1979 Grand National

The 1979 Grand National (officially known as the Colt Car Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 133rd renewal of the Grand National horse race, which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 31 March 1979.[1][2]

1979 Grand National
Grand National
LocationAintree
Date31 March 1979
Winning horseRubstic
Starting price25/1
JockeyMaurice Barnes
TrainerScotland John Leadbetter
OwnerScotland John Douglas
ConditionsGood to Soft
External video
video icon First 12 Fences (BBC)
video icon Closing Stages (BBC)
video icon Coverage of the 1979 Grand National by British Movietone
video icon National Colours

It's anybody's race as they race into the final furlong, and it's Rubstic on the nearside with the advantage over Zongalero and the weakening Rough and Tumble as they race up towards the line, it's gonna be a victory for Scotland, it's Rubstic from Zongalero in the National, and as they come to the line, Rubstic wins it..

Commentator Peter O'Sullevan describes the climax of the 1979 National

The race was won by Rubstic who was the first ever Scottish-trained winner.

Finishing order
Position Name Jockey Age Handicap (st-lb) SP Distance
01 Rubstic Maurice Barnes 10 10–0 25/1
02 Zongalero Bob Davies 9 10–5 20/1
03 Rough and Tumble John Francome 9 10–7 14/1
04 The Pilgarlic Richard Evans 11 10–1 16/1
05 Wagner Ridley Lamb 9 10–0 50/1
06 Royal Frolic John Burke 10 11–10 25/1
07 Prime Justice Keith Taylor 9 10–0 200/1 Last to complete

Non-finishers
Fence Name Jockey Age Handicap (st-lb) Starting price Fate
01 Double Negative Eddie Woods 9 10–5 66/1 Unseated Rider [3]
01 Sandwilan Jenny Hembrow 11 10–0 100/1 Fell
01 Wayward Scot Roy Davies 10 10–7 100/1 Fell
01 Vindicate Aiden O'Connell 12 11–8 200/1 Fell
06 (Becher's Brook) Oskard Martin Blackshaw 10 10–0 100/1 Unseated Rider [4]
06 (Becher's Brook) Purdo Bob Champion 08 10–12 25/1 Fell
08 (Canal Turn) Sand Pit Tommy Carmody 09 10–7 22/1 Fell
10 Drumroan Gerry Newman 11 10–4 20/1 Fell
15 (The Chair) Alpenstock Dennis Gray 12 10–0 100/1 Brought Down
15 (The Chair) Cartwright Adrian Phillips 10 10–0 200/1 Brought Down
15 (The Chair) Godfrey Secundus Colin Tinkler 9 10–3 25/1 Brought Down
15 (The Chair) Kick On Ron Hyett 12 10–0 50/1 Brought Down
15 (The Chair) Kintai Bryan Smart 10 10–0 100/1 Brought Down
15 (The Chair) No Gypsy John Suthern 10 10–1 66/1 Hampered & Refused [4]
15 (The Chair) Rambling Artist David Goulding 9 10–6 16/1 Brought Down
15 (The Chair) The Champ Bill Smith 11 10–12 25/1 Fell
16 Ben Nevis Charlie Fenwick 11 11–2 14/1 Brought Down (15), Remounted, Pulled Up[3]
21 Brown Admiral Sam Morshead 10 10–0 100/1 Unseated Rider
22 (Becher's Brook) Alverton Jonjo O'Neill 9 10–13 6/1 F Fell
22 (Becher's Brook) Churchtown Boy Taffy Salaman 12 10–0 25/1 Fell[5]
22 (Becher's Brook) Mr Snowman Graham Thorner 10 10–9 10/1 Fell
24 (Canal Turn) Lord Browndodd Andy Turnell 11 10–3 25/1 Pulled Up
26 Dromore Peter Duggan 11 10–10 50/1 Refused (22), went on and Pulled Up [4]
27 (open ditch) Artistic Prince Philip Blacker 8 10–3 25/1 Fell
27 (open ditch) Coolishall Anthony Webber 10 10–2 12/1 Fell
29 Flitgrove Richard Linley 8 10–1 50/1 Pulled Up
29 Red Earl James Evans 10 10–0 50/1 Pulled Up

Aftermath Unfortunately, the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Alverton broke his neck at Becher's on the second circuit and was euthanized.[6] [7][8]

Media coverage and aftermath

David Coleman once again presented a special edition of Grandstand on the BBC. The favourite, Alverton, died after falling at Becher's Brook on the second circuit (fence 22) when travelling strongly. Just over two weeks earlier he had won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and was going for a famous double only achieved by, Golden Miller, in 1934. Kintai was another fatality who was brought down at fence 15 and was later euthanized.

References
  1. "Grand National under attack after death of favorite". The Montreal Gazette. 2 April 1979.
  2. "Past Winners of The Grand National". grand-national.net. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  3. "Grand National Anorak |". www.freewebs.com.
  4. "- YouTube". YouTube.
  5. "- YouTube". YouTube.
  6. "1978 & 1979 – The Grand National & Aintree 1970–79". seventiesnationals.webs.com. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  7. The Grand National: the history of the Aintree spectacular, by Stewart Peters & Bernard Parkin, ISBN 0-7524-3547-7
  8. "Grand National Anorak |". freewebs.com. Retrieved 27 August 2014.


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