1998 Grand National

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1998 Grand National
Grand National
Owner Jump For Fun Racing.svg
Location Aintree
Date4 April 1998
Winning horse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Earth Summit
Starting price 7/1 F
Jockey Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Carl Llewellyn
Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nigel Twiston-Davies
OwnerSummit Partnership
Conditions Heavy
  1997
1999  
External video
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg 1998 Grand National in full Racing UK, BBC Sport, YouTube

The 1998 Grand National (known as the Martell Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 151st official renewal of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 4 April 1998.

Contents

The race was won in a time of 10 minutes and 51.5 seconds and by a distance of 11 lengths by the 7/1 favourite Earth Summit, ridden by jockey Carl Llewellyn. The winner was trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies at Grange Hill Farm in Naunton, Gloucestershire, and ran in the colours of the six-member Summit Partnership, which included Aintree press officer Nigel Payne and former Hereford United footballer Ricky George.

Thirty-seven runners took part and six completed the course without mishap, but three horses were fatally injured during the race. [1]

The main race was seen by the smallest Grand National attendance at Aintree since 1985, with a crowd of just 46,679, over 11,000 less than two years prior. [2] It came a year after the 1997 Grand National had to be postponed due to a bomb threat.

Leading contenders

Earth Summit was made the 7/1 favourite, backed down from 10/1 on the morning of the race, after heavy rain on raceday made the ground officially soft, suiting this long-distance mudlark who had won the Welsh National at Chepstow in December, having previously won the Scottish National in 1994 when still a novice. 1992 National winning rider Carl Llewellyn deputised for the injured Tom Jenks, keeping the horse prominent on the first circuit, taking the water jump in sixth place. The favourite moved up to dispute the lead five fences from home and was involved in a straight match with Suny Bay from the third-last before kicking ahead just before the final flight to win a gruelling race by 11 lengths.

Him Of Praise was an eight-year-old who had never finished outside the places in his 11 career starts, including eight over the distance of 3 miles. His preparation for the National had included four victories, including the Peter Cazelet/Anthony Mildmay memorial chase at Sandown in January [3] before finishing third in the Singer & Friedlander Grand National trial at Uttoxeter and second ahead of Earth Summit, who finished fifth in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock in February. [4] [5] Him Of Praise was thought to prefer soft ground and a combination of the rain and his partnership with Irish Champion jockey Charlie Swan saw him backed down to joint-favourite until shortly before the start, before being sent off at 8/1. The partnership was a distant last of seven runners still standing four fences from home when he refused.

Samlee was a nine-year-old who came to prominence after winning the Becher Chase over one circuit of the Aintree Grand National course in November, having been second in the Scottish Grand National earlier in the year. [6] Another victory in a modest 3 mile 6 furlong chase at Sandown followed in December before finishing third to Earth Summit in the Welsh National and third again in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February. Two-time winning rider Richard Dunwoody, who was also the most experienced rider in this year's contest, took the ride with the pairing sent off as 8/1 joint-second favourite. Samlee was in touch for a circuit and a half, jumped the Canal Turn in fifth place, and although his position improved to third after two of those ahead of him fell he was unable to make any headway on the two leaders and was a distance behind them turning back onto the racecourse before being nursed home in third place. [7]

Rough Quest was the only former winner in the field, having won the race with Mick Fitzgerald in 1996. This season he had been second in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock in December before finishing third in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day behind Challenger Du Luc. A fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup 16 days before the National did not deter the public from making him the favourite on the morning of the race before drifting to 11/1 at the off. Fitzgerald again took the ride but the ground was always against the former champion who began to struggle at the Canal Turn on the second circuit before being pulled up four fences from home when lying a distant sixth.

Suny Bay was a grey that had finished second in the previous year's National. Since then he had won both the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase and Hennessy Gold Cup at Haydock and Newbury respectively in November before running unplaced in the King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup. Despite being allocated the 12 stone top handicap weight for the National he was still backed down to 11/1 at the off. Graham Bradley took the ride and the pair ran prominently throughout and pulled clear of the remainder of the field with three fences left to jump to enter a match with Earth Summit. The grey was unable to respond when his rival quickened into the final flight and was unable to get back on terms before being eased up in the final hundred yards to finish 11 lengths down in second. [8]

Other contestants that attracted attention on race day were Challenger Du Luc, 1996 Sun Alliance Chase winner Nahthen Lad (who had finished ninth in last year's National), Banjo, Dun Belle and St. Mellion Fairway, who finished fourth at 20/1.

Of the nine riders making their debut in the race only experienced French rider Thiery Doumen was seriously considered on Ciel de Brion, however it was Ken Whelan who took the debut honours as the only one of the nine to complete the course, finishing fifth. There were also debut rides for Richard McGrath, Seamus Durack and Rupert Wakeley while the remaining four riders all experienced their only Grand National ride. Future racing trainers Tom Dascombe [9] and John Supple, amateur rider Gordon Shenkin and troubled Australian champion rider Jamie Evans [10] all departed on the first circuit.

Finishing order

PositionHorse Jockey AgeWeight (st-lb) SP Distance
1st Earth Summit Carl Llewellyn 1010-057/1 FWon by 11 lengths
2ndSuny Bay (IRE)Graham Bradley912-0011/1A distance
3rdSamlee (IRE) Richard Dunwoody 910-018/11¼ lengths
4thSt. Mellion Fairway (IRE) Andrew Thornton 910-0120/127 lengths
5thGimme FiveKenny Whelan1110-0025/1A distance
6thKilleshinSean Curran1210-0025/1Last to complete

Non-finishers

FenceHorse Jockey AgeWeight (st-lb) SP Fate
1Banjo (FRA) Richard Johnson 810-0714/1Fell
1Challenger Du Luc (FRA) Tony McCoy 811-0312/1Fell
1Diwali Dancer Robert Thornton 810-00100/1Fell
1PashtoJohn Kavanagh1110-00100/1Fell
1What A HandChris Maude1010-0066/1Unseated rider
3FabricatorJohn Supple1210-00150/1Fell
4Do Rightly (IRE)Paul Holley910-00100/1Fell
5Celtic Abbey Norman Williamson 1010-0033/1Fell
5Griffins BarGlenn Tormey1010-00200/1Fell
6 (Becher's Brook)Choisty (IRE)Richard McGrath810-0040/1Fell
6 (Becher's Brook)Court Melody (IRE) Timmy Murphy 1010-0425/1Fell
9 (Valentine's)Dun Belle (IRE)Tom Treacy910-0018/1Unseated rider
11Damas (FRA)Jamie Evans710-00200/1Refused
11General Crack (IRE)Joe Tizzard910-0140/1Pulled up
11Nahthen Lad (IRE)Rod Farrant910-0313/1Unseated rider
14Maple DancerMr. Gordon Shenkin1210-00200/1Pulled up
15 (The Chair)Pond House (IRE) Tom Dascombe 910-0066/1Pulled up [11]
17Joe WhiteTim McCarthy1210-00150/1Pulled up
17Into The RedDean Gallagher1410-0050/1Pulled up
17Go Universal (IRE)Seamus Durack1010-0066/1Pulled up
17HillwalkRupert Wakeley1210-00150/1Pulled up
17Radical Choice (IRE)Brian Storey910-0066/1Pulled up
19Yeoman WarriorRichard Guest1110-01100/1Pulled up
21Winter Belle (USA)Mr. Chris Bonner1010-00100/1Pulled up
24 (Canal Turn)Brave Highlander (IRE)Philip Hide1010-0025/1Unseated rider
26Ciel De Brion (FRA)Thiery Doumen810-0016/1Fell
26Scotton Banks (IRE)Lorcan Wyer1010-0033/1Unseated rider
27Decyborg (FRA) Paul Carberry 710-00200/1Pulled up
27Greenhil Tare AwaySimon McNeill1010-00100/1Unseated rider
27Him Of Praise (IRE) Charlie Swan 810-008/1Refused
29 Rough Quest Mick Fitzgerald 1211-0411/1Pulled up

Stormtracker was withdrawn the day before the race as he was unsuited to the softening ground. Avro Anson was withdrawn on the morning of the race also due to the unsuitability of the conditions.

Media coverage and aftermath

The BBC retained the rights to broadcast the entire three-day meeting live for the 39th consecutive year, with the racing on the Thursday and Friday being broadcast on BBC Two while the Saturday was broadcast as part of a Grandstand special on BBC One, presented by Des Lynam. Richard Pitman and Peter Scudamore provided in-depth analysis of all the races on the card with a detailed preview and re-run of the National itself. [12] Future anchor presenter Clare Balding interviewed the connections of the runners before the race in the parade ring. [13] Among the several cameras used for the race was a camera set inside the cap of rider Richard Johnson. The jockey cam, as it was called, became a regular feature in years to come but in this year hopes of unique pictures of the race were dashed when Johnson fell from his mount at the first fence.

This was to be the first National of the television era where the winner would not be called home by Peter O'Sullevan, as 'the voice of racing' had retired the previous year. Jim McGrath took over the anchor role with Tony O'Hehir covering the field from the fence before Becher's to Valentine's as his father Michael had done from 1967 to 1969. John Hanmer became the senior member of the team, covering the runners over the early fences and coming back towards the racecourse for the 27th consecutive year. BBC Radio covered the race for the 67th time with Peter Bromley calling the winner home.

The race was also televised live into bookmakers' outlets by Racing UK using the racecourse commentary team, consisting of Graham Goode, Ian Bartlett and John Hunt. Goode called the runners home, while all of the national daily newspapers published full colour pullouts with racecard-style guides to the runners.

After the bomb scare of 1997, security was tighter at the 1998 National than at any meeting before or since while only a limited number of vehicles with a special permit were allowed inside the racecourse. Security concerns were increased when a bomb was discovered in the Irish port of Dún Laoghaire a few days before the race, though police stated that there were no indications that the bomb was destined for Aintree.

The deaths of three equine competitors meant the race drew much media attention and public criticism and questions were raised over the safety of the race, however it was later found that only one of the three deaths, that of Pashto at the first fence, was as a direct result of a fall at a fence. The vet reported that Do Rightly suffered a heart attack on takeoff at the fourth fence while Griffins Bar suffered a broken shoulder while galloping and not while jumping a fence. The Jockey Club launched an enquiry into the three deaths with questions raised as to the suitability of all three runners to compete in the National. Over the course of the years ahead the qualification standards for horses to take part were tightened. [14]

Quotes

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References

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  4. "Racenews Newslink Archive - Friday, February 9, 2007". Racenewsonline.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  5. "Grand National 1998 Preview". Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
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  8. "BBC SPORT - OTHER SPORTS - Suny Bay retired". News.bbc.co.uk. 15 January 2001. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
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  10. "Jockey shot through on bill". News.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  11. "A Grand job!".
  12. "Grand National 1998 BBC coverage part 12". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  13. "Grand National 1998 BBC coverage part 17". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  14. "Deaths inquiry". Independent.ie. Retrieved 18 November 2014.