| Grand National | |
| Location | Aintree Racecourse |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 March 1930 |
| Winning horse |  Shaun Goilin |
| Starting price | 100/8 |
| Jockey | Tommy Cullinan |
| Trainer | Frank Hartigan |
| Owner | Walter Midwood |
| Conditions | Good |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Silent highlights of the 1930 Grand National (British Pathé) |
The 1930 Grand National was the 89th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 29 March 1930.
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The race was won by 100/8 shot Shaun Goilin, who had been foaled in Ireland in unusual circumstances. According to reports, his dam - Golden Day - was stabled in a paddock next to another holding three colts. One of these seemingly jumped the fence and sired Shaun Goilin, who as a result remains unique among Grand National winners for having an unknown sire. [1] [2]
Shaun Goilin was ridden by Irish jockey Tommy Cullinan and trained by Irish trainer Frank Hartigan, for owner Walter Midwood. The 10 year-old was well backed and started the race as second favourite behind Grakle, carrying a handicap of 11st 7lb. His price was seemingly shortened due to the thousands of Irish - including a number of Catholic priests - who romantically backed the combination of Irish horse, trainer and jockey. [3]
Despite good going only five of the 41 starters stayed the course and Derby Day was fatally injured in a fall.
The finish remains among the closest on record. By the last fence it was a straight shootout between the leading three; Melleray's Belle, Sir Lindsay and Shaun Goilin. On the final flat a burst of speed enabled Shaun Goilin to outpace his two rivals and win by a neck in the unusually fast time of 9 minutes, 40 3/4 seconds (compared with an average for the time of over 10 minutes). [4] So close was the finish that James Mason, riding Melleray's Belle, initially thought that he had won. [5]
Shaun Goilin's jockey, Cullinan, who had only been partnered with his horse three days before the off, remarked that his horse had provided him with an "armchair journey." [6] Cullinan said after the race;
"[Shaun Goilin] is the greatest leaper I have ever ridden… Really, all I had to do was a bit of work at the finish. The horse did the rest. Not one single mistake did he make, and right from the start I was going on the bit. The horse gave me such a confident feeling that the only surprising thing was that I didn't win by a wider margin. I just let him run along in my hands all the time, having in mind that I must save a bit for the finish. Everything went well in the first circuit, and I kept a good place, in nice touch with the leaders. We jumped the water second and when we got into the country again I let Glangesia continue to give me a lead. The field gradually thinned down, but no matter what came along to join us in the front rank, I felt my horse going strongly, and I had no fear. There were three of us left to fight it out coming on to the racecourse. Here I got my first shock. Two fences from home I lost an iron and had to jump the last fence with only one foot in a stirrup. I did not recover it until after passing the winning post, but though my horse rolled a bit after landing on the flat, he came again and ran his race out as game as a pebble, though we both had to put in all we knew to land that wonderful prize." [7]
Shaun Goilin's owner Midwood apparently gave Cullinan a cheque for £1,000 out of the £5,000 prize money he received for the win. [8]
