The 2021 Grand National (officially known as the Randox 2021 Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 173rd annual running of the Grand National horse race, held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England, on 10 April 2021. The event was once again sponsored by Randox Health, although the name on the race from this year onwards was shortened to simply "Randox". The total prize fund for the race was £750,000, down by £250,000 from the last meeting in 2019.
The race was won by Minella Times, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, who became the first female jockey to win the Grand National. De Bromhead, who won the race as a trainer for the first time, also trained the second-place finisher Balko des Flos. The winner was owned by J. P. McManus, who had previously won the race as an owner in 2010 with Don't Push It. The Long Mile was euthanised after fracturing a hind leg. Jockey Bryony Frost was treated for injuries after falling from Yala Enki.Grand National horse dies following injury during race, Manchester Evening News, 10 April 2021
Having been cancelled the year before due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 race and entire festival meeting took place behind closed doors for the first time in its history, because of continuing restrictions. Despite speculations and calls from some leading figures in racing for the meeting to be pushed back in the calendar so that it could possibly take place when betting shops are open, it was confirmed the race would retain its original date.
The death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was announced shortly before the second day of the meeting. The meeting continued as scheduled, with tributes including a two-minute silence before racing, jockeys wearing black armbands on their silks as a mark of respect and the Union Jack on the Queen Mother Stand being lowered to half-mast.
Race card On 3 February 106 entries were announced. The early favourite in ante-post betting was the 2018 and 2019 winner Tiger Roll,Tiger Roll tops 106 entries for 2021 Randox Health Grand National at Aintree, 3 February 2021, Racing TV but he was withdrawn before the first scratching stage by the Gigginstown House Stud, citing excessive weight allocation. Cloth Cap was left as the favourite.Grand National 2021: Tiger Roll withdrawal confirmed as 90 entries remain, Liverpool Echo, 10 March 2021
No Horse Age Handicap(st–lb) SP Jockey Trainer 1Bristol De Mai1011–1033/1Daryl JacobNigel Twiston-Davies 2Chris's Dream911–780/1D.J. O'KeeffeHenry de Bromhead 3Yala Enki1111–350/1Bryony FrostPaul Nicholls 4Ballyoptic1111–1125/1Sam Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-Davies 5Definitly Red1211–166/1Ryan ManiaBrian Ellison 6Lake View Lad1111–066/1Brian HughesN. W. Alexander 7Burrows Saint810–139/1Mr. Patrick MullinsWillie Mullins 8Magic Of Light1010–1316/1Robbie PowerJessica Harrington 9Acapella Bourgeois1110–1225/1Danny MullinsWillie Mullins 10Talkischeap910–1250/1Tom CannonAlan King 11Tout Est Permis810–12150/1Sean FlanaganNoel Meade 12Anibale Fly1110–1228/1Denis O'ReganTony Martin 13Mister Malarky810–1214/1Jonjo O'Neill JnrColin Tizzard 14Kimberlite Candy910–1022/1Richie McLernonTom Lacey 15Any Second Now910–915/2Mark WalshTed Walsh 16Balko Des Flos1010–9150/1Aidan ColemanHenry de Bromhead 17Alpha Des Obeaux1110–980/1Jody McGarveyDenise Foster 18Ok Corral1110–880/1Mr. Derek O'ConnorNicky Henderson 19Takingrisks1210–720/1Sean QuinlanNicky Richards 20Shattered Love1010–740/1Kevin SextonDenise Foster 21Jett1010–7125/1Mr. Sam Waley-CohenJessica Harrington 22Lord Du Mesnil810–666/1Nick ScholfieldRichard Hobson 23Potters Corner1110–628/1Jack TudorChristian Williams 24Class Conti910–680/1Brian HayesWillie Mullins 25Milan Native810–640/1Mr. Jamie CoddDenise Foster 26Discorama810–616/1Bryan CooperPaul Nolan 27Vieux Lion Rouge1210–580/1Conor O'FarrellDavid Pipe 28Cloth Cap910–511/2 FTom ScudamoreJonjo O’Neill 29Cabaret Queen910–5150/1S.F. O'KeeffeWillie Mullins 30Minellacelebration1110–580/1Ben PosteKaty Price 31Canelo810–466/1Tom BellamyAlan King 32The Long Mile710–450/1L.P. DempseyJ.P. Dempsey 33Give Me A Copper1110–450/1Sean BowenPaul Nicholls 34Farclas710–316/1Jack KennedyDenise Foster 35Minella Times810–311/1Rachael BlackmoreHenry de Bromhead 36Sub Lieutenant1210–380/1Tabitha WorsleyGeorgie Howell 37Hogan's Height1010–3150/1Gavin SheehanJamie Snowden 38Double Shuffle1110–2125/1Jonathan BurkeTom George 39Ami Desbois1110–2150/1Kielon WoodsGraeme McPherson 40Blaklion1210–250/1Harry SkeltonDan Skelton R1Some Neck10 – – –John McConnell R2Secret Reprieve7 – – –Evan Williams R3Kauto Riko10 – – –Tom Gretton R4Fagan11 – – –Alex Hales Sources: Trainers and weights Jockeys Starting prices
Note Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms in the jockeys name denotes an amateur.
Race overview The race was held without spectators due to COVID-19. The favourite, Cloth Cap, was the first leader in the race, but was quickly caught by Jett, who then built up a large lead, with Cloth Cap remaining in second for much of the race. Any Second Now ran into trouble when Double Shuffle fell in front of him in the first half of the race, costing him several lengths. Cloth Cap was pulled up four fences from the end. On the third-last fence Any Second Now nearly fell. On the second-last fence, a pack of chasing horses, including Minella Times, Any Second Now, Discorama, Burrows Saint and Balko Des Flos caught Jett, as Jett faded. Minella Times took the lead on the second-last fence, and maintained it to the finish, while dark horse Balko Des Flos won second-place on the last fence.
The Long Mile suffered an injury while running on a flat portion of the race and was euthanised after the race. Bryony Frost fell from Yala Enki and needed hospital treatment.
Henry de Bromhead trained the top two finishers in the race, only a few weeks after his horses won the top three races at the Cheltenham Festival. Jockey Rachael Blackmore recorded the best ever finish for a woman jockey, above the third place finish for Katie Walsh in 2012. In her interview after the race, Blackmore stated "I don't feel male or female. I don't even feel human, I feel unbelievable."
Finishing order
PositionNameAgeHandicap (st–lb)SPJockeyTrainerPrize money1Minella Times810–311/1Rachael BlackmoreHenry de Bromhead£375,0002Balko Des Flos1010–9100/1Aidan ColemanHenry de Bromhead£150,0003Any Second Now910–915/2Mark WalshTed Walsh£75,0004Burrows Saint810–139/1Patrick MullinsWillie Mullins£48,7505Farclas710–316/1Jack KennedyMrs Denise Foster£30,0006Blaklion1210–250/1Harry SkeltonDan Skelton£22,5007Discorama810–616/1Bryan CooperPaul Nolan£15,0008Jett1010–780/1Sam Waley-CohenJessica Harrington£11,2509Cabaret Queen910–580/1Sean O'KeeffeWillie Mullins£7,50010Shattered Love1010–733/1Kevin SextonMrs Denise Foster£3,75011Alpha Des Obeaux1110–980/1Jody McGarveyMrs Denise Foster12Hogan's Height1010–3100/1Gavin SheehanJamie Snowden13Acapella Bourgeois1110–1220/1Danny MullinsWillie Mullins14Sub Lieutenant1210–350/1Tabitha WorsleyGeorgia Howell15Class Conti910–666/1Brian HayesWillie Mullins Source
Non-finishers FenceNameJockeySPFate1Lake View LadBrian Hughes50/1Fell4Magic Of LightRobbie Power14/1Unseated rider11MinellacelebrationBenjamin Poste80/1Unseated rider12Double ShuffleJonathan Burke66/1Fell13Anibale FlyDenis O'Regan28/1Pulled up15CaneloThomas Bellamy66/1Fell15Ami DesboisKielan Woods100/1Brought down17TakingrisksSean Quinlan14/1Pulled up17Mister MalarkyJonjo O'Neill Jr.12/1Pulled up20Yala EnkiBryony Frost40/1Unseated rider20Vieux Lion RougeConor O'Farrell66/1Fell21BallyopticSam Twiston-Davies66/1Refused21Ok CorralMr Derek O'Connor80/1Pulled up21Lord Du MesnilNick Scholfield50/1Pulled up22Bristol De MaiDaryl Jacob25/1Pulled up22Potters CornerJack Tudor22/1Pulled up23The Long MileL P Dempsey50/1Pulled up26TalkischeapTom Cannon33/1Pulled up27Chris's DreamD J O'Keeffe40/1Unseated rider28Cloth CapTom Scudamore11/2 FavPulled up29Give Me A CopperSean Bowen33/1Pulled up29Definitly RedRyan Mania28/1Pulled up29Tout Est PermisSean Flanagan100/1Pulled up29Kimberlite CandyRichie McLernon20/1Pulled up29Milan NativeMr Jamie Codd50/1Pulled up Source
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 for the fourth time, and the first year in its new three year deal with the British Horseracing Authority. For Racing TV, the race was called by Stewart Machin, Alan Howes and Simon Holt.
The ITV coverage was presented by Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani. Analysis was provided by former Grand National-winning jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald, with Ruby Walsh also contributing via remote link from the course. Reports were provided by Alice Plunkett, Rishi Persad, Luke Harvey and Matt Chapman – who also provided updates on betting during the broadcast. Oli Bell and Chris Hughes covered viewers' comments on social media. The commentary team was Mark Johnson, Ian Bartlett and Richard Hoiles, who called the finish for the fourth time. Following the race, Bell, Fitzgerald and Walsh guided viewers on a fence-by-fence re-run of the race.
Because of the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 9 April, coverage of the second day of the meeting was moved to ITV4, with no advertisement breaks or sponsorship bumpers.
In the Republic of Ireland, the race was broadcast on Virgin Media One.
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races
References
External links Grand National Official Website Grand National Beginner's Guide