O Grand National é uma prova de corrida de cavalos thoroughbred com obstáculos (steeplechase) que ocorre desde o século XIX em Aintree na Inglaterra.
É disputado numa distância de 4 milhas 514 jardasBritish Racing and Racecourses (ISBN 978-0950139722) by Marion Rose Halpenny - Page 167 (ou 6,907 km.) e durante a corrida existem trinta obstáculos (fences) para serem saltados.Ocorre uma vez por ano, no Aintree Racecourse .
É o evento de National Hunt (certame de corridas com obstáculos) da Grã-Bretanha com a maior premiação, e em 2009 ofereceu um total de £900,000 em prémios.Os animais transportam pesos em regime de handicap (pesos diferentes conforme a categoria e idade).
Os cavalos, como em todas as modalidades de desportos equestres com saltos de obstáculos, já tem idade madura e em geral estão castrados (guelding), para prevenir traumatismos ao transpor as barreiras. Vence o cavalo que chegar na frente, com o jockey montado.
A corrida encontra popularidade entre muitas pessoas que normalmente não assistem ou apostam em corridas de cavalos em outras épocas do ano, que ocorrem ao evento motivadas pelas extremas exigencias aos competidores. Ela é também uma das mais controversas, devido as lesões e fatalidades sofridas pelos cavalos participantes. Isso faz dela um alvo de grupos que defendem os direitos dos animais, que já fizeram campanha para ela ser banida. Em cento e sessenta e duas corridas, ocorreram cinquenta e oito mortes de cavalos, quatro delas no mesmo ano, 1954. Classificada como prova de Grupo III pelos critérios técnicos da Inglaterra.
Dia da corrida
Sábado, no começo de abril de cada ano.
Histórico O Grand National em Aintree foi instituido, conforme relatos oficiais em 1839, vencido por um cavalo de nome Lottery . Entretanto já haviam ocorrido tres edições esquecidas nos registros, as de 1836 e 1837 ganhos pelo cavalo The Duke e a de 1838 por Sir Williams. Naquela época a corrida era chamada Grand Liverpool Steeplechase, e os cavalos corriam na planície tendo que saltar sobre obstáculos que eram pequenos terraços, dois arroios e um muro de pedra.Tb:Heritage : A verdadeira história do Grand National
Vencedores Ano Cavalo Idade* Handicap ** Jockey Treinador Proprietário 1839 Lottery 9 12-00 Jem Mason George Dockeray 1840 Jerry 10 12-00 Mr Bartholomew Bretherton George Dockeray 1841 Charity 11 12-00 Mr A. Powell William Vevers 1842 Gaylad 8 12-00 Tom Olliver George Dockeray 1843 Vanguard 8 11-10 Tom Olliver Lord Chesterfield's Groom 1844 Discount 6 10-12 John Crickmere 1845 Cure-All 11-05 Mr William Loft Kitty Crisp 1846 Pioneer 6 11-12 William Taylor 1847 Matthew 9 10-06 Denny Wynne John Murphy 1848 Chandler 12 11-12 Captain Josie Little Tom Eskrett 1849 Peter Simple 11 11-00 Tom Cunningham Tom Cunningham 1850 Abd-El-Kader 8 09-12 Mr Chris Green Joe Osborne 1851 Abd-El-Kader 9 10-04 Tom Abbot Joe Osborne 1852 Miss Mowbray 8 10-04 Mr Alec Goodman George Dockeray 1853 Peter Simple 15 10-10 Tom Olliver Tom Olliver 1854 Bourton 11 11-12 John Tasker Henry Wadlow 1855 Wanderer 10 09-08 John Hanlon 1856 Freetrader 7 09-06 George Stevens William Holman 1857 Emigrant 11 09-10 Charlie Boyce Charlie Boyce 1858 Little Charley 10 10-07 William Archer William Holman 1859 Half Caste 6 09-07 Chris Green Chris Green 1860 Anatis 10 09-10 Mr Tommy Pickernell H. E. May 1861 Jealousy 7 09-12 Joseph Kendall Charles Balchin 1862 The Huntsman 9 11-00 Harry Lamplugh Harry Lamplugh 1863 Emblem 7 10-10 George Stevens Edwin Weever 1864 Emblematic 6 10-06 George Stevens Edwin Weever 1865 Alcibiade 5 11-04 Captain Henry Coventry Cornell 1866 Salamander 7 10-07 Mr Alec Goodman J. Walters 1867 Cortolvin 8 11-13 John Page Harry Lamplugh 1868 The Lamb 6 10-07 Mr George Ede-Edwards Ben Land 1869 The Colonel 6 10-07 George Stevens R. Roberts 1870 The Colonel 7 11-12 George Stevens R. Roberts 1871 The Lamb 9 11-05 Mr Tommy Pickernell Chris Green 1872 Casse Tete 7 10-00 John Page A. Cowley 1873 Disturbance 6 11-11 Mr John Richardson John Richardson 1874 Reugny 6 10-12 Mr John Richardson John Richardson 1875 Pathfinder 8 10-11 Mr Tommy Pickernell W. Reeves 1876 Regal 5 11-03 Joe Cannon James Jewitt 1877 Austerlitz 5 10-08 Mr Fred Hobson Robert I'Anson 1878 Shifnal 9 10-12 J. Jones J. Nightingall 1879 The Liberator 10 11-04 Mr Garry Moore J. Moore 1880 Empress 5 10-07 Mr Tommy Beasley Henry Linde 1881 Woodbrook 7 11-03 Mr Tommy Beasley Henry Linde 1882 Seaman 6 11-06 Lord Manners James Machell 1883 Zoedone 6 11-00 Count Karel Kinsky W. Jenkins 1884 Voluptuary 6 10-05 Mr Ted Wilson William Wilson 1885 Roquefort 6 11-00 Mr Ted Wilson Arthur Yates 1886 Old Joe 7 10-09 Tommy Skelton George Mulcaster 1887 Gamecock 8 11-00 W. Daniells James Gordon 1888 Playfair 7 10-07 George Mawson Tom Cannon 1889 Frigate 11 11-04 Mr Tommy Beasley M. A. Maher 1890 Ilex 6 10-05 Arthur Nightingall John Nightingall 1891 Come Away 7 11-12 Mr Harry Beasley Harry Beasley 1892 Father O'Flynn 7 10-05 Captain Roddy Owen Gordon Wilson 1893 Cloister 9 12-07 Bill Dollery Arthur Yates 1894 Why Not 13 11-13 Arthur Nightingall Willie Moore 1895 Wild Man From Borneo 7 10-11 Mr Joe Widger James Gatland 1896 The Soarer 7 09-13 Mr David Campbell Willie Moore 1897 Manifesto 9 11-13 Terry Kavanagh Willie McAuliffe 1898 Drogheda 6 10-12 John Gourley Dick Dawson 1899 Manifesto 11 12-07 George Williamson Willie Moore 1900 Ambush II 6 11-03 Algy Anthony Algy Anthony 1901 Grudon 11 10-00 Arthur Nightingall Bernard Bletsoe 1902 Shannon Lass 7 10-01 David Read James Hackett 1903 Drumcree 9 11-03 Percy Woodland Sir Charles Nugent 1904 Moifaa 8 10-07 Arthur Birch W. Hickey 1905 Kirkland 9 11-05 Frank Mason E. Thomas 1906 Ascetic's Silver 9 10-09 Mr Aubrey Hastings Aubrey Hastings 1907 Eremon 7 10-01 Alf Newey Tom Coulthwaite 1908 Rubio 10 10-05 Henry Bletsoe Fred Withington 1909 Lutteur III 5 10-11 Georges Parfrement Harry Escott 1910 Jenkinstown 9 10-05 Robert Chadwick Tom Coulthwaite 1911 Glenside 9 10-03 Mr Jack Anthony R. H. Collis 1912 Jerry M 9 12-07 Ernie Piggott Bob Gore 1913 Covertcoat 7 11-06 Percy Woodland Bob Gore 1914 Sunloch 8 09-07 Bill Smith Tom Tyler 1915 Ally Sloper 6 10-06 Mr Jack Anthony Aubrey Hastings 1916 Vermouth 6 11-10 Jack Reardon J. Bell 1917 Ballymacad 10 09-12 Edmund Driscoll Aubrey Hastings 1918 Poethlyn 8 11-06 Ernie Piggott Harry Escott 1919 Poethlyn 9 12-07 Ernie Piggott Harry Escott 1920 Troytown 7 11-09 Mr Jack Anthony Algy Anthony 1921 Shaun Spadah 10 11-07 Fred Rees George Poole 1922 Music Hall 9 11-08 Lewis Rees Owen Anthony 1923 Sergeant Murphy 13 11-03 Captain Tuppy Bennett George Blackwell 1924 Master Robert 11 10-05 Bob Trudgill Aubrey Hastings 1925 Double Chance 9 10-09 Major John Wilson Fred Archer, Jr. 1926 Jack Horner 9 10-05 William Watkinson Harvey Leader 1927 Sprig 10 12-04 Ted Leader Tom Leader 1928 Tipperary Tim 10 10-00 Mr Bill Dutton Joseph Dodd 1929 Gregalach 7 11-04 Robert Everett Tom Leader 1930 Shaun Goilin 10 11-07 Tommy Cullinan Frank Hartigan 1931 Grakle 9 11-07 Bob Lyall Tom Coulthwaite 1932 Forbra 7 10-07 Tim Hamey Tom Rimell 1933 Kellsboro Jack 7 11-09 Dudley Williams Ivor Anthony 1934 Golden Miller 7 12-02 Gerry Wilson Basil Briscoe 1935 Reynoldstown 8 11-04 Mr Frank Furlong Noel Furlong 1936 Reynoldstown 9 12-02 Mr Fulke Walwyn Noel Furlong 1937 Royal Mail 8 11-13 Evan Williams Ivor Anthony 1938 Battleship 11 11-06 Bruce Hobbs Reg Hobbs 1939 Workman 9 10-06 Tim Hyde Jack Ruttle 1940 Bogskar 7 10-04 Mervyn Jones Lord Stalbridge 1941 ZZNão houve entre 1941 a 1945 99 99-99 ZZ ZZ 999.99 1946 Lovely Cottage 9 10-08 Captain Bobby Petre Tommy Rayson 1947 Caughoo 8 10-00 Eddie Dempsey Herbert McDowell 1948 Sheila's Cottage 9 10-07 Arthur Thompson Neville Crump 1949 Russian Hero 9 10-08 Leo McMorrow George Owen 1950 Freebooter 9 11-11 Jimmy Power Bobby Renton 1951 Nickel Coin 9 10-01 John Bullock Jack O'Donoghue 1952 Teal 10 10-11 Arthur Thompson Neville Crump 1953 Early Mist 8 11-02 Bryan Marshall Vincent O'Brien 1954 Royal Tan 10 11-07 Bryan Marshall Vincent O'Brien 1955 Quare Times 9 11-10 Pat TaaffeVincent O'Brien 1956 E.S.B. 10 11-03 Dave Dick Fred Rimell 1957 Sundew 11 11-07 Fred Winter Frank Hudson 1958 Mr What 8 10-06 Arthur Freeman Tom Taaffe 1959 Oxo 8 10-13 Michael Scudamore Willie Stephenson 1960 Merryman II 9 10-12 Gerry Scott Neville Crump 1961 Nicolaus Silver 9 10-01 Bobby Beasley Fred Rimell 1962 Kilmore 12 10-04 Fred Winter Ryan Price 1963 Ayala 9 10-00 Pat Buckley Keith Piggott 1964 Team Spirit 12 10-03 Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn 1965 Jay Trump 8 11-05 Mr Tommy Smith Fred Winter 1966 Anglo 8 10-00 Tim Norman Fred Winter 1967 Foinavon 9 10-00 John Buckingham John Kempton 1968 Red Alligator 9 10-00 Brian Fletcher Denys Smith 1969 Highland Wedding 12 10-04 Eddie Harty Toby Balding 1970 Gay Trip 8 11-05 Pat Taaffe Fred Rimell 1971 Specify 9 10-13 John Cook John Sutcliffe 1972 Well To Do 9 10-01 Graham Thorner Tim Forster 1973 Red Rum 8 10-05 Brian Fletcher Ginger McCain 1974 Red Rum 9 12-00 Brian Fletcher Ginger McCain 1975 L'Escargot 12 11-03 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore 1976 Rag Trade 10 10-12 John Burke Fred Rimell 1977 Red Rum 12 11-08 Tommy Stack Ginger McCain 1978 Lucius 9 10-09 Bob Davies Gordon W. Richards 1979 Rubstic 10 10-00 Maurice Barnes John Leadbetter 1980 Ben Nevis 12 10-12 Mr Charlie Fenwick Tim Forster 1981 Aldaniti 11 10-13 Bob Champion Josh Gifford 1982 Grittar 9 11-05 Mr Dick Saunders Frank Gilman 1983 Corbiere 8 11-04 Ben de Haan Jenny Pitman 1984 Hallo Dandy 10 10-02 Neale Doughty Gordon W. Richards 1985 Last Suspect 11 10-05 Hywel Davies Tim Forster 1986 West Tip 9 10-11 Richard Dunwoody Michael Oliver 1987 Maori Venture 11 10-13 Steve Knight Andrew Turnell 1988 Rhyme 'n' Reason 9 11-00 Brendan Powell David Elsworth 1989 Little Polveir 12 10-03 Jimmy Frost Toby Balding 1990 Mr Frisk 11 10-06 Mr Marcus Armytage Kim Bailey 1991 Seagram 11 10-06 Nigel Hawke David Barons 1992 Party Politics 8 10-07 Carl Llewellyn Nick Gaselee 1993 ZZanulada em 1993 99 99-99 ZZ ZZ 999.99 1994 Miinnehoma 11 10-08 Richard Dunwoody Martin Pipe 1995 Royal Athlete 12 10-06 Jason Titley Jenny Pitman 1996 Rough Quest 10 10-07 Mick Fitzgerald Terry Casey 1997 Lord Gyllene 9 10-00 Tony Dobbin Steve Brookshaw 1998 Earth Summit 10 10-05 Carl Llewellyn Nigel Twiston-Davies 1999 Bobbyjo 9 10-00 Paul Carberry Tommy Carberry 2000 Papillon 9 10-12 Ruby Walsh Ted Walsh 2001 Red Marauder 11 10-11 Richard Guest Norman Mason 2002 Bindaree 8 10-04 Jim Culloty Nigel Twiston-Davies 2003 Monty's Pass 10 10–07 Barry Geraghty Jimmy Mangan Dee Racing Syndicate 2004 Amberleigh House 12 10–10 Graham Lee Ginger McCain Halewood Int. Ltd 2005 Hedgehunter 9 11-01 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins Trevor Hemmings 2006 Numbersixvalverde 10 10-08 Niall Madden Martin Brassil Bernard Carroll 2007 Silver Birch 10 10-06 Robbie Power Gordon Elliott Brian Walsh 2008 Comply or Die 9 10-09 Timmy Murphy David Pipe David Johnson 2009 Mon Mome 9 11-00 Liam Treadwell Venetia Williams Vida Bingham 2010 Don't Push It 10 11–05 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill J. P. McManus 2011 Ballabriggs 10 11-00 Jason Maguire Donald McCain, Jr. Trevor Hemmings 2012 Neptune Collonges 11 11-06 Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls John Hales 2013 Auroras Encore 11 10-03 Ryan Mania Sue Smith Douglas Pryde, Jim Beaumont & David P van der Hoeven 2014 Pineau de Re 11 10-06Leighton Aspell Richard Newland John Proven 2015 Many Clouds 8 11-09 Oliver Sherwood Trevor Hemmings 2016 Rule The World 9 10-07 David Mullins Mouse Morris Gigginstown House Stud 2017 One For Arthur 8 10-11 Derek Fox Lucinda Russell Two Golf Widows *A idade do cavalo é expressa em anos hípicos **Os pesos de Handicap são em Stone (imperial mass) e Pounds. As edições de 1836 a 1838 não são reconhecidas como "Grand Nationals" por Aintree Racecourse. De 1916 a 1918 a corrida foi em Gatwick. Não houve Grand National entre 1941 e 1945 devido à Segunda Guerra Mundial. A corrida foi anulada em 1993, quando muitos concorrentes saíram correndo após uma falsa partida.