The 2019 Grand National (officially known as the Randox Health Grand National for sponsorship reasons) 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.[1][2]
| Grand National | |
  | |
| Location | Aintree |
|---|---|
| Date | 6 April 2019 |
| Winning horse |  Tiger Roll |
| Starting price | 4/1 F |
| Jockey | Davy Russell |
| Trainer | Gordon Elliot |
| Owner | Gigginstown House Stud |
| Conditions | Good to soft |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Full replay of the 2019 Grand National Racing TV, YouTube |
The event was sponsored by Randox Health as part of an agreement signed in 2016 for the company to sponsor the race for five years starting in 2017.[3][4]
The race was won by 4/1 favourite Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell and trained by Gordon Elliott. Tiger Roll became the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to-back Nationals, as well as the first favorite to win the race since Comply or Die in 2008.[5] 19 of the 40 horses that started managed to complete the course.[6]
In the race, Up For Review sustained a neck fracture after being brought down at the first fence. He was the first equine fatality in the race since 2012, after which the fences were drastically altered and softened.
Race card
edit112 entries were received, including 47 from Ireland.[7] The final line-up of 40 horses was announced on 4 April 2019. Mall Dini was withdrawn the following day due to injury and replaced by Just A Par. No further withdrawals meant that a full field of 40 horses were sent to the start line.
Gordon Elliott broke the record for the most horses trained in a single running of the race, entering 11 horses, breaking the record set by Martin Pipe of 10 participants 18 years previously (2001). Elliott had also been the initial trainer for both Outlander and Don Poli, though these horses were sold prior to the race and passed on to new trainers.
| No | Horse | Age | Handicap (st–lb) |
SP | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anibale Fly | 9 | 11-10 | 10/1 | Mark Walsh | Tony Martin |
| 2 | Valtor | 10 | 11-06 | 66/1 | Daryl Jacob | Nicky Henderson |
| 3 | Tiger Roll | 9 | 11-05 | 4/1 F | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 4 | Outlander | 11 | 11-04 | 66/1 | James Bowen | Richard Spencer |
| 5 | Don Poli | 10 | 11-03 | 66/1 | Patrick Mullins[a] | Philip Kirby |
| 6 | Go Conquer | 10 | 11-03 | 33/1 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 7 | Mala Beach | 11 | 11-02 | 33/1 | Jamie Codd[a] | Gordon Elliott |
| 8 | Minella Rocco | 9 | 11-01 | 33/1 | Richie McLernon | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 9 | Lake View Lad | 9 | 11-01 | 14/1 | Henry Brooke | Nick Alexander |
| 10 | Pleasant Company | 11 | 11-01 | 12/1 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 11 | Ballyoptic | 9 | 11-01 | 25/1 | Tom Bellamy | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 12 | Dounikos | 8 | 11-00 | 16/1 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
| 13 | Rathvinden | 11 | 11-00 | 8/1 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 14 | One For Arthur | 10 | 11-00 | 25/1 | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell |
| 15 | Rock The Kasbah | 9 | 10-13 | 16/1 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
| 16 | Warriors Tale | 10 | 10-13 | 66/1 | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
| 17 | Regal Encore | 11 | 10-12 | 66/1 | Jonathan Burke | Anthony Honeyball |
| 18 | Magic Of Light | 8 | 10-11 | 66/1 | Paddy Kennedy | Jessica Harrington |
| 19 | A Toi Phil | 9 | 10-11 | 50/1 | Denis O'Regan | Gordon Elliott |
| 20 | Jury Duty | 8 | 10-11 | 10/1 | Robbie Power | Gordon Elliott |
| 21 | Noble Endeavor | 10 | 10-10 | 50/1 | Mark Enright | Gordon Elliott |
| 22 | Monbeg Notorious | 8 | 10-10 | 50/1 | Sean Bowen | Gordon Elliott |
| 23 | Ramses De Teillee | 7 | 10-09 | 20/1 | David Noonan | David Pipe |
| 24 | Tea For Two | 10 | 10-09 | 25/1 | Lizzie Kelly | Jane Williams |
| 25 | Just A Par | 12 | 10-02 | 100/1 | Aidan Coleman | James Moffatt |
| 26 | Step Back | 9 | 10-07 | 25/1 | Nico de Boinville | Mark Bradstock |
| 27 | Ultragold | 11 | 10-07 | 50/1 | Tom O'Brien | Colin Tizzard |
| 28 | Blow By Blow | 8 | 10-06 | 66/1 | Andrew Ring | Gordon Elliott |
| 29 | Up For Review | 10 | 10-06 | 33/1 | Danny Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 30 | Singlefarmpayment | 9 | 10-06 | 50/1 | Paddy Brennan | Tom George |
| 31 | Vieux Lion Rouge | 10 | 10-06 | 50/1 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
| 32 | Valseur Lido | 10 | 10-06 | 66/1 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead |
| 33 | Vintage Clouds | 9 | 10-04 | 11/1 | Danny Cook | Sue Smith |
| 34 | General Principle | 10 | 10-04 | 33/1 | J J Slevin | Gordon Elliott |
| 35 | Livelovelaugh | 9 | 10-04 | 25/1 | David Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 36 | Walk In The Mill | 9 | 10-04 | 25/1 | James Best | Robert Walford |
| 37 | Folsom Blue | 12 | 10-04 | 66/1 | Luke Dempsey | Gordon Elliott |
| 38 | Captain Redbeard | 10 | 10-03 | 66/1 | Sam Coltherd | Stuart Coltherd |
| 39 | Bless The Wings | 14 | 10-03 | 50/1 | Robbie Dunne | Gordon Elliott |
| 40 | Joe Farrell | 10 | 10-02 | 14/1 | Adam Wedge | Rebecca Curtis |
Finishing order
edit 
| Position | Name | Age | Handicap (st–lb) |
SP | Jockey | Trainer | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiger Roll | 9 | 11-05 | 4/1 F | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott | £561,300 |
| 2 | Magic of Light | 8 | 10-11 | 66/1 | Paddy Kennedy | Jessica Harrington | £211,100 |
| 3 | Rathvinden | 11 | 11-00 | 8/1 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins | £105,500 |
| 4 | Walk In The Mill | 9 | 10-04 | 25/1 | James Best | Robert Walford | £52,700 |
| 5 | Anibale Fly | 9 | 11-10 | 10/1 | Mark Walsh | Tony Martin | £26,500 |
| 6 | One For Arthur | 10 | 11-00 | 20/1 | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell | £13,200 |
| 7 | Regal Encore | 11 | 10-12 | 66/1 | Jonathan Burke | Anthony Honeyball | £6,800 |
| 8 | Singlefarmpayment | 9 | 10-06 | 50/1 | Paddy Brennan | Tom George | £3,600 |
| 9 | Outlander | 11 | 11-04 | 66/1 | James Bowen | Richard Spencer | £2,000 |
| 10 | Valseur Lido | 10 | 10-06 | 66/1 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead | £1,000 |
| 11 | Livelovelaugh | 9 | 10-04 | 25/1 | David Mullins | Willie Mullins | |
| 12 | A Toi Phil | 9 | 10-11 | 50/1 | Denis O'Regan | Gordon Elliott | |
| 13 | Bless The Wings | 14 | 10-03 | 50/1 | Robert Dunne | Gordon Elliott | |
| 14 | Ultragold | 11 | 10-07 | 50/1 | Tom O'Brien | Colin Tizzard | |
| 15 | Vieux Lion Rouge | 10 | 10-06 | 66/1 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe | |
| 16 | Captain Redbeard | 10 | 10-03 | 66/1 | Sam Coltherd | Stuart Coltherd | |
| 17 | Folsom Blue | 12 | 10-04 | 66/1 | Luke Dempsey | Gordon Elliott | |
| 18 | Valtor | 10 | 11-06 | 66/1 | Daryl Jacob | Nicky Henderson | |
| 19 | Don Poli | 10 | 11-03 | 66/1 | Patrick Mullins[a] | Philip Kirby |
- ^ amateur jockey
Non-finishers
edit| Fence | Horse | Jockey | SP | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Up For Review | David Mullins | Brought down | |
| Vintage Clouds | Danny Cook | Fell | ||
| 11th (Open Ditch) | Monbeg Notorious | Sean Bowen | Pulled Up | |
| 19th (Open Ditch) | General Principle | J J Slevin | Fell | |
| Rock The Kasbah | Richard Johnson | Brought Down | ||
| Blow By Blow | Andrew Ring | Pulled Up | ||
| Jury Duty | Robbie Power | Unseated Rider | ||
| 21st | Minella Rocco | Richie McLernon | Pulled Up | |
| 25th (Valentine's Brook) | Step Back | Nico de Boinville | Pulled Up | |
| 26th | Ballyoptic | Thomas Bellamy | Fell | |
| 27th (Open Ditch) | Pleasant Company | Paul Townend | Unseated Rider | |
| Lake View Lad | Henry Brooke | Pulled Up | ||
| 28th | Just A Par | Aidan Coleman | Pulled Up | |
| Warriors Tale | Harry Cobden | Pulled Up | ||
| Noble Endeavor | Mark Enright | Pulled Up | ||
| Ramses Des Teille | David Noonan | Pulled Up | ||
| 29th | Mala Beach | Mr. Jamie Codd | Pulled Up | |
| Tea For Two | Lizzie Kelly | Pulled Up | ||
| Joe Farrell | Adam Wedge | Pulled Up | ||
| Go Conquer | Sam Twiston-Davies | Pulled Up | ||
| Dounikos | Jack Kennedy | Pulled Up |
Broadcasting and media
editMagic Of Light blunders and leaves Tiger Roll two lengths clear, and Davy Russell is led to breathe on him as Tiger Roll breezes towards the Elbow. Magic Of Light, Rathvinden, Walk In The Mill, One For Arthur then Anibale Fly and Regal Encore. But off up the run-in, Tiger Roll looks to the elbow, Magic Of Light and Rathvinden trying to rally. Tiger Roll's been out in front for a while, he's got a five length lead. 150 yards between himself and a place in history! Tiger Roll from Magic Of Light, Tiger Roll keeping up the gallop! Up towards the line, back to back nationals, the first since Red Rum! An Aintree great!
ITV lead commentator Richard Hoiles describes the climax of the race.
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, in the third year of its four-year deal as the exclusive terrestrial broadcaster of horse racing in the UK.[8]
The coverage was co-anchored by Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani. Analysis was provided by former Grand National winning jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald, along with leading female jockey Bryony Frost, who had been ruled out of competing through injury, and veteran racing broadcaster Brough Scott. Reports were provided by Oli Bell, Alice Plunkett, Rishi Persad and Luke Harvey with updates from the betting ring by Brian Gleeson and Matt Chapman and Chris Hughes covering viewers comments on social media. The commentary team was Mark Johnson, Ian Bartlett and Richard Hoiles. Following the race, Bell, Fitzgerald and Chapman guided viewers on a fence-by-fence re-run of the race - due to the fatal injury sustained to Up For Review, the first fence was omitted from the re-run broadcast.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Gibbons, Lottie (15 April 2018). "When is the Grand National 2019 and how you can get tickets". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
- ^ The Grand National 2019 Results, provided by The Jockey Club
- ^ Cook, Chris (8 March 2016). "Grand National sponsored by Randox Health in five-year deal from 2017". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ The Grand National Partners, by The Jockey Club
- ^ "Grand National 2019: Tiger Roll wins the big race again at Aintree – as it happened". Guardian. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- ^ "Grand National: Tiger Roll becomes first back-to-back winner since Red Rum". BBC. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ Grand National 2019 entries and betting odds - 2018 winner Tiger Roll heads 112 initial horses entered, Liverpool Echo, 30 January 2019
- ^ "ITV to replace Channel 4 as horse racing broadcaster from 2017". BBC Sport. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2017.