The 2013 Grand National (officially known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 166th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase, which concluded a three-day meeting (one of only four held at Aintree throughout the year), took place on 6 April 2013. The maximum permitted field of 40 runners competed for a share of the £975,000 prize fund, which made the National the most valuable jump race in Europe.
The race was won by 66/1 shot Auroras Encore, who was ridden by jockey Ryan Mania for trainer Sue Smith. The 11/2 favourite Seabass, ridden by Katie Walsh, finished in 13th place. During the race only two horses fell and six unseated their riders; 17 completed the course and all 40 that ran returned safely to the stables.
The race was broadcast on Channel 4 for the first time as it took over the broadcasting rights for a four-year period to 2016. The BBC had broadcast the race every year since it was first televised in 1960 and first aired on radio in 1927. The BBC retain the UK radio coverage rights.
Safety changes
In addition to modifications made for the previous year's race, Aintree announced that a number of further changes had been made for the 2013 National.
Twelve of the 16 fences on the course were rebuilt with the timber frames within them replaced by a softer material known as "plastic birch". The fences are still covered with at least 14 inches of spruce and will remain the same height. The starting line was also moved 90 yards closer to the first fence, further away from the spectators' stands and thereby reducing slightly the overall distance.
Aintree and the Professional Jockeys' Association jointly issued a note urging participating jockeys to avoid a false start by paying more attention to the starter's orders, and to better control their speed during the race.
In response to the further changes, David Muir of the RSPCA said: "They have done more than I thought they would. Fundamentally the changes that have been made are major already. They've taken the cores of the fences out, there is a cooling down area now, there's a water system and there's a reduction in the number of drop fences; [however] we'd still like to see changes to Becher's Brook, the drop is still a concern."
Race card
Entries for the race had to be submitted by 30 January 2013. Aintree announced that 84 horses had been entered for consideration in the 2013 Grand National, including last year's runner-up Sunnyhillboy, as well as Seabass and Cappa Bleu, third and fourth in the 2012 race respectively. Others hoping to return to the National for 2013 included Oscar Time, Big Fella Thanks, What A Friend, Cloudy Lane, Calgary Bay, and 2011 winner Ballabriggs.
Eight of the entrants were trained in Wales, including Cappa Bleu; the only Welsh-trained horse to have won the Grand National was Kirkland in 1905. Thirty-two of the 84 were trained in Ireland.
Handicap weights were announced by the British Horseracing Authority in London on 12 February. The top weight of 11 st 10 lb was allotted to Tidal Bay, trained by last year's winning trainer Paul Nicholls, however the horse was withdrawn two days later with a stress fracture of the lower cannon bone on his right hind leg. 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander now carries top weight. The National's official betting partner, Betfred, put Seabass (11 st 2 lb), On His Own (10 st 10 lb), and Prince De Beauchene (11 st 3 lb) as joint-favourites upon announcement of the handicaps. Prince De Beauchene was later withdrawn with a stress fracture.
There were scratchings' deadlines on 26 February and 19 March, after which 57 entries remained. 1 April marked the five-day confirmation stage at which 49 horses remained and were ranked according to their ratings. On 4 April the final field of 40 runners was declared:
NoHorseAgeHandicap (st-lb)SPJockeyTrainerOwner(s)1Imperial Commander (IRE)1211–10Sam Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-DaviesOur Friends in the North2What A Friend1011-09Sam ThomasPaul NichollsG. Mason & A. Ferguson3Weird Al (IRE)1011-08Timmy MurphyDonald McCainB. D. Holden4Quel Esprit (FRA)911-07Paul TownendWillie Mullins (IRE)Red Barn Syndicate5Big Fella Thanks1111-06Denis O'ReganTom GeorgeCrossed Fingers Partnership6Seabass (IRE)1011-06Ms Katie WalshTed Walsh (IRE)Gunners Syndicate7Roberto Goldback (IRE)1111-06Barry GeraghtyNicky HendersonS. Munir8Sunnyhillboy (IRE)1011-04Richie McLernonJonjo O'NeillJ. P. McManus9Ballabriggs (IRE)1211-04Jason MaguireDonald McCainT. Hemmings10Teaforthree (IRE)911-03Nick ScholfieldRebecca CurtisT43711Across the Bay (IRE)911-02Henry BrookeDonald McCainScotch Piper Syndicate12Join Together (IRE)811-02Daryl JacobPaul NichollsI. Fogg & P. Barber13Colbert Station (IRE)911-01Tony McCoyTed Walsh (IRE)J. P. McManus14Forpadydeplasterer (IRE)1111-00Andrew J. McNamaraThomas Cooper (IRE)Goat Racing Syndicate15On His Own (IRE)911-00Ruby WalshWillie Mullins (IRE)A. & G. Wylie16Joncol (IRE)1010–13Robbie PowerPaul Nolan (IRE)K. Browne17Balthazar King (IRE)910–12Richard JohnsonPhilip HobbsThe Brushmakers18Cappa Bleu (IRE)1110–11Paul MoloneyEvan WilliamsW. & A. Rucker19Oscar Time (IRE)1210–11Mr Sam Waley-CohenMartin Lynch (IRE)R. Waley-Cohen20Always Waining (IRE)1210–10Tom O'BrienPeter BowenP. & L. Douglas21Tatenen (FRA)910–10Andrew ThorntonRichard RoweStewart family22Treacle (IRE)1210-09Noel FehilyTom Taaffe (IRE)B. Nielsen23Lost Glory (NZL)810-08Mark WalshJonjo O'NeillJ. P. McManus24Swing Bill (FRA)1210-08Conor O'FarrellDavid PipeD. Johnson25Saint Are (FRA)710-08Dougie CostelloTim VaughanD. Fox26Chicago Grey (IRE)1010-07Paul CarberryGordon Elliott (IRE)J. Earls27Quiscover Fontaine (FRA)910-07David CaseyWillie Mullins (IRE)J. P. McManus28Rare Bob (IRE)1110-06Bryan CooperDessie Hughes (IRE)D A Syndicate29The Rainbow Hunter910-06Aidan ColemanKim BaileyMay We Never Be Found Out30Becauseicouldntsee (IRE)1010-06Martin FerrisNoel Glynn (IRE)N. Glynn31Harry the Viking810–06Ryan MahonPaul NichollsA. Ferguson, G. Mason, R. Wood & P. Done32Mr. Moonshine (IRE)910-05Peter Buchanan Sue SmithA. Strang-Steel, D. Pryde & J. Beaumont33Mumbles Head (IRE)1210-04Jamie MoorePeter BowenP. Thompson34Ninetieth Minute (IRE)1010-03Niall MaddenTom Taaffe (IRE)D. Cox35Auroras Encore (IRE)1110-03Ryan ManiaSue SmithD. Pryde, J. Beaumont & D. P. van der Hoeven36Tarquinius (FRA)1010-02Wilson RenwickGordon Elliott (IRE)R. Gilbert37Any Currency (IRE)1010-00Ian PophamMartin KeighleyCash Is King38Major Malarkey (IRE)1009-13Tom ScudamoreNigel Twiston-DaviesBaker, Dodd & Cooke39Soll809-12Mark GrantJo HughesD. Mossop40Viking Blond (FRA)809-11Adam WedgeNigel Twiston-DaviesC. Mould Great Britain unless stated. Amateur jockeys denoted by preceding title, e.g. Mr.
Race overview
The starter Hugh Barclay got the field of 40 horses off and running at the first attempt, the start line having been moved 90 yards closer to the first fence and further away from the spectators' stands. Seabass was sent off as 11/2 favourite, with jockey Katie Walsh becoming the first female rider to start a Grand National as favourite. Her brother Ruby Walsh was second-favourite on board On His Own.
For the first time in history, all 40 runners made it to the Canal Turn – the eighth of the 30 fences – without mishap. Across the Bay led over the Turn from Balthazar King, while three riders were unseated. Andrew Thornton became the first of only two jockeys in the 2013 National to fall from his mount as the field streamed over the 12th fence.
The Chair is the penultimate fence on the first circuit and marked the end of the race for champion jockey Tony McCoy who was unseated from Colbert Station. Thirty-two of the 40 participants were still in contention going onto the second circuit, led by Across the Bay from Balthazar King, Oscar Time, and Teaforthree.
All the remaining runners safely jumped the second Becher's Brook, the first time since 1996 that the famous fence had not claimed any fallers. Ruby Walsh fell at Valentine's (the 25th fence) after which several runners had been pulled up, leaving 21 still racing. Irish-trained Oscar Time and Welsh-trained Teaforthree led the field, with Auroras Encore emerging in third position. At the final fence, Paul Carberry pulled up Chicago Grey while Mumbles Head refused and two other horses unseated their riders.
At the elbow on the 494-yard run-in, Auroras Encore had extended his lead over Teaforthree and Oscar Time, the latter fading and quickly overtaken by Cappa Bleu. At the line, the pairing of Auroras Encore and Ryan Mania – taking his first ride in the Grand National – won by a distance of nine lengths, Cappa Bleu pipped Teaforthree for second place, Oscar Time finished in fourth and Rare Bob was fifth. Seventeen runners completed the course.
Finishing order PositionHorseJockeySPDistancePrize money1Auroras Encore (IRE)Ryan ManiaWon by 9 lengths£547,2682Cappa Bleu (IRE)Paul MoloneyNeck£205,8233Teaforthree (IRE)Nick Scholfield11 lengths£102,8634Oscar Time (IRE)Mr Sam Waley-Cohen8 lengths£51,3835Rare Bob (IRE)Bryan Cooper6 lengths£25,8386Swing Bill (FRA)Conor O'Farrell10 lengths£12,8707SollMark Grant3 lengths£6,6308Tarquinius (FRA)Wilson Renwick lengths£3,5109Saint Are (FRA)Dougie Costello12 lengths£1,95010Always Waining (IRE)Tom O'Brien lengths£97511Major Malarkey (IRE)Tom Scudamore lengths12Join Together (IRE)Daryl Jacob22 lengths13Seabass (IRE)Ms Katie Walsh F lengths14Across the Bay (IRE)Henry Brooke lengths15Balthazar King (IRE)Richard Johnson1 length16Quiscover Fontaine (FRA)David Casey44 lengths17Any Currency (IRE)Ian PophamLast to complete
Non-finishers FenceHorseJockeySPFate8 (Canal Turn)The Rainbow HunterAidan ColemanUnseated rider8 (Canal Turn)Treacle (IRE)Noel FehilyUnseated rider8 (Canal Turn)Big Fella ThanksDenis O'ReganUnseated rider11Ninetieth Minute (IRE)Niall MaddenPulled up12Tatenen (FRA)Andrew ThorntonFell14Viking Blond (FRA)Adam WedgePulled up15 (The Chair)Colbert Station (IRE)Tony McCoyUnseated rider17Lost Glory (NZL)Mark WalshPulled up19 (open ditch)Joncol (IRE)Robbie PowerPulled up19 (open ditch)What A FriendSam ThomasPulled up21Becauseicouldntsee (IRE)Martin FerrisPulled up22 (Becher's Brook)Imperial Commander (IRE)Sam Twiston-DaviesPulled up23 (Foinavon)Forpadydeplasterer (IRE)Andrew McNamaraPulled up23 (Foinavon)Quel Esprit (FRA)Paul TownendPulled up23 (Foinavon)Weird Al (IRE)Timmy MurphyPulled up24 (Canal Turn)Ballabriggs (IRE)Jason MaguirePulled up25 (Valentine's)On His Own (IRE)Ruby WalshFell25 (Valentine's)Harry the VikingRyan MahonPulled up27 (open ditch)Mr. Moonshine (IRE)Peter BuchananPulled up30Mumbles Head (IRE)Jamie MooreRefused30Sunnyhillboy (IRE)Richie McLernonUnseated rider30Roberto Goldback (IRE)Barry GeraghtyUnseated rider30Chicago Grey (IRE)Paul CarberryPulled up
Colours
Reaction Sue Smith became only the third woman to train a Grand National winner, after Jenny Pitman (1983 and 1995) and Venetia Williams (2009). Smith said afterward: "I knew the ground was right for him and hoped everything else was. He stayed down the middle and had a bit of luck in running. He didn't have a lot of weight and that helped, too."
Auroras Encore was jockey Ryan Mania's first ride in the National. He said after his victory: "There are no words to describe it. I got a dream ride round. I couldn't believe my luck." Mania added that he could not "go too mad" with his celebrations as he was due to race at Hexham the next day. He did race the following afternoon, but was injured in a fall during the St. John Lee Handicap Hurdle and had to be airlifted to Newcastle Royal Infirmary where he was described as being in a "stable" condition. He was released from hospital two days later with minor neck and back injuries, saying he was "feeling a bit tired and a bit sore but apart from that I'm OK, it's nothing serious."