1846 Grand National

The 1846 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was the eighth annual running of a Handicap Steeple-chase, later to become known as the Grand National Steeplechase Horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on Wednesday March 4th 1846 and attracted a then record field of twenty-two runners.

The betting

Veluti, ridden by Jem Mason who had previously won the race in 1839 was sent off as the 11/2 favourite to win while the top weight of 12 stone 8 lbs was give to Firefly, the mount of Larry Byrne. The full list of runners and riders, in order of betting at the off was as follows.

* 11/2 Veluti -- aged 6, carrying 11 stone 8 lbs -- ridden by Jem Mason
* 6/1 Firefly -- 7, 12-04 -- Larry Byrne
* 7/1 Switcher -- 5, 12-04 -- Dennis Wynne
* 10/1 Lancet -- 5, 11-00 -- William McDonough
* 10/1 Mameluke -- 10-12 -- Alan McDonough
* 12/1 Culverthorpe -- 11-04 -- H Rackley
* 12/1 Golden Pippin -- 7, 11-12 -- Charles Nainby
* 16/1 Cure-All -- 8, 12-04 -- William Loft
* 16/1 Perambulator -- 6, 10-08 -- Neptune Stagg
* 100/6 Brenda -- 9, 11-04 -- Horatio Powell
* 100/6 Peter Simple -- 12, 11-02 -- John Frisby
* 25/1 Eagle -- 5, 11-12 -- Captain William Peel
* 25/1 Major A -- 6, 10-06 -- W Blake

The following runners were not quoted in the betting markets. Punters betting on these horses were usually offered 30/1
* Carlow -- 11-04 -- Tom Olliver
* Hornihiharriho -- 11-00 -- Parker
* Lady grey -- 6, 10-00 -- E Thomas
* Pickwick -- 6, 10-10 -- James Dally
* Pioneer -- 6, 11-12 -- William Taylor
* Regalia -- 11-12 -- Thomas Doolan
* The Scavenger -- 6, 10-02 -- J Bradley
* Tinderbox -- 11-04 -- P Daly
* Troubadour -- 14, 11-06 -- Gibbon Rammell

Tom Olliver was taking a record eighth ride in the race

The race

"Peter Simple" led for the majority of the first circuit which three of the competitors failed to negotiate. "Mameluke" and "Hornihihharriho" failed to reach Becher's Brook for the first time when the pair collided at an early jump while "Lancet's"' rider, William McDonough, was knocked from his horse by a mounted spectator as the field were turning to enter the race course proper.

The second circuit saw many of the runners meet with accidents as "Peter Simple" fell to leave "Culverthorpe" in the lead. Last year's winner, Cure-All was pulled up by his rider when it became apparent that he would not repeat his success and Perambulator soon did the same, Golden Pippen bolted off the course and The Scavenger refused. Regalia, Troubadour, Carlow, Brenda, Tinderbox and Lady Grey all fell before the survivors came back into sight of the spectators in the stands.

Only eight runners remained in the race when they came back onto the race course and when the stated distance was completed "Veluti" led from "Culverthorpe". Unfortunately for backers of the favourite the course had been wrongly flagged, leading to the race being half a mile longer than it should have. "Veluti" broke down and had to be pulled up, leaving "Culverthorpe" to jump the final flight in the lead only to be caught on the run to the finish line by the rank outsider "Pioneer".

Pioneer won the race by three lengths with Culverthorpe second, three lengths in front of Switcher in third. At 30/1 Pioneer was the longest priced winner of the Grand National to date. The horse had been totally unconsidered by the public and yet proved himself to be a very good horse by winning a prestigious race at Leamington Spa the following week. His rider, William Taylor was a twenty-seven year old vet, having his first ride in the race while the owner, a mr Adams had been very clear before the race that he would not risk a penny of his own money on his own horse.

Result

Winner: Pioneer, ridden by William Taylor

Second: Culverthorpe, ridden by H Rackley

Third: Switcher, ridden by Denny Wynne

Fourth: Firefly, ridden by Larry Byrne

* Fifth: Eagle

Major A and Pickwick also completed the course but due to the fact that they had not passed the judges chair situated at the fence of the same name by the time Eagle passed the finishing post they were declared as distanced.

ources

The Times Newspaper March 5th 1846 editionThe Belfast Newsletter March 5th 1846 editionThe Liverpool Mercury March 5th 1846 edition