Big Race History: Scottish Grand National

Events / Malcolm Pannett / 15 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

Malcolm Pannett examines the history of biggest long-distance chase north of the border.

The Scottish Grand National was founded at Bogside and moved to its current location at Ayr 43 years ago. Along the way it has become established as the premier long-distance chase north of the border.

Racing at Bogside had been recorded as early as 1636 but there had been a 15-year break in proceedings before a revival in 1867, under the banner of the Eglington Hunt, which featured the first running of The West Of Scotland Grand National.

The inaugural race was won by The Elk who beat the nearest of his 10 rivals by four lengths. This success completed a notable double for his jockey John Page and owner the Duke of Hamilton who had won the Grand National with Cortolvin a few weeks before.

In 1880 Peacock was the first horse to win the re-titled Scottish Grand National and by the end of the decade Solicitor (1875 and 1877) became the first dual winner. The next century Couvrefeu II (1911-1913) went one better winning three times each for a different, albeit related, owner.

In 1924 Lord Eglington sold the course which then reverted to the name Bogside. Estuna (1926 and 1927) was followed by two triple winners, the remarkable Southern Hero (1934, 1936 and 1939) who in addition was second in 1937 and 1938, and Queen's Taste (1953, 1954 and 1956).

Brasher ridden by Jimmy FitzGerald won the last running at Bogside which was closed in 1965 as part of the Levy Board cull. So it was goodbye to the track positioned close to the Nobel and Coy explosives factory which featured black fences and iron railings - parts of which can still be seen today.

The race transferred to Ayr with African Patrol, ridden by Johnnie Bradburne, winning the first race at the new venue. Barona (1975 and 1976) became the first dual winner at Ayr succeeding the second time just a week after finishing fourth to Rag Trade in the Grand National. Androma (1984 and 1985) replicated the feat nine years later (see below).

Understandably there are many connections to the Aintree original with Music Hall (1920), Sergeant Murphy (1922), Little Polveir (1987) and Earth Summit (1994) - who also won the Welsh National - all going on to land the Grand National. While Kellsboro' Jack (1935) had already been successful at Liverpool.

Red Rum though is the only horse to win the Grand National and Scottish Grand National in the same year, a feat he achieved in 1974 when he beat Proud Tarquin. 'Rummy' then finished second to Barona the following year and after winning his third Grand National in 1977 rather ignominiously trailed in 11th behind Sebastian V.

Popham Down won in 1964 and then infamously brought all bar Foinavon to a halt in the 1967 Grand National after depositing Macer Gifford at the fist fence.

Other notable winners include Esban (1973) owned by Welsh-songstress and serial-litigant Dorothy Squires who was once married to Roger Moore; Astral Charmer (1981), who was gifted a huge advantage and still had three lengths to spare at the line over the other jockeys who woke up too late; and Run For Paddy (2006) trained and ridden by Carl Llewellyn.

The race wasn't run in 1878, 1890, 1916-1918, 1921, and 1940-1946. There was also no winner in 1891 as neither of the two runners entered managed to get past the second fence.

25 years ago - The improving Androma, who had started the season as a novice, got the better of Why Forget despite taking a liberty with the third last fence. The following season Jimmy FitzGerald's son of Andrea Mantegna shook off the effects of a fetlock injury sustained in the Welsh National to double up at the expense of Righthand Man with Why Forget again in the frame this time finishing third.

10 years ago - Veteran Full Of Oats ran a fine race from the front but couldn't live with top-weight Young Kenny, under Brendan Powell, who pushed on in the last mile pulling nine lengths clear of Hollybank Buck who ran on past Full Of Oats for second. Young Kenny had already won the Grand National Trial at Haydock and the Midlands National on his previous two runs and two seasons later took the Becher Chase at Aintree.

Five years ago - In-form Grey Abbey notched up his third win of the season when making all under Graham Lee. Howard Johnson's popular grey though faced a serious rival in the straight as Granit D'Estruval sneaked closer and closer until getting upsides at the last. But he came down leaving Grey Abbey a distance clear of Kerry Lads and Maximise

Last Year - With Cheltenham Gold Cup-fourth Halcon Genelardais in the line up only three of the 24 runners were in the handicap proper. The top weight made a bold bid hitting the front five from home but had no answer to 66-1 shot Iris de Balme who took over two out - a last fence mistake sealed Halcon Genelardais' fate. Amateur Charlie Huxley steered home the comfortable 14-length winner, who was running from 26lb out of the handicap, with Flintoff and favourite Old Benny finishing third and fourth respectively.