The 2012 Grand National (officially known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 165th annual renewal of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase, which concluded a three-day meeting which is one of only four held at Aintree throughout the year, took place on 14 April 2012. The maximum permitted field of 40 runners ran the last of Aintree's National Course featuring 30 fences, competing for record prize money of £975,000, making it the highest-valued National Hunt race in the United Kingdom.
Aintree had made a number of safety changes in the months leading up to the race, following the deaths of two horses in the previous year's National. The changes included reducing the severity of some of the fences, raising the minimum age of participating horses from six to seven years old, and requiring all runners to have previously been placed in a recognised steeplechase of at least three miles.
Neptune Collonges, ridden by Daryl Jacob, won the race, beating Sunnyhillboy in a photo finish and the closest ever finish to a Grand National. Neptune Collonges became only the third grey horse to win the 173-year-old chase, and the first since 1961. Joint-favourite Seabass finished third, which resulted in Katie Walsh, in her first outing in the race, scoring the best result ever for a female jockey in the Grand National. Synchronised, the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and an early favourite for the National, and According to Pete both were euthanised after suffering leg fractures during the race. One fence was omitted on the second circuit as medics treated jockey Noel Fehily, who broke a leg in a fall on the first circuit. Two horses, Ornais and Dooneys Gate, had also suffered fatal injuries in the National's 2011 edition.
The race was televised live on the BBC for the last time, having broadcast every running since 1960. The rights to broadcast the next four renewals had been won by Channel 4. The BBC's relationship with the race did continue however through its live radio broadcast rights, which it had held since being first aired in 1927.
Safety changes In 2011, Aintree announced some modifications to the format of the race and to the National Course in time for the 2012 Grand National. The changes followed a review of the 2011 race in which two horses suffered highly publicised fatal falls. A review conducted by the racecourse authorities, and the British Horseracing Authority, in consultation with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and World Horse Welfare, recommended the following amendments to the course: Fence 1 (fence 17 on second circuit) to be levelled out on the landing side to remove several minor contours. Fence 4 (fence 20 on second circuit) to be rebuilt and reduced in height by two inches to 4 ft 10 in. Becher's Brook (fence 6 on first circuit, fence 22 on second circuit) to have its drop on the landing side reduced by between four and five inches. Height of toe-boards at the base of all fences to be increased from nine inches to 14 inches, in line with ordinary fences.
Other recommendations were made to improve the safety of race participants, including: The requirement for participating horses to have previously finished fourth or better in a recognised steeplechase of at least three miles. The minimum age of eligible horses to be increased from six to seven years. The creation of a new post-race washdown and cooling area. Flexibility in shortening or removing the pre-race parade in hot weather.
Race card Entries for the race had to be submitted by 31 January 2012. On 1 February, Aintree announced that 82 horses had been entered for consideration in the 2012 Grand National, including the previous year's winner Ballabriggs and 2009's outside winner Mon Mome. Ballabriggs was bidding to become the first horse to win back-to-back Nationals since Red Rum in 1973 and 1974, who incidentally was trained by Ginger McCain, the father of Ballabriggs' trainer Donald McCain, Jr.
Among the early favourites for the race – alongside Ballabriggs – were Junior (trained by 2008's winning trainer David Pipe), Synchronised (the winner of the Lexus Chase on 28 December 2011 and later the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup), Weird Al (winner in the October 2011 Charlie Hall Chase), and Midnight Chase (first in the Cotswold Chase on 4 February 2012). Synchronised was attempting to become the first horse since Golden Miller in 1934 to win both the Gold Cup and Grand National in the same year.
Handicap weights were announced by the British Horseracing Authority in London on 14 February. The top weight of 11 stone 10 lb was allocated to the nine-year-old Sychronised. Ballabriggs was allotted 11 stone 9 lb, and 11 stone 8 lb to both Weird Al and Midnight Chase. The remaining entries were allotted a range of handicaps down to 9 stone.
After a first scratchings deadline on 28 February, five entries were taken out. Following a second round of scratchings on 20 March 59 horses remained entered. At a five-day confirmation stage on 9 April a further 11 entrants were withdrawn, leaving 48 potential runners. Among those were 2012 Thyestes Chase winner On His Own, and West End Rocker who finished a comfortable first in the Becher Chase in December 2011.
Other trainers returning to the race included Kim Bailey, who had success with Mr. Frisk in the 1990 National, with ten-year-old Midnight Haze; Gordon Elliott, who trained the 2007 winner Silver Birch, with the grey Chicago Grey; and Ted Walsh, responsible for Papillon's victory in 2000 (his son Ruby took that ride), with Seabass who was ridden by his daughter Katie in her first Grand National. With both Katie Walsh and Nina Carberry in the line-up, 2012 marked the first time since 1988 that more than one female jockey participated in the same National.
Jockey Tony McCoy rode Synchronised and was aiming for his second Grand National success in 17 attempts. Niall Madden (on In Compliance) was another seeking a second win after guiding Numbersixvalverde to victory in 2006, while 2003 winning jockey Barry Geraghty returned to ride Shakalakaboomboom. Paul Carberry took the ride of Chicago Grey and Ballabriggs defended his title under the jockeyship once again of Jason Maguire, while Timmy Murphy was a sixth and final jockey aiming for another National win, having ridden Comply or Die in 2008.
On 12 April a final declaration of runners was made and the maximum field of 40 competitors plus four reserves was announced. Any withdrawals before 9 am on 13 April would have been replaced by a reserve. However, no reserves were needed as all 40 went forward on the morning before the race.
+ Entries for the 2012 Grand National. All horses are Great Britain unless stated.NumberHorseAgeHandicap (st-lb)SPJockeyTrainerOwner1Synchronised (IRE)911–10Tony McCoyJonjo O'NeillJ. P. McManus2Ballabriggs (IRE)1111–09Jason MaguireDonald McCain, Jr.Trevor Hemmings3Weird Al (IRE)911–08Timmy MurphyDonald McCain, Jr.Brannon, Dennis, Dick, Holden4Neptune Collonges (FRA)1111–06Daryl JacobPaul NichollsJohn Hales5Calgary Bay (IRE)911–06Dominic ElsworthHenrietta KnightCamilla Radford6Alfa Beat (IRE)811–05 Davy RussellJohn Hanlon (IRE)Irvin Naylor7Planet of Sound1011–05 Richard JohnsonPhilip HobbsCharles Lloyd-Baker8Black Apalachi (IRE)1311–03 Denis O'ReganDessie Hughes (IRE)Teresa Burke9Deep Purple1111–03 Jamie MooreEvan WilliamsPaul Green10Junior911–02 Tom ScudamoreDavid PipeMiddleham Park Racing11Chicago Grey (IRE)910–13Paul CarberryGordon Elliott (IRE)John Earls12Tatenen (FRA)810–13Andrew ThorntonRichard RoweStewart family13Seabass (IRE)910–12 joint-favKatie WalshTed Walsh (IRE)Gunners Syndicate14Shakalakaboomboom (IRE)810–12 joint-favBarry GeraghtyNicky HendersonLiam Breslin15West End Rocker (IRE)1010–12Wayne HutchinsonAlan KingBarry Winfield & Tim Leadbeater16According to Pete1110–12Harry HaynesMalcolm JeffersonPeter Nelson17On His Own (IRE)810–11Paul Townend*Willie Mullins (IRE)Andrea & Graham Wylie18Always Right (IRE)1010–10James ReveleyJohn WadeJohn Wade19Cappa Bleu (IRE)1010–10Paul MoloneyEvan WilliamsWilliam & Angela Rucker20Rare Bob (IRE)1010–09Bryan CooperDessie Hughes (IRE)D A Syndicate21Organisedconfusion (IRE)710–08Nina CarberryArthur Moore (IRE)Grace Dunlop22Treacle (IRE)1110–08Andrew LynchTom Taaffe (IRE)Bjorn Nielsen23The Midnight Club (IRE)1110–08Andrew Tinkler*Willie Mullins (IRE)Susannah Ricci24Mon Mome (FRA)1210–08Aidan ColemanVenetia WilliamsVida Bingham25Arbor Supreme (IRE)1010–07Mark WalshJonjo O'NeillJ. P. McManus26Sunnyhillboy (IRE)910–05Richie McLernonJonjo O'NeillJ. P. McManus27Killyglen (IRE)1010–04Robbie PowerStuart Crawford (IRE)David McCammon28Quiscover Fontaine (FRA)810–04David CaseyWillie Mullins (IRE)J. P. McManus29Tharawaat (IRE)710–04Brian O'ConnellGordon Elliott (IRE)Gigginstown House Stud30Becauseicouldntsee (IRE)910–03Davy CondonNoel Glynn (IRE)Noel Glynn31State of Play910–03Noel FehilyEvan WilliamsWilliam & Angela Rucker32Swing Bill (FRA)1110–03Conor O'FarrellDavid PipeDavid Johnson33Postmaster1010–02Dougie CostelloTim VaughanThe Bill & Ben Partnership34Giles Cross (IRE)1010–01Paddy BrennanVictor DartnallKCMS Partnership35Midnight Haze1010–00Sean QuinlanKim BaileyKim Bailey Racing Partnership36Vic Venturi (IRE)1210–00Harry SkeltonDessie Hughes (IRE)Seamus Dunne37In Compliance (IRE)1210–00Niall MaddenDessie Hughes (IRE)Dessie Hughes38Viking Blond (FRA)710–00Brian HughesNigel Twiston-DaviesCaroline Mould39Hello Bud (IRE)1410–00Sam Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-DaviesSeamus Murphy40Neptune Equester909–09Felix de GilesBrian EllisonKoo's Racing ClubR1Any Currency (IRE)909-08——Martin KeighleyCash Is King SyndicateR2Our Island (IRE)709-07——Tim VaughanDavid FoxR3Abbeybraney (IRE)1109-05——Sue JohnsonGeorge BewleyR4Smoking Aces (IRE)809-05——Tom Taaffe (IRE)J. P. McManus
* Ruby Walsh was due to ride On His Own but was stood down after suffering a concussion in a fall during the Aintree Hurdle before the Grand National. Paul Townend took over the ride of On His Own, with Andrew Tinkler coming in to replace Townend on The Midnight Club.
Race overview The start of the race was delayed after Synchronised unseated his rider, Tony McCoy during the warm-up and got loose on the racecourse. After the horse was caught and brought back to the start by McCoy, there were further delays caused by overly-keen riders and horses breaching the starting tape twice.
Eventually, starter Hugh Barclay got all 40 runners away. As the field charged down toward the first fence, Giles Cross and Becauseicouldntsee were amongst the early leaders, and Viking Blond became the race's first faller. His jockey Brian Hughes suffered a suspected broken cheekbone in the fall. West End Rocker and Junior, both 16/1 shots, fell at the second fence. By the fourth, Shakalakaboomboom had taken up a prominent position just ahead of the remainder of the field. The fifth fence claimed three runners: State of Play unseated his rider Noel Fehily and Chicago Grey and Rare Bob were brought down. Fehily suffered a broken leg and a screen was soon erected around him as he was treated by medics, while course officials prepared for the fence to be bypassed on the second circuit.
Becher's Brook, the sixth obstacle, saw the well-backed Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised fall. McCoy suffered a soft-tissue injury but Synchronised did not appear to suffer serious injury, and he continued running riderless until the 11th fence where he fell again, fracturing his right-hind tibia and fibula; racecourse vets had to euthanise him.
Outsider Alfa Beat was a faller at the Foinavon fence after Becher's, and the next obstacle, the Canal Turn, saw five runners exit the race. Black Apalachi fell while the riders of Organisedconfusion, Tatenen, Killyglen and Becauseicouldntsee were all unseated.