The crowning jewel of the Aintree festival every year is the Grand National, with this being one of the biggest and most prestigious chases on the horse racing calendar year in, year out. As one of the most unpredictable and overall gruelling races, it has given rise to some of the most astonishing and surprising upsets in the sports history. Over the decades, a number of longshots have defined the odds, shocking fans and bookmakers alike with their unlikely triumphs.
The nature of the demanding 4-mile, 30-fence course ensures that anything can happen, with the large pack of contenders often seeing favourites upstaged by more underestimated challengers. From rank outsiders at incredibly high odds, all the way to more overlooked runners who took to the course and seized their moment, we have compiled some of the biggest Grand National upset and shock winners that left the world of horse winning stunned in their wake.
Mon Mome
Starting off with the 2009 Grand National, this delivered one of the most surprising results in modern Aintree history when Mon Mome stormed home to victory at a starting price of 100/1, odds that would be surprising to bettors and players of live casino games. Trained by Venetia Williams, Mon Mome had been considered a relatively capable, yet unspectacular competitor, with very few giving him a slim chance against the strong field of more seasoned horses.
Thanks to an inspired ride by Liam Treadwell however, Mon Mome produced a stunning performance, navigating the daunting fences that claim so many runners with ease, pulling clear in the closing stages of the 2009 Grand National to win by 12 lengths ahead of the previous year’s winner. For the jockey, this was the perfect debut at the Aintree Festivals biggest race, cementing himself in history by backing one of the Grand National’s biggest outsider winners. At the same time, this was only the second occasion which saw a Grand National winner trained by a woman, cementing Mon Mome as a legend in this legendary steeplechase.
Foinavon
However, Mon Mome wasn’t the first 100/1 winner at the Grand National, with Foinavon winning the race at the same price all the way back in 1967. That year, the John Buckingham backed horse was dismissed by almost everyone, however, Foinavon went on to defy all expectations, claiming one of the most victories in the race’s history.
🐴 Foinavon 🐴
An amazing 100/1 winner of the Grand National in 1967. The fence where most of his rivals exited – the smallest on the course – now carries his name.
Don’t miss tomorrow’s race at 5.15pm.#RTVFlashback | @WilliamHill | @AintreeRaces pic.twitter.com/BUxdNlICtK
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The defining moment of this unpredictable race came at the 23rd fence, with this seeing a mass pile up of horses which caused chaos to the pack of contenders. Multiple leading contenders were either brought to a complete stop or fell, with Foinavon being one of the only runners that found himself a clear path through the wreckage due to him trailing behind. Despite the efforts of other runners to recover, Foinavon took advantage and surged ahead, crossing the racing post 15 lengths ahead. Due to the remarkable manner in which the 1967 Grand National played out, the 23rd fence was later renamed to the Foinavon Fence, paying homage to this unlikely hero’s triumph.
Auroras Encore
Just a couple years after Mon Mome’s historic win, another female trainer asserted herself in the history books by claiming another massive upset. In 2013, Auroras Encore, trained by Sue Smith, was a 66/1 outsider, with the runner being largely overlooked in the pre race build up due to there being so many other prominent contenders.
However, riding in his first ever Grand National, jockey Ryan Mania executed a flawless ride, with Auroras Encore travelling smoothly around the course and staying out of trouble. However, it was the final surge that was timed to perfection which saw Surors Encourse fly past the competition, commanding a lead of 9 lengths when crossing the finishing line.
Sue Smith was only the 3rd woman to ever train a Grand NAtional winner, with the 2013 edition of the Grand National being a perfect introduction for Ryan Mania, propelling him into the limelight due to the manner in which he conducted this 66/1 longshot.
Last Suspect
Moving onto the 1985 Grand National, Last Suspect was not expected to be anywhere near the winner’s circle, with Tim Forster, the trainer behind this runner, actually having very little confidence in his horses chances in the lead up to the race. Although Forster had previously trained other Grand National winners, he was unconvinced by the ability of Last Suspect after being persuaded to enter him into Aintree Festivals closing race.
At 50/1, Last Suspect was entered into a highly competitive field, being seen as an unlikely contender by most. Despite this, jockey Hywel Davies had a superbly judged ride, defying all expectations in the process. Throughout the course of the race, he stayed within striking distance of the leaders, with Last Suspect showing remarkable determination in the closing stages, outsaying all other runners as the finish line approached to claim a dramatic ½ length victory.
In the process, Last Suspect cemented himself in the folklore of the Grand National, proving that even a horse with very little backing from bookmakers and even his own trainers, are able to seize moments when the opportunities arise in this highly unpredictable race.
