The 2004 Grand National was the 157th official annual running of the world-famous Grand National

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...

 which 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 3 April 2004 and attracted the maximum permitted field of 40 competitors for total prize money of £600,000 including £348,000 to the winner.

39 of the 40 original entrants took part in the race — Tyneandthyneagain was withdrawn. On the run-in after the final fence (where Hedgehunter

Hedgehunter

Hedgehunter is an Irish race horse, who won the 2005 Grand National steeplechase, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins. He had fallen at the final fence the previous year when well placed. He then finished second in 2006 to Numbersixvalverde...

 fell when in close contention), any one of three horses looked capable of clinching victory, but it was 16-1 shot Amberleigh House

Amberleigh House

Amberleigh House was the horse that won the 2004 Grand National. He is now retired and living at the National Stud in Newmarket.-Staff:Amberleigh House was trained by legend Ginger McCain, and was usually ridden by jockey Graham Lee, amongst others...

 who finished first, three lengths ahead of Clan Royal, who in turn was two lengths from Lord Atterbury. The winning horse was trained by Ginger McCain

Ginger McCain

Donald "Ginger" McCain was an English National Hunt trainer, perhaps best known for training the legendary horse Red Rum. A successful trainer who won many races, he trained Red Rum on Crosby beach near Liverpool...

, who secured his fourth Grand National win, 31 years after his first with 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...

. 11 of the 39 starters completed the course, with all of the fallers returning safely to the stables.

Leading contenders

The public gambled an estimated £200 million on the outcome of the race but no clear favourite emerged as four horses started off as joint-favourites.

2002 National

2002 Grand National

The 2002 Grand National was the 155th official renewal of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, at 3:45pm BST on 6 April 2002....

 winner Bindaree

Bindaree

Bindaree is a racehorse who was the winner of the 2002 Grand National when ridden by Jim Culloty and the 2003 Welsh Grand National when partnered by Carl Llewellyn....

 was one of the 10-1 joint-favourites after winning the Welsh National

Welsh National

The Welsh National is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about 3 miles and 5½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...

 at Chepstow

Chepstow Racecourse

Chepstow Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located just outside the town of Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales, near the southern end of the Wye Valley which forms the border with England...

 in the last December. He had also run well to finish second over one circuit of the Aintree course in the 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...

 in November where he had been beaten another joint-favourite, Clan Royal. The inexperienced Jurancon II also attracted public attention after being chosen as the ride of champion jockey Tony McCoy

Tony McCoy

Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....

 having won the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup in February, and Joss Naylor completed the quartet after finishing second in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup in November. Hedgehunter was 11-1, the 2001 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...

 winner David's Lad was 12/1, and 2003 National

2003 Grand National

The 2003 Grand National was the 156th renewal of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase that took place at Aintree at 3:45pm BST, on 5 April 2003....

 winner Monty's Pass

Monty's Pass

Monty's Pass was the winner of the 2003 Grand National at Aintree, Liverpool when ridden by Barry Geraghty, trained by Jimmy Mangan and running in the colours of the Dee Racing Syndicate, a group of owners based in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland and led by Blackpool born bingo hall owner, Mike...

 was also among the leading fancies at 20/1.

Finishing order

Position	Name	Rider	Age	Weight (st, lb)	Starting price	Distance or fate
1st	Amberleigh House Amberleigh House Amberleigh House was the horse that won the 2004 Grand National. He is now retired and living at the National Stud in Newmarket.-Staff:Amberleigh House was trained by legend Ginger McCain, and was usually ridden by jockey Graham Lee, amongst others...	Graham Lee Graham Lee (jockey) Graham Lee is a successful Irish National Hunt jockey in Great Britain and Ireland. Prior to May 2006, he was the main stable jockey for Howard Johnson, but was replaced by Paddy Brennan, allegedly after a disagreement over his return from an injury. Lee became the main stable jockey and deputy...	12	10-10	16/1	Won by 3 lengths
2nd	Clan Royal	Liam Cooper	9	10-5	10/1 JF	2 lengths
3rd	Lord Atterbury	Mark Bradburne	8	10-1	40/1	29 lengths
4th	Monty's Pass Monty's Pass Monty's Pass was the winner of the 2003 Grand National at Aintree, Liverpool when ridden by Barry Geraghty, trained by Jimmy Mangan and running in the colours of the Dee Racing Syndicate, a group of owners based in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland and led by Blackpool born bingo hall owner, Mike...	Barry Geraghty Barry Geraghty Barry Geraghty is an Irish jockey.Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997, three years later he became the Irish Champion jump jockey for the first time. He rode his first Cheltenham winner on the Jessica Harrington trained Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle Chase.He won the Grand National in...	11	11-10	20/1	1 length
5th	Spot Thedifference	Richard McGrath	11	10-4	50/1	3½ lengths
6th	Smarty	Andrew Tinkler	11	10-4	100/1	17 lengths
7th	Ardent Scout	Warren Marston	12	10-3	50/1	8 lengths
8th	Bear On Board	Robert Thornton Robert Thornton (jockey) Robert "Choc" Thornton is an English National Hunt jockey currently employed as stable jockey to Alan King....	9	10-1	14/1	18 lengths
9th	Kingsmark	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	11-7	66/1	Neck
10th	The Bunny Boiler	Ross Geraghty	10	10-8	33/1	A distance
11th	David's Lad	Timmy Murphy Timmy Murphy Timothy James Murphy , commonly known as Timmy Murphy, is a National Hunt jockey who overcame difficult personal problems to win the 2008 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on the horse Comply or Die. He recorded his 1,000th winner at Taunton on 21 January 2010.- References :...	10	11-4	12/1	Last to complete

Non-finishers

Fence	Name	Rider	Age	Weight (st, lb)	Starting price	Fate
1st	Luzadou	Brian Harding	11	10-9	200/1	Fell
	Artic Jack	Dominic Elsworth	8	11-7	20/1	Fell
	Kelami	Thiery Doumen	6	10-7	66/1	Brought down
3rd (open ditch)	Shardam	Tom Scudamore Tom Scudamore Tom Scudamore is a third-generation British flat and steeplechase jockey. He is the son of eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore; his grandfather Michael won the Grand National on Oxo in 1959.-Background:...	7	10-11	18/1	Pecked, unseated rider
4th	Jurancon II	Tony McCoy Tony McCoy Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....	7	10-7	10/1 JF	Fell
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... )	Risk Accessor	Seamus Durack	9	11-4	66/1	Hampered, unseated rider
	Montreal	Joey Elliott	7	10-1	200/1	Fell
	Akarus	Rodi Greene	9	10-4	33/1	Hampered, fell
	Bindaree Bindaree Bindaree is a racehorse who was the winner of the 2002 Grand National when ridden by Jim Culloty and the 2003 Welsh Grand National when partnered by Carl Llewellyn....	Carl Lewellyn	10	11-4	10/1 JF	Hampered, unseated rider
	Bramblehill Duke	James Davies	12	10-13	200/1	Refused, unseated rider
	Blowing Wind	Jimmy McCarthy	11	10-01	33/1	Refused
	Bounce Back	Andrew Thornton Andrew Thornton Andrew Thornton is a National Hunt jockey. He was born on October 28, 1972 in Cleveland and schooled at Barnard Castle School in County Durham. He rides mainly for Caroline Bailey,Seamus Mullins,Henrietta Knight,Ben Pollock and Richard Rowe.as well as for many other trainers. He is not related to...	8	10-4	50/1	Hampered, fell
	What's Up Boys	Richard Johnson Richard Johnson (jockey) Richard Johnson is an English National Hunt jockey.-Background:Johnson comes from a racing family with his father being an amateur jockey and his mother, Sue Johnson, a successful trainer.-Jockey career:...	10	11-9	25/1	Brought down
	Skycab	Leighton Aspell	12	10-11	200/1	Unseated rider
9th (Valentine's)	Exit To Wave	Bobby McNally	8	10-5	50/1	Pulled up
15th (The Chair)	Takagi	Davy Russell Davy Russell Davy Russell is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Russell's first win as a professional jockey was for English-based Irish trainer Ferdy Murphy on Inn Antique in a novice hurdle at Sedgefield, 12 November 2002...	9	10-11	25/1	Unseated rider
16th (water jump)	Mantle's Prince	Ollie McPhail	10	10-1	250/1	Pulled up
18th	Southern Star	Joe Tizzard	9	10-13	25/1	Pulled up
	Alexander Banquet	James Barry	11	11-8	100/1	Unseated rider
19th (open ditch)	Puntal Puntal Puntal is a National Hunt racehorse, who won the Betfred Gold Cup in 2004 and who ran in five consecutive Grand Nationals from 2003 to 2007 with limited success. He was formally trained in France before moving to Martin Pipe in 2002...	Danny Howard	8	10-13	150/1	Fell
	Joss Naylor	Paul Carberry Paul Carberry Paul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...	9	10-11	10/1 JF	Tailed off, pulled up
20th	Gunner Welburn	Tony Dobbin Tony Dobbin Tony Dobbin is a retired Northern Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He rode the winner of the Grand National on Lord Gyllene in 1997 and won over 1,200 races during his career in the saddle. He was the regular stable jockey for Nicky Richards...	12	10-8	22/1	Pulled up
22nd (Becher's)	Le Coudray	Conor O'Dwyer	10	11-12	28/1	Fell
23rd (Foinavon)	Just In Debt	Jim Culloty Jim Culloty Jim Culloty is a racehorse trainer and retired professional National Hunt jockey who won both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season....	8	10-5	33/1	Hampered, unseated rider
25th (Valentine's)	Alcapone	Noel Fehily	10	11-0	80/1	Pulled up
27th (open ditch)	Wonder Weasel	John P. McNamara	11	10-6	200/1	Pulled up
29th	Royal Atalza	Paul Moloney	7	10-6	100/1	Tailed off, pulled up
30th	Hedgehunter Hedgehunter Hedgehunter is an Irish race horse, who won the 2005 Grand National steeplechase, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins. He had fallen at the final fence the previous year when well placed. He then finished second in 2006 to Numbersixvalverde...	David Casey	8	10-12	11/1	Fell

Coverage

The race was covered live on television and radio by the BBC

BBC

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...

, in accordance with the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events

Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events

The Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed & Designated Events is a series of regulations issued originally by the Independent Television Commission then by Ofcom when the latter assumed most of the ITC's responsibilities in 2003, which is designed to protect the availability of live coverage of...

, for the 46th consecutive year. The coverage was also syndicated globally and broadcast on the Internet for the first time to UK subscribers on the BBC website. The television coverage was presented by Claire Balding and Sue Barker

Sue Barker

Susan Barker, MBE is an English television presenter and former professional tennis player. During her tennis career, she won the women's singles title at the French Open and reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 3...

. The race commentary team consisted of Ian Bartlett

Ian Bartlett

Ian Bartlett is a horse racing commentator and occasional analyst for the BBC.. He has also commentated for Channel 4 Racing.For the BBC's television coverage of the Grand National, Bartlett commentates on four sections of the 4½-mile steeplechase, from the 1st to 5th fence, 10th to 12th, 17th to...

, Tony O'Hehir, Darren Owen

Darren Owen

Darren Charles Owen is a horse racing commentator, born 3 June 1967 in St. Asaph, North Wales.Having been interested in horse racing since a young age, Owen won the regional final of an amateur sports commentator competition, organised by BBC Radio 2 and sponsored by Fosters Lager, in 1989. He...

 and lead commentator 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:...

, who called the runners home for the seventh year.

Both Bartlett and Owen were covering their first Grand National on television after the retirement of John Hanmer; Bartlett had previously been part of the radio commentary team. This was also the first time since 1967 that the race was commentated on by a team of four rather than three.

Racing UK

Racing UK

Racing UK Limited was launched as a subscription channel in 2004 with 30 racecourses as shareholders. As Racing UK grew several other business units and joint ventures were developed....

provided its own coverage of the race to bookmakers' outlets across the country. The BBC also broadcast radio commentary of the race on national radio for the 74th year as part of its Radio Five Saturday sports show.

All of the leading daily newspapers in the United Kingdom ran centre spread pullouts of various sizes with colour guides and profiles of all the runners, while office sweepstake kits were printed by three major dailys during the week prior to the race.

Jockeys

Carl Llewellyn was the most experienced rider in the race, being only the twelfth man to weigh out for the fourteenth time for a Grand National.

Six riders made their debut in the race with Andrew Tinkler and Ross Geraghty completing the course. James Barry, Bobby McNally, James Davies and Joey Elliott failed to reach the finishing post.