1988 Grand National

External videos
External videos
	Replay of the 1988 Grand National in full YouTube

1988 Grand National
Grand National
Location	Aintree Racecourse
Date	9 April 1988
Winning horse	Rhyme 'n' Reason
Starting price	10/1
Jockey	Brendan Powell
Trainer	David Elsworth
Owner	Juliet Reed
Conditions	Good to soft
	← 1987 1989 →

Last updated May 27, 2024

The 1988 Grand National (officially known as the Seagram Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 142nd renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 9 April 1988.

The race was won by Rhyme 'n' Reason, in a time of nine minutes and 53.5 seconds and by a distance of four lengths. Durham Edition was second, and Monamore third. West Tip finished fourth. 17/2 favourite Sacred Path fell at the first fence. Nine of the 40 runners completed the course, however one horse, Smith's Man broke down during the race and died a few days later.^[1]

Leading contenders

Sacred Path had been off the racecourse for fourteen months prior to a win at Warwick in March, which led him to be backed down to 17/2 favourite at the off despite the relative inexperience of his jockey, Clive Cox. The conditional jockey was one of eleven riders making their debut in the race but also proved to be one of the three who departed the race at the first fence. Neither horse nor rider competed in the race again.

Rhyme 'n Reason was a former Irish Grand National winner ^[3] who had gone through a two-season barren spell before emerging as the form horse going into the Grand National. Wins in the Anthony Mildmay, Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase at Sandown and the Racing Post Chase in January were followed by an appearance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup where he was still in contention but under pressure when falling four fences from home.^[3] Few of his potential backers were put off by that and he was sent off at 10/1 with Brendan Powell in the saddle. Their race looked certain to come to an end when the horse all but fell at Becher's Brook and was left in last place by the time horse and rider had recovered to continue. Powell settled his mount back into the field and moved forward to challenge going to Becher's second time round, emerging from the fence in second place after Strands Of Gold fell and Course Hunter suffered an identical fate to Rhyme 'n Reason on the first circuit. They were left in front by the fall of Little Polveir five fences from home and remained there until being passed by Durham Edition at the penultimate fence, at which stage they looked beaten. Rhyme 'N Reason rallied after the final fence and overhauled the leader to win. The 1988 National was his first, and was also to be his last, picking up a fractured hock while jumping Becher's Brook on the first circuit. The gelding was retired from racing after his victory and spent the remainder of his life at Woodhaven stud in Hampshire.^[4]

Lean Ar Aghaidh and jockey, Guy Landau were also well backed at 10/1 after finishing third in the previous year's National despite having only made one appearance on a racecourse in the year since, when finishing second to Rhyme 'N Reason in the Racing Post Chase. In addition the horse was being asked to carry a full stone more than the previous year. Landau made a bid to win from the front and led the field through the first circuit. Early on the second circuit it became clear that the pace was telling as Lean Ar Aghaidh began to drop back through the field. They were still in touch at the Canal Turn but rapidly lost ground from that point forward before being the last of eight competitors to finish.

West Tip was by now an old favourite with the public, having won the race in 1986 and finishing fourth in 1987 and was partnered, as for his three previous appearances, by Richard Dunwoody. Staying out of trouble on the first circuit, Dunwoody moved the 11/1 shot into contention at Becher's Brook on the second circuit and was left in second place by the fall of Little Polvier five fences from home. West Tip was among the leading quartet at the Anchor Bridge crossing but rapidly came under pressure and was beaten by the penultimate fence, holding off a late challenge from Attitude Adjuster to retain fourth place to the finish. The old favourite would return again for a fifth attempt the following year.

You're Welcome and Hard Case also attracted a great deal of public support but their odds of 13/1 proved unlucky for both. Peter Hobbs broke a stirrup leather at the fourth fence on the former and almost carried out Course Hunter before finally regaining enough control to pull You're Welcome up before Becher's first time. Hard Case fared little better and made no impression before falling at the nineteenth fence when well to the rear.

Finishing order

Position	Name	Jockey	Age	Weight	SP	Distance
1st	Rhyme 'n' Reason	Brendan Powell	9	11-00	10/1	Won by 4 lengths
2nd	Durham Edition	Chris Grant	10	10-09	20/1	15 lengths
3rd	Monanore	Tom Taaffe	11	10-04	33/1	8 lengths
4th	West Tip	Richard Dunwoody	11	11-07	11/1	2½ lengths
5th	Attitude Adjuster	Niall Madden	8	10-0	33/1	20 lengths
6th	Friendly Henry	Neale Doughty	8	10-04	100/1
7th	The Tsarevich	John White	12	10-10	18/1
8th	Course Hunter	Paul Croucher	10	10-01	20/1
9th	Lean Ar Aghaidh	Guy Landau	11	11-00	10/1	Last to complete

Non-finishers

Fence	Name	Jockey	Age	Weight	SP	Fate
1st	Sacred Path	Clive Cox	8	10-00	17/2 F	Fell
1st	Tullamarine	Michael Bowlby	11	10-00	200/1	Fell
1st	Hettinger	Ms. Penny Ffitch-Heyes	8	10-00	100/1	Fell
3rd (open ditch)	Smith's Man	Mark Perrett	10	10-00	50/1	Broke blood vessel, pulled up
5th	You're Welcome	Peter Hobbs	12	10-01	13/1	Broken stirrup leather, pulled up
6th (Becher's Brook)	Lucisis	Mr. John Queally	9	10-06	40/1	Brought down
6th (Becher's Brook)	Marcolo	Ms. Venetia Williams	11	10-00	200/1	Fell
8th (Canal Turn)	Polly's Pal	Jayo Kinane	10	10-00	100/1	Brought down
17th	Smartside	Mr. Al Hambly	13	10-04	100/1	Fell
17th	Oyde Hills	Martin Brennan	9	10-00	100/1	Refused
18th	Repington	Colin Hawkins	10	10-01	16/1	Refused
19th (open ditch)	Hard Case	Kevin Morgan	10	10-12	13/1	Fell
19th (open ditch)	Northern Bay	Hywel Davies	12	10-04	50/1	Pulled up
20th	Insure	Ben De Haan	10	10-00	80/1	Unseated rider
20th	Midnight Madness	Mark Richards	10	10-05	25/1	Pulled up
21st	Preben Fur	Seamus O'Neill	11	10-00	100/1	Pulled up
21st	Tracys Special	Steve Knight	11	10-00	33/1	Pulled up
22nd (Becher's Brook)	Kumbi	Carl Llewellyn	13	10-00	100/1	Fell
22nd (Becher's Brook)	Strands of Gold	Peter Scudamore	9	10-03	20/1	Fell
22nd (Becher's Brook)	Bright Dream	Richard Rowe	12	10-02	66/1	Brought down
26th	Little Polveir	Tom Morgan	11	10-07	33/1	Unseated rider
26th	Eton Rouge	Dermot Browne	9	10-05	80/1	Pulled up
26th	Gee-A	Gee Armytage	9	10-03	33/1	Pulled up
27th (open ditch)	Brass Change	Martin Kinane	10	10-00	100/1	Fell
27th (open ditch)	Lastofthebrownies	Tommy Carmody	8	10-00	25/1	Fell
27th (open ditch)	Memberson	Ronnie Beggan	10	10-03	33/1	Pulled up
27th (open ditch)	Big Brown Bear	Robert Stronge	11	10-02	66/1	Refused
27th (open ditch)	Sir Jest	Kenny Jones	10	10-02	22/1	Refused
27th (open ditch)	Seeandem	Pat Leech	8	10-00	100/1	Refused
27th (open ditch)	Bucko	Mark Dwyer	11	10-05	16/1	Pulled up
30th	Border Burg	Simon Sherwood	11	10-07	16/1	Pulled up

Media coverage and aftermath

Racing towards the elbow now, and Durham Edition, ridden by Chris Grant for Arthur Stephenson, is clear of Rhyme 'n' Reason, but Rhyme 'n' Reason is challenging again! Rhyme 'n' Reason is reducing his lead! Rhyme 'n' Reason is cutting it down as they race into the final hundred yards! Over on the far side is Durham Edition and on the near side is Rhyme 'n' Reason! Rhyme 'n' Reason is beginning to get up! He's going to win it! As they come to the line, Rhyme 'n' Reason has won the National!

Commentator Peter O'Sullevan describes the climax of the race

The BBC broadcast the race live on television for the twenty-ninth consecutive year as part of its regular Saturday afternoon Grandstand programme, in a Grand National special. Commentary on the race itself, for the seventeenth consecutive year was provided by John Hanmer, Julian Wilson and lead commentator, Peter O'Sullevan who was calling his forty-third Grand National on Television and prior to that, Radio.^[5] BBC Radio Two's regular Saturday sport on two programme also broadcast live from Aintree and broadcast the race as it had done every years since 1927. All of the leading United Kingdom daily newspapers carried multi-page Grand National special pull outs and colour guides.

There were no recorded serious injuries among riders but Smith's Man broke down very badly and was put down a few days later.

Post race celebrations included a gala dinner and auction for 350 invited guests at the Adelphi Hotel.^[6]

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References

1 2 "Full Result 3.20 Aintree | 9 April 1988 | Racing Post".
↑ "Grand National 1988". YouTube .
1 2 "Irish Grand National Legends | Irish National Past Winners | Arkle | Flyingbolt | Desert Orchid". Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
↑ "Rhyme N Reason 1988 Grand National". 13 March 2010.
↑ "Grand National Anorak |". Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
↑ Sporting Life Souvenir Magazine, 9 April 1988, page 10

https://web.archive.org/web/20060116221716/http://www.grand-national-world.co.uk/gnw/the_race/past_winners_index.html

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[results-1] 1 2 "Full Result 3.20 Aintree | 9 April 1988 | Racing Post".

[2] "Grand National 1988". YouTube .

[irish-grand-national.org-3] 1 2 "Irish Grand National Legends | Irish National Past Winners | Arkle | Flyingbolt | Desert Orchid". Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-16.

[me-4] "Rhyme N Reason 1988 Grand National". 13 March 2010.

[5] "Grand National Anorak |". Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.

[6] Sporting Life Souvenir Magazine, 9 April 1988, page 10

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Course	Aintree Racecourse Becher's Brook Canal Turn The Chair Valentine's Brook
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Lists	List of Grand National winners List of Grand National first four placings List of equine fatalities in the Grand National List of female Grand National jockeys