Grand National Champion Jockeys

Carl Llewellyn and Ruby Walsh hold the best record of current jockeys, having each won twice. The former, now combining the role of trainer and jockey, was successful on Party Politics in 1992 and Earth Summit in 1998, while Walsh partnered Papillon in 2000 and Hedgehunter five years later to victory in the world’s most famous chase.

The retired Richard Dunwoody also had two successes, with Miinnehoma in 1994 and West Tip in 1986, on whom he finished second in 1989 and fourth in 1987 and 1988

Many highly successful jockeys have tried and failed to win the race, including Peter Scudamore, who came third in 1985 on Corbiere, and seven-time champion jockey John Francome, who rode Rough And Tumble to third in 1979 and second in 1980. The current record-breaking champion Tony McCoy has yet to finish better than third. In 1982 Geraldine Rees on Cheers became the first female jockey to complete the Grand National course. Rosemary Henderson on her own horse, the 13-year-old Fiddlers Pike, when fifth at 100/1 in 1994, Carrie Ford, who filled the same position on Forest Gunner at 8/1 in 2005, and Nina Carberry, ninth on the same horse last year, have emulated her. George Stevens, the winning-most jockey in Grand National history with five successes, gained his first victory on Free Trader in 1856. He followed up on Emblem (1863), Emblematic (1864) and The Colonel (1869 and 1870).

Three wins have been achieved by six riders – Tom Olliver, Mr Thomas Pickernell, Mr Tommy Beasley, Arthur Nightingall, Mr Jack Anthony and Brian Fletcher. Since 1900 three successful jockeys went on to train winners as well – Algy Anthony, Fulke Walwyn and Fred Winter. Together with the Lincoln Handicap run on the Flat, usually at Doncaster Racecourse, the John Smith’s Grand National forms the ‘Spring Double’. The only jockey to have won both contests is the late Dave Dick, who captured the Lincoln on Gloaming in 1941 and the Grand National on E.S.B. in 1956.

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Tags: Algy Anthony,  Carl Llewellyn,  Fred Winter,  Fulke Walwyn,  Hedgehunter,  Papillon,  Ruby Walsh,  Spring Double