Tag: grand national

Why is Valentine’s Brook so called?

Valentine’s Brook is, of course, one of the five ‘named’ fences on the Grand National course. Originally known simply as the ‘Second Brook’, Valentine’s Brook consists of a 5’ high fence, followed by a 5’6” wide brook, and is jumped as the ninth and twenty-fifth obstacles in the National. Valentine’s Brook is generally regarded the lesser of the two ‘brook’ fences but, like Becher’s Brook, owes its name to an event in the early history of the Grand National.

In 1840, in what was just the second ‘official’ running of the Grand National, a horse named Valentine set off lickety-split and, by the time he reached the obstacle that now bears his name, was well clear of his rivals. Valentine attempted to refuse, but his momentum carried him forward and, somehow, he corkscrewed, or pirouetted, over the fence, reputed landing hind legs first, with his jockey, John Power, still intact. After a remarkable recovery, Valentine continued and eventually finished third behind Jerry and Arthur.

What, and where, is the Melling Road?

Ever since the Grand National was first broadcast on television, in 1960, the Melling Road, along with the ‘named’ fences, such as Becher’s Brook and the Canal Turn, has crept into the public psyche as part of the familiar Aintree infrastructure. The National Course crosses the Melling Road at two points.

The first is on the approach to the first, and seventeenth, fence, while the second is after the twelfth, and twenty-eighth, fence. The second, near the Anchor Bridge, marks the point where the runners rejoin the ‘racecourse proper’ and, on the second circuit, where the race really begins in earnest. Indeed, back in the days when the Grand National was televised on BBC, it was the point at which John Hanmer handed commentary ‘over to Peter O’Sullevan’, who traditionally called home the winner.

Obviously, the Melling Road is best known for its association with the Grand National, but is a bona fide, mile-long thoroughfare through the village of Aintree. On National Day, the road is covered with Fibresand to allow the horses to cross safely.

Who is Charlotte Brew?

Charlotte Budd (née Brew) had the distinction of being the first female jockey to ride in the Grand National. In 1977, as a 21-year-old, Brew lined up on the twelve-year-old Barony Court, a horse that she had been given as an eighteenth birthday present, who had qualified for the National by virtue of finishing fourth in the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase, over the Grand National fences. Despite being ‘run off his feet’, the 200/1 outsider did not make a semblance of a mistake until the Canal Turn on the second circuit. However, three fences later, at ‘The Booth’ – a 5’3” fence, preceded by a 6’ wide ditch – Barony Fort dug in his toes and refused. Indeed, his young jockey attempted to clear the fence three more times, without success, before finally giving up. Although she made the front-page of the tabloid newspapers in the build-up to the National, in the aftermath of the race Brew was overshadowed by the unprecedented third victory of the legendary Red Rum.

Has any jockey ever won the Lincoln and the Grand National?

The Lincoln Handicap, run over a mile at Doncaster, traditionally marks the start of the Flat season ‘proper’ in Britain and is usually staged a week or two before the Grand National. Collectively, the two races constitute what is known as the ‘Spring Double’ but, granted the distinct demands of the disciplines in which they take place – not least the weights carried by the horses – few jockeys have ridden in, never mind won, both.

Remarkably, the one and only jockey to win both races was David Dick, who is probably best remembered as the jockey of E.S.B., the horse that profited from the inexplicable fall of Devon Loch, just yards from the winning post, in the Grand National in 1956. By that stage of his career, Dick stood 6’ tall and was, at least in theory, too big to a jockey of any description. Nevertheless, as a lithe 17-year-old, in 1941, Dick had also ridden Gloaming to win the Lincolnshire Handicap at Lincoln, which subsequently became the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.

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