The 1851 Grand National was, at the time, the 14th renewal of a handicap steeplechase horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 26 February 1851.[1] However, this was later retrospectively recorded as the 13th official running by the Steeplechase Calendar of 1864 when the race of 1838 was disregarded as official.
The race was won by Abd-El-Kader, becoming the first dual winner and the first to do so in consecutive years[2] (discounting The Duke, 1836/1837 whose wins are not included in official race records). Known affectionately as "Little Ab", the horse stood at just under fifteen hands.[2]
Course Changes
The start area from previous years was sowed with wheat so the grass field to the left of this was used instead, although the runners did pass over the wheat field at the start of the second circuit. The span of the water jump in front of the stands was also increased to 15 feet[3]
The third fence, which had previously been a post and rails, was replaced with a ditch and bank and an additional hurdle was placed between the Canal bridge and the racecourse proper.[4]
Many of the other fences on the course had been shored up with fresh timber and made stiffer, ending the criticism of the fences which had been made through the late 1840s.
Start A field adjoining the previous starting field, laid to wheat this year, Fence 1 {17} New timber replacing Sturdy planks, Fence 2 {18} New timber on earth bank, Fence 3 {19} New rails on earth bank, Fence 4 {20} Post and rails replaced this year with an old dead hedge, Fence 5 {21}Becher's Brook, Fence 6 {22} Bank, Fence 7 {23} Bank and ditch, previously referred to as the double, Fence 8 {24} Extreme turn, previously an artificial brook, Fence 9 {25} Brook at the Canal aka Valentine's Brook for the first time, Fence 10 {26} Hedge, the adjacent gate against which Daly broke his thigh last year was moved away from the fence, Fence 11 {27} Post and rails, Fence 12 {28} Ditch Fence 13 {29} Hedge at Canal Bridge after which the runners re-enter the race course at the first opportunity Fence 14 Thorn Fence aka the Made fence at the back of the distance chair Fence 15 Artificial brook aka the Water jump, increased to fifteen feet Fence 16 Proceed's lane, the runners now cross the wheat field adjacent to the start and jump fences 1-13 again. On jumping Canal bridge, the runners continue past the turn into the training ground to line up for the hurdles. Fence 30 New hurdle placed between the Canal bridge and two mile marker Fence 31 Gorsed hurdle aka Long length hurdles Fence 32 Gorsed hurdle aka Distance hurdles
Leading contenders
There was an element of criticism of the event this year due to several highly fancied withdrawals in the days prior to the race, principally Rescue who was to be the mount of Tom Olliver the duel winner and only rider to have ridden in every official National.
Rat Trap was listed as an 11/2 favourite after the eve of race betting exchanges, which this year predominantly took place in Lucas' Repository at The Talbot Hotel on Great Charlotte Street. This stretched to 6/1 before the off and was based largely on the fact he was being partnered by former winning jockey, Jem Mason and was also carrying eleven lbs less than when failing to complete the course last year. The favourite's chances suffered a blow when refusing at the third fence, although Mason was able to get the horse over quickly without losing much ground. They were back in contention along the Canal side on the second circuit but faded turning for home to finish sixth.
Sir John had finished third last year when sent off as favourite and remained well supported, despite having to give weight to all his rivals. Trained by Richard I'Anson at Curraghmore, Ireland[5] and ridden by John Ryan, Lord Waterford's colours went to the front early on the first circuit and lay at the head of the pack in third place as two runners cut out the second circuit pace. After the final hurdle Sir John was well placed to challenge but remained a couple of lengths adrift of the two in front of him to finish third.
Abd-El-Kader Last year's winner wasn't heavily backed until the day of the race when his appearance on the course attracted the attention of the spectators. Carrying just six lbs more than in victory last year. The withdrawal of Rescue saw last season's partner in victory, Chris Green jocked off the ride when Joe Osborne engaged Tom Abbot after he in turn had been jocked off Tipperary Boy by the sudden availability of Tom Olliver. This ensured "Little Ab" was sent off as co second favourite at 7/1. Abbot kept the champion handy on the first circuit, lying a close eighth at the Canal Turn, then known as the extreme turn, and moving up to third at the Water Jump. The Irish rider showed excellent judgement on the second circuit, remaining calm to allow others to gain a lead of over ten lengths before he moved Little Ab up to challenge Sir John for third place coming to Proceed's Lane. Abbot then kicked on when entering the racecourse to challenge Maria Day at the final hurdle, where both horses made jumping errors, before Little Ab did just enough to become the first official duel winner.
Vain Hope not to be confused with another competitor called Hope, was the winner of the Wolverhampton Chase in December, beating many of his Aintree opponents.[6] He was also one of two entries for William Vevers, which led the owner to declare which of his two competitors he was placing his faith. The betting public followed and respected Vevers' judgement and led to his declared runner being a 7/1 morning second favourite, although he drifted slightly to 8/1 by the off. Under Sam Darling Junior, Vain Hope was kept well to the rear for most of the contest, only starting to make progress after jumping Becher's for the second time. Unfortunately he never gave his backers a run for their money and was never closer than fifth on the run in.
Tipperary Boy Impressed when finishing fourth last year when completely unconsidered by the public. He also impressed again with a front running performance in finishing second in the Worcestershire Grand Annual Chase in December when ridden by Ablett.[7] However, it was only when Rescue was a late withdrawal and Tom Olliver became available that the real money was laid on the horse, with booked rider, Tom Abbot fatefully switching to Abd El Kader. The pair were sent off at 10/1 and Olliver took his mount to the front rank right from the off, disputing the lead for much of the first circuit. Tipperary Boy led at the Water jump before Olliver set out to win the race early, increasing the pace to lead by six lengths at Becher's Brook. He maintained his gallop all the way back to the race course but as soon as he was passed at Canal bridge it was clear his race was run. Tipperary Boy faded rapidly to finish last of the ten who passed the post.
The race
Official records only state the first three finishers, the remainder listed merely as having also ran. However, the race was recorded in detail by most national and regional newspapers of the time, largely in agreement with the record published by Bell's Life the following Sunday.
Sir John, Hope, Half And Half, Greysteel's Mare and Peter Simple were first to show from a clean start and led the field over the early fences while favourite backers saw their chances take a blow when Rat Trap refused the third fence, although Mason rapidly righted the horse to get over at the second attempt without losing too much ground. Hope came to the front at Becher's Brook but Chris Green's stirrup leather broke between there and the extreme turn, the horse fading out of the race rapidly. Peter Simple came to the lead along the Canal Side of the course and was the subject of a large bet that he would be the first to take the Water jump, situated in front of the stands. Tubb's mount led over the fence at the distance chair but was headed by Tipperary Boy over the Water, thus losing the bet.
Sir John was third at this stage followed by Mulligan, Half And Half, Fugitive, Shinrone, Maurice Daley, The Victim, Abd El Kader and Rat Trap, who had managed to make up the ground lost in his earlier refusal. Maria Day and Currig were next while Volatile had only Vain Hope and Fugleman behind him when he fell here and although quickly remounted, wasn't persevered with.
Peter Simple and Penrith both struggled in the wheat field leaving the racecourse and dropped out of contention as Tipperary Boy upped the pace, opening up a lead of a length or two to Maria Day and Mulligan who in turn led Sir John by three lengths with Abd El Kader just behind in the main pack. The pace increased with the order remaining the same until the banks after Becher's second time where Mulligan suffered a heavy fall, being quickly remounted while Fugitive also deposited his rider in the ditch. Along the Canal side of the course Tipperary Boy maintained a two length lead over Maria Day, in turn four lengths clear of Sir John as Abd El Kader and Half and Half moved up to dispute third, while Maurice Daley, Currig, Sir Peter Laurie, Greysteel's Mare and Hope were tailed off. Vain Hope was now steadily improving from the rear and Mulligan was also gaining ground after his fall.
Coming back onto the racecourse, Tipperary Boy was tiring as Half And Half moved to the front with Sir John, Abd El Kader and Maria Day all poised to challenge and the race lay between this quartet at the penultimate hurdle. Maria Day and Abd El Kader kicked on going to the final hurdle, where both crashed through the timber, with Abd El Kader the one recovering from the mistake quickest to take a fractional advantage. Both Abbot on Abd El Kader and Frisby on Maria Day went all out on the run in as the outcome of the race remained uncertain until the final stride where Abd El Kader held on by a neck. Sir John was unable to get on terms and finished two lengths down in third with Half And Half fifteen lengths down in fourth. Vain Hope, Rat Trap, the remounted Mulligan, Shinrone, Reindeer and Tipperary Boy completed the ten finishers while The Victim fell at the final hurdle, resulting in a broken collar bone for jockey, Taylor.
Finishing Order
Only the first three were officially recorded. However, there are several detailed reports of the race published in the national and regional newspapers of the time. While each report presents some minor differences, a more detailed picture of the fate of each runner can be taken from the agreement of the majority of reports.
All the horses returned safely after the race while William Taylor suffered a broken collar bone when his mount, The Victim fell at the final hurdle. Meanwhile both the riders of Abd El Kader, and Maria Day were almost exhausted on returning to the unsaddling enclosure, both having left everything on the course. The closeness of the finish instantly saw the two horses made joint favourites for the Coventry Steeplechase six days later, where fifteen of their National rivals were also declared. Much to the disappointment of the public, Maria Day didn't go to post while Abd El Kader was beaten by Tom Olliver, on board The Victim, having recovered from his final fence fall in the National [13]
John Frisby's narrow defeat now made him the most experienced Grand National rider not to have won the race, having finished second twice in eight attempts. However, he never managed to get another chance to win the race, suffering career ending injuries in a fall in 1852. [14]
During a court case in 1852 between jockey, Tubb and his former employer, Edwin Parr, the rider of Peter Simple alleged that Joseph Saxon had offered him £25 to be the first over Becher's Brook, but had also instructed him 'not to win the race on any account'. Saxon quickly responded in the press confirming that while the first bet was true and had been won, suggesting the bet was instead to be first onto the racecourse or over the Made fence, where Peter Simple had been leading, he flatly denied the second allegation, stating that not only had he not told Tubb to take a pull, but had in fact staked £25 in running on the horse winning the race. Tubb won £180 in damages from his former employer, Parr, but no further mention was made of the suggestion Peter Simple had been deliberately pulled up. [15]
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Abd-El-Kader