include Red Rum, who was the 7-2 market leader when

beaten 15 lengths into second by L’Escargot in 1975, the 1965 and 1966 runner-up Freddie

who was sent off at 7/2 and 11/4 respectively, and Prince Regent, winner of 14 races

including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, who started the 3/1 market leader in 1946 and finished

third under 12st 5lb.

Winning greys

Three different grey horses have won the Grand National four times:

The Lamb (1868 and 1871)

Nicolaus Silver 1961)

Neptune Collonges (2012).

Greys have been placed five times this century:

What’s Up Boys (2nd in 2002), Kingsmark (4th in 2002), King Johns Castle (2nd in 2008),

Vanillier (2nd in 2023) and Gaillard Du Mesnil (3rd in 2023).

Winning mares

Charity (1841), Miss Mowbray (1852), Anatis (1860), Jealousy (1861), Emblem (1863),

Emblematic (1864), Casse Tete (1872), Empress (1880), Zoedone (1883), Frigate (1889),

Shannon Lass (1902), Sheila’s Cottage (1948) and Nickel Coin (1951).

Placed mares since 1951

Gentle Moya (2nd in 1956), Tiberetta (3rd in 1957, 2nd 1958 & 4th 1959), Miss Hunter (3rd in

1970), Eyecatcher (3rd in 1976 and 1977), Auntie Dot (3rd in 1991), Ebony Jane (4th in

1994), Dubacilla (4th in 1995) and Magic Of Light (2nd in 2019).

Fewest finishers

Two horses finished in 1928, with Tipperary Tim beating the remounted Billy Barton by a

distance. Easter Hero hit the Canal Turn on the first circuit and fell back into the ditch

which then preceded the fence and impeded runners behind him.

There were three finishers in 1882, 1913 and 1951 (in both 1913 and 1951 the third horse was

remounted).

More recently, only four finished in 2001. A loose horse (Paddy’s Return) at the Canal Turn

the first time around put paid to the chances of a quarter of the 40 starters and then the

heavy going did not suit many others. Red Marauder and Smarty were the only two horses

to negotiate the 30 fences at the first attempt. Blowing Wind and Papillon, who both fell at

the 19th, were remounted to finish third and fourth respectively. The remounting of horses

was banned in all races by the British Horseracing Authority in November 2009.

Most finishers

A total of 23 horses went past the winning post in 1984, from 40 starters. There were 22

finishers in 1963, 1987 and 1992.

66 in 1929. The maximum field size is now 34.

10 lined up in 1883.