1995 Grand National
Encyclopedia
The 1995 Grand National was the 148th official renewal of the famous Grand National
steeplechase
that took place at Aintree
near Liverpool
, England
, on 8 April 1995.
The race was won in a time of nine minutes and 4.1 seconds and by a distance of seven lengths by Royal Athlete
, at 40/1, ridden by Irish rider Jason Titley. The winner was a second victory in the race for trainer Jenny Pitman
of Lambourn
, Berkshire
, and ran in the colours of Gary and Libby Johnson. Pitman collected £118,854 of a total prize fund shared through the first five finishers of £200,000. A maximum of 40 competitors was permitted but only 35 ran. All of the horses that took part returned safely.
and was installed as 5/1 favourite after winning the Welsh Grand National in December, before winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup
in March. He was bidding to be the first horse to win the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season for 61 years but handicapped with the top weight of 11 stone and 10 lb. Regular rider Norman Williamson
was having his fifth ride in the National and took the favourite up to dispute the lead at the start of the second circuit, which they disputed with Royal Athlete until the home turn where it became apparent that the extra weight was telling. The top weight jumped the final fence in second place but was never likely to catch the eventual winner and quickly weakened to finish seventh, 15¼ lengths off victory.
Dubacilla was bidding to be the first mare
to win the race for 43 years and was made 9/1 second favourite after finishing second to Master Oats in the Gold Cup. She was Dean Gallagher's third National ride but was outpaced in the early stages, struggling to keep in touch on the first circuit and was still well to the rear as the field took the Canal Turn
for the second time. The mare began to eat up ground in the final mile and although never in contention of victory she managed to overhaul tired opponents to claim fourth place, 13½ lengths down on the winner in what proved to be her final race.
Young Hustler was the winner of the 1993 Sun Alliance chase who had been brought down when well supported in the 1994 National before bouncing back to win the Charlie Hall chase in October and finish fifth in the Gold Cup. He was sent off at 10/1 when Carl Llewellyn chose him as his fifth National mount over his partner in victory in 1992, Party Politics. The horse's popularity was increased by his sponsorship from tabloid newspaper The Sun, whose readers were advised to back him in the week leading up to the race. The hopes of those backers were dashed early when falling at the third fence.
Country Member was the winner of the 1993 Agfa Diamond Chase before coming into the reckoning for the National as an 11/1 chance after winning the Horse & Hound Grand Military Cup at Sandown a month before the big race. Regular professional rider Luke Harvey missed out on that ride as it was a race for amateur riders only but was restored for what was his second ride in the National, which ended when Country Member crumpled at the first fence.
Miinnehoma
was naturally popular with the once-a-year betting public, having won the 1994 National and was again partnered by Richard Dunwoody
, the most experienced and successful rider in the race, weighing out for his 11th National and at 11/1. The defending champion was always struggling and was tailed off by the time the field reached the ninth fence (Valentine's), eventually being pulled up before the 21st.
Other well backed contestants included the former top class novice hurdler and chaser and voted best turned out on the day, Crystal Spirit, Badger Beer Chase winner Lusty Light at 12/1, the 1991 runner-up Garrison Savannah
, 1992 winner Party Politics at 16/1, the 1993 Mackeson Gold Cup third-placed General Pershing, Becher Chase
winner Into The Red, 1994 Irish Grand National
runner-up Nouaffe and third-placed Ebony Jane, and double Whitbread Gold Cup winner Topsham Bay at 20/1.
Eventual winner Royal Athlete was among those worthy of respect but considered out of form with Chatam, Riverside Boy, Romany King and Superior Finish, and was sent off at 40/1. Jockey Jason Titley was among 12 riders making their race debut, including two future winners, Tony McCoy
(on Chatam) and Mick Fitzgerald
(on Tinryland). At the other extreme, John White who crossed the line first in the void race of 1993
, was lured out of retirement to remount Esha Ness for what proved to be his last ride in the race.
At the other extreme of the betting market, Its A Snip was sent off as a 200/1 outsider, having been alloted only 6 stones and 6 lbs by the handicapper. No horse in the history of the race prior to or up to 2011 has ever faced the starter on such a low handicap. The horse actually carried 10 stones, the minimum weight allowed in the National, and fell on the first circuit.
Royal Athlete was also one of a six-strong line-up saddled by trainer Jenny Pitman, which at that time was the largest number of horses prepared for one Grand National by a single trainer.
For the first time since 1979, the triple National winner Red Rum
did not lead the parade of competitors due to old age and failing health. The record breaking winner died later that year.
covered the race live on television for the 35th consecutive year and it was broadcast as part of a Grandstand
Grand National special, presented by Des Lynam
with interviews on course from Julian Wilson. Bill Smith conducted interviews in the saddling boxes and paddock in the build-up to the race, with analysis on the runners from Richard Pitman
and Peter Scudamore
. Four races from the Aintree card were shown live with the National being the last of the four. The three-man commentary team was unchanged for the third consecutive year with John Hanmer, Jim McGrath
and lead commentator Peter O'Sullevan
. Including the races he covered for BBC Radio, this was the 48th National O'Sullevan had called.
The race was also broadcast for the 64th year live on BBC Radio as part of Radio Five Lives regular Saturday sports broadcast. The race was also covered in-depth with full colour pullouts in most of the UK and Irish national newspapers.
Japanese television took great interest in the race with Tsuyoshi Tanaka being the first, and so far only, Japanese rider to weigh out for a Grand National. Tanaka's first-fence exit means that no Japanese rider has yet successfully negotiated a fence in the race though Japanese television has continued to broadcast the event live ever since.
Jason Titley was the first rider to carry a sponsor's name on the winning silks, Danka
having their name emblazoned on the front of his jacket. Titley told the BBC after the race that the horse had been brilliant and only fiddled the last fence: "I never looked round but I could hear Party Politics' tube, but I thought keep going."
Trainer Jenny Pitman said that she had been proved wrong because she had told the owners they were mad to go for the Grand National because she believed Royal Athlete "could win the Scottish National [the following week] doing triple toe loops."
Animal rights demonstrators tried to disrupt the race by setting off an orange smoke bomb on the canal towpath beside the 11th fence as the runners took the Canal Turn for the second time. Most of the smoke did not make its way onto the course and the horses were able to continue without incident.
Marcus Armytage later wrote of the race in his role as a Daily Telegraph journalist on the difficulties of guiding a top weighted Gold Cup winner to victory at Aintree: "I was riding Romany King, Kim Bailey's second string in that year's National. He was something of an Aintree specialist, but who did not quite last out the National trip. He had, however, got to the stage where he could not win a hunter chase on a park course. At the third last, Master Oats' jockey, Norman Williamson, entertained hopes of winning, even though the tremendous gallop was beginning to take its toll on the horse's stamina. But imagine his surprise as he began to push and shove on the long run to the second-last, when I came past him on Romany King, sitting motionless with a double handful trying to ration my petrol so that it lasted home. 'Marcus,' he said as I sailed past him, 'what are you doing? You're not meant to be here!'"
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...
steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
that took place at Aintree
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 8 April 1995.
The race was won in a time of nine minutes and 4.1 seconds and by a distance of seven lengths by Royal Athlete
Royal Athlete
Royal Athlete was a British-bred racehorse, whose most famous victory was the 1995 Grand National at Aintree when ridden by 24-year-old Irishman, Jason Titley at the generous odds of 40/1....
, at 40/1, ridden by Irish rider Jason Titley. The winner was a second victory in the race for trainer Jenny Pitman
Jenny Pitman
Jenny Pitman is a former British racehorse trainer and author. She became the first woman to train a Grand National winner, when Corbiere won the race in 1983. She went on to win a second Grand National with Royal Athlete in 1995...
of Lambourn
Lambourn
Lambourn is a large village and civil parish in the northwestern part of the ceremonial county of Berkshire in England. Its metropolitan district has a population of 4,017, and is most noted for its associations with British National Hunt racehorse training....
, 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 ran in the colours of Gary and Libby Johnson. Pitman collected £118,854 of a total prize fund shared through the first five finishers of £200,000. A maximum of 40 competitors was permitted but only 35 ran. All of the horses that took part returned safely.
Leading contenders
Master Oats had carried all before him since falling in the 1994 Grand National1994 Grand National
The 1994 Grand National was the 147th official renewal the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 9 April 1994....
and was installed as 5/1 favourite after winning the Welsh Grand National in December, before winning 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...
in March. He was bidding to be the first horse to win the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season for 61 years but handicapped with the top weight of 11 stone and 10 lb. Regular rider Norman Williamson
Norman Williamson
Norman Williamson is a professional jockey in the Irish National Hunt.- References :...
was having his fifth ride in the National and took the favourite up to dispute the lead at the start of the second circuit, which they disputed with Royal Athlete until the home turn where it became apparent that the extra weight was telling. The top weight jumped the final fence in second place but was never likely to catch the eventual winner and quickly weakened to finish seventh, 15¼ lengths off victory.
Dubacilla was bidding to be the first mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
to win the race for 43 years and was made 9/1 second favourite after finishing second to Master Oats in the Gold Cup. She was Dean Gallagher's third National ride but was outpaced in the early stages, struggling to keep in touch on the first circuit and was still well to the rear as the field took 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....
for the second time. The mare began to eat up ground in the final mile and although never in contention of victory she managed to overhaul tired opponents to claim fourth place, 13½ lengths down on the winner in what proved to be her final race.
Young Hustler was the winner of the 1993 Sun Alliance chase who had been brought down when well supported in the 1994 National before bouncing back to win the Charlie Hall chase in October and finish fifth in the Gold Cup. He was sent off at 10/1 when Carl Llewellyn chose him as his fifth National mount over his partner in victory in 1992, Party Politics. The horse's popularity was increased by his sponsorship from tabloid newspaper The Sun, whose readers were advised to back him in the week leading up to the race. The hopes of those backers were dashed early when falling at the third fence.
Country Member was the winner of the 1993 Agfa Diamond Chase before coming into the reckoning for the National as an 11/1 chance after winning the Horse & Hound Grand Military Cup at Sandown a month before the big race. Regular professional rider Luke Harvey missed out on that ride as it was a race for amateur riders only but was restored for what was his second ride in the National, which ended when Country Member crumpled at the first fence.
Miinnehoma
Miinnehoma
Miinnehoma was an Irish bred and British trained Thoroughbred racehorse most famous for his victory in the 1994 Grand National at Aintree, ridden by Richard Dunwoody, trained by Martin Pipe and owned by Freddie Starr....
was naturally popular with the once-a-year betting public, having won the 1994 National and was again partnered by 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...
, the most experienced and successful rider in the race, weighing out for his 11th National and at 11/1. The defending champion was always struggling and was tailed off by the time the field reached the ninth fence (Valentine's), eventually being pulled up before the 21st.
Other well backed contestants included the former top class novice hurdler and chaser and voted best turned out on the day, Crystal Spirit, Badger Beer Chase winner Lusty Light at 12/1, the 1991 runner-up Garrison Savannah
Garrison Savannah (horse)
Garrison Savannah was a famous racehorse, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1991 by a short-head from The Fellow with Desert Orchid back in third place. In the same year, he came second in the Aintree Grand National. He won the previous year's Royal & SunAlliance Chase. He had only one race...
, 1992 winner Party Politics at 16/1, the 1993 Mackeson Gold Cup third-placed General Pershing, Becher Chase
Becher Chase
The Becher Chase is a Listed National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 2 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-one fences to be jumped...
winner Into The Red, 1994 Irish Grand National
Irish Grand National
The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...
runner-up Nouaffe and third-placed Ebony Jane, and double Whitbread Gold Cup winner Topsham Bay at 20/1.
Eventual winner Royal Athlete was among those worthy of respect but considered out of form with Chatam, Riverside Boy, Romany King and Superior Finish, and was sent off at 40/1. Jockey Jason Titley was among 12 riders making their race debut, including two future winners, Tony McCoy
Tony McCoy
Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....
(on Chatam) and Mick Fitzgerald
Mick Fitzgerald
Mick Fitzgerald is an Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He has ridden the winners of the Grand National, on Rough Quest in 1996, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business in 1999. He was the stable jockey for Nicky Henderson and was leading jockey at the...
(on Tinryland). At the other extreme, John White who crossed the line first in the void race of 1993
1993 Grand National
The 1993 Grand National was scheduled on 3 April 1993 to be the 147th official renewal of the Grand National horse race, held annually at Aintree near Liverpool, England....
, was lured out of retirement to remount Esha Ness for what proved to be his last ride in the race.
At the other extreme of the betting market, Its A Snip was sent off as a 200/1 outsider, having been alloted only 6 stones and 6 lbs by the handicapper. No horse in the history of the race prior to or up to 2011 has ever faced the starter on such a low handicap. The horse actually carried 10 stones, the minimum weight allowed in the National, and fell on the first circuit.
Royal Athlete was also one of a six-strong line-up saddled by trainer Jenny Pitman, which at that time was the largest number of horses prepared for one Grand National by a single trainer.
For the first time since 1979, the triple National winner Red Rum
Red Rum
Red Rum was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse who achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and also came second in the two intervening years...
did not lead the parade of competitors due to old age and failing health. The record breaking winner died later that year.
Finishing order
40 runners were declared on the Tuesday before the race but five, including Tartan Tyrant, were withdrawn before raceday. That left 35 to face the starter, which for the second consecutive year was Simon Morant who again despatched the field at the first attempt.| Position | Name | Jockey | Age | Weight (st, lb) | Starting price | Distance |
| 1st | Royal Athlete Royal Athlete Royal Athlete was a British-bred racehorse, whose most famous victory was the 1995 Grand National at Aintree when ridden by 24-year-old Irishman, Jason Titley at the generous odds of 40/1.... |
Jason Titley | 12 | 10-06 | 40/1 | Won by 7 lengths |
| 2nd | 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... |
Mark Dwyer | 11 | 10-02 | 16/1 | 6 lengths |
| 3rd | Over The Deel | Mr. Chris Bonner | 9 | 10-00 | 100/1 | ½ length |
| 4th | Dubacilla | Dean Gallagher | 9 | 11-00 | 9/1 | ½ length |
| 5th | Into The Red | Richard Guest | 11 | 10-00 | 20/1 | ½ length |
| 6th | Romany King | Mr. Marcus Armytage Marcus Armytage Marcus Armytage is a journalist and former National Hunt jockey who won the Grand National as an amateur in 1990, riding Mr Frisk. He was educated at Eton College.... |
11 | 10-00 | 40/1 | 1¼ lengths |
| 7th | Master Oats | Norman Williamson Norman Williamson Norman Williamson is a professional jockey in the Irish National Hunt.- References :... |
9 | 11-10 | 5/1 F | 13 lengths |
| 8th | Riverside Boy | Charlie Swan | 12 | 10-00 | 40/1 | 11 lengths |
| 9th | Garrison Savannah | Warren Marston | 12 | 10-00 | 16/1 | 9 lengths |
| 10th | Topsham Bay | Philip Hide | 12 | 10-00 | 20/1 | 5 lengths |
| 11th | Cool Ground Cool Ground Cool Ground is a former National Hunt racehorse. He won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1992, as well as the Kim Muir in 1989, the Mildmay Cazalet in 1990 and 1991, the Welsh National in 1990 and the Greenalls Gold Cup in 1991... |
Paul Holley | 13 | 10-00 | 50/1 | ½ length |
| 12th | Ebony Jane | 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... |
10 | 10-00 | 20/1 | A distance |
| 13th | Gold Cap | Graham McCourt | 10 | 10-00 (carried 10-06) | 50/1 | 20 lengths |
| 14th | Crystal Spirit | 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:... |
8 | 10-04 | 12/1 | A distance |
| 15th | For William | Conor O'Dwyer | 9 | 10-00 | 100/1 | Last to complete |
Non-finishers
| Fence | Name | Jockey | Age | Weight (st, lb) | Starting price | Fate |
| 1st | Bishops Hall | Chris Maude | 9 | 10-00 | 66/1 | Fell |
| Country Member | Luke Harvey | 10 | 10-00 | 11/1 | Fell | |
| Errant Knight | Mark Perrett | 11 | 10-00 | 75/1 | Unseated rider | |
| Jumbeau | Simon McNeill | 10 | 10-00 | 100/1 | Brought down | |
| Lusty Light | Rod Farrant | 9 | 10-02 | 12/1 | Fell | |
| The Committee | Tsuyoshi Tanaka (JPN Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... ) |
12 | 10-00 | 75/1 | Fell | |
| Tinryland | Mick Fitzgerald Mick Fitzgerald Mick Fitzgerald is an Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He has ridden the winners of the Grand National, on Rough Quest in 1996, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business in 1999. He was the stable jockey for Nicky Henderson and was leading jockey at the... |
11 | 10-00 (carried 10-02) | 50/1 | Fell | |
| 3rd (open ditch) | Young Hustler | Carl Llewellyn | 8 | 11-02 | 10/1 | Unseated rider |
| General Pershing | David Bridgwater | 9 | 10-00 | 20/1 | Unseated rider | |
| Zeta's Lad | Graham Bradley | 12 | 10-03 | 50/1 | Fell | |
| 10th | Dakyns Boy | Tom Jenks | 10 | 10-00 | 50/1 | Unseated rider |
| Superior Finish | Peter Niven | 9 | 10-00 (carried 10-03) | 33/1 | Unseated rider | |
| 12th | Chatam (USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... ) |
Tony McCoy | 11 | 10-06 | 25/1 | Fell |
| Esha Ness | John White | 12 | 10-00 | 50/1 | Fell | |
| Its A Snip | John Kavanagh | 10 | 10-00 | 200/1 | Unseated rider | |
| 20th | Do Be Brief | Brendan Powell | 10 | 10-00 | 66/1 | Fell |
| Nuaffe | Sean O'Donovan | 10 | 10-00 | 20/1 | Fell | |
| 21st | Camelot Knight | Mr. Mark Rimell | 9 | 10-00 (carried 10-02) | 66/1 | Fell |
| Desert Lord | Fran Woods | 9 | 10-00 | 100/1 | Fell | |
| Miinnehoma Miinnehoma Miinnehoma was an Irish bred and British trained Thoroughbred racehorse most famous for his victory in the 1994 Grand National at Aintree, ridden by Richard Dunwoody, trained by Martin Pipe and owned by Freddie Starr.... |
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... |
12 | 11-04 | 11/1 | Tailed off, pulled up | |
Coverage and aftermath
The 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...
covered the race live on television for the 35th consecutive year and it was broadcast 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, presented 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...
with interviews on course from Julian Wilson. Bill Smith conducted interviews in the saddling boxes and paddock in the build-up to the race, with analysis on the runners from Richard Pitman
Richard Pitman
Richard Pitman, is a retired jump jockey who rode 470 winners in his career including Lanzarote in the 1974 Champion Hurdle). He also won the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park Racecourse twice, the Whitbread Gold Cup once and the Hennessy Gold Cup once....
and 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...
. Four races from the Aintree card were shown live with the National being the last of the four. The three-man commentary team was unchanged for the third consecutive year with John Hanmer, Jim McGrath
Jim McGrath (Australian commentator)
Jim Aloysius McGrath is the BBC's senior horse racing commentator. He was previously deputy race commentator, and sometimes a paddock commentator.-Career:...
and lead 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:...
. Including the races he covered for BBC Radio, this was the 48th National O'Sullevan had called.
The race was also broadcast for the 64th year live on BBC Radio as part of Radio Five Lives regular Saturday sports broadcast. The race was also covered in-depth with full colour pullouts in most of the UK and Irish national newspapers.
Japanese television took great interest in the race with Tsuyoshi Tanaka being the first, and so far only, Japanese rider to weigh out for a Grand National. Tanaka's first-fence exit means that no Japanese rider has yet successfully negotiated a fence in the race though Japanese television has continued to broadcast the event live ever since.
Jason Titley was the first rider to carry a sponsor's name on the winning silks, Danka
Danka (copier supplier)
Konica Minolta Danka Imaging is a St. Petersburg, Florida based North American independent provider of copiers, printers, fax machines and other office imaging and document management equipment....
having their name emblazoned on the front of his jacket. Titley told the BBC after the race that the horse had been brilliant and only fiddled the last fence: "I never looked round but I could hear Party Politics' tube, but I thought keep going."
Trainer Jenny Pitman said that she had been proved wrong because she had told the owners they were mad to go for the Grand National because she believed Royal Athlete "could win the Scottish National [the following week] doing triple toe loops."
Animal rights demonstrators tried to disrupt the race by setting off an orange smoke bomb on the canal towpath beside the 11th fence as the runners took the Canal Turn for the second time. Most of the smoke did not make its way onto the course and the horses were able to continue without incident.
Marcus Armytage later wrote of the race in his role as a Daily Telegraph journalist on the difficulties of guiding a top weighted Gold Cup winner to victory at Aintree: "I was riding Romany King, Kim Bailey's second string in that year's National. He was something of an Aintree specialist, but who did not quite last out the National trip. He had, however, got to the stage where he could not win a hunter chase on a park course. At the third last, Master Oats' jockey, Norman Williamson, entertained hopes of winning, even though the tremendous gallop was beginning to take its toll on the horse's stamina. But imagine his surprise as he began to push and shove on the long run to the second-last, when I came past him on Romany King, sitting motionless with a double handful trying to ration my petrol so that it lasted home. 'Marcus,' he said as I sailed past him, 'what are you doing? You're not meant to be here!'"