The Grand National did not become known as such until 1947, but was officially inaugurated, as the ‘Liverpool Grand Steeplechase’, in 1839. In 175 runnings of what has become, arguably, the most famous horse race in the world, a total of 13 horses aged 12 years and upwards have won.
Of the senior age group, 12-year-olds have been, by far, the most prolific, with ten wins in total, although just one – courtesy of Amberleigh House, trained by the legendary Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain, in 2004 – since the turn of the century. Two 13-year-olds, but no 14-year-olds, have prevailed and the ‘granddaddy of them all’ was Peter Simple, who recorded his second win in the National as a 15-year-old in 1853, making him the oldest winner in history.
The venerable Peter Simple aside, the first teenager to win the National was Why Not who, on March 30, 1894, despite his advancing years and the welter burden of 11st 13lb, was sent off 5/1 joint favourite at Aintree and duly obliged. He led narrowly over the final fence and ran on well under pressure to win by 1½ lengths and a head from Lady Ellen and Wild Man From Borneo, who were receiving 31lb and 18lb respectively; according to the ‘Daily Telegraph’ of the day, his victory ‘was due entirely to the jockeyship of Arthur Nightingall’.
Notwithstanding an honourable mention for Vics Canvas, who jumped the last upsides before finishing third behind Rule The World in 2016, the last 13-year-old to win the Grand National was Sergeant Murphy in 1923. Ridden by the ill-fated Captain Geoffrey ‘Tuppy’ Bennet – who, tragically, suffered fatal injuries at Wolverhampton the following December – Sergeant Murphy strode out well over the final two fences to become, jointly, the second-oldest winner in the history of the National.