Although recorded by the press at the time as the fourth running of the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase, which was renamed the Grand National in 1847, the first three runnings were poorly organised affairs. This year the race came under new management and the arrival of the railway in Liverpool made travel to the course easier.
The race was not run as a handicap chase (the Grand National was converted to a handicap race in 1843) and therefore all the runners carried twelve stone.
Competitors and betting
Eighteen runners were declared to run in the race but shortly before the start Jerry was withdrawn. This left the field as follows:
The race
The start was situated near to where the modern day Melling Road is and took the runners out into open countryside, jumping a line of natural banks, no more than 2 feet (0.61m) high before reaching a post and rails over a brook. They then took the runners left towards the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, turning sharply (where the modern day Canal Turn is) to run along the canalside back towards the racecourse, negotiating the Second Brook (the modern day Valentine's Brook). The runners would then enter the 'racecourse proper' at the far end of the circuit to run back towards the stands, jumping a plain fence (the modern day Chair before jumping a wall topped with gorse (the modern day Water Jump). The field then took another circuit of the course, this time bypassing the final two obstacles towards the finishing post.
The race was won by the mare Sheila's Cottage at odds of 66/1. The winning jockey was Arthur Thompson and Neville Crump trained the winner. The pairing of Thompson and Crump would go on to win the Grand National again in 1952.
Sheila's Cottage became the first mare to win the National for 46 years, and only the 12th in the long history of the steeplechase.
First of the Dandies finished second, with Cromwell third and Happy Home fourth. Forty-three horses ran and all returned safely to the stables.
The 1836 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was the first of three unofficial annual precursors of a steeplechase which later became known as the Grand National.
The winning horse was The Duke, ridden by Captain Martin Becher in the violet with white sleeves and cap colours of Mr Sirdefield, the landlord of the George Inn in Great Crosby and was trained privately. The race was won in a time of 20 minutes 10 seconds, over twice the present course record.
The race was a selling race and its status as an official Grand National was revoked some time between 1862 and 1873.
Finishing order
Non-finishers
The race
The race was started at 2pm over a course almost identical to the modern Grand National course, although the fences were all no more than 2-foot (0.61m) high earth banks with the exceptions of two brooks and a water jump in front of the stands.
So keep me going Light switch the light on Break up my bones And throw me on the afternoon It's chasing wheels Before they're circles Break up my view And leave me with the afternoon Get your finger out Pick a flavor out Stick a label on somebody's name And then pay the difference Get your finger out Pick a flavor out Stick a label on somebody's name
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Ravalli Republic
17 Nov 2023
Ravalli Republic
17 Nov 2023