1992 Grand National
Encyclopedia
The 1992 Grand National was the 146th official renewal of the world-famous Grand National
horse race
that took place at Aintree Racecourse
near Liverpool
, England
, on 4 April 1992.
It was won in a time of nine minutes and 6.4 seconds, and by a distance of two-and-a-half lengths by 14/1 shot Party Politics
, ridden by Welsh
jockey Carl Llewellyn. The winner was trained by Nick Gaselee of Hungerford
, Berkshire
, and carried the colours of owner Patricia Thompson, pink with purple crossbelts, hooped sleeves and a purple cap. The winning owner collected £99,943 of a total prize fund shared through the first five finishers of £167,386. For safety reasons the field was restricted to 40 runners. All of the horses returned safely to the stables.
The winner had proved a very popular horse with a topical name; many of the once-a-year punters had backed him because the race fell just four days before the 1992 United Kingdom general election
.
. In the year since he had put together several good performances in the major chases, winning the Racing Post Chase at Kempton
in February and then finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
the following month. With regular rider Anthony Tory unavailable, champion jockey Peter Scudamore
took the ride and gave their backers every chance jumping the Canal Turn
on the second circuit among an unusually large number of runners still holding a chance of victory. Scudamore moved his mount through the field on the run back to the racecourse, turning for home a close-up third but was unable to quicken into the second-last fence and was beaten by the final flight, fading to finish a over 25 lengths down in fourth.
Brown Windsor was backed down to 8/1 in partnership with 1986
winning rider Richard Dunwoody
despite the horse having been off the course for more than a year after finishing fourth in the 1990 race
. The horse returned to the course early in 1992 in three preps for the National, winning the third and was among the leaders when falling at Becher's Brook
on the first circuit. Owner Michael Buckley later said: "The form says he fell, but that's unfair to Brown Windsor. Richard Dunwoody was unseated. Albeit by a loose horse crashing into him mid-air."
Twin Oaks was allocated top weight of 11 stone 7 lbs and had won two of his three prep races since pulling up in the Welsh Grand National in December, one of those being the Peter Marsh chase at Haydock in February and was sent off at 9/1 in company with regular jockey, Neale Doughty, himself the winner of the race in 1984
. Doughty rode a patient waiting race towards the rear of the main pack before moving through the field three fences from home. They jumped into a distant fourth briefly at the second last flight but could make no impression from that point and finished twenty-seven and a half lengths distant in fifth. This proved to be Twin Oaks' only attempt at the National and went on to win the Tommy whittle Chase in December before being retired after a poor run in a Greenalls Gold Cup in February 1993.
Cool Ground was bidding to become only the second horse ever to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
and Grand National in the same season. In the absence of regular rider, Adrian Maguire
, Martin Lynch took the ride and was in contention in the first dozen at The Canal Turn but was under pressure after jumping the third last flight and never got closer than his eventual tenth place finish.
Auntie Dot proved popular with the public after her third in the previous year's National and four victories in the year since enhanced her credentials when sent off as a 12/1 shot with Mark Dwyer in the saddle. The mare was at the rear of the main pack at the Canal Turn second time around but was unable to get on terms and finished a distant sixteenth in what proved to be her final race.
Laura's Beau attracted attention after winning the four mile National handicap chase at Uttoxeter three weeks before the National and was sent off at 12/1 with Conor O'Dwyer in the saddle. Having spent the majority of the race well to the rear, Laura's Beau came through the field after the Canal Turn to take the last fence in fourth place, albeit a long way behind. he overhauled Docklands Express on the run in to take third place.
Both the eventual winner and second, Romany King were also well supported at 14/1 and 16/1 respectively while the grey, Stay On Tracks and the 1990 Midlands Grand National winner, Wilsford were both also 16/1.
television for the thirty-third consecutive year as part of a Grandstand
Grand National special hosted by Des Lynam
. The commentary team for the twenty-second consecutive year was John Hanmer who covered the first four fences, Julian Wilson who covered the fence before Becher's Brook until Valentine's Brook before handing back to Hanmer who covered the field back onto the racecourse proper, before handing over to the anchor commentator, Peter O'Sullevan
who covered the start, midway point and finish of the race. This was the last year that Wilson commentated for the BBC thus bringing an end to the longest unbroken commentary team line-up in the televised history of the race.
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
horse race
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
that took place at Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
near Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on 4 April 1992.
It was won in a time of nine minutes and 6.4 seconds, and by a distance of two-and-a-half lengths by 14/1 shot Party Politics
Party Politics (horse)
Party Politics was a Thoroughbred racehorse most famous for his victory in the 1992 Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, ridden by Carl Llewellyn, trained by Nick Gaselee and owned by Patricia Thompson...
, ridden by Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
jockey Carl Llewellyn. The winner was trained by Nick Gaselee of Hungerford
Hungerford
Hungerford is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, 9 miles west of Newbury. It covers an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 5,559 .- Geography :...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, and carried the colours of owner Patricia Thompson, pink with purple crossbelts, hooped sleeves and a purple cap. The winning owner collected £99,943 of a total prize fund shared through the first five finishers of £167,386. For safety reasons the field was restricted to 40 runners. All of the horses returned safely to the stables.
The winner had proved a very popular horse with a topical name; many of the once-a-year punters had backed him because the race fell just four days before the 1992 United Kingdom general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
.
Leading contenders
Docklands Express was sent off as the 15/2 favourite despite having been a first fence faller in the previous year's National1991 Grand National
The 1991 Grand National was the 145th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 6 April 1991....
. In the year since he had put together several good performances in the major chases, winning the Racing Post Chase at Kempton
Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles from the city centre. The site is set in of land....
in February and then finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
the following month. With regular rider Anthony Tory unavailable, champion jockey Peter Scudamore
Peter Scudamore
Peter Scudamore , known universally as 'Scu', is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey , riding 1,678 winners in his career...
took the ride and gave their backers every chance jumping the Canal Turn
Canal Turn
The Canal Turn is a fence on Aintree Racecourse's National Course and thus is jumped during the Grand National steeplechase which is held annually at the racecourse near Liverpool, England....
on the second circuit among an unusually large number of runners still holding a chance of victory. Scudamore moved his mount through the field on the run back to the racecourse, turning for home a close-up third but was unable to quicken into the second-last fence and was beaten by the final flight, fading to finish a over 25 lengths down in fourth.
Brown Windsor was backed down to 8/1 in partnership with 1986
1986 Grand National
The 1986 Grand National was the 140th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, in April 1986....
winning rider Richard Dunwoody
Richard Dunwoody
Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...
despite the horse having been off the course for more than a year after finishing fourth in the 1990 race
1990 Grand National
The 1990 Grand National was the 144th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 7 April 1990....
. The horse returned to the course early in 1992 in three preps for the National, winning the third and was among the leaders when falling at Becher's Brook
Becher's Brook
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 sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year...
on the first circuit. Owner Michael Buckley later said: "The form says he fell, but that's unfair to Brown Windsor. Richard Dunwoody was unseated. Albeit by a loose horse crashing into him mid-air."
Twin Oaks was allocated top weight of 11 stone 7 lbs and had won two of his three prep races since pulling up in the Welsh Grand National in December, one of those being the Peter Marsh chase at Haydock in February and was sent off at 9/1 in company with regular jockey, Neale Doughty, himself the winner of the race in 1984
1984 Grand National
The 1984 Grand National was the 138th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, in April 1984....
. Doughty rode a patient waiting race towards the rear of the main pack before moving through the field three fences from home. They jumped into a distant fourth briefly at the second last flight but could make no impression from that point and finished twenty-seven and a half lengths distant in fifth. This proved to be Twin Oaks' only attempt at the National and went on to win the Tommy whittle Chase in December before being retired after a poor run in a Greenalls Gold Cup in February 1993.
Cool Ground was bidding to become only the second horse ever to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
and Grand National in the same season. In the absence of regular rider, Adrian Maguire
Adrian Maguire
Adrian Maguire, born 29 April 1971 in Kilmessan, County Meath, Ireland, is a racehorse trainer and former jockey.Maguire began his career in Irish pony racing at the age of nine, in which he rode more than 200 winners. In 1990 he rode his first winner under rules, at Sligo, before his first victory...
, Martin Lynch took the ride and was in contention in the first dozen at The Canal Turn but was under pressure after jumping the third last flight and never got closer than his eventual tenth place finish.
Auntie Dot proved popular with the public after her third in the previous year's National and four victories in the year since enhanced her credentials when sent off as a 12/1 shot with Mark Dwyer in the saddle. The mare was at the rear of the main pack at the Canal Turn second time around but was unable to get on terms and finished a distant sixteenth in what proved to be her final race.
Laura's Beau attracted attention after winning the four mile National handicap chase at Uttoxeter three weeks before the National and was sent off at 12/1 with Conor O'Dwyer in the saddle. Having spent the majority of the race well to the rear, Laura's Beau came through the field after the Canal Turn to take the last fence in fourth place, albeit a long way behind. he overhauled Docklands Express on the run in to take third place.
Both the eventual winner and second, Romany King were also well supported at 14/1 and 16/1 respectively while the grey, Stay On Tracks and the 1990 Midlands Grand National winner, Wilsford were both also 16/1.
Finishing order
| Position | Name | Jockey Jockey A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:... |
Age | Weight | SP | Distance |
| 1st | Party Politics Party Politics (horse) Party Politics was a Thoroughbred racehorse most famous for his victory in the 1992 Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, ridden by Carl Llewellyn, trained by Nick Gaselee and owned by Patricia Thompson... |
Carl Llewellyn | 8 | 10-07 | 14/1 | Won by 2½ lengths |
| 2nd | Romany King | Richard Guest | 8 | 10-03 | 16/1 | 15 lengths |
| 3rd | Laura's Beau | Conor O'Dwyer | 8 | 10-00 | 12/1 | 8 lengths |
| 4th | Docklands Express | P Scudamore Peter Scudamore Peter Scudamore , known universally as 'Scu', is a former jockey and trainer in National Hunt racing. He was an eight-time Champion Jockey , riding 1,678 winners in his career... |
10 | 11-02 | 15/2 F | 2 lengths |
| 5th | Twin Oaks | Neale Doughty | 12 | 11-07 | 9/1 | A head |
| 6th | Just So | Simon Burrough | 9 | 10-02 | 50/1 | 4 lengths |
| 7th | Old Applejack | Andy Orkney | 12 | 10-00 | 35/1 | 2½ lengths |
| 8th | Over the Road | Robbie Supple | 11 | 10-00 | 22/1 | 4 lengths |
| 9th | Stay on Tracks | Chris Grant | 10 | 10-00 | 16/1 | 2 lengths |
| 10th | Cool Ground | Martin Lynch | 10 | 11-01 | 10/1 | 3½ lengths |
| 11th | Ghofar | Hywel Davies | 9 | 10-03 | 25/1 | 2½ lengths |
| 12th | Forest Ranger | D Tegg | 10 | 10-00 | 200/1 | A neck |
| 13th | What's the Crack | Jamie Osborne Jamie Osborne Jamie Osborne is a jockey and race horse trainer. Born 28 August 1967 he rode his first winner in March 1986 and in 1999 obtained his trainers licence. Once a favourite of the Queen Mother, he was acquitted of race fixing in 1998.-References:... |
9 | 10-00 | 20/1 | 10 lengths |
| 14th | Rubika (FRA France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... ) |
Peter Niven | 9 | 10-02 | 28/1 | 7 lengths |
| 15th | Golden Minstrel | E Murphy | 13 | 10-00 | 150/1 | 2 lengths |
| 16th | Auntie Dot | Mark Dwyer | 11 | 10-07 | 12/1 | 1 length |
| 17th | Roc de Prince (FRA France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... ) |
Charlie Swan | 9 | 10-09 | 40/1 | ¾ length |
| 18th | Mighty Falcon | Paul Holley | 7 | 10-00 | 80/1 | ¾ length |
| 19th | Radical Lady | J Callaghan | 8 | 10-00 | 80/1 | 3½ lengths |
| 20th | Willsford | Michael Bowlby | 9 | 10-00 | 16/1 | 8 lengths |
| 21st | Team Challenge | Ben de Haan | 10 | 10-00 | 100/1 | A distance |
| 22nd | Sirrah Jay | Ronnie Beggan | 12 | 10-00 | 100/1 | Last to complete |
Non-finishers
| Fence | Name | Jockey Jockey A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:... |
Age | Weight | SP | Fate |
| 1st | Rawhide | Kevin O'Brien | 8 | 10-00 | 50/1 | Unseated rider |
| 6th (Becher's Brook Becher's Brook 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 sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year... ) |
Brown Windsor | Richard Dunwoody Richard Dunwoody Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider... |
10 | 10-08 | 8/1 | Fell |
| 7th (Foinavon Foinavon Foinavon was a relatively undistinguished Irish racehorse, until he became famous for winning the Grand National in 1967 after the rest of the field fell, refused or were hampered or brought down in a mêlée at the 23rd fence. He was at one time owned by Anne, Duchess of Westminster, whose colours... 's) |
Omerta | Lorcan Wyer | 12 | 10-04 | 33/1 | Pulled up |
| 8th (Canal Turn Canal Turn The Canal Turn is a fence on Aintree Racecourse's National Course and thus is jumped during the Grand National steeplechase which is held annually at the racecourse near Liverpool, England.... ) |
Honeybeer Mead | N Mann | 10 | 10-00 | 100/1 | Unseated rider |
| 9th (Valentine's) | Stearsby | S Mackay | 13 | 10-06 | 250/1 | Refused |
| 15th (The Chair) | Rowlandsons Jewels | Graham Bradley | 11 | 10-03 | 60/1 | Unseated rider |
| 17th | Huntworth | M Richards | 12 | 10-00 | 66/1 | Pulled up |
| 19th | Bonanza Boy | Steve Smith-Eccles | 11 | 10-11 | 25/1 | Unseated rider |
| 19th | New Halen | Robert Bellamy | 11 | 10-00 | 66/1 | Refused |
| 20th | Golden Fox | Simon Earle | 10 | 10-00 | 200/1 | Refused |
| 22nd (Becher's Brook Becher's Brook 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 sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year... ) |
Mister Ed | Derek Morris | 9 | 10-00 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 22nd (Becher's Brook Becher's Brook 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 sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year... ) |
Cloney Grange | D H O'Connor | 13 | 10-00 | 100/1 | Fell |
| 24th (Canal Turn Canal Turn The Canal Turn is a fence on Aintree Racecourse's National Course and thus is jumped during the Grand National steeplechase which is held annually at the racecourse near Liverpool, England.... ) |
Kittinger | I Lawrence | 11 | 10-00 | 200/1 | Refused |
| 24th (Canal Turn Canal Turn The Canal Turn is a fence on Aintree Racecourse's National Course and thus is jumped during the Grand National steeplechase which is held annually at the racecourse near Liverpool, England.... ) |
Royal Battery (NZL New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... ) |
Rodi Greene | 9 | 10-00 | 80/1 | Pulled up |
| 25th | Why So Hasty | W Worthington | 11 | 10-00 | 250/1 | Pulled up |
| 26th | Karakter Reference | D O'Sullivan | 10 | 10-01 | 50/1 | Pulled up |
| 27th | Seagram (NZL New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... ) |
Nigel Hawke | 12 | 11-04 | 33/1 | Pulled up |
| 28th | Hotplate | Graham McCourt | 9 | 10-05 | 50/1 | Pulled up |
Media coverage
The race and its buildup was broadcast live on BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television for the thirty-third consecutive year as part of a Grandstand
Grandstand (BBC)
Grandstand was a British television sport programme. Broadcast between 1958 and 2007, it was one of the BBC's longest running sports shows, alongside BBC Sports Personality of the Year.Its first presenter was Peter Dimmock...
Grand National special hosted by Des Lynam
Des Lynam
Desmond Michael "Des" Lynam, OBE is an Irish television and radio presenter based in the UK.He has hosted television coverage of high profile events for many years...
. The commentary team for the twenty-second consecutive year was John Hanmer who covered the first four fences, Julian Wilson who covered the fence before Becher's Brook until Valentine's Brook before handing back to Hanmer who covered the field back onto the racecourse proper, before handing over to the anchor commentator, Peter O'Sullevan
Peter O'Sullevan
Sir Peter O'Sullevan is a retired horse racing commentator for the BBC from 1947 to 1997, and correspondent for the Press Association, Daily Express and Today.-Early life:...
who covered the start, midway point and finish of the race. This was the last year that Wilson commentated for the BBC thus bringing an end to the longest unbroken commentary team line-up in the televised history of the race.