The race
Some later histories have suggested the course was incorrectly flagged, but this is not supported by contemporary reports and descriptions of the course. [3]
Peter Simple led for the majority of the first circuit. Lady Gray Fell at the first jump evaded her rider's attempt to remount while The Scavenger refused. He tried to refuse the second jump as well before finally getting his way at the third, proving equally difficult to return to the stables. Pickwick's rider lost a stirrup at the second fence and was quickly tailed off while Mameluke and Hornihihharriho collided at the fence before Becher's Brook. The former recovered while the latter was baulked and brought down by another passing horse, with jockey, taking several kicks, one of which left him with a heavy facial wound. Lancet's rider, William McDonough, was knocked from his horse by a mounted spectator as the field were turning to enter the race course proper and was badly bruised, Troubadour fell at a fence along the Canal side and Tinderbox was unable to negotiate the Table top jump at the Anchor Bridge crossing.
Perambulator led the field on the racecourse, having completely overpowered his rider, who did well to stay on board when the pair nearly parted company at the fence in front of the stands. However, they still held a lead of many lengths over the Water jump, ahead of Veluti, Golden Pippin, Peter Simple, Major A, Switcher, Carlow and Culverthorpe, accompanied by the riderless Lady Gray and Lancet. Having battled through the first circuit, a long way off the pace, Pickwick's rider decided That continuing was futile and pulled up without going out for another round.
Golden Pippin took up the running, heading away from the stands, only to bolt off the course, down Seed's Lane, where he collided with a cart and fell. Both Perambulator and Veluti attempted to follow suit, the former being kept on course by other horses while the latter was expertly kept on track by Jem Mason. However, both lost ground to the new leader Peter Simple, who was passed by Cure-All approaching Becher's Brook for the second time, where Culverthorpe made a bid to win the race, opening up a good lead over Switcher, Veluti, Peter Simple and Eagle with Brenda and Mameluke both briefly coming into contention before fading.
As the runners approached the racecourse, Culverthorpe still led from Veluti with Pioneer moving through tiring horses to take third. Peter Simple and Cure-All were among those to realise they were beaten at this stage while Veluti was unfortunate to break down after jumping the third last hurdle. As Pioneer drew up alongside Culverthorpe many of the Irish contingent in the stands began cheering, believing that his white silks were instead the similar colours of Switcher instead. However most realised by the time Pioneer passed the post in front that it was the unconsidered outsider who had been victorious, Culverthorpe held off Switcher, Eagle and Firefly for the minor placings. The majority of the remainder passing the post most likely pulled up before the hurdles.
Although an unconsidered outsider, Pioneer was quoted at a price of 200/10 the evening before the race although few, if any bets, other than his owner, were known to have been struck and few bookmakers offered a price. He proved himself to be a very good horse by winning a prestigious race at Leamington Spa the following week. His rider, William Taylor was a twenty-seven-year-old vet and was one of nine riders making their Grand National debut, which also included future winning rider, Denny Wynne.
Tom Olliver was the only rider in the race to have taken part in all seven previous runnings of the Grand Liverpool, while Horatio Powell was also taking part in the main race of the meeting for the eighth time, having run in one of the three unofficial precursors.
