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2021 Grand National

{{Short description|173rd Grand National horse race }}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox horse race

|name =

|horse race = Grand National

|image = 150px
100px

|location = Aintree

|date = 10 April 2021

|winning horse ={{flagicon|Ireland}} Minella Times

|starting price = 11/1

|winning jockey ={{flagicon|Ireland}} Rachael Blackmore

|winning trainer ={{flagicon|Ireland}} Henry de Bromhead

|winning owner ={{flagicon|Ireland}} J. P. McManus

|conditions = Good to soft

|previous = 2019
2020

|next = 2022

}}

{{ external media

| float = right

| width = 275px

| video1 = [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tDR_OXfpNQ Full replay of the 2021 Grand National] Racing TV, YouTube

}}

The 2021 Grand National (officially known as the Randox 2021 Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 173rd annual running of the Grand National horse race, held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/events-tickets/grand-national/|title=Grand National 2021 | 8–10 April | Randox Grand National|website=www.thejockeyclub.co.uk}} on 10 April 2021. The event was once again sponsored by Randox Health, although the name on the race from this year onwards was shortened to simply "Randox". The total prize fund for the race was £750,000, down by £250,000 from the last meeting in 2019.

The race was won by Minella Times, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, who became the first female jockey to win the Grand National.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/racing/2021/04/10/grand-national-2021-full-results-winner-finishers-fallers-horse/|title=Grand National 2021 full results: the winner, the finishers, the fallers and where your horse finished|first=Telegraph|last=Sport|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=10 April 2021|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}} De Bromhead, who won the race as a trainer for the first time, also trained the second-place finisher Balko des Flos. The winner was owned by J. P. McManus, who had previously won the race as an owner in 2010 with Don't Push It.{{cite web |last1=Mottershead |first1=Lee |title=Rachael Blackmore makes history on 11–1 Minella Times in 2021 Grand National |url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/grand-national/rachael-blackmore-makes-grand-national-history-aboard-11-1-minella-times/483833 |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=10 April 2021 |date=10 April 2021}} The Long Mile was euthanised after fracturing a hind leg. Jockey Bryony Frost was treated for injuries after falling from Yala Enki.[https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/grand-national-horse-dies-following-20361743 Grand National horse dies following injury during race], Manchester Evening News, 10 April 2021

Having been cancelled the year before due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 race and entire festival meeting took place behind closed doors for the first time in its history, because of continuing restrictions. Despite speculations and calls from some leading figures in racing for the meeting to be pushed back in the calendar so that it could possibly take place when betting shops are open, it was confirmed the race would retain its original date.{{cite web |title=Grand National 2021 date confirmed amid calls to change Aintree festival |date=25 February 2021 |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/breaking-grand-national-2021-date-23566343 |publisher=The Mirror |access-date=10 April 2021}}

The death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was announced shortly before the second day of the meeting. The meeting continued as scheduled, with tributes including a two-minute silence before racing, jockeys wearing black armbands on their silks as a mark of respect and the Union Jack on the Queen Mother Stand being lowered to half-mast.{{cite web |last1=Muscat |first1=Julian |title='He was such fun' – racing pays tribute to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh |url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/prince-philip-the-duke-of-edinburgh-dies-at-the-age-of-99/428088 |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=10 April 2021 |date=10 April 2021}}

Race card

On 3 February 106 entries were announced. The early favourite in ante-post betting was the 2018 and 2019 winner Tiger Roll,[https://www.racingtv.com/news/tiger-roll-tops-106-entries-for-2021-randox-health-grand-national-at-aintree Tiger Roll tops 106 entries for 2021 Randox Health Grand National at Aintree], 3 February 2021, Racing TV but he was withdrawn before the first scratching stage by the Gigginstown House Stud, citing excessive weight allocation. Cloth Cap was left as the favourite.[https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/other-sport/horse-racing/grand-national-2021-tiger-roll-19957540 Grand National 2021: Tiger Roll withdrawal confirmed as 90 entries remain], Liverpool Echo, 10 March 2021{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2021/apr/08/grand-national-2021-horse-by-horse-guide-to-all-the-runners-horse-racing-tips|title=Grand National 2021: horse-by-horse guide to all the runners

|date=8 April 2021|work=Guardian|accessdate= 9 April 2021}}

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col" | No

!scope="col" | Horse

!scope="col" | Age

!scope="col" | Handicap
(st–lb)

!scope="col" | SP

!scope="col" | Jockey

!scope="col" | Trainer

scope="row" | 1

|Bristol De Mai

|10

|11–10

|33/1

|Daryl Jacob

|Nigel Twiston-Davies

scope="row" | 2

|Chris's Dream

|9

|11–7

|80/1

|D.J. O'Keeffe

|Henry de Bromhead

scope="row" | 3

|Yala Enki

|11

|11–3

|50/1

|Bryony Frost

|Paul Nicholls

scope="row" | 4

|Ballyoptic

|11

|11–1

|125/1

|Sam Twiston-Davies

|Nigel Twiston-Davies

scope="row" | 5

|Definitly Red

|12

|11–1

|66/1

|Ryan Mania

|Brian Ellison

scope="row" | 6

|Lake View Lad

|11

|11–0

|66/1

|Brian Hughes

|N. W. Alexander

scope="row" | 7

|Burrows Saint

|8

|10–13

|9/1

|Mr. Patrick Mullins

|Willie Mullins

scope="row" | 8

|Magic Of Light

|10

|10–13

|16/1

|Robbie Power

|Jessica Harrington

scope="row" | 9

|Acapella Bourgeois

|11

|10–12

|25/1

|Danny Mullins

|Willie Mullins

scope="row" | 10

|Talkischeap

|9

|10–12

|50/1

|Tom Cannon

|Alan King

scope="row" | 11

|Tout Est Permis

|8

|10–12

|150/1

|Sean Flanagan

|Noel Meade

scope="row" | 12

|Anibale Fly

|11

|10–12

|28/1

|Denis O'Regan

|Tony Martin

scope="row" | 13

|Mister Malarky

|8

|10–12

|14/1

|Jonjo O'Neill Jnr

|Colin Tizzard

scope="row" | 14

|Kimberlite Candy

|9

|10–10

|22/1

|Richie McLernon

|Tom Lacey

scope="row" | 15

|Any Second Now

|9

|10–9

|{{hs|7.5}}15/2

|Mark Walsh

|Ted Walsh

scope="row" | 16

|Balko Des Flos

|10

|10–9

|150/1

|Aidan Coleman

|Henry de Bromhead

scope="row" | 17

|Alpha Des Obeaux

|11

|10–9

|80/1

|Jody McGarvey

|Denise Foster

scope="row" | 18

|Ok Corral

|11

|10–8

|80/1

|Mr. Derek O'Connor

|Nicky Henderson

scope="row" | 19

|Takingrisks

|12

|10–7

|20/1

|Sean Quinlan

|Nicky Richards

scope="row" | 20

|Shattered Love

|10

|10–7

|40/1

|Kevin Sexton

|Denise Foster

scope="row" | 21

|Jett

|10

|10–7

|125/1

|Mr. Sam Waley-Cohen

|Jessica Harrington

scope="row" | 22

|Lord Du Mesnil

|8

|10–6

|66/1

|Nick Scholfield

|Richard Hobson

scope="row" | 23

|Potters Corner

|11

|10–6

|28/1

|Jack Tudor

|Christian Williams

scope="row" | 24

|Class Conti

|9

|10–6

|80/1

|Brian Hayes

|Willie Mullins

scope="row" | 25

|Milan Native

|8

|10–6

|40/1

|Mr. Jamie Codd

|Denise Foster

scope="row" | 26

|Discorama

|8

|10–6

|16/1

|Bryan Cooper

|Paul Nolan

scope="row" | 27

|Vieux Lion Rouge

|12

|10–5

|80/1

|Conor O'Farrell

|David Pipe

scope="row" | 28

|Cloth Cap

|9

|10–5

|{{hs|5.5}}11/2 F

|Tom Scudamore

|Jonjo O’Neill

scope="row" | 29

|Cabaret Queen

|9

|10–5

|150/1

|S.F. O'Keeffe

|Willie Mullins

scope="row" | 30

|Minellacelebration

|11

|10–5

|80/1

|Ben Poste

|Katy Price

scope="row" | 31

|Canelo

|8

|10–4

|66/1

|Tom Bellamy

|Alan King

scope="row" | 32

|The Long Mile

|7

|10–4

|50/1

|L.P. Dempsey

|J.P. Dempsey

scope="row" | 33

|Give Me A Copper

|11

|10–4

|50/1

|Sean Bowen

|Paul Nicholls

scope="row" | 34

|Farclas

|7

|10–3

|16/1

|Jack Kennedy

|Denise Foster

scope="row" | 35

|Minella Times

|8

|10–3

|11/1

|Rachael Blackmore

|Henry de Bromhead

scope="row" | 36

|Sub Lieutenant

|12

|10–3

|80/1

|Tabitha Worsley

|Georgie Howell

scope="row" | 37

|Hogan's Height

|10

|10–3

|150/1

|Gavin Sheehan

|Jamie Snowden

scope="row" | 38

|Double Shuffle

|11

|10–2

|125/1

|Jonathan Burke

|Tom George

scope="row" | 39

|Ami Desbois

|11

|10–2

|150/1

|Kielon Woods

|Graeme McPherson

scope="row" | 40

|Blaklion

|12

|10–2

|50/1

|Harry Skelton

|Dan Skelton

scope="row" | R1

|Some Neck

|10

| –

| –

| –

|John McConnell

scope="row" | R2

|Secret Reprieve

|7

| –

| –

| –

|Evan Williams

scope="row" | R3

|Kauto Riko

|10

| –

| –

| –

|Tom Gretton

scope="row" | R4

|Fagan

|11

| –

| –

| –

|Alex Hales

:Sources: Trainers and weights{{cite web |title=Grand National 2021 runners, weights and latest betting for Aintree |url=https://news.paddypower.com/horse-racing/2021/04/10/grand-national-2021-runners-weights-betting-aintree/ |publisher=Paddypower.com |access-date=10 April 2021}} Jockeys{{cite web |title=Grand National 2021 Odds |url=https://www.timeform.com/grand-national/odds |publisher=Timeform.com |access-date=10 April 2021}} Starting prices{{cite web |title=Grand National Betting Odds 2021 – 17:15 |url=https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/aintree/17:15/winner |publisher=oddschecker.com |access-date=10 April 2021}}

  • Note Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms in the jockeys name denotes an amateur.

Race overview

The race was held without spectators due to COVID-19. The favourite, Cloth Cap, was the first leader in the race, but was quickly caught by Jett, who then built up a large lead, with Cloth Cap remaining in second for much of the race. Any Second Now ran into trouble when Double Shuffle fell in front of him in the first half of the race, costing him several lengths.{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2021/apr/10/grand-national-2021-latest-news-and-tips-aintree-horse-racing-live|title=Rachael Blackmore wins Grand National on Minella Times – as it happened|date=10 April 2021|work=Guardian|accessdate= 12 April 2021}} Cloth Cap was pulled up four fences from the end. On the third-last fence Any Second Now nearly fell. On the second-last fence, a pack of chasing horses, including Minella Times, Any Second Now, Discorama, Burrows Saint and Balko Des Flos caught Jett, as Jett faded. Minella Times took the lead on the second-last fence, and maintained it to the finish, while dark horse Balko Des Flos won second-place on the last fence.{{cite web |last1=Keogh |first1=Frank |title=Rachael Blackmore wins Grand National on Minella Times |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing/56701659 |website=BBC |access-date=11 April 2021 |date=10 April 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Greg |title=Rachael Blackmore is first female jockey to win Grand National, on Minella Times |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/apr/10/rachael-blackmore-becomes-first-female-jockey-to-win-grand-national-minella-times-horse-racing |website=Guardian |access-date=11 April 2021 |date=10 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=Grand National recap: Jockey Rachael Blackmore makes history by winning the Grand National on Minella Times |url=https://www.skysports.com/racing/live-blog/12426/12270721/grand-national-live-all-the-latest-from-aintree-as-40-horses-and-jockeys-bid-for-a-place-in-racing-history-at-5-15pm |website=SkySports |access-date=11 April 2021 |date=10 April 2021}}

The Long Mile suffered an injury while running on a flat portion of the race and was euthanised after the race. Bryony Frost fell from Yala Enki and needed hospital treatment.

Henry de Bromhead trained the top two finishers in the race, only a few weeks after his horses won the top three races at the Cheltenham Festival. Jockey Rachael Blackmore recorded the best ever finish for a woman jockey, above the third place finish for Katie Walsh in 2012. In her interview after the race, Blackmore stated "I don't feel male or female. I don't even feel human, I feel unbelievable."

Finishing order

{{multiple image | width = 75 | header = Placed horses{{cite news |title=Grand National 2021: Pinstickers' guide to Aintree runners & riders |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing/56595124 |access-date=11 April 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/32/aintree/2021-04-10/775757|title=Full Result 5.15 Aintree | 10 April 2021 | Racing Post}}| direction = vertical| caption_align = center

|image1=Owner Mr John P McManus star on cap.svg |caption1=1: Minella Times

|image2=Owner Racehorseclub Com.svg|caption2=2: Balko Des Flos

|image3=Owner Mr John P McManus.svg|caption3=3: Any Second Now

|image4=Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg |caption4=4: Burrows Saint

}}


class="wikitable sortable"

!Position

!Name

!Age

!Handicap

(st–lb)

!SP

!Jockey

!Trainer

!Prize money

1

|Minella Times

|8

|10–3

|11/1

|Rachael Blackmore

|Henry de Bromhead

|£375,000

2

|Balko Des Flos

|10

|10–9

|100/1

|Aidan Coleman

|Henry de Bromhead

|£150,000

3

|Any Second Now

|9

|10–9

|{{hs|7.5}}15/2

|Mark Walsh

|Ted Walsh

|£75,000

4

|Burrows Saint

|8

|10–13

|9/1

|Patrick Mullins

|Willie Mullins

|£48,750

5

|Farclas

|7

|10–3

|16/1

|Jack Kennedy

|Mrs Denise Foster

|£30,000

6

|Blaklion

|12

|10–2

|50/1

|Harry Skelton

|Dan Skelton

|£22,500

7

|Discorama

|8

|10–6

|16/1

|Bryan Cooper

|Paul Nolan

|£15,000

8

|Jett

|10

|10–7

|80/1

|Sam Waley-Cohen

|Jessica Harrington

|£11,250

9

|Cabaret Queen

|9

|10–5

|80/1

|Sean O'Keeffe

|Willie Mullins

|£7,500

10

|Shattered Love

|10

|10–7

|33/1

|Kevin Sexton

|Mrs Denise Foster

|£3,750

11

|Alpha Des Obeaux

|11

|10–9

|80/1

|Jody McGarvey

|Mrs Denise Foster

|

12

|Hogan's Height

|10

|10–3

|100/1

|Gavin Sheehan

|Jamie Snowden

|

13

|Acapella Bourgeois

|11

|10–12

|20/1

|Danny Mullins

|Willie Mullins

|

14

|Sub Lieutenant

|12

|10–3

|50/1

|Tabitha Worsley

|Georgia Howell

|

15

|Class Conti

|9

|10–6

|66/1

|Brian Hayes

|Willie Mullins

|

Source {{cite web |title=2021 Grand National result: where your horse finished and who won |url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/grand-national/2021-grand-national-result-where-your-horse-finished-and-who-won/483896 |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=10 April 2021}}

Non-finishers

class="wikitable sortable"

!Fence

!Name

!Jockey

!SP

!Fate

1

|Lake View Lad

|Brian Hughes

|50/1

|Fell

4

|Magic Of Light

|Robbie Power

|14/1

|Unseated rider

11

|Minellacelebration

| colspan="1" |Benjamin Poste

|80/1

|Unseated rider

12

|Double Shuffle

|Jonathan Burke

|66/1

|Fell

13

|Anibale Fly

|Denis O'Regan

|28/1

|Pulled up

15

|Canelo

|Thomas Bellamy

|66/1

|Fell

15

|Ami Desbois

|Kielan Woods

|100/1

|Brought down

17

|Takingrisks

|Sean Quinlan

|14/1

|Pulled up

17

|Mister Malarky

|Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

|12/1

|Pulled up

20

|Yala Enki

| colspan="1" |Bryony Frost

|40/1

|Unseated rider

20

| colspan="1" |Vieux Lion Rouge

|Conor O'Farrell

|66/1

|Fell

21

|Ballyoptic

|Sam Twiston-Davies

|66/1

|Refused

21

|Ok Corral

|Mr Derek O'Connor

|80/1

|Pulled up

21

|Lord Du Mesnil

| colspan="1" |Nick Scholfield

| colspan="1" |50/1

|Pulled up

22

|Bristol De Mai

|Daryl Jacob

|25/1

|Pulled up

22

|Potters Corner

|Jack Tudor

|22/1

|Pulled up

23

|The Long Mile

| colspan="1" |L P Dempsey

|50/1

|Pulled up

26

|Talkischeap

|Tom Cannon

|33/1

|Pulled up

27

|Chris's Dream

|D J O'Keeffe

|40/1

|Unseated rider

28

|Cloth Cap

|Tom Scudamore

|11/2 Fav

|Pulled up

29

|Give Me A Copper

|Sean Bowen

|33/1

|Pulled up

29

|Definitly Red

|Ryan Mania

|28/1

|Pulled up

29

|Tout Est Permis

| colspan="1" |Sean Flanagan

|100/1

|Pulled up

29

|Kimberlite Candy

| colspan="1" |Richie McLernon

|20/1

|Pulled up

29

|Milan Native

|Mr Jamie Codd

|50/1

|Pulled up

Source

Broadcasting and media

{{Quote box

|quote = "It is Minella Times who leads them towards the elbow, three or four lengths clear from ridden in second place Balko Des Flos, Any Second Now and Burrows Saint. Rachael Blackmore heads towards the elbow, with 200 yards between herself and an Aintree victory. Balko Des Flos and Any Second Now are about five lengths down. 150 yards to go! Minella Times, Rachael Blackmore, still five lengths clear! And it is Minella Times who is keeping up the gallop towards the line! Minella Times, Rachael Blackmore raise the bar, still higher! She won the National on Minella Times for Henry De Bromhead!"

|source = ITV lead commentator Richard Hoiles describes the climax of the race.{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/hub/itv-racing/2a4397a0415|title=ITV Racing – ITV Racing: The Grand National Live|via=www.itv.com|access-date=10 April 2021|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410191406/https://www.itv.com/hub/itv-racing/2a4397a0415|url-status=dead}}

|width = 35%

|quoted = 1

|align = right

}}

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 for the fourth time, and the first year in its new three year deal with the British Horseracing Authority.{{cite web |title=Racing will remain on ITV for another three years after new contract is agreed |url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/racing-will-remain-on-itv-for-another-three-years-after-new-contract-is-agreed/445126 |publisher=Racing Post |access-date=10 April 2021}} For Racing TV, the race was called by Stewart Machin, Alan Howes and Simon Holt.

The ITV coverage was presented by Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani. Analysis was provided by former Grand National-winning jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald, with Ruby Walsh also contributing via remote link from the course. Reports were provided by Alice Plunkett, Rishi Persad, Luke Harvey and Matt Chapman – who also provided updates on betting during the broadcast. Oli Bell and Chris Hughes covered viewers' comments on social media. The commentary team was Mark Johnson, Ian Bartlett and Richard Hoiles, who called the finish for the fourth time. Following the race, Bell, Fitzgerald and Walsh guided viewers on a fence-by-fence re-run of the race.

Because of the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 9 April, coverage of the second day of the meeting was moved to ITV4, with no advertisement breaks or sponsorship bumpers.{{cite web |title=ITV scrap adverts after Prince Philip's death to bring uninterrupted news coverage |date=9 April 2021 |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/itv-no-adverts-prince-philip-20354792 |access-date=10 April 2021 |ref=chronicle.co.uk}}

In the Republic of Ireland, the race was broadcast on Virgin Media One.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whathifi.com/advice/grand-national-live-stream-how-to-watch-the-2021-racing-from-aintree-for-free|title=Grand National live stream: how to watch the 2021 racing from Aintree for free|first=What Hi-Fi? 10|last=April 2021|website=whathifi}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/events-tickets/grand-national/ Grand National Official Website]
  • [https://www.timeform.com/grand-national/beginners-guide Grand National Beginner's Guide]

{{Grand National}}

2021

2021

Grand National

Grand National

Grand National