The 2016 Grand National (officially known as the 2016 Crabbie's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 169th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase took place on 9 April 2016, the final day of a three-day meeting. A field of 39 runners competed for a share of a prize fund of £1 million.
The 2016 National was won by shot Rule The World, ridden by David Mullins and trained by Mouse Morris. In second place was the joint-favourite The Last Samuri. Sixteen of the 39 runners completed the race, held on the softest going since the 2001 race.
The race was sponsored by ginger-beer producer Crabbie's for the third and final time. It was broadcast live on television by Channel 4 for the fourth year running and the final time; the TV rights moved to ITV in 2017. There was live radio coverage by BBC Radio, which has held the radio rights since 1927, and by Talksport, which covered the main race live for the third time.
Race card
A total of 126 entries were received for consideration in the 2016 Grand National, of which 96 remained after the second of two scratching deadlines, and 87 then advanced to the final confirmation stage. On 7 April the final field of 40 horses was announced as starters for the showpiece race. Four reserves were on standby, but there were no withdrawals before the deadline on 8 April.
O'Faolains Boy was subsequently a non-runner, being declared lame in the morning of the race, reducing the field to 39 from the maximum of 40. A notable absentee was the 2014 winner Pineau de Re, who was rated 46th in the handicap and thus did not qualify for the final field. The joint-favourites with bookmakers were the 2015 winner and top-weight Many Clouds and The Last Samuri.
No Horse Age Handicap(st–lb) SP Jockey Trainer1Many Clouds (IRE)911–10 JFLeighton AspellOliver Sherwood2Silviniaco Conti (FR)1011–08Noel FehilyPaul Nicholls3First Lieutenant (IRE)1111–04Bryan CooperMouse Morris (IRE)4Wonderful Charm (FR)811–03Sam Twiston-DaviesPaul Nicholls5Ballynagour (IRE)1011–02Tom ScudamoreDavid Pipe6O'Faolains Boy (IRE)911–01NRBrian HughesRebecca Curtis7Gilgamboa (IRE)811–01Robbie PowerEnda Bolger (IRE)8On His Own (IRE)1211–01Mr. Patrick MullinsWillie Mullins (IRE)9The Druids Nephew (IRE)911–00Denis O'ReganNeil Mulholland10Triolo d'Alene (FR)911–00Jeremiah McGrathNicky Henderson11Rocky Creek (IRE)1010–13Andrew ThorntonPaul Nicholls12Sir Des Champs (FR)1010–13Ms. Nina CarberryWillie Mullins13Holywell (IRE)910–12Richie McLernonJonjo O'Neill14Shutthefrontdoor (IRE)910–11Barry GeraghtyJonjo O'Neill15Soll1110–11Conor O'FarrellDavid Pipe16Buywise (IRE)910–10Paul MoloneyEvan Williams17Boston Bob (IRE)1110–10Paul TownendWillie Mullins18Aachen1210–10Henry BrookeVenetia Williams19Morning Assembly (IRE)910–09Davy RussellPat Fahy (IRE)20Double Ross (IRE)1010–09Ryan HatchNigel Twiston-Davies21Goonyella (IRE)910–08Johnny BurkeJim Dreaper (IRE)22Ucello Conti (FR)810–08Daryl JacobGordon Elliott (IRE)23Unioniste (FR)810–08Nick ScholfieldPaul Nicholls24Le Reve (IRE)810–08Harry SkeltonLucy Wadham25Gallant Oscar (IRE)1010–08Mark WalshTony Martin (IRE)26Onenightinvienna (IRE)710–08Tom O'BrienPhilip Hobbs27The Last Samuri (IRE)810–08 JFDavid BassKim Bailey28Kruzhlinin (GER)910–07Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs29Rule The World910–07David MullinsMouse Morris30Just a Par (IRE)910–06Sean BowenPaul Nicholls31Katenko (FR)1010–06Will KennedyVenetia Williams32Vics Canvas (IRE)1310–06Robert DunneDermot McLoughlin (IRE)33Black Thunder (FR)910–06Mr. Sam Waley-CohenPaul Nicholls34Ballycasey (IRE)910–06Ms. Katie WalshWillie Mullins35Hadrian's Approach (IRE)910–06Nico de BoinvilleNicky Henderson36Vieux Lion Rouge (FR)710–05James ReveleyDavid Pipe37Pendra (IRE)810–05Aidan ColemanCharles Longsdon38Saint Are (FR)1010–05Paddy BrennanTom George39Home Farm (IRE)910–04Andrew LynchHenry de Bromhead (IRE)40The Romford Pele (IRE)910–04Trevor WhelanRebecca Curtis Great Britain unless stated. Amateur jockeys denoted by preceding title, e.g. Mr.
Race overview The outsider Aachen led the field on the first circuit with Double Ross very prominent and The Last Samuri and Many Clouds close behind the leaders. The most notable early faller was the third-favourite Holywell at the second fence. The Romford Pele was in a handy position until falling at the Canal Turn. Silviniaco Conti was pulled up at the 14th whilst On His Own and Sir Des Champs, both trained by Willie Mullins, fell at The Chair.
As the horses set out on the second circuit some of the early leaders began to fade and the 2015 runner-up Saint Are led the field, with The Last Samuri and Many Clouds disputing second. In the heavy conditions, several riders decided to pull their horses up rather than face Becher's a second time. Many Clouds went to the front at the 19th fence and raced alongside The Last Samuri for several fences before making a bad mistake at the 26th, after which he began to struggle under the top weight.
The Last Samuri led the field into the final turn ahead of Morning Assembly and the 100/1 outsider Vics Canvas, who had made a remarkable recovery after almost falling at Becher's Brook on the first circuit. Rule The World was beginning to make steady progress. The Last Samuri cleared the final fence just ahead of Vics Canvas, with Rule The World a length behind in third place. The three leaders were virtually level at the elbow with Vics Canvas on the rail, Rule The World on the outside and The Last Samuri in between them. In the final furlong Rule The World drew ahead and won by six lengths from The Last Samuri, with eight lengths back to Vics Canvas in third. Gilgamboa finished another two lengths behind in fourth, ahead of Goonyella, Ucello Conti, Vieux Lion Rouge, Morning Assembly and Shutthefrontdoor. Many Clouds was the last of the 16 finishers.
All 39 runners returned to the stables with no major concerns. However, over the three days of the Grand National Festival a total of five horses died from injuries sustained during racing.Kathryn Snowdon, Grand National Festival 2016 At Aintree Racecourse Sees Five Horses Die After Kings Palace Is Pulled Up And Destroyed, Huffington Post, 11 April 2016
Finishing order
The sixteen horses to complete the course finished as follows: Position Horse Jockey SP Distance Prize money1Rule The WorldDavid Mullins6 lengths£561,3002The Last SamuriDavid Bass JF8 lengths£211,1003Vics CanvasRobert Dunne2 lengths£105,5004GilgamboaRobbie Power19 lengths£52,7005GoonyellaJohnny Burke lengths£26,5006Ucello ContiDaryl Jacob11 lengths£13,2007Vieux Lion RougeJames Reveley14 lengths£6,8008Morning AssemblyDavy Russell length£3,6009ShutthefrontdoorBarry Geraghty9 lengths£2,00010UnionisteNick Scholfield5 lengths£1,00011Le ReveHarry Skelton7 lengths12BuywisePaul MoloneyA distance13PendraAidan Coleman14 lengths14Triolo d'AleneJeremiah McGrath20 lengths15Just a ParSean Bowen1 length16Many CloudsLeighton Aspell JFLast to complete
Non-finishers The runners who failed to complete were as follow: FenceHorseJockeySPFateHadrian's ApproachNico de BoinvilleUnseated riderFirst LieutenantBryan CooperFellHolywellRichie McLernonFell (Canal Turn)The Romford PeleTrevor WhelanUnseated rider (ditch)Rocky CreekAndrew ThorntonPulled upSilviniaco ContiNoel FehilyPulled up (The Chair)On His OwnMr. Patrick MullinsFell (The Chair)Sir Des ChampsMs. Nina CarberryFellGallant OscarMark WalshUnseated rider (open ditch)BallynagourTom ScudamoreUnseated riderSollConor O'FarrellPulled upThe Druids NephewDenis O'ReganPulled upHome FarmAndrew LynchPulled upBlack ThunderMr. Sam Waley-CohenPulled up (Becher's Brook)KatenkoWill KennedyFell (Becher's Brook)OnenightinviennaTom O'BrienUnseated rider (Becher's Brook)Boston BobPaul TownendPulled up (Becher's Brook)AachenHenry BrookePulled up (Canal Turn)Wonderful CharmSam Twiston-DaviesPulled upDouble RossRyan HatchPulled up (open ditch)KruzhlininRichard JohnsonPulled upBallycaseyMs. Katie WalshUnseated riderSaint Are Paddy BrennanPulled up
Broadcasting and media
As the Grand National is accorded the status of an event of national interest in the United Kingdom and is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, it must be shown on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK. The race was broadcast live on TV by Channel 4, as part of their four-year deal for the race secured back in 2012. This was the final year that Channel 4 broadcast the race live, after ITV secured the rights from 2017 onwards.
The coverage was led by Clare Balding and Nick Luck, supported by Emma Spencer, Jim McGrath and Graham Cunningham in the trackside studio. Retired champion jockey Sir Anthony McCoy provided expert opinions throughout the coverage, with reports from Mick Fitzgerald and Alice Plunkett and betting updates by Tanya Stevenson and Brian Gleeson. The commentary team was by Richard Hoiles, Ian Bartlett and Simon Holt, who called the winner home for the final time. After the race, Luck, Fitzgerald and McCoy provided viewers with a fence-by-fence analysis of the race. Channel 4 ran all-day coverage from Aintree on the day of the race, with extended editions of The Morning Line and Weekend Brunch airing prior to the main broadcast.Channel 4 To Provide Nearly 10 Hours Dedicated to the Grand National The coverage of the race was watched by 10 million viewers, an increase of 1.1 million on the previous year, and attracted a 59% share of the television audience.
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References
External links