The nation will go all a flutter on Saturday with an estimated £150m set to be gambled on the 171st running of the world’s greatest steeplechase race at Aintree.
There will be a global audience of 600 million people joining the 70,000 punters expected at the Merseyside course. Katie Walsh, Bryony Frost and Rachael Blackmore will be bidding to become the first woman to win the race, but there will also be a strong Welsh contingent vying with them for the title.
Having become the youngest winner of the Welsh Grand National in January at the age of 16, Pembrokeshire’s James Bowen will be hoping to become the youngest Grand National champion since Bruce Hobbs on Battleship in 1938 at the ripe old age of 17 years and one month.
While it will be the young Welshman’s first trip around the four and a half mile, 30 fence course, his mount, Shantou Flyer, has been there before.
Not that Bowen can expect an easy ride in what are expected to be tough conditions because of the recent heavy rain. There will be a battle against the rest of the 40 horse field, but also a race against elder brother Sean.
Sean has already completed the course twice. He was 15th on Just a Par in 2016 and 12th on Le Mercurey last year and rides Warriors Tale.
You have to go back to 2006 for the last Welsh winner, when Christian Williams moved up from second the previous year on Royal Auclair to triumph. Williams went on to finish sixth in 2009 on Bill Fella Thanks.
Among the favourites today are Total Recall, Anibale Fly, Blaklion and Tiger Roll. Blaklion, fourth last year, is trained by Welsh-born Nigel Twiston-Davies, his son, Sam, is in the saddle and the owner is Gresford businessman, Gino Paletta.
Nigel Twiston-Davies also has an interest in Double Ross, ridden by Jamie Bargary, while another Welsh trainer, Evan Williams, is hoping Buywise can earn him the title.
Chris Edwards, from Ruabon, is the other Wrexham-based co-owner hoping his charge, Virgillo, can scoop National glory.
Some great Welsh moments at the Grand National
1837
While the first officially recognised winner of the Aintree race is Lottery in 1839, there were also three races before that. Welsh racing historian Brian Lee points to the fact that in 1937 Liverpool racecourse described the race as the centenary of the Grand National Steeplechase.
Flintshire’s claim to Grand National immortality is based on Henry Potts’ win on The Duke in 1837. Potts, from Glan-yr-Afon, near Mold, picked up the ride at the last minute when Captain Martin Becher, who gave his name to the infamous Becher’s Brook fence at Aintree, was injured.
Four horses lined-up for the race, and The Duke was some way behind after the first circuit after refusing a fence. The other three runners then all fell, leaving the way open for Potts to win.
1892
Father O’Flynn, ridden by Captain Roddy Owen, who had ridden Cloister into second place the previous year, ran off with the title.
1893
Welsh owner Charles Duff enjoyed success as Cloister took the title.
1908
The winner Rubio was owned by Welshman Maj. Frank Douglas-Pennant.
1911
The first of Jack Anthony’s three Grand National successes came on Glenside, while he was still riding as an amateur.
1915
Ally Sloper won the race with Jack Anthony in the saddle.
1920
This was Jack Anthony’s third success on Troytown. He was second in 1925 and 1926 on Old Tay Bridge and third in 1927 on Bright’s Boy.
1921
Dick Rees piloted Shaun Spadah to success by a distance. They were second in 1923.
1922
Owen Anthony, who had been second on Irish Mail in 1913, was the trainer for the winner Music Hall, who had fellow Welshman Lewis Rees on board.
1933
Dudley Williams won on ‘Kellsboro’ Jack having been third the previous year on Shaun Gollin and third on Sir Lindsay in 1930.
1936
Fulke Walwyn on Reynoldstown won by 12 lengths at 10/1. Second was Harry Llewllyn on Ego.
1937
Evan Williams won by three lengths on Royal Mail with Ego fourth. Ivor Anthony was trainer.
1940
Sergeant Mervyn Jones, of the RAF, won by four lengths on Bogskar at 25/1. He was killed in WW2. His mother was related to the Anthonys.
1949
Dick Francis was second on Roimond. He was fifth in 1953 on Seniac Hill and was leading in 1956 on Devon Lock before disaster struck and the horse collapsed..
1964
Wrexham’s Fulke Walwyn became a winner as both rider and trainer as his horse Team Spirit triumphed.
1984
Neil Doughty won on Hallo Dandy. He had been fourth on the same horse the year before. They were 12th in 1986. Doughty also finished sixth on Friendly Henry in 1988, seventh on Gala’s Image in 1989, third on Rinus in 1990 and fifth on Twin Oaks in 1992.
1985
Last Suspect, ridden by Hywel Davies, won at 50-1.
1987
Maori Venture won in his only National appearance. A thoroughbred racehorse he was so-named because breeder Dai Morgan had played rugby in New Zealand.
1992
Carl Llewellyn won on Party Politics at 14/1. He was third on Camelot Knight in 1997.
1998
Carl Llewellyn won again on Earth Summit by 11 lengths. He was the favourite at 7/1, His trainer was Nigel Twiston-Davies. The horse and jockey were eighth in 1999. Llewellyn was sixth in 2003 on Bindaree and 11th in 2005.
2002
Nigel Twiston-Davies was trainer to Bindaree as it won.
2005
Christian Williams took second place on Royal Auclair
2006
Christian Williams won on Royal Auclair. He learned to ride at Llangeinor Hunt Pony Club. He was sixth in 2009 on Bill Fella Thanks.
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