Grand National | |
![]() ![]() | |
Location | Aintree Racecourse |
---|---|
Date | 11 April 2015 |
Winning horse | ![]() |
Starting price | 25/1 |
Jockey | ![]() |
Trainer | ![]() |
Owner | ![]() |
Conditions | Good to soft |
External videos | |
---|---|
![]() |
The 2015 Grand National (officially known as the 2015 Crabbie's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 168th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase took place on 11 April 2015, the final day of a three-day meeting. A field of 39 runners competed for a share of the £1 million prize fund, and all returned safely to the stables following the race. [1]
The 2015 National was won by Many Clouds, ridden by Leighton Aspell and trained by Oliver Sherwood. This was Aspell's second consecutive Grand National victory, having won aboard Pineau de Re in 2014. Many Clouds is owned by Trevor Hemmings, who also owned the winners in 2005 and 2011.
The race was sponsored by ginger-beer producer Crabbie's for the second year. It was broadcast live on television by Channel 4, which took over the television rights after 2012; and on radio by BBC Radio, which has held the radio rights since 1927, and Talksport, which was covering the race live for the second time.
Entries for the 2015 Grand National closed on 3 February 2015 and 98 entrants were announced the following day, down from the record 115 that had been received for the 2014 race. Prior to the handicap announcement one horse was scratched, while another was ruled out as unqualified. Handicap weights were announced by the British Horseracing Authority in London on 17 February. A scratching deadline on 3 March saw the total number of horses reduced to 87; the second scratching deadline on 24 March reduced the field to 74. The five-day confirmation stage took place on 6 April and left 65 potential runners, reduced to 40 on 9 April.
One horse, number 14 Carlito Brigante, was subsequently declared a non-runner, reducing the field to 39 – the first time since 2004 that the maximum 40 did not start. [2] [3]
No | Colours | Horse | Age | Handicap (st–lb) | SP | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lord Windermere (IRE) | 9 | 11–10 | Brian O'Connell | Jim Culloty (IRE) | ||
2 | ![]() | Many Clouds (IRE) | 8 | 11–09 | Leighton Aspell | Oliver Sherwood | |
3 | ![]() | Unioniste (FRA) | 7 | 11–06 | Noel Fehily | Paul Nicholls | |
4 | ![]() | Rocky Creek (IRE) | 9 | 11–03 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Paul Nicholls | |
5 | ![]() | First Lieutenant (IRE) | 10 | 11–03 | Ms. Nina Carberry | Mouse Morris (IRE) | |
6 | ![]() | Balthazar King (IRE) | 11 | 11–02 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs | |
7 | ![]() | Shutthefrontdoor (IRE) | 8 | 11–02 | Tony McCoy | Jonjo O'Neill (IRE) | |
8 | ![]() | Pineau de Re (FRA) | 12 | 11–00 | Daryl Jacob | Richard Newland | |
9 | ![]() | Ballycasey (IRE) | 8 | 10–13 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins (IRE) | |
10 | ![]() | Spring Heeled (IRE) | 8 | 10–12 | Nick Scholfield | Jim Culloty (IRE) | |
11 | Rebel Rebellion (IRE) | 10 | 10–12 | Ryan Mahon | Paul Nicholls | ||
12 | Dolatulo (FRA) | 8 | 10–11 | Dougie Costello | Warren Greatrex | ||
13 | Mon Parrain (FRA) | 9 | 10–11 | Sean Bowen | Paul Nicholls | ||
14 | Non-Runner | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
15 | Night in Milan (IRE) | 9 | 10–09 | James Reveley | Keith Reveley | ||
16 | Rubi Light (IRE) | 10 | 10–09 | Andrew Lynch | Robert Hennessy (IRE) | ||
17 | The Druids Nephew (IRE) | 8 | 10–09 | Aidan Coleman | Neil Mulholland | ||
18 | ![]() | Cause of Causes (USA) | 7 | 10–09 | Paul Carberry | Gordon Elliott (IRE) | |
19 | Godsmejudge (IRE) | 9 | 10–08 | Wayne Hutchinson | Alan King | ||
20 | Al Co (FRA) | 10 | 10–08 | Denis O'Regan | Peter Bowen | ||
21 | ![]() | Monbeg Dude (IRE) | 10 | 10–07 | Liam Treadwell | Michael Scudamore | |
22 | Corrin Wood (IRE) | 8 | 10–07 | David Casey | Donald McCain | ||
23 | ![]() | The Rainbow Hunter | 11 | 10–07 | David Bass | Kim Bailey | |
24 | ![]() | Saint Are (FRA) | 9 | 10–06 | Paddy Brennan | Tom George | |
25 | ![]() | Across the Bay (IRE) | 11 | 10–06 | Henry Brooke | Donald McCain | |
26 | Tranquil Sea (IRE) | 13 | 10–05 | Gavin Sheehan | Warren Greatrex | ||
27 | ![]() | Oscar Time (IRE) | 14 | 10–05 | Mr. Sam Waley-Cohen | Robert Waley-Cohen | |
28 | Bob Ford (IRE) | 8 | 10–04 | Paul Townend | Rebecca Curtis | ||
29 | ![]() | Super Duty (IRE) | 9 | 10–04 | Will Kennedy | Ian Williams | |
30 | ![]() | Wyck Hill (IRE) | 11 | 10–04 | Tom Cannon | David Bridgwater | |
31 | Gas Line Boy (IRE) | 9 | 10–04 | James Best | Philip Hobbs | ||
32 | ![]() | Chance Du Roy (FRA) | 11 | 10–04 | Tom O'Brien | Philip Hobbs | |
33 | Portrait King (IRE) | 10 | 10–03 | Davy Condon | Maurice Phelan (IRE) | ||
34 | Owega Star (IRE) | 8 | 10–03 | Robbie Power | Peter Fahey (IRE) | ||
35 | River Choice (FRA) | 12 | 10–03 | David Cottin | Richard Chotard (FRA) | ||
36 | Court by Surprise (FRA) | 10 | 10–03 | Richie McLernon | Emma Lavelle | ||
37 | ![]() | Alvarado (FRA) | 10 | 10–03 | Paul Moloney | Fergal O'Brien | |
38 | Soll | 10 | 10–02 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe | ||
39 | Ely Brown (IRE) | 10 | 10–02 | Jonathan Burke | Charlie Longsdon | ||
40 | Royale Knight | 9 | 10–02 | Brendan Powell | Richard Newland |
Robbie McNamara was due to ride Lord Windermere but withdrew due to injury.
The race saw a larger than usual number of fallers on the first lap, including the favoured Balthazar King, whose fall at the Canal Turn led to the field being diverted around that fence on the final lap. Jockey Ruby Walsh (whose horse Ballycasey was brought down) helped stewards alert the field to the diversion. [4] Balthazar King suffered broken ribs in the fall. [5]
Many eyes were on Tony McCoy on the favourite Shutthefrontdoor on what was his last Grand National. He told the media he would retire immediately after the race if he won but his mount ran out of stamina on the home turn and eventually finished fifth. [6]
It was left to Many Clouds, ridden by Leighton Aspell, to come through to win the race. [7] [8] Aspell became the first rider to win successive Nationals since Brian Fletcher rode Red Rum to victory in 1973 and 1974. Saint Are finished second, with Monbeg Dude third, and Alvarado fourth for the second time. Pineau de Re, the previous year's winner and now ridden by Daryl Jacob, finished 12th. [9]
Nineteen runners completed the course as follows: [10]
Position | Horse | Jockey | SP | Distance | Prize money |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | Many Clouds | Leighton Aspell | 25/1 | Won by 1+3⁄4 lengths | £561,300 |
2nd | Saint Are | Paddy Brennan | 25/1 | 6 lengths | £211,100 |
3rd | Monbeg Dude | Liam Treadwell | 40/1 | 3+1⁄2 lengths | £105,500 |
4th | Alvarado | Paul Moloney | 20/1 | 1+1⁄2 lengths | £52,700 |
5th | Shutthefrontdoor | Tony McCoy | 6/1 F | 2+1⁄4 lengths | £26,500 |
6th | Royale Knight | Brendan Powell | 25/1 | 10 lengths | £13,200 |
7th | Tranquil Sea | Gavin Sheehan | 33/1 | 2+1⁄4 lengths | £6,800 |
8th | Cause of Causes | Paul Carberry | 14/1 | 14 lengths | £3,600 |
9th | Soll | Tom Scudamore | 9/1 | 10 lengths | £2,000 |
10th | Chance Du Roy | Tom O'Brien | 40/1 | 5 lengths | £1,000 |
11th | Mon Parrain | Sean Bowen | 33/1 | 1+1⁄2 lengths | |
12th | Pineau de Re | Daryl Jacob | 25/1 | 6 lengths | |
13th | Owega Star | Robbie Power | 50/1 | 25 lengths | |
14th | Spring Heeled | Nick Scholfield | 25/1 | 2+1⁄2 lengths | |
15th | Oscar Time | Mr. Sam Waley-Cohen | 20/1 | 3+3⁄4 lengths | |
16th | First Lieutenant | Ms. Nina Carberry | 14/1 | 5 lengths | |
17th | Rocky Creek | Sam Twiston-Davies | 8/1 | 2+1⁄2 lengths | |
18th | Night in Milan | James Reveley | 20/1 | 3+1⁄4 lengths | |
19th | Dolatulo | Dougie Costello | 66/1 | Last to complete |
Fence | Horse | Jockey | SP | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ely Brown | Brian Hughes | 100/1 | Fell |
1 | Gas Line Boy | James Best | 66/1 | Fell |
1 | Al Co | Denis O'Regan | 18/1 | Unseated rider |
3 (open ditch) | Rubi Light | Andrew Lynch | 50/1 | Unseated rider |
4 | Corrin Wood | David Casey | 66/1 | Pulled up |
5 | Unioniste | Noel Fehily | 16/1 | Fell |
6 (Becher's Brook) | River Choice | David Cottin | 100/1 | Fell |
8 (Canal Turn) | Balthazar King | Richard Johnson | 17/2 | Fell |
8 (Canal Turn) | Ballycasey | Ruby Walsh | 25/1 | Brought down |
19 | Court by Surprise | Richie McLernon | 33/1 | Pulled up |
25 (Valentine's) | Across the Bay | Henry Brooke | 33/1 | Pulled up |
25 (Valentine's) | Super Duty | Will Kennedy | 66/1 | Pulled up |
25 (Valentine's) | Lord Windermere | Brian O'Connell | 33/1 | Pulled up |
26 | The Rainbow Hunter | David Bass | 33/1 | Fell |
26 | The Druids Nephew | Aidan Coleman | 10/1 | Fell |
27 (open ditch) | Rebel Rebellion | Ryan Mahon | 33/1 | Pulled up |
28 (ditch) | Portrait King | Davy Condon | 50/1 | Fell |
29 | Godsmejudge | Wayne Hutchinson | 18/1 | Pulled up |
29 | Wyck Hill | Tom Cannon | 66/1 | Pulled up |
29 | Bob Ford | Paul Townend | 50/1 | Pulled up |
They make the long run-in now, and Many Clouds still out in front by two or three lengths to Saint Are. Monbeg Dude still stays on, then Shutthefrontdoor. A furlong left to go, passing the elbow. Many Clouds by three lengths to Saint Are. Many Clouds is getting tired. Saint Are stays on down the outside. Many Clouds by two lengths, by a length and a half! Here comes the line, it's Leighton Aspell! Back to back Grand Nationals, he wins on Many Clouds! Many Clouds has won the National.
Channel 4 lead commentator Simon Holt describes the climax of the race.
With Clare Balding unavailable to present Channel 4's coverage, due to her BBC commitments as The Boat Race was unusually held on the same day, Nick Luck therefore led the coverage, being the first male lead presenter of the race since 1999. [11] Luck's usual role of anchoring the event from the trackside studio was filled by Emma Spencer, supported by Jim McGrath and Graham Cunningham. Reports were provided by Mick Fitzgerald and Alice Plunkett and betting updates by Tanya Stevenson and Brian Gleeson. To broaden the scope of its coverage, flat racing jockey Frankie Dettori joined the team as a guest reporter for race day and more emphasis was placed on style and fashion of racegoers and celebrities, with fashion expert Gok Wan presenting segments on both race day and the preceding 'Ladies Day' on the festival meeting. [12]
The commentary team was by Richard Hoiles, Ian Bartlett and Simon Holt, who called the winner home for the third time. Following the race, Spencer, Fitzgerald and Hoiles guided viewers on a fence-by-fence analysis of the race. [12]
Further Channel 4 programming in the build-up to the race included special editions of chatshow Alan Carr: Chatty Man and Sunday Brunch, the latter being shown under the title of Weekend Brunch, with segments of the programme coming direct from Aintree. [12]
The BBC continued an unbroken run of 83 consecutive renewals of the race to be broadcast live on radio, dating back to 1927. The race was part of its 5 Live Sport broadcast, presented by Mark Pougatch with pre-race build-up from former National riders Andrew Thornton and Luke Harvey. Cornelius Lysaght interviewed connections in the ring and Rob Nothman provided market updates. The commentary team for the race itself was Malcolm Tomlinson, Darren Owen, Gary O'Brien and John Hunt, who called the finish. [13]
The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse, Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over an official distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs, with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million in 2017. An event that is prominent in British culture, the race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.
Becher's Brook is a fence jumped during the Grand National, a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is jumped twice during the race, as the 6th and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year. It has always been a notorious and controversial obstacle, because of the size and angle of the 6-foot-9-inch (2.06 m) drop on the landing side. Some jockeys have compared it to "jumping off the edge of the world."
The 2001 Grand National was the 154th official running of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 7 April 2001. It went ahead as planned, despite the cancellation of the 2001 Cheltenham Festival, caused by the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.
The 2006 Grand National was the 159th official annual running of the Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 8 April 2006 and attracted the maximum permitted field of forty competitors for total prize money of £689,360 including £399,140 to the winner.
The 2002 Grand National was the 155th official renewal of the Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 6 April 2002.
The 2011 Grand National was the 164th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England.
The 2012 Grand National was the 165th annual renewal of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase, which concluded a three-day meeting which is one of only four held at Aintree throughout the year, took place on 14 April 2012. The maximum permitted field of 40 runners ran the last 4 miles 856 yards (7.220 km) of Aintree's National Course featuring 30 fences, competing for record prize money of £975,000, making it the highest-valued National Hunt race in the United Kingdom.
The 2013 Grand National was the 166th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase, which concluded a three-day meeting, took place on 6 April 2013. The maximum permitted field of 40 runners competed for a share of the £975,000 prize fund, which made the National the most valuable jump race in Europe.
The 2014 Grand National was the 167th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase, which concluded a three-day meeting, took place on 5 April 2014. The maximum permitted field of 40 runners competed for a share of a record £1 million prize fund, which makes the National the most valuable jump race in Europe.
Leighton Aspell is a retired Irish jockey, whose wins include the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle riding United, two runnings of the Welsh National, the 2014 Grand National riding Pineau de Re and the 2015 Grand National riding Many Clouds.
Pineau de Re is a French-bred, British-trained AQPS racehorse best known for winning the 2014 Grand National.
Balthazar King is a Bay Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He is out of Afdala by King's Theatre. In 2015 his record stands at 16 wins, and 9 places from 45 races. He came runner up to Pineau De Re in the 2014 running of the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse.
Many Clouds was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2015 Grand National. After being sold as a foal, he was sent to England and trained for a National Hunt racing career by Oliver Sherwood.
The 2016 Grand National was the 169th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase took place on 9 April 2016, the final day of a three-day meeting. A field of 39 runners competed for a share of a prize fund of £1 million.
The 2017 Grand National was the 170th official running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase over a distance of 4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km) took place on 8 April 2017, the final day of a three-day meeting. A maximum field of 40 runners competed for a share of a prize fund of £1 million.
The 2018 Grand National was the 171st annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase was the pinnacle of a three-day festival which commenced on 12 April 2018. The event was sponsored by Randox Health for the second time.
The 2019 Grand National was the 172nd annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase was held on 6 April and is the pinnacle of a three-day festival.
The 2021 Grand National was the 173rd annual running of the Grand National horse race, held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England, on 10 April 2021. The event was once again sponsored by Randox Health, although the name on the race from this year onwards was shortened to simply "Randox". The total prize fund for the race was £750,000, down by £250,000 from the last meeting in 2019.
The 2022 Grand National was the 174th annual running of the Grand National horse race. It took place on Saturday, 9 April 2022, at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. The event was sponsored by Randox Health.
The 2023 Grand National was the 175th annual running of the Grand National horse race. It took place on Saturday 15 April 2023, at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The event was sponsored by Randox Health with Natasha Jonas acting as ambassador.