Red Marauder won a truly remarkable 154th running of the Martell Grand National at Aintree in circumstances that few who saw the race will ever forget. A catalogue of incidents during the early stages of the race decimated the field to the extent that only seven of the 40 starters even reached the start of the second circuit.
Then a loose horse, veering across the fence took out Ted Walsh-trained Papillon, Blowing Wind, Brave Highlander and Unsinkable Boxer, and when Beau fell only Smarty and Red Marauder were left with a chance.
In a war of attrition, it was the 33-1 chance Red Marauder, trained by Norman Mason and ridden by Richard Guest, who went on to win by a distance from the 16-1 runner-up.
Blowing Wind (16-1) and last year’s victor Papillon (14-1), riden by Ruby Walsh, remounted to finish third and fourth more than two fences behind the first two home.
Filed by Seán Folan
