1983 Grand National

Race Card

Many long-time ante-post bets had already been lost on the eve of the race when top weight and ante-post favorite, Ashley House, was withdrawn due to the expected heavy ground. Last year's winner, Grittar, was then installed as both joint top weight and the 6/1 favorite, despite a disrupted preparation that saw him race just twice all season without distinction. Champion jockey John Francome was initially booked to ride but was ruled out due to injury, with Paul Barton taking over the ride. Grittar's former jockey, Dick Saunders, had retired.

Barton kept the favorite in the front rank throughout the race, surviving a jumping error at the fence before Becher's Brook on the second circuit to remain in contention, never more than a few lengths behind the leader. However, an injection of pace towards the penultimate fence saw the four horses ahead of him pull away, and Grittar was unable to stay with them, eventually fading to finish a distant fifth.

Bonum Omen was a well-supported contender among racing experts, carrying less than eleven stone and showing strong form over long distances during the winter. However, his jumping ability was a concern. Ridden by Kevin Mooney, he was never able to get into the race and was well behind by the time other horses stopped in front of him, causing him to refuse at the twentieth fence.

Spartan Missile, who had finished second in the 1981 Grand National but subsequently suffered a serious injury, had impressed backers with a win at Newbury earlier in the year. Following the death of his former jockey, John Thorne, in a 1982 riding accident, Hywel Davies took the ride. The pair raced in the middle to rear of the field but were still in contention before falling at Becher's Brook on the second circuit.

Peaty Sandy, a former Welsh National winner, had finished third in that race the previous Christmas. His reputation ensured he went off at 12/1, making him the best-backed horse ever trained by a woman at the time. Ridden by T.G. Dun, he was never a factor, jumping Becher's Brook at the rear of the field on the second circuit. However, he passed tired horses in the closing stages to finish a distant sixth.

Corbiere, trained by Jenny Pitman, had narrowly won the Welsh Grand National in December. Further success at Doncaster and a strong second-place finish at the Cheltenham Festival justified his 13/1 starting price. Ridden by Ben de Haan, Corbiere raced prominently from the start, sharing the lead with Hallo Dandy between the 20th and 28th fences before pulling ahead. Taking a clear lead from the penultimate fence, Corbiere appeared to have the race won at The Elbow but had to fend off a late surge from Greasepaint, ultimately holding on for victory.

The narrowly beaten Greasepaint was the best-supported Irish entry at 14/1, having won the Kim Muir Chase at the recent Cheltenham Festival. Amateur jockey Colin Magnier, one of thirteen riders making their Grand National debut, timed his late run well but just fell short, finishing second.

Mid Day Gun, also sent off at 14/1, was ridden by another debutant, Graham McCourt, after two strong performances in the build-up. However, his National experience ended abruptly at the first fence.

Keengaddy, who had finished second in the previous year's Topham Chase, was considered to be in excellent form and was sent off at 15/1. He jumped freely and was moving towards the front of the field when he was carried out at the Canal Turn. He continued in the race for three more fences before eventually falling.

Other notable contenders included Fortina's Express, ridden by Peter Scudamore; Pilot Officer, the Welsh National runner-up; Beacon Time, the previous year's Topham Chase winner; and Three To One, who had placed third in a previous Grand National and was also a Scottish Grand National runner-up.

Finishing order

Non-finishers

Media coverage and aftermath

The BBC broadcast the race live on television for the twenty-fourth consecutive year as part of its regular Saturday afternoon Grandstand programme. The programme was hosted by David Coleman, who had presented all but two of the previous twenty-three National broadcasts. For the twelfth consecutive year, the commentary team consisted of John Hanmer, Julian Wilson, and lead commentator Peter O'Sullevan, who was calling his thirty-eighth Grand National on radio or television. The race was also broadcast live on BBC Radio for the fifty-third consecutive renewal as part of Radio Two's Sport on Two Saturday afternoon sports programme. The BBC also aired a short late-evening highlights programme on BBC1, presented by Julian Wilson.

Although the race was sponsored by the national newspaper The Sun, most other major national and regional newspapers continued to publish their own race cards in their Friday evening or Saturday editions. For the major newspapers, this created the dilemma of having to mention a rival publication when referring to the race as The Sun Grand National.

References

References

1. (12 March 2010). "Corbiere 1983 Grand National". grand-national.me.uk.
2. "Corbiere & the 1983 Grand National (Racecard)".
3. "Corbiere & the 1983 Grand National (Result & Analysis)".
4. (14 October 2013). "1982 Coral Welsh National Handicap Chase".
5. (24 April 2014). "Grand Nationals 1980 to 1989".
6. "Corbiere & the 1983 Grand National (Jockeys, Owners and Trainers)".
7. The Grand National : the history of the Aintree spectacular, by Stewart Peters & Bernard Parkin, {{ISBN. 0-7524-3547-7
8. "Grand National Anorak – Where they Fell 1969-89". freewebs.com.
9. (2007). "Grand National Anorak – The BBC & Broadcasting the National 1960-2012". freewebs.com.
10. (4 May 2008). "Grand National 1983: Where Did Your Money Go?".