2014 Grand National

Entries for the Grand National had to be submitted by 28 January 2014. The following day, Aintree announced that 115 horses had been entered for consideration in the 2014 Grand National, an increase of 31 on the previous year and the highest number of initial entries since 2009. Handicap weights were announced by the British Horseracing Authority in London on 11 February.

There were scratchings' deadlines on 25 February and 18 March, after which 73 horses went forward to the five-day confirmation stage on 31 March. At that time they were reduced to 65 in total and the remaining contenders were ranked according to their ratings. On 3 April the final field of 40 runners was declared as follows:[1][2][3]

No	Colours	Horse	Age	Handicap (st-lb)	SP[4]	Jockey	Trainer	Owner(s)
1		Tidal Bay (IRE)	13	11–10	1016 16/1	Sam Twiston-Davies	Paul Nicholls	A. & G. Wylie
2		Long Run (FRA)	9	11–09	1012 12/1	Mr. Sam Waley-Cohen	Nicky Henderson	Robert Waley-Cohen
3		Hunt Ball (IRE)	9	11–07	1050 50/1	Andrew Tinkler	Nicky Henderson	Atlantic Equine
4		Triolo d'Alene (FRA)	7	11–06	1016 16/1	Barry Geraghty	Nicky Henderson	S. & C. Orr
5		Rocky Creek (IRE)	8	11–05	1016 16/1	Noel Fehily	Paul Nicholls	Johnson & Stewart families
6		Quito de la Roque (FRA)	10	11–01	1040 40/1	Brian O'Connell	Colm Murphy (IRE)	Gigginstown House Stud
7		Colbert Station (IRE)	10	11–00	1033 33/1	Mark Walsh	Ted Walsh (IRE)	J. P. McManus
8		Walkon (FRA)	9	11–00	1040 40/1	Wayne Hutchinson	Alan King	McNeill family
9		Balthazar King (IRE)	10	10–13	1014 14/1	Richard Johnson	Philip Hobbs	The Brushmakers
10		Wayward Prince	10	10–13	1066 66/1	Jack Doyle	Hilary Parrott	J. & H. Parrott
11		Mr. Moonshine (IRE)	10	10–12	1020 20/1	Ryan Mania	Sue Smith	D. Pryde, J. Beaumont & D. van der Hoeven
12		Teaforthree (IRE)	10	10–12	1010 10/1 JF	Nick Scholfield	Rebecca Curtis	Conyers, O'Reilly, Roddis, Zeffman
13		Across the Bay (IRE)	10	10–11	1050 50/1	Henry Brooke	Donald McCain	Scotch Piper Syndicate
14		Double Seven (IRE)	8	10–11	1010 10/1 JF	A. P. McCoy	Martin Brassil (IRE)	J. P. McManus
15		Battle Group	9	10–10	1040 40/1	Brendan Powell	Johnny Farrelly	Jolly Boys Outing
16		Buckers Bridge (IRE)	8	10–10	1066 66/1	Andrew Lynch	Henry de Bromhead (IRE)	A. & A. Potts
17		Líon Na Bearnaí (IRE)	12	10–10	1033 33/1	Davy Russell	Tom Gibney (IRE)	The Lock Syndicate
18		Prince de Beauchene (FRA)	11	10–10	1020 20/1	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins (IRE)	A. & G. Wylie
19		Monbeg Dude (IRE)	9	10–09	1016 16/1	Paul Carberry	Michael Scudamore	Oydunow
20		Big Shu (IRE)	9	10–08	1014 14/1	Peter Buchanan	Peter Maher (IRE)	H. Duffy/R. Robinson/C. Woods
21		Burton Port (IRE)	10	10–08	1016 16/1	Brian Harding	Jonjo O'Neill	T. Hemmings
22		Our Father (IRE)	8	10–08	1025 25/1	Denis O'Regan	David Pipe	Ives & Johnson families
23		Mountainous (IRE)	9	10–07	1040 40/1	Jamie Moore	Richard Lee	Walters Plant Hire, J. & J. Potter
24		The Rainbow Hunter	10	10–07	1025 25/1	Aidan Coleman	Kim Bailey	May We Never Be Found Out
25		Vintage Star (IRE)	8	10–07	1050 50/1	Brian Hughes	Sue Smith	T. Hemmings
26		Chance Du Roy (FRA)	10	10–06	1033 33/1	Tom O'Brien	Philip Hobbs	D. Du Pre
27		Hawkes Point	9	10–06	1050 50/1	Ryan Mahon	Paul Nicholls	G. Roach
28		Kruzhlinin (GER)	7	10–06	1100 100/1	Wilson Renwick	Donald McCain	P. & C. Rooney
29		Pineau De Re (FRA)	11	10–06	1025 25/1	Leighton Aspell	Richard Newland	J. A. Provan
30		Golan Way	10	10–05	1066 66/1	Michael Byrne	Tim Vaughan	W R B Racing 58
31		Twirling Magnet (IRE)	8	10–05	1100 100/1	Richie McLernon	Jonjo O'Neill	G. Smith
32		Vesper Bell (IRE)	8	10–05	1040 40/1	Katie Walsh	Willie Mullins (IRE)	S. Ricci
33		The Package	11	10–04	1014 14/1	Tom Scudamore	David Pipe	Johnson family
34		Raz De Maree (IRE)	9	10–03	1050 50/1	David Condon	Dessie Hughes (IRE)	J. J. Swan
35		Rose of the Moon (IRE)	9	10–03	1050 50/1	Jake Greenall	David O'Meara	Middleham Park Racing XXXIII & Ptrs
36		Shakalakaboomboom (IRE)	10	10–03	1016 16/1	David Bass	Nicky Henderson	L. Breslin
37		Alvarado (IRE)	9	10–02	1033 33/1	Paul Moloney	Fergal O'Brien	W. & A. Rucker
38		Last Time D'Albain (FRA)	10	10–02	1050 50/1	Robbie Colgan	Liam Cusack (IRE)	Fontstown Syndicate
39		One in a Milan (IRE)	9	10–02	1040 40/1	Adam Wedge	Evan Williams	P. Langford
40		Swing Bill (FRA)	13	10–01	1066 66/1	Conor O'Farrell	David Pipe	Halewood Int Ltd

• Great Britain unless stated.
• Amateur jockeys denoted by preceding title, e.g. Mr.

Placed horses

1: Pineau de Re

2: Balthazar King

3: Double Seven

4: Alvarado

The race was due to go off at 4:15 pm on 5 April 2014 but a false start delayed the showpiece steeplechase. The starter Hugh Barclay got the field away at the second attempt, but Battle Group refused to race.

Twirling Magnet, Burton Port and Big Shu were fallers over the first three fences, before the Canal Turn claimed three further casualties. Another three fell at Valentine's, including the 12–1 shot Long Run. Teaforthree, who was sent off joint-favourite with Double Seven at 10/1, unseated his mount at The Chair.[5][6]

Going onto the second circuit, 50/1 outsider Across the Bay held a strong lead until being all but carried out by the loose Tidal Bay before continuing almost tailed off. Shakalakaboomboom and Quito De La Roque were pulled up after the 20th and 21st fences respectively, then One in a Milan fell at Becher's Brook. Eighteen of the 39 runners made it over the final fence and on the long run-in to the finishing post Pineau de Re extended his lead over Balthazar King to win by five lengths. For Richard Johnson, aboard Balthazar King, this was his 18th attempt at the Grand National since his debut in the race in 1997, increasing an unwanted record for having taken most rides in the race without being victorious. A. P. McCoy finished third on Double Seven, and in doing so equalled Tom Olliver's 155-year record of having taken part in a record 19 Nationals. Alvarado was fourth and Rocky Creek came in fifth. Despite having been almost carried out, Across The Bay did complete the course, in 14th position.[7][8]

The charity World Horse Welfare issued a statement after the race declaring that they were pleased with the positive effect the modifications of the course and strict guidelines laid down to riders had on the welfare of the horses; however, the stewards issued a 12-day riding ban to Jack Doyle, whom they judged should have pulled up when tailed off as his mount, Wayward Prince, appeared in an exhausted state before falling at the third-last fence. Jockeys had been told in their briefing before the race to pull up any horse that was tailed off with no serious chance of winning prize money, which is paid out to 10th place.[9]

A stewards' inquiry was also called into the conduct of the jockeys at the start of the race, where it was claimed the welfare of assistant starter, Simon McNeill, who was knocked over but not injured, was compromised. While most of the 39 jockeys called to the inquiry initially attended, they all refused to return for a second inquiry after racing, issuing a statement in which they [the jockeys] had all agreed not to return to face the stewards as they were unhappy with the manner in which the inquiry was being conducted.[9]

As the Grand National is accorded the status of an event of national interest in the United Kingdom and is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, it must be shown on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK. The race was broadcast live on TV by Channel 4, entering the second of their four-year deal for the race.

Clare Balding and Nick Luck presented Channel 4's coverage, supported by Jim McGrath, Mick Fitzgerald and Graham Cunningham. Reports were provided by Rishi Persad and Alice Plunkett and betting updates by Tanya Stevenson and Brian Gleeson. The commentary team was by Richard Hoiles, Ian Bartlett and Simon Holt, who called the winner home for the second time. After the race, Rishi Persad, Mick Fitzgerald and Richard Hoiles guided the viewers through a detailed re-run of the race. Channel 4 aimed its build-up to the race at the once-a-year punter rather than the dedicated racing fan with a special broadcast of its Sunday magazine show Sunday Brunch, as a Grand National Special Weekend Brunch, which included outside broadcast from Aintree.[10]

Racing UK televised the race into bookmakers around the UK and Ireland.[11]

The BBC continued an unbroken run of 82 consecutive renewals of the race to be broadcast live on radio, dating back to 1927. The race was part of its Saturday Sport 5 Live broadcast, presented by Mark Pougatch with pre-race build-up from former National riders Andrew Thornton and Luke Harvey. Cornelius Lysaght interviewed connections in the ring and Rob Nothman provided market updates. The commentary team for the race itself was Malcolm Tomlinson, Darren Owen, Gary O'Brien and John Hunt, who called the finish.[12]

The Grand National also continued to move rapidly into new media with the majority of betting on the race taking place with online bookmakers. In addition to this, broadcaster Channel 4 provided an online app that could be downloaded for backers to track their runner during the race.[13]

• Horseracing in Great Britain
• List of British National Hunt races

• 2014 Grand National at Racing Post