1988 Grand National

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1988 Grand National
Grand National
Owner Miss Juliet E Reed.svg
Location Aintree Racecourse
Date9 April 1988
Winning horse Ulster Banner.svg Rhyme 'n' Reason
Starting price 10/1
Jockey Flag of Ireland.svg Brendan Powell
Trainer Flag of England.svg David Elsworth
OwnerJuliet Reed
Conditions Good to soft [1]
←  1987
1989  →
External video
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Replay of the 1988 Grand National in full [2] YouTube

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.

Contents

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

PositionName Jockey AgeWeight SP Distance
1st Rhyme 'n' Reason Brendan Powell911-0010/1Won by 4 lengths
2ndDurham EditionChris Grant1010-0920/115 lengths
3rdMonanoreTom Taaffe1110-0433/18 lengths
4th West Tip Richard Dunwoody 1111-0711/12½ lengths
5thAttitude AdjusterNiall Madden810-033/120 lengths
6thFriendly HenryNeale Doughty810-04100/1
7thThe TsarevichJohn White1210-1018/1
8thCourse HunterPaul Croucher1010-0120/1
9thLean Ar AghaidhGuy Landau1111-0010/1Last to complete

Non-finishers

FenceName Jockey AgeWeight SP Fate
1stSacred PathClive Cox810-0017/2 FFell
1stTullamarineMichael Bowlby1110-00200/1Fell
1stHettingerMs. Penny Ffitch-Heyes810-00100/1Fell
3rd (open ditch)Smith's ManMark Perrett1010-0050/1Broke blood vessel, pulled up
5thYou're WelcomePeter Hobbs1210-0113/1Broken stirrup leather, pulled up
6th (Becher's Brook)LucisisMr. John Queally910-0640/1Brought down
6th (Becher's Brook)Marcolo Ms. Venetia Williams 1110-00200/1Fell
8th (Canal Turn)Polly's PalJayo Kinane1010-00100/1Brought down
17thSmartsideMr. Al Hambly1310-04100/1Fell
17thOyde HillsMartin Brennan910-00100/1Refused
18thRepingtonColin Hawkins1010-0116/1Refused
19th (open ditch)Hard CaseKevin Morgan1010-1213/1Fell
19th (open ditch)Northern Bay Hywel Davies 1210-0450/1Pulled up
20thInsureBen De Haan1010-0080/1Unseated rider
20thMidnight MadnessMark Richards1010-0525/1Pulled up
21stPreben FurSeamus O'Neill1110-00100/1Pulled up
21stTracys SpecialSteve Knight1110-0033/1Pulled up
22nd (Becher's Brook)Kumbi Carl Llewellyn 1310-00100/1Fell
22nd (Becher's Brook)Strands of Gold Peter Scudamore 910-0320/1Fell
22nd (Becher's Brook)Bright Dream Richard Rowe 1210-0266/1Brought down
26th Little Polveir Tom Morgan1110-0733/1Unseated rider
26thEton RougeDermot Browne910-0580/1Pulled up
26thGee-AGee Armytage910-0333/1Pulled up
27th (open ditch)Brass ChangeMartin Kinane1010-00100/1Fell
27th (open ditch)LastofthebrowniesTommy Carmody810-0025/1Fell
27th (open ditch)MembersonRonnie Beggan1010-0333/1Pulled up
27th (open ditch)Big Brown BearRobert Stronge1110-0266/1Refused
27th (open ditch)Sir JestKenny Jones1010-0222/1Refused
27th (open ditch)SeeandemPat Leech810-00100/1Refused
27th (open ditch)BuckoMark Dwyer1110-0516/1Pulled up
30thBorder BurgSimon Sherwood1110-0716/1Pulled 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. 1 2 "Full Result 3.20 Aintree | 9 April 1988 | Racing Post".
  2. ↑ "Grand National 1988". YouTube .
  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.
  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

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

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