past winners

Ruby Walsh steers Hedgehunter to Grand National win
09/04/05
Irish raider Hedgehunter, the 7-1 favorite ridden by Ruby Walsh, romped to a 14-length victory in the Aintree Grand National.

Forest Gunner Carries Ford to Fifth
09/04/05
Carrie Ford, bidding to become the first woman to win the Grand National in its 166-year history, finished a gallant fifth on Forest Gunner.

No surprises in National field
07/04/05
All the big guns have stood their ground following the final 48-hour declaration stage for Saturday's John Smith's Grand National. Le Coudray tops the weights for the Aintree marathon, with Amberleigh House, winner 12 months ago, and this year's favourite Hedgehunter, both confirmed runners.

Aintree and Haydock Park racecourses team up to create new jump racing festival
07/04/05
Kicking King and Best Mate could stage a showdown in November after Aintree and Haydock Park Racecourses joined forces to create a new weekend racing festival for the 2005/6 National Hunt season.

National going eases following rain
06/04/2005
Following a couple of sharp showers on Wednesday afternoon and early morning rain, the going for the Grand National course at Aintree has been changed to GOOD TO SOFT - GOOD in places.

No ground concerns for Hegehunter says Mullins
06/04/05
John Smith's Grand National favourite Hedgehunter will travel to Aintree in the next 24 hours with his trainer Willie Mullins satisfied about the ground conditions at Liverpool.

Mcmanus to have six runners in The John Smith’s Grand National
05/04/05
Legendary Irish owner and punter J P McManus is to have six runners in the £700,000 John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday, revealed his racing manager Frank Berry today.

John Smith’s Grand National on BBC1 At 4.10pm on Saturday
05/04/2005
Aintree's big race on Saturday is scheduled 25 minutes later than originally planned.

Henderson now favours running Fondmort
04/04/05
Trainer Nicky Henderson has changed his mind and now favours running Fondmort in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Le Coudray new top-weight in Grand National
04/04/05
There are 85 horses going forward after today’s (Monday, April 4) five-day stage for the £700,000 John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.

Carrie Ford & Forest Gunner may be Grand National favourites
04/04/05
Carrie Ford's mount Forest Gunner could go off as the favourite for Saturday's John Smith's Grand National.

Alner rules out National for Sir Rembrandt
01/04/05
Trainer Robert Alner today revealed that Sir Rembrandt, second and third respectively in the 2004 and 2005 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cups, will miss the John Smith's Grand National.

New Grand National Trophy Unveiled
30/03/2005
As new sponsors of the Grand National, John Smith's was invited to create a new perpetual trophy for the event.

Looking Good for Style Contest Day 17/03/05
The Looking Good Style Contest is back on Ladies’ Day at the 2005 John Smith’s Grand National meeting (Friday 8th April). Once again, the most stylish racegoer at Aintree on Ladies’ Day will drive home a fantastic Jaguar worth over £20,000.

Happy House Connections 05/03/05
Connections of Amberleigh House were more than satisfied with his performance in the totescoop6 Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster on Saturday 5th March as he continued his build-up towards the John Smith's Grand National.

Farmer Jack Delivers Post 26/02/05
Richard Johnson rose to the occasion for the fourth time in six years as he gave 5-1 chance Farmer Jack a fine ride to defy top weight in the £100,000 Racing Post Chase at Kempton Park today.

Trainers Shutts, George And Mitchell Targeting John Smith's Grand National 15/02/2005
The 2005 John Smith's Grand National weights were announced last Tuesday and Nick Shutts, Tom George and Ned Mitchell reveal today that they hope to have runners in the greatest jump race in the world which is staged at Aintree on Saturday, April 9.

Grey Abbey heads the weights on 11st 12lb
08/02/05
A record total of 92 horses are on 10st or above in the weights for the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 9.

Grey Abbey could be aimed at National
29/01/05
Grey Abbey is not yet certain to return to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup in March. Winning trainer Howard Johnson may decide to enter the Pillar Property Chase winner in the Grand National at Aintree instead.

Silver Birch lands Coral Welsh National
28/12/04
Silver Birch jumped his way to Grand National favouritism after landing a massive nationwide gamble in the Coral-sponsored Welsh version at a packed Chepstow today. He is now a top-priced 16-1 for the John Smith's-sponsored Aintree showpiece after completing rider, Ruby Walsh's full set of Nationals on a memorable day for the jockey and trainer Paul Nicholls.

Clan Royal is Grand National favourite
16/12/04
National runner-up Clan Royal finished out of the places on his return to action at Bangor yesterday, but did his Aintree prospects no harm in the process.

Hedgehunter takes step towards Aintree
03/12/04
Hedgehunter did his John Smith's Grand National prospects no harm at all when running an encouraging second over hurdles at Thurles.

Carter planning National bid
18/11/04
Oliver Carter is planning a crack at the John Smith's Grand National with Venn Ottery next April.

McCain dreaming of another House party
17/11/04
Aintree legend Ginger McCain is confident age will prove no barrier to success when Amberleigh House bids to become only the third 'teenager' in history to win the world's most famous jumps race next April.

The 2005 John Smith's Grand National to be worth £700,000
16/11/04
Aintree Racecourse announced today that the prize fund for the John Smith's Grand National, to be run on Saturday 9th April 2005, will be £700,000 (over 1,000,000 (Euros)), an increase of £100,000 (16.6%) from the 2004 race.

John Smith's to sponsor the Grand National
09/11/04
Aintree Racecourse announced today that the UK's number 1 selling ale, John Smith's, is to sponsor the Grand National meeting in a new three-year multi-million pound title sponsorship agreement.  The very first John Smith's Grand National meeting will take place on Thursday 7th – Saturday 9th April 2005.

National glory for Amberleigh
Amberleigh House recorded a famous victory in the £600,000 Martell Cognac Grand National at Aintree. Trained by Ginger McCain, the man responsible for Red Rum in the 1970s, Amberleigh House grimly stayed on up the run-in to catch Clan Royal. Lord Atterbury was third, with last year's hero Monty's Pass in fourth. Third last year, Amberleigh House (16-1) was given a perfect ride by Graham Lee as he come home in one of the most exciting finishes imaginable.

Lee: Plan worked like a dream
Victorious jockey Graham Lee revealed that he had been determined to conserve Amberleigh House's Grand National challenge until as late as possible. The plan worked like a charm as Amberleigh House edged past a fast-fading Clan Royal down the final straight to win by three lengths.

McCain rolls back the years
Trainer Ginger McCain admitted a fourth Grand National success has been a long time coming after Amberleigh House claimed the Aintree honours 27 years after Red Rum's famous win.