The 1971 Grand National was the 125th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 3 April 1971.
Gay Buccaneer was very unlucky having been the clear leader at the Canal turn on the first circuit, only to be interfered with by a loose horse which resulted in him going from first to last, and finishing tenth. Specify was the winner from a close finish between the leading five in the final furlong.
Finishing order PositionNameJockeyAgeHandicap (st-lb)SPDistance01SpecifyJohn Cook910-328/102Black SecretJim Dreaper711-520/103AstburyJimmy Bourke810-033/104BowgeenoGraham Thorner1110-566/105Sandy SpriteRon Barry710-333/106Two SpringsRoy Edwards911-413/107VichysoisePhilip Blacker910-3100/108King VulganJohn Crowley1011-016/109RegimentalJohn Lawrence810-666/110Gay BuccaneerPat Black1010-066/111Final MoveTommy Stack1110-066/112Limeburner (remounted)John Buckingham1010-0100/113Common Entrance (remounted)Mouse Morris1010-0100/1Last to finish
Non-finishers FenceNameJockeyAgeHandicap (st-lb)Starting priceFate01Brian's BestRichard Evans1110-1133/1Brought Down01Country WeddingBob Champion910-050/1Brought Down01CraigbrookPeter Ennis1210-180/1Fell01Gay TripTerry Biddlecombe912-08/1Fell01TwigairyEddie Harty810-625/1Brought Down03The LairdJeff King1011-1212/1Fell04BattledoreJohn Enright1010-645/1Refused06CopperlessMartin Gibson1010-1100/1Fell06Pride of KentuckyTony Mawson910-050/1Brought Down06SoldoDavid Mould1010-766/1Fell08HighworthDick Woodhouse1210-5100/1Pulled Up08IndameliaPhilip Hobbs810-5100/1Fell10Cnoch DubhTommy Carberry810-1120/1Fell10The OtterBuck Jones1010-112/1Fell10Zara's GroveGordon Holmes810-066/1Fell11Lord JimStan Mellor1010-99/1Fell12Kellsboro' WoodAndy Turnell1110-0100/1Fell15Miss HunterJohn Fowler1010-033/1Fell19Smooth DealerArthur Moore910-333/1Refused19VultureSean Barker910-016/1Fell22Beau BobRichard Dennard810-340/1Unseated Rider22Money BoatBobby Coonan710-716/1Fell27Charter FlightBill Rees911-825/1Pulled Up27FlosuebarbJoe Guest1110-133/1Pulled Up27The InventorBrian Fletcher1010-720/1Refused
The Grand National : the history of the Aintree spectacular, by Stewart Peters & Bernard Parkin,
Media coverage
A special Grand National Grandstand was presented by David Coleman on the BBC for the twelfth year. Three commentators were used this year, Peter O'Sullevan, Raleigh Gilbert and Julian Wilson. Peter Bromley was the lead commentator on BBC radio.
Aftermath John Cook retired from racing the following year on medical advice and emigrated to Australia where he died after a long illness in 1999
References