2021 Grand National

Last updated

2021 Grand National
Grand National
Randox Grand National 2021 logo.jpg
Owner Mr John P McManus star on cap.svg
Location Aintree
Date10 April 2021
Winning horse Flag of Ireland.svg Minella Times
Starting price 11/1
Jockey Flag of Ireland.svg Rachael Blackmore
Trainer Flag of Ireland.svg Henry de Bromhead
Owner Flag of Ireland.svg J. P. McManus
Conditions Good to soft
  2019
2020
2022  
External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Full replay of the 2021 Grand National Racing TV, YouTube

The 2021 Grand National (officially known as the Randox 2021 Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 173rd annual running of the Grand National horse race, held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England, [1] 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.

Contents

The race was won by Minella Times, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, who became the first female jockey to win the Grand National. [2] De Bromhead, who won the race as a trainer for the first time, also trained the second-place finisher Balko des Flos. The winner was owned by J. P. McManus, who had previously won the race as an owner in 2010 with Don't Push It. [3] The Long Mile was euthanised after fracturing a hind leg. Jockey Bryony Frost was treated for injuries after falling from Yala Enki. [4]

Having been cancelled the year before due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 race and entire festival meeting took place behind closed doors for the first time in its history, because of continuing restrictions. Despite speculations and calls from some leading figures in racing for the meeting to be pushed back in the calendar so that it could possibly take place when betting shops are open, it was confirmed the race would retain its original date. [5]

The death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was announced shortly before the second day of the meeting. The meeting continued as scheduled, with tributes including a two-minute silence before racing, jockeys wearing black armbands on their silks as a mark of respect and the Union Jack on the Queen Mother Stand being lowered to half-mast. [6]

Race card

On 3 February 106 entries were announced. The early favourite in ante-post betting was the 2018 and 2019 winner Tiger Roll, [7] but he was withdrawn before the first scratching stage by the Gigginstown House Stud, citing excessive weight allocation. Cloth Cap was left as the favourite. [8] [9]

NoHorseAgeHandicap
(stlb)
SP Jockey Trainer
1Bristol De Mai1011–1033/1 Daryl Jacob Nigel Twiston-Davies
2Chris's Dream911–780/1D.J. O'Keeffe Henry de Bromhead
3Yala Enki1111–350/1 Bryony Frost Paul Nicholls
4Ballyoptic1111–1125/1 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
5Definitly Red1211–166/1 Ryan Mania Brian Ellison
6Lake View Lad1111–066/1 Brian Hughes N. W. Alexander
7Burrows Saint810–139/1Mr. Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins
8Magic Of Light1010–1316/1 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington
9Acapella Bourgeois1110–1225/1Danny Mullins Willie Mullins
10Talkischeap910–1250/1Tom Cannon Alan King
11Tout Est Permis810–12150/1Sean Flanagan Noel Meade
12Anibale Fly1110–1228/1 Denis O'Regan Tony Martin
13Mister Malarky810–1214/1Jonjo O'Neill Jnr Colin Tizzard
14Kimberlite Candy910–1022/1Richie McLernonTom Lacey
15Any Second Now910–9 Mark Walsh Ted Walsh
16Balko Des Flos1010–9150/1 Aidan Coleman Henry de Bromhead
17Alpha Des Obeaux1110–980/1Jody McGarveyDenise Foster
18Ok Corral1110–880/1Mr. Derek O'Connor Nicky Henderson
19Takingrisks1210–720/1Sean Quinlan Nicky Richards
20Shattered Love1010–740/1Kevin SextonDenise Foster
21Jett1010–7125/1Mr. Sam Waley-Cohen Jessica Harrington
22Lord Du Mesnil810–666/1Nick ScholfieldRichard Hobson
23Potters Corner1110–628/1Jack TudorChristian Williams
24Class Conti910–680/1Brian Hayes Willie Mullins
25Milan Native810–640/1Mr. Jamie Codd Denise Foster
26Discorama810–616/1 Bryan Cooper Paul Nolan
27Vieux Lion Rouge1210–580/1Conor O'Farrell David Pipe
28Cloth Cap910–5 Tom Scudamore Jonjo O’Neill
29Cabaret Queen910–5150/1S.F. O'Keeffe Willie Mullins
30Minellacelebration1110–580/1Ben PosteKaty Price
31Canelo810–466/1Tom Bellamy Alan King
32The Long Mile710–450/1L.P. DempseyJ.P. Dempsey
33Give Me A Copper1110–450/1 Sean Bowen Paul Nicholls
34Farclas710–316/1 Jack Kennedy Denise Foster
35 Minella Times 810–311/1 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead
36Sub Lieutenant1210–380/1Tabitha WorsleyGeorgie Howell
37Hogan's Height1010–3150/1Gavin SheehanJamie Snowden
38Double Shuffle1110–2125/1Jonathan BurkeTom George
39Ami Desbois1110–2150/1Kielon WoodsGraeme McPherson
40 Blaklion 1210–250/1 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
R1Some Neck10John McConnell
R2Secret Reprieve7Evan Williams
R3Kauto Riko10Tom Gretton
R4Fagan11Alex Hales
Sources: Trainers and weights [10] Jockeys [11] Starting prices [12]

Race overview

The race was held without spectators due to COVID-19. The favourite, Cloth Cap, was the first leader in the race, but was quickly caught by Jett, who then built up a large lead, with Cloth Cap remaining in second for much of the race. Any Second Now ran into trouble when Double Shuffle fell in front of him in the first half of the race, costing him several lengths. [13] Cloth Cap was pulled up four fences from the end. On the third-last fence Any Second Now nearly fell. On the second-last fence, a pack of chasing horses, including Minella Times, Any Second Now, Discorama, Burrows Saint and Balko Des Flos caught Jett, as Jett faded. Minella Times took the lead on the second-last fence, and maintained it to the finish, while dark horse Balko Des Flos won second-place on the last fence. [14] [15] [16]

The Long Mile suffered an injury while running on a flat portion of the race and was euthanised after the race. Bryony Frost fell from Yala Enki and needed hospital treatment. [14] [15]

Henry de Bromhead trained the top two finishers in the race, only a few weeks after his horses won the top three races at the Cheltenham Festival. Jockey Rachael Blackmore recorded the best ever finish for a woman jockey, above the third place finish for Katie Walsh in 2012. In her interview after the race, Blackmore stated "I don't feel male or female. I don't even feel human, I feel unbelievable." [14] [15]

Finishing order

Placed horses [17] [18]
Owner Mr John P McManus star on cap.svg
1: Minella Times
Owner Racehorseclub Com.svg
2: Balko Des Flos
Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
3: Any Second Now
Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg
4: Burrows Saint


PositionNameAgeHandicap

(stlb)

SP Jockey Trainer Prize money
1 Minella Times 810–311/1 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead £375,000
2Balko Des Flos1010–9100/1 Aidan Coleman Henry de Bromhead£150,000
3Any Second Now910–9 Mark Walsh Ted Walsh £75,000
4Burrows Saint810–139/1Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins £48,750
5Farclas710–316/1 Jack Kennedy Mrs Denise Foster£30,000
6 Blaklion 1210–250/1Harry SkeltonDan Skelton£22,500
7Discorama810–616/1 Bryan Cooper Paul Nolan£15,000
8Jett1010–780/1 Sam Waley-Cohen Jessica Harrington £11,250
9Cabaret Queen910–580/1 Sean O'Keeffe Willie Mullins£7,500
10Shattered Love1010–733/1Kevin SextonMrs Denise Foster£3,750
11Alpha Des Obeaux1110–980/1Jody McGarveyMrs Denise Foster
12Hogan's Height1010–3100/1Gavin SheehanJamie Snowden
13Acapella Bourgeois1110–1220/1Danny MullinsWillie Mullins
14Sub Lieutenant1210–350/1Tabitha WorsleyGeorgia Howell
15Class Conti910–666/1Brian HayesWillie Mullins

Source [19]

Non-finishers

FenceName Jockey SP Fate
1Lake View Lad Brian Hughes 50/1Fell
4Magic Of Light Robbie Power 14/1Unseated rider
11MinellacelebrationBenjamin Poste80/1Unseated rider
12Double ShuffleJonathan Burke66/1Fell
13Anibale Fly Denis O'Regan 28/1Pulled up
15CaneloThomas Bellamy66/1Fell
15Ami DesboisKielan Woods100/1Brought down
17TakingrisksSean Quinlan14/1Pulled up
17Mister MalarkyJonjo O'Neill Jr.12/1Pulled up
20Yala Enki Bryony Frost 40/1Unseated rider
20Vieux Lion RougeConor O'Farrell66/1Fell
21Ballyoptic Sam Twiston-Davies 66/1Refused
21Ok CorralMr Derek O'Connor80/1Pulled up
21Lord Du MesnilNick Scholfield50/1Pulled up
22Bristol De Mai Daryl Jacob 25/1Pulled up
22Potters CornerJack Tudor22/1Pulled up
23The Long MileL P Dempsey50/1Pulled up
26TalkischeapTom Cannon33/1Pulled up
27Chris's DreamD J O'Keeffe40/1Unseated rider
28Cloth Cap Tom Scudamore 11/2 FavPulled up
29Give Me A Copper Sean Bowen 33/1Pulled up
29Definitly Red Ryan Mania 28/1Pulled up
29Tout Est PermisSean Flanagan100/1Pulled up
29Kimberlite CandyRichie McLernon20/1Pulled up
29Milan NativeMr Jamie Codd50/1Pulled up

Source [19]

Broadcasting and media

"It is Minella Times who leads them towards the elbow, three or four lengths clear from ridden in second place Balko Des Flos, Any Second Now and Burrows Saint. Rachael Blackmore heads towards the elbow, with 200 yards between herself and an Aintree victory. Balko Des Flos and Any Second Now are about five lengths down. 150 yards to go! Minella Times, Rachael Blackmore, still five lengths clear! And it is Minella Times who is keeping up the gallop towards the line! Minella Times, Rachael Blackmore raise the bar, still higher! She won the National on Minella Times for Henry De Bromhead!"

ITV lead commentator Richard Hoiles describes the climax of the race. [20]

As the Grand National is accorded the status of an event of national interest in the United Kingdom and is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, it must be shown on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK. The race was broadcast live on TV by ITV for the fourth time, and the first year in its new three year deal with the British Horseracing Authority. [21] For Racing TV, the race was called by Stewart Machin, Alan Howes and Simon Holt.

The ITV coverage was presented by Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani. Analysis was provided by former Grand National-winning jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald, with Ruby Walsh also contributing via remote link from the course. Reports were provided by Alice Plunkett, Rishi Persad, Luke Harvey and Matt Chapman – who also provided updates on betting during the broadcast. Oli Bell and Chris Hughes covered viewers' comments on social media. The commentary team was Mark Johnson, Ian Bartlett and Richard Hoiles, who called the finish for the fourth time. Following the race, Bell, Fitzgerald and Walsh guided viewers on a fence-by-fence re-run of the race. [20]

Because of the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 9 April, coverage of the second day of the meeting was moved to ITV4, with no advertisement breaks or sponsorship bumpers. [22]

In the Republic of Ireland, the race was broadcast on Virgin Media One. [23]

See also

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References

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