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And a rousing cheer for King Henry

And don't forget Minella Times who looked completely in control when returning to scale despite numerous buckets of water being tipped over him.  He jumped superbly.

The 2021 Grand National has entered the record books by being the first win by a female jockey.  Let's face it not many female jockeys have ridden in the race but what is surprising is that Rachael Blackmore is out-riding the male jockeys time after time.  She had a brilliant Cheltenham and has re-written the record books in Ireland but this must be the crowning achievement to date. 

Henry de Bromhead has taken out the grand slam in jumps racing with his wins in the Champin Hurdle, the Champion Chase, the Gold Cup and now the Grand National where he saddled the quinella for the first time since 1908.

Fifteen horses finished the race out of 40 starters and one horse, The Long Mile, unfortunately had to be put down.  Two jockeys were taken to hospital – Harry Cobden and Bryony Frost – but they have since been discharged. 

The weather was kind and the excitement intense.  Sam Waley-Cohen took Jett to the lead and at one stage looked like being the first amateur to win since our colleague Marcus Armytage in 1980 but they couldn't keep it up when the swoopers came and they finished 8th.   Our colleague Adrian Beaumont's daughter Sophie has a hair or two of Balko des Flos who was the second home on 100/1.  Any Second Now was third and produced a trifecta for J P McManus.  Burrows Saint was fourth for the Mulinses and an honourable mention to Cabaret Queen who was 9th at 100/1 and ran a blinder in what is supposed to be her last race.  Farelas was fifth (they pay that in UK) on 20/1.  Favourite Cloth Cap was pulled up.

All in all it was a truly grand Grand National.