Midlands Grand National

Midlands Grand National
Listed race
Location Uttoxeter Racecourse,
Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England
Inaugurated 1969
Race type Steeplechase
Sponsor Betfred
Website uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk
Race information
Distance 4 miles 1 furlong 110 yards (6,739 metres)
Surface Turf
Qualification Five-years-old and up
Weight Handicap
Maximum: 11 st 12 lb
Purse £100,000 (2014)
1st: £56,950
Midlands Grand National
2015
Goonyella Raz De Maree Woodford County

The Midlands Grand National is a Listed National Hunt race in Great Britain. It is a handicap steeplechase and is run at Uttoxeter Racecourse in March, over a distance of 4 miles, 1 furlong and 110 yards.

History

The first race was run on 3 May 1969.[1] The race was initially run over 4m2f and was increased up to 4m4f in 1977. In 1991 the distance was dropped to 4m, before being upped to 4m2f in 1993. It has been run at its present distance of 4m1f110yds yards since 2004.[2]

The 1977 winner Watafella finished third in the race but was promoted to first place after the first and second, No Scotch and Evander were disqualified after it was realised they failed to meet the conditions of the race, along with three other runners.[3]

The race was not covered on television in its early years but was shown by Channel 4 during the 1980s and up until 1998. The BBC took over coverage between 1998 and 2005 before the race returned to Channel 4, who continue to cover until this day.

Records

Most successful horse:

Leading jockey (2 wins):

Leading trainer (4 wins):


Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Weight
Jockey
Trainer
1969Happy Spring1309-11Ken WhiteJ Wright
1970Two Springs810-06R EdwardsG Owen
1971Grey Sombrero709-07Graham ThornerDavid Gandolfo
1972Proud Percy910-00G FaulknerArthur Stephenson
1973Rip's Lyric810-06Ken WhiteW Whiston
1974Fighting Chance609-08Bill ShoemarkGay Kindersley
1975Rag Trade910-10John BurkeArthur Pitt
1976Burrator710-01Mr J DeckerA Jarvis
1977Watifella79-11Brian SmartJenny Pitman
1978Kick On1110-08R HyettK Lewis
1979Jimmy Miff79-10S KembleI Wardle
1980Pacify1010-00Steve JobarStan Mellor
1981 Master Brutus 9 10-02 J L Goulding Caroline Mason
1982 Bridge Ash 9 10-13 Keith Johnson J I Johnson
no race 1983[1]
1984 Mr Mole 9 10-00 A Webb John Webber
1985 Northern Bay 9 11-10 Philip Hobbs T T Bill
1986 The Thinker 8 11-06 Ridley Lamb Arthur Stephenson
1987 Midnight Madness 9 09-13 Derek Morris D Bloomfield
1988 Knock Hill 12 11-07 George Mernagh John Webber
1989 Gallic Prince 10 10-01 Peter Hobbs Philip Hobbs
1990 Willsford 7 11-00 Mark Pitman Jenny Pitman
1991 Bonanza Boy 10 11-10 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1992 Laura's Beau 8 10-08 Conor O'Dwyer Francis Berry
1993 Mister Ed 10 10-03 Derek Morris Roger Curtis
1994 Glenbrook d'Or 10 10-00 Brian Clifford Jim Wilson
1995 Lucky Lane 11 10-00 Norman Williamson Philip Hobbs
1996 Another Excuse 8 10-00 Brendan Powell, snr Eugene O'Sullivan
1997 Seven Towers 8 11-04 Peter Niven Mrs Mary Reveley
1998 Miss Orchestra 7 09-09 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
1999 Young Kenny 8 11-06 Brendan Powell, snr Peter Beaumont
2000 Ackzo 7 10-00 Adrian Maguire Ferdy Murphy
no race 2001[2]
2002 The Bunny Boiler 8 10-00 Norman Williamson Noel Meade
2003 Intelligent 7 10-10 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington
no race 2004[3]
2005 Philson Run 9 10-02 Paul Carberry Nick Williams
2006 G V A Ireland 8 10-03 Ruby Walsh Francis Flood
2007 Baron Windrush 9 10-09 Jason Maguire Nigel Twiston-Davies
2008 Himalayan Trail 9 10-00 Tjade Collier Sue Smith
2009 Russian Trigger 7 10-12 Jack Doyle Victor Dartnall
2010 Synchronised 7 11-05 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill
2011 Minella Four Star 8 10-00 Conor O'Farrell David Pipe
2012 Master Overseer 9 10-03 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2013 Big Occasion 6 09-07 Mr Mikey Ennis David Pipe
2014 Goulanes 8 10-03 Richard Johnson David Pipe
2015 Goonyella 8 10-12 Jonnny Burke Jim Dreaper

1 The 1983 running was cancelled due to a waterlogged track.
2 The 2001 running was cancelled due to a foot-and-mouth crisis.
3 The 2004 running was cancelled due to high winds.

See also

References

  1. "Stoke & Staffordshire - Radio Stoke - The Midlands Grand National". BBC. 2009-03-16. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  2. "Midlands Grand National". 2006-03-18. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  3. "Big Race History: Midlands National". Betting.betfair.com. 2009-03-13. Retrieved 2012-10-19.