The 2011 Grand National (officially known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 164th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England.
The showpiece steeplechase began at 4:15 pm BST on 9 April 2011, the final day of the three-day annual meeting. The maximum permitted field of forty runners competed for prize money totalling a record £950,000, making it the highest valued National Hunt race in the United Kingdom.
Nineteen of the forty participants completed the 4½-mile course; of the 21 who did not, two suffered fatal falls on the first circuit, reigniting debates over the safety of the event, ultimately leading to changes in the following year's race.
Irish horse Ballabriggs won the race, securing the first-place prize money of £535,135 and a first Grand National win for trainer Donald McCain, Jr., the son of four-time winning trainer Ginger McCain. Owned by Trevor Hemmings, Ballabriggs was ridden by Irish jockey Jason Maguire and was sent off at odds of 14/1. The pairing completed the race in 9 minutes 1.2 seconds, the second-fastest time in Grand National history.
Race card On 2 February 2011 Aintree released the names of 102 horses submitted to enter, including 34 Irish-trained and three French-trained horses. Ten were trained by Paul Nicholls, including a leading contender in Niche Market; nine were handled by Irish trainer Willie Mullins, and three by Jonjo O'Neill, the trainer of Don't Push It, the 2010 winner. Ballabriggs, another leading contender, was trained by Donald McCain, Jr., the son of Ginger McCain who trained Red Rum to three National victories in the 1970s and returned with another winner, Amberleigh House, in 2004.
20 contenders were withdrawn in the first scratchings. After a second scratchings deadline on 24 March 74 horses remained on the list of entrants, with the top weight handicap of 11 st 10 lb allocated to last year's winner Don't Push It. The official odds on 24 March placed Mullins-trained The Midnight Club at 10/1 favourite. Backstage and Oscar Time were given joint-second favourite odds of 12/1.
At the five-day deadline on 4 April, nine further withdrawals since the second scratchings left a total of 65 contenders still in the running to compete. Nina Carberry, the sister of 1999 winner Paul Carberry, became the first female jockey to take a third ride in the Grand National. Four amateur jockeys lined up to compete. Official odds on favourite The Midnight Club were cut to 8/1, while What A Friend replaced Oscar Time as a joint-second favourite with Backstage on odds of 11/1.
On 7 April, Aintree declared the final confirmed list of 40 runners and four reserves as follows. The reserves would replace any withdrawals prior to 9 am on 8 April. None of the reserves, however, were required.
NumberHorseAgeWeight (st-lb)SPJockeyTrainerOwner1Don't Push It (IRE)1111–10Tony McCoyJonjo O'NeillJ. P. McManus2Tidal Bay (IRE)1011-09Brian HughesHoward JohnsonMr. & Mrs. Graham Wylie3What A Friend811-06Daryl JacobPaul NichollsGed Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson4Vic Venturi (IRE)1111-06Andrew LynchDessie Hughes (IRE)Seamus Dunne5Majestic Concorde (IRE)811-05Mr. Robbie McNamaraDermot Weld (IRE)Dr. Ronan Lambe6Or Noir de Somoza (FRA)911-05Barry Geraghty*David PipeFilsal Stadeg Racing7Dooneys Gate (IRE)1011-04Mr. Patrick MullinsWillie Mullins (IRE)Mrs. Jackie Mullins8Big Fella Thanks911-01Graham LeeFerdy MurphyCrossed Fingers Partnership9The Tother One (IRE)1011-00Mr. Ryan MahonPaul NichollsGraham Roach10Ballabriggs (IRE)1011-00Jason MaguireDonald McCain, Jr.Trevor Hemmings11The Midnight Club (IRE)1010–13 FRuby WalshWillie Mullins (IRE)Mrs. Susannah Ricci12Niche Market (IRE)1010–13Harry SkeltonPaul NichollsGraham Regan13Silver by Nature (grey)910–12Peter BuchananMs. Lucinda RussellGeoff Brown14Backstage (FRA)910–12Paul CarberryGordon Elliott (IRE)MPR & Capranny Syndicate15Chief Dan George (IRE)1110–12Paddy AspellJimmy MoffattMaurice Chapman16Calgary Bay (IRE)810–10Hadden FrostMs. Henrietta KnightMrs. Camilla Radford17Killyglen (IRE)910–10Robbie PowerStuart Crawford (IRE)David McCammon18Oscar Time (IRE)1010-09Mr. Sam Waley-CohenMartin Lynch (IRE)Robert Waley-Cohen & S. & M. Broughton19Quinz (FRA)710-08Richard JohnsonPhilip HobbsAndrew Cohen20Becauseicouldntsee (IRE)810-08Davy RussellNoel Glynn (IRE)Noel Glynn21Comply or Die (IRE)1210-08Timmy MurphyDavid PipeDavid Johnson22Quolibet (FRA)710-08Mark WalshJonjo O'NeillJ. P. McManus23Grand Slam Hero (IRE)1010-07Aidan ColemanNigel Twiston-DaviesWalters Plant Hire Ltd.24State of Play1110-06Paul MoloneyEvan WilliamsMr. & Mrs. William Rucker25King Fontaine (IRE)810-06Denis O'ReganMalcolm JeffersonTrevor Hemmings26In Compliance (IRE)1110-05Leighton AspellDessie Hughes (IRE)Westerly Breeze Syndicate27Hello Bud (IRE)1310-05Sam Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-DaviesSeamus Murphy28West End Rocker (IRE)910-05Robert ThorntonAlan KingBarry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater29Santa's Son (IRE)1110-05Jamie MooreHoward JohnsonDouglas Pryde & Jim Beaumont30Bluesea Cracker (mare) (IRE)910-04Andrew McNamaraJames Motherway (IRE)J. P. McManus31That's Rhythm (FRA)1110-04James ReveleyMartin TodhunterDon't Tell Henry32Surface to Air1010-04Tom MessengerChris BealbyTim Urry33Piraya (FRA)810-04Johnny FarrellyDavid PipeTerry Neill34Can't Buy Time (IRE)910-04Richie McLernonJonjo O'NeillJ. P. McManus35Character Building (IRE)1110-04Ms. Nina CarberryJohn QuinnPatricia Thompson36Ornais (FRA)910-04Nick ScholfieldPaul NichollsThe Stewart family37Arbor Supreme (IRE)910-03David CaseyWillie Mullins (IRE)J. P. McManus38Royal Rosa (FRA)1210-03Paul GallagherHoward JohnsonMr. & Mrs. Graham Wylie39Skippers Brig (IRE)1010-02Dominic ElsworthNicky RichardsAshelybank Investments Ltd.40Golden Kite (IRE)910-02Shane HassettAdrian Maguire (IRE)Dr. Anthony CalnanR1Always Waining (IRE)1010-02Peter BowenMr. & Mrs. Peter DouglasR2Faasel (IRE)1010-01David PipeJim EnnisR3Le Beau Bai (FRA)810-01Richard LeeGlass Half Full SyndicateR4Giles Cross (IRE)910-00Victor DartnallKCMS Partnership *Barry Geraghty rode Or Noir de Somoza after his original jockey, Tom Scudamore, withdrew due to an injury sustained in a race the day prior to the National.
Finishing order
Ten-year-old Ballabriggs led for much of the race, and the gelding eventually saw off a strong run-in challenge from amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen on Oscar Time who secured second place. Third was 2010 winner Tony McCoy on Don't Push It, twelve lengths behind the second. 15/2 favourite The Midnight Club made a mistake at the third fence and finished sixth.
State of Play, the eleven-year-old 28/1 shot trained by Welshman Evan Williams, finished in the top four for the third successive National.
Nineteen runners completed the course, including three of the six 100/1 shots. This was the highest number of finishers since 2005 when twenty-one horses passed the finishing post.
PositionHorseJockeySPDistancePrize money1BallabriggsJason MaguireWon by 2¼ lengths£535,1352Oscar TimeMr. Sam Waley-Cohen12 lengths£201,5903Don't Push ItTony McCoy2 lengths£100,8904State of PlayPaul Moloney7 lengths£50,4455Niche MarketHarry Skelton4 lengths£25,2706The Midnight ClubRuby Walsh F13 lengths£12,6357Big Fella ThanksGraham LeeA head£6,2708Surface to AirTom Messenger19 lengths£3,2309Skippers BrigDominic Elsworth8 lengths10BackstagePaul Carberry½ length11King FontaineDenis O'Regan25 lengths12Silver by NaturePeter Buchanan5 lengths13In ComplianceLeighton Aspell8 lengths14Bluesea CrackerAndrew McNamara16 lengths15Character BuildingMs. Nina Carberry12 lengths16Golden KiteShane HassettA distance17Chief Dan GeorgePaddy Aspell20 lengths18Royal RosaPaul GallagherA distance19PirayaJohnny FarrellyLast to complete
Non-finishers
Ten horses fell during the race, four unseated their riders, two were brought down by other fallers and five were pulled up.
The 100/1 outsider Santa's Son had led the field over the Canal Turn, but the short-distance runner eventually fell out of contention and jockey Jamie Moore pulled him up before the 27th fence. Killyglen fell at the 27th, having been close to leader Ballabriggs at the beginning of the second circuit.
Ornais and Dooneys Gate both suffered fatal falls on the first circuit. Ornais incurred a cervical fracture at the fourth fence (a plain 4 ft 10-inch obstacle) and Dooneys Gate fractured his thoracolumbar at fence six (the 5 ft Becher's Brook). Aintree had made significant modifications to its National Course in recent years, including improving veterinary facilities and reducing the severity of some fences, but another notable change was highlighted in this race – that the course has been widened to allow more fences to be bypassed if necessary. As the remaining contenders on the second circuit approached the 20th fence, arrowed signposts and marshals waving chequered flags signalled them to bypass on the outside as Ornais' body was covered by a tarpaulin on the landing side. Two jumps later and they were again diverted, this time around the famous Becher's Brook, where veterinary staff attended to Dooneys Gate. This was the first time since the modern course was finalised in the 1880s that only 28 fences were jumped.
FenceHorseJockeySPFate1That's RhythmJames ReveleyFell2BecauseicouldntseeDavy RussellFell2Vic VenturiAndrew LynchBrought down4Calgary BayHadden FrostFell4OrnaisNick ScholfieldFell6 (Becher's Brook)Or Noir de SomozaBarry GeraghtyFell6 (Becher's Brook)Dooneys GateMr. Patrick MullinsFell6 (Becher's Brook)The Tother OneMr. Ryan MahonFell6 (Becher's Brook)West End RockerRobert ThorntonBrought down10Tidal BayBrian HughesUnseated rider11QuoilbetMark WalshUnseated rider13Grand Slam HeroAidan ColemanFell15 (The Chair)QuinzRichard JohnsonPulled up18Can't Buy TimeRichie McLernonFell24 (Canal Turn)Majestic ConcordeMr. Robbie McNamaraUnseated rider27What A FriendDaryl JacobPulled up27Santa's SonJamie MoorePulled up27KillyglenRobert PowerFell28Comply or DieTimmy MurphyPulled up28Arbor SupremeDavid CaseyFell29Hello BudSam Twiston-DaviesPulled up
Broadcasting The Grand National has the status of being an event of significant national interest within the United Kingdom and thus is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events. The race therefore must be covered live on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK. The BBC aired the race on radio for the 80th consecutive year and on television for the 52nd year.
Clare Balding presented the BBC's television coverage, supported by Rishi Persad and retired jockey Richard Pitman, which was broadcast on BBC One and, for the second year, BBC HD. Former National-winning jockeys Richard Dunwoody and Mick Fitzgerald provided expert analysis, while betting news was provided by Gary Wiltshire and John Parrott. Suzi Perry was due to be providing soundbites from spectators but did not take part in the programme. Her place was taken by last-minute replacement Dan Walker who had been at Aintree to present Football Focus, aired prior to the National.
The race commentary team was led by Jim McGrath, who called the winner home for the 14th consecutive year; he was supported by Ian Bartlett and Darren Owen.
As well as being streamed to UK viewers on BBC Online, BBC Radio 5 Live also aired the race, presented by Mark Chapman.
The BBC later received some criticism for failing to mention the deaths of Ornais and Dooneys Gate until the end of its broadcast.
Aftermath The unusually warm and sunny weather conditions were credited with helping the 2011 meeting set a Grand National attendance record. A crowd of 70,291 people attended the main Saturday race day, and a total of 153,583 attended over the course of the three-day meeting, beating the previous record of 151,660 set in 2005.