2018 Grand National

The 2018 Grand National (officially the Randox Health 2018 Grand National) was the 171st annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase was the pinnacle of a three-day festival which commenced on 12 April 2018.[1] The event was sponsored by Randox Health for the second time.[2]

2018 Grand National Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Grand National

LocationAintree Racecourse
Date14 April 2018
Winning horseTiger Roll
Starting price1010 10/1
JockeyDavy Russell
TrainerGordon Elliott
OwnerGigginstown House Stud
ConditionsHeavy

The race was won by 1010 10/1 shot Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell, in a photo finish from Pleasant Company. All 38 runners returned to the stables, although Saint Are required veterinary attention on the course and Charlie Deutsch, riding Houblon Des Obeaux, was treated on the track after a fall leading to Becher's Brook being bypassed on the second circuit.[3][4]

Race card

From an initial 105 entries, the final field of 40 runners was declared on 13 April, after Minella Rocco, Vicente and Beeves were all withdrawn from the race and replaced by Thunder And Roses, Delusionofgrandeur and Walk In The Mill.[5] Two contenders, Regal Encore and Walk In The Mill a day after securing its position in the race, were withdrawn on the morning of the race, leaving 38 starters,[6] the smallest field since 1999.

2018 also marked the first National for 30 years to feature three female jockeys in the line-up.[7] 2012 third-placed jockey Katie Walsh paired Baie Des Iles for her sixth ride in the race, whilst Rachael Blackmore and Bryony Frost were both handed their first National rides on Alpha Des Obeaux and Milansbar respectively.

No Horse Age Handicap
(stlb)
SP Jockey Trainer
1 Thunder And Roses* (IRE) 10 10-05 33/1 James Slevin Mouse Morris
2 Blaklion 9 11-10 1014 14/1 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
3 Anibale Fly (FR) 8 11-08 1010 10/1 Barry Geraghty Tony Martin (IRE)
4 The Last Samuri (IRE) 10 11-08 20/1 David Bass Kim Bailey
5 Valseur Lido (FR) 9 11-07 1066 66/1 Keith Donoghue Henry de Bromhead (IRE)
6 Total Recall (IRE) 9 11-05 1007 7/1 Paul Townend Willie Mullins (IRE)
7 Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 8 11-04 1033 33/1 Rachael Blackmore Mouse Morris (IRE)
8 Perfect Candidate (IRE) 11 11-03 40/1 Alain Cawley Fergal O'Brien
9 Shantou Flyer (IRE) 8 11-02 25/1 James Bowen Richard Hobson
10 Tenor Nivernais (FR) 11 11-01 66/1 Tom O'Brien Venetia Williams
11 Carlingford Lough (IRE) 12 11-01 33/1 Mark Walsh John Kiely (IRE)
12 Delusionofgrandeur* (IRE) 8 10-05 50/1 Henry Brooke Sue Smith
13 Tiger Roll (IRE) 8 10-13 1010 10/1 Davy Russell Gordon Elliott (IRE)
15 Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 9 10-13 1025 25/1 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
16 Chase The Spud 10 10-12 1025 25/1 Paddy Brennan Fergal O'Brien
17 Warriors Tale 9 10-12 28/1 Sean Bowen Paul Nicholls
18 Seeyouatmidnight 10 10-12 1011 11/1 Brian Hughes Sandy Thomson
19 Gas Line Boy (IRE) 12 10-11 1025 25/1 Robbie Dunne Ian Williams
20 The Dutchman (IRE) 8 10-11 25/1 Harry Cobden Colin Tizzard
21 Pleasant Company (IRE) 10 10-11 1025 25/1 David Mullins Willie Mullins (IRE)
22 Ucello Conti (FR) 10 10-10 16/1 Daryl Jacob Gordon Elliott (IRE)
23 Saint Are (FR) 12 10-10 50/1 Ciaran Gethings Tom George
25 Raz De Maree (FR) 13 10-09 1020 20/1 Robbie Power Gavin Cromwell (IRE)
26 I Just Know (IRE) 8 10-08 16/1 Danny Cook Sue Smith
27 Virgilio (FR) 9 10-08 66/1 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
28 Baie Des Iles (FR) 7 10-08 1016 16/1 Katie Walsh[lower-alpha 1] Ross O'Sullivan (IRE)
29 Maggio (FR) 13 10-08 66/1 Brendan Powell Patrick Griffin (IRE)
30 Pendra (IRE) 10 10-08 40/1 Aidan Coleman Charlie Longsdon
31 Buywise (IRE) 11 10-08 40/1 Adam Wedge Evan Williams
32 Childrens List (IRE) 8 10-08 40/1 Jonathan Burke Willie Mullins (IRE)
33 Lord Windermere (IRE) 12 10-07 50/1 Andrew Lynch Jim Culloty (IRE)
34 Captain Redbeard (IRE) 9 10-07 20/1 Sam Coltherd Stuart Coltherd
35 Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 11 10-07 33/1 Charlie Deutsch Venetia Williams
36 Bless The Wings (IRE) 13 10-06 1040 40/1 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott (IRE)
37 Milansbar (IRE) 11 10-06 1025 25/1 Bryony Frost Neil King
38 Final Nudge (IRE) 9 10-06 33/1 Gavin Sheehan David Dennis
39 Double Ross (IRE) 12 10-06 40/1 Jamie Bargary Nigel Twiston-Davies
40 Road To Riches (IRE) 11 10-05 40/1 Sean Flanagan Noel Meade (IRE)
  • Great Britain unless stated.
  • Horses 1 & 12 were late replacements
  1. amateur rider

Race overview

Placed horses
1: Tiger Roll
2: Pleasant Company
3: Bless The Wings
4: Anibale Fly

The first fence claimed Perfect Candidate who in turn brought down one of the favourites, Blaklion. I Just Know led the field until falling at Becher's Brook, which also saw Houblon Des Obleaux and Virgilio out of the race. Houblon Des Obeaux's jockey Charlie Deutsch was treated for injuries at the scene, resulting in Becher's being bypassed on the second circuit. Captain Redbeard unseated its rider at the Foinavon fence as Ucello Conti led the field from Double Ross, with The Dutchman, Milansbar and Pleasant Company also prominent. The Canal Turn saw the end of Lord Windermere, Buywise and Final Nudge. Chase The Spud pulled up before The Chair, which claimed Alpha Des Obeaux and Saint Are.[8]

Delusionsofgrandeur and Maggio were pulled up at the beginning of the second circuit, and The Dutchman unseated its rider at Foinavon as Pleasant Company took over the lead. Ucello Conti lost its rider three fences from home, while Seeyouatmidnight challenged Pleasant Company for the lead. Tiger Roll made its move and hit the lead on the 29th fence. On the run-in, Pleasant Company fought back and almost caught Tiger Roll, losing by a head.[9]

There were no fatalities, although Saint Are was treated by veterinarians after being brought down at The Chair. A few days later, Saint Are's retirement from racing was announced.[10] Jockey Charlie Deutsch was kicked in the back by a horse following his fall at Becher's Brook,[11] but recovered and rode a winner at Plumpton the following day.[12]

Finishing order

Twelve runners completed the course as follows:[13]

Position Horse Jockey SP Distance Prize money
1 Tiger Roll Davy Russell 1010 10/1 Head £500,000
2 Pleasant Company David Mullins 1025 25/1 11 lengths £200,000
3 Bless The Wings Jack Kennedy 1040 40/1 Neck £100,000
4 Anibale Fly Barry Geraghty 1010 10/1 21 lengths £65,000
5 Milansbar Bryony Frost 1025 25/1 12 lengths £40,000
6 Road to Riches Sean Flanagan 1033 33/1 7 lengths £30,000
7 Gas Line Boy Robert Dunne 1025 25/1 4 lengths £20,000
8 Valseur Lido Keith Donoghue 1066 66/1 34 length £15,000
9 Vieux Lion Rouge Tom Scudamore 1025 25/1 34 length £10,000
10 Raz De Maree Robbie Power 1020 20/1 29 lengths £5,000
11 Seeyouatmidnight Brian Hughes 1011 11/1 2 34 lengths
12 Baie Des Iles Katie Walsh 1016 16/1 Last to complete
  • Distance measures from smallest to largest winning margin: nose, short head, head, neck, one length, a distance.

Non-finishers

The runners who failed to complete were as follows:[13]

Fence Horse Jockey SP Fate
1st Perfect Candidate Alain Cawley 1050 50/1 Fell
1st Blaklion Sam Twiston-Davies 1014 14/1 Brought down
6th (Becher's Brook) I Just Know Danny Cook 1014 14/1 Fell
Houblon Des Obeaux Charlie Deutsch 1025 25/1 Fell
Virgilio Harry Skelton 1050 50/1 Fell
7th (Foinavon) Captain Redbeard Sam Coltherd 1020 20/1 Unseated rider
8th (Canal Turn) Lord Windermere Andrew Lynch 1050 50/1 Unseated rider
Buywise Adam Wedge 1050 50/1 Unseated rider
Final Nudge Gavin Sheehan 1033 33/1 Fell
15th (The Chair) Chase The Spud Paddy Brennan 1025 25/1 Pulled up
Alpha Des Obeaux Rachael Blackmore 1033 33/1 Fell
Saint Are Ciaran Gethings 1050 50/1 Brought down
17th Delusionofgrandeur Henry Brooke 1050 50/1 Pulled up
18th Maggio Brendan Powell 1066 66/1 Pulled up
23rd (Foinavon) The Dutchman Harry Cobden 1020 20/1 Unseated rider
26th Thunder And Roses James Slevin 1033 33/1 Pulled up
The Last Samuri David Bass 1016 16/1 Pulled up
Tenor Nivernais Tom O'Brien 1066 66/1 Pulled up
Shantou Flyer James Bowen 1020 20/1 Pulled up
27th (open ditch) Ucello Conti Daryl Jacob 1016 16/1 Unseated rider
29th Total Recall Paul Townend 1007 7/1 F Pulled up
Warriors Tale Sean Bowen 1033 33/1 Pulled up
Pendra Aidan Coleman 1080 80/1 Pulled up
Double Ross Jamie Bargary 1066 66/1 Pulled up
Run-in Carlingford Lough Mark Walsh 1033 33/1 Pulled up
Childrens List Jonathan Burke 1066 66/1 Pulled up

Broadcasting and media

Towards the final two-hundred yards, the diminutive Tiger Roll senses a place in history! Pleasant Company in second, Bless The Wings and Anibale Fly, they're finishing well strung out, but it is Tiger Roll for Gordon Elliott! And is the long wait for a National win about to end for Davy Russell? Pleasant Company is coming back! Tiger Roll hanging on... Just may have lasted, as Pleasant Company surged at him late on!

ITV lead commentator Richard Hoiles describes the climax of the race.

As the Grand National is accorded the status of an event of national interest in the United Kingdom and is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, it must be shown on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK. The race was broadcast live on TV by ITV, in the second year of its four-year deal as the exclusive terrestrial broadcaster of horse racing in the UK.[14]

The coverage was co-anchored by Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani. Analysis was provided by former Grand National winning jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald and Ruby Walsh, the latter having been ruled out the Aintree meeting through injury. Reports were provided by Oli Bell, Alice Plunkett and Luke Harvey with updates from the betting ring by Matt Chapman and Brian Gleeson. The commentary team was Mark Johnson, Ian Bartlett and Richard Hoiles.[15]

See also

References

  1. "Grand National 2018: What date is the race, what TV channel is it on and when is the running list announced?". The Telegraph. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  2. Chris Clark (8 March 2016). "Grand National sponsored by Randox Health in five-year deal from 2017". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  3. "Tiger Roll edges out Pleasant Company in Grand National". Sporting Life. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  4. "Tiger Roll wins Grand National thriller". TheNews. Retrieved 15 April 2018..
  5. "Grand National 2018: Quick guide to the big Aintree race". BBC. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  6. "Duo Regal Encore and Walk In The Mill miss Grand National". Sky Sports. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  7. Frank Keogh (14 April 2018). "Grand National 2018: Aintree ready for big race as three female jockeys seek history". BBC. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  8. "Grand National: Tiger Roll lands thrilling photo-finish victory at Aintree". BBC Sport. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  9. "Grand National 2018: Tiger Roll wins in dramatic finish – as it happened". Guardian. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  10. Sky Sports,Saint Are retirement confirmed, 16 April 2018
  11. Jack de Menezes (14 April 2018). "Grand National 2018: One horse killed over three-day Aintree meeting as Peta hit out at ITV for showing race". The Independent. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  12. Lucy Elder (17 April 2018). "Grand National jockey has wrist slapped for directing runners around fallen rider". Horse and Hound. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  13. "Randox Health Grand National Handicap Chase". Racing Post. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  14. "ITV to replace Channel 4 as horse racing broadcaster from 2017". BBC Sport. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  15. "Watch the Grand National Festival live on ITV". itv.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
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