1866 Grand National

The Course

First circuit: Fence 1 {15} Ditch Fence 2 {16} Ditch and Bank, Fence 3 {17} Double Rails, Fence 4 {18} Rails and Ditch, Fence 5 {19} Becher's Brook Fence 6 {20} Post and Rails, Fence 7 {21} Post and Rails Fence 8 {22} Extreme Turn, often referred to as the Canal Turn in previous years, Fence 9 {23} Valentine's Brook, Fence 10 {24} Ditch and Quickset, Fence 11 {25} Post and Rails, Fence 12 {26} Stump Hedge and Ditch.

The runners then crossed the lane at the canal bridge to re-enter the racecourse proper, turning at the first opportunity towards the fences in front of the stands. Fence 13 Gorse Hurdle, Fence 14 Artificial Water Jump.

Second circuit: The runners then turned away from the Grandstands again and crossed what had been known in the 1850s as Proceed's Lane, following the same circuit until reaching the racecourse again. This time the runners continued to the wider extreme of the course before turning to run up the straight in front of the stands where Fence 27 Hurdle had to be jumped.

The runners then bypassed the Gorsed Hurdle and Artificial Water Jump inside before reaching the winning post in front of the Main Stand.

Leading Contenders

Laura was sent off as the 7/1 favourite, having looked very good in prep runs in Liverpool in the week ahead of the race. While many newspaper pundits agreed she had a great chance, only Don John in the Sporting Times named her outright as his tip to win the race. Harry Lamplugh was making his first appearance in the race since riding Huntsman to victory four years earlier.

Cortolvin went off at 8/1, having proven himself a strong contender in heavy going at Croydon in the weeks leading up to the National. Twenty-two year old Johnny Page took his second ride in the race, having completed a circuit on Joe Maley the previous year.

Alcibiade was 9/1 to defend his crown from 1865, but was deprived of his partner in victory as Bee Coventry arrived at Aintree with his arm in a sling from a recent fall. The vacant ride offered Ben Land a great chance at the seventh attempt to improve on having finished second twice.

Real Jam saw his price fall to 12/1 on the back of his trainer, rider, Di Hughes steering him to victory in the Annual Hurdle twenty-four hours before the National. This was despite the pairing having failed to complete the course in two previous attempts.

L'Africain at 100/7 was backed despite having a welter weight to carry of 13 stone 2lbs. George Holman would have no worries about making the weight for his fourth crack at the race, his previous best being a fourth placed finish.

In a very open contest there was also heavy support for Creole at 15/1, The Doctor at 20/1 and Ibex, Merrimac and Mistake at 25/1.

Among the lively outsiders was last year's runner up, Hall Court at 30/1 along with King Of Hearts, Salamander at 40/1 and a host of other chances at 50/1 including Effenberg, a first contender from Germany, Garotter and Thomastown representing Ireland, Philosopher, Stella and one horse that technically didn't even have a name, being referred to by the press as The Emma Gelding.

The Race

Sir William was inspired by the antics of Acrobat last year and followed suit, refusing to start until the rest of the field were almost at the first fence and although eventually encouraged to start, was quickly pulled up.

Thomastown, Creole, West End, Mistake and Ace Of Hearts were among the leaders going into the first fence where Ibex fell. However, Ace Of Hearts made to refuse at the second fence and, in so doing, caused half the field to either fall, refuse or just get stopped, including L'Africain aho collided with King Of Hearts both coming down along with many others including West End and Reporter. Mistake made to refuse at the third fence and cause more carnage with Laura, Stella and Philosopher among those all badly hampered.

Approaching the fourth fence the field had been reduced to half with Creole leading Alcibiade, Merrimac, Mistake, Thomastown, Salamander, Lightheart, Real Jam, Cortolvin, The Doctor, Milltown, Frank, The Emma Gelding, Garotter and Hall Court. The remainder were busy trying to remount or be put at either fence two or three again.

Becher's Brook claimed Milltown while the remounted Cutler was already tailed off when falling at the Canal Turn. Hall Court's race ended with a heavy fall at the Ditch and Quickset after Valentine's, taking Garotter out in the process to leave just a main body of twelve runners to re-enter the racecourse well clear of another half dozen or so who were persevering after the earlier melees.

Creole had opened up a strong lead but, and took the fences in front of the stands ahead of Mistake, while third placed Alcibiade was being harassed by two loose horses to the point that jockey, Ben Land had to take his whip to them to avoid being brought down. Salamander, Merrimac, Real Jam, Cortolvin, The Emma Gelding followed with a small gap to The Doctor, Lightheart, Frank and Thomastown next, with several others continuing a long way adrift.

Mistake was the first to crack going out onto the second circuit, rapidly dropping back and pulling up while Alcibiade took a heavy fall at the Post and Rails at fence eighteen when trying to challenge Creole who led over Bechers from Merrimac, Cortolvin, Salamander, Real Jam, Thomastown, Lightheart, The Emma Gelding, The Doctor and Frank.

Irish hopes ended with Thomastown falling at Valentines, while the race was effectively reduced to Creole, Lightheart, Salamander, Merrimac, Real Jam and Cortolvin coming along the Canalside.

Salamander moved upsides Creole as the pair led the way back onto the racecourse with Cortolvin also travelling well just behind them and by the time the final hurdle was reached, looked like the only danger to the leader. However, Salamander took the final hurdle cleanly and was never challenged on the run in, winning comfortably by ten lengths with Cortolvin four lengths up on Creole, the trio finishing a distance clear of fourth placed Lightheart. Merrimac, The Doctor and Frank were the only others to pass the judge, havig completed the course.

Finishing Order

References

References

1. https://solihulllife.org/2022/04/09/john-page/
2. "1866".
3. https://sites.google.com/view/jockeys-t/arthur-tempest
4. https://sites.google.com/view/jockeys-t/arthur-thorpe
5. "Aintree Grand National 1866".
6. The Grand National 1839–1930 by David Hoadley Munroe
7. (1907). "Heroes and heroines of the Grand National".