The 2018 Grand National (officially known as the Randox Health 2018 Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 171st annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase was the pinnacle of a three-day festival which commenced on 12 April 2018. The event was sponsored by Randox Health for the second time.

The race was won by shot Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell, in a photo finish from Pleasant Company. All 38 runners returned to the stables, although Saint Are required veterinary attention on the course and Charlie Deutsch, riding Houblon Des Obeaux, was treated on the track after a fall leading to Becher's Brook being bypassed on the second circuit..

Race card From an initial 105 entries, the final field of 40 runners was declared on 13 April, after Minella Rocco, Vicente and Beeves were all withdrawn from the race and replaced by Thunder And Roses, Delusionofgrandeur and Walk In The Mill. Two contenders, Regal Encore and Walk In The Mill a day after securing its position in the race, were withdrawn on the morning of the race, leaving 38 starters, the smallest field since 1999.

2018 also marked the first National for 30 years to feature three female jockeys in the line-up. 2012 third-placed jockey Katie Walsh paired Baie Des Iles for her sixth ride in the race, whilst Rachael Blackmore and Bryony Frost were both handed their first National rides on Alpha Des Obeaux and Milansbar respectively.

No Horse Age Handicap(st–lb) SP Jockey Trainer1Thunder And Roses* (IRE)1010-0533/1James SlevinMouse Morris 2Blaklion911-10Sam Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-Davies 3Anibale Fly (FR)811-08Barry GeraghtyTony Martin (IRE) 4The Last Samuri (IRE)1011-0820/1David BassKim Bailey 5Valseur Lido (FR)911-07Keith DonoghueHenry de Bromhead (IRE) 6Total Recall (IRE)911-05Paul TownendWillie Mullins (IRE) 7Alpha Des Obeaux (FR)811-04Rachael BlackmoreMouse Morris (IRE) 8Perfect Candidate (IRE)1111-0340/1Alain CawleyFergal O'Brien 9Shantou Flyer (IRE)811-0225/1James BowenRichard Hobson 10Tenor Nivernais (FR)1111-0166/1Tom O'BrienVenetia Williams 11Carlingford Lough (IRE)1211-0133/1Mark WalshJohn Kiely (IRE)12Delusionofgrandeur* (IRE)810-0550/1Henry BrookeSue Smith 13Tiger Roll (IRE)810-13Davy RussellGordon Elliott (IRE) 15Vieux Lion Rouge (FR)910-13Tom ScudamoreDavid Pipe 16Chase The Spud1010-12Paddy BrennanFergal O'Brien 17Warriors Tale910-1228/1Sean BowenPaul Nicholls 18Seeyouatmidnight1010-12Brian HughesSandy Thomson 19Gas Line Boy (IRE)1210-11Robbie DunneIan Williams 20The Dutchman (IRE)810-1125/1Harry CobdenColin Tizzard 21Pleasant Company (IRE)1010-11David MullinsWillie Mullins (IRE) 22Ucello Conti (FR)1010-1016/1Daryl JacobGordon Elliott (IRE) 23Saint Are (FR)1210-1050/1Ciaran GethingsTom George 25Raz De Maree (FR)1310-09Robbie PowerGavin Cromwell (IRE) 26I Just Know (IRE)810-0816/1Danny CookSue Smith 27Virgilio (FR)910-0866/1Harry SkeltonDan Skelton 28Baie Des Iles (FR)710-08Katie WalshRoss O'Sullivan (IRE) 29Maggio (FR)1310-0866/1Brendan PowellPatrick Griffin (IRE) 30Pendra (IRE)1010-0840/1Aidan ColemanCharlie Longsdon 31Buywise (IRE)1110-0840/1Adam WedgeEvan Williams 32Childrens List (IRE)810-0840/1Jonathan BurkeWillie Mullins (IRE) 33Lord Windermere (IRE)1210-0750/1Andrew LynchJim Culloty (IRE) 34Captain Redbeard (IRE)910-0720/1Sam ColtherdStuart Coltherd 35Houblon Des Obeaux (FR)1110-0733/1Charlie DeutschVenetia Williams 36Bless The Wings (IRE)1310-06Jack KennedyGordon Elliott (IRE) 37Milansbar (IRE)1110-06Bryony FrostNeil King 38Final Nudge (IRE)910-0633/1Gavin SheehanDavid Dennis 39Double Ross (IRE)1210-0640/1Jamie BargaryNigel Twiston-Davies 40Road To Riches (IRE)1110-0540/1Sean FlanaganNoel Meade (IRE) Great Britain unless stated. Horses 1 & 12 were late replacements

Race overview

The first fence claimed Perfect Candidate who in turn brought down one of the favourites, Blaklion. I Just Know led the field until falling at Becher's Brook, which also saw Houblon Des Obleaux and Virgilio out of the race. Houblon Des Obeaux's jockey Charlie Deutsch was treated for injuries at the scene, resulting in Becher's being bypassed on the second circuit. Captain Redbeard unseated its rider at the Foinavon fence as Ucello Conti led the field from Double Ross, with The Dutchman, Milansbar and Pleasant Company also prominent. The Canal Turn saw the end of Lord Windermere, Buywise and Final Nudge. Chase The Spud pulled up before The Chair, which claimed Alpha Des Obeaux and Saint Are.

Delusionsofgrandeur and Maggio were pulled up at the beginning of the second circuit, and The Dutchman unseated its rider at Foinavon as Pleasant Company took over the lead. Ucello Conti lost its rider three fences from home, while Seeyouatmidnight challenged Pleasant Company for the lead. Tiger Roll made its move and hit the lead on the 29th fence. On the run-in, Pleasant Company fought back and almost caught Tiger Roll, losing by a head.

There were no fatalities, although Saint Are was treated by veterinarians after being brought down at The Chair. A few days later, Saint Are's retirement from racing was announced.Sky Sports,Saint Are retirement confirmed, 16 April 2018 Jockey Charlie Deutsch was kicked in the back by a horse following his fall at Becher's Brook, but recovered and rode a winner at Plumpton the following day.

Finishing order Twelve runners completed the course as follows: Position Horse Jockey SP Distance Prize money 1Tiger RollDavy RussellHead£500,000 2Pleasant CompanyDavid Mullins11 lengths£200,000 3Bless The WingsJack KennedyNeck £100,000 4Anibale FlyBarry Geraghty 21 lengths£65,000 5MilansbarBryony Frost12 lengths£40,000 6Road to RichesSean Flanagan7 lengths£30,000 7Gas Line BoyRobert Dunne4 lengths£20,000 8Valseur LidoKeith Donoghue length£15,000 9Vieux Lion RougeTom Scudamore length£10,000 10Raz De MareeRobbie Power29 lengths£5,000 11SeeyouatmidnightBrian Hughes lengths 12Baie Des IlesKatie WalshLast to complete Distance measures from smallest to largest winning margin: nose, short head, head, neck, one length, a distance.

Non-finishers The runners who failed to complete were as follows: FenceHorseJockeySPFate 1stPerfect CandidateAlain CawleyFell 1stBlaklionSam Twiston-DaviesBrought down 6th (Becher's Brook)I Just KnowDanny CookFellHoublon Des ObeauxCharlie DeutschFellVirgilioHarry SkeltonFell 7th (Foinavon)Captain RedbeardSam ColtherdUnseated rider 8th (Canal Turn)Lord WindermereAndrew LynchUnseated riderBuywiseAdam WedgeUnseated rider Final NudgeGavin SheehanFell 15th (The Chair)Chase The SpudPaddy BrennanPulled upAlpha Des ObeauxRachael BlackmoreFellSaint AreCiaran GethingsBrought down 17thDelusionofgrandeurHenry BrookePulled up 18thMaggioBrendan PowellPulled up 23rd (Foinavon)The DutchmanHarry CobdenUnseated rider 26thThunder And RosesJames SlevinPulled upThe Last SamuriDavid BassPulled upTenor NivernaisTom O'BrienPulled upShantou FlyerJames BowenPulled up 27th (open ditch)Ucello ContiDaryl JacobUnseated rider 29thTotal RecallPaul Townend FPulled upWarriors TaleSean BowenPulled upPendraAidan ColemanPulled upDouble RossJamie BargaryPulled up Run-inCarlingford LoughMark WalshPulled upChildrens ListJonathan BurkePulled 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 ITV, in the second year of its four-year deal as the exclusive terrestrial broadcaster of horse racing in the UK.

The coverage was co-anchored by Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani. Analysis was provided by former Grand National winning jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald and Ruby Walsh, the latter having been ruled out the Aintree meeting through injury. Reports were provided by Oli Bell, Alice Plunkett and Luke Harvey with updates from the betting ring by Matt Chapman and Brian Gleeson. The commentary team was Mark Johnson, Ian Bartlett and Richard Hoiles.

See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races

References

External links

Grand National Beginner's Guide