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Beforehand, the 2021 Grand National was all about Cloth Cap, who was officially 14lb ‘well in’ at the weights and, consequently, sent off 11/2 favourite to become a record-breaking fourth winner of the Aintree showpiece for owner Trevor Hemmings. However, despite apparently having everything in his favour, Cloth Cap weakened quickly after stumbling at the fourth-last fence as was soon pulled up. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill later reported that Cloth Cap made an abnormal respiratory noise.

Long-time leader Jett surrendered the lead on the home turn, leaving a bevy of Irish-trained horses, headed by the eventual winner, Minella Times, to fight out the finish. At the second-last fence, Minella Times led, narrowly, from stable companion Balko Des Flos, Burrows Saint and the staying on Any Second Now, but extended his advantage at the final fence. Approaching the ‘Elbow’, Minella Times was about 4 lengths ahead and was ridden out to win by 6½ lengths. He was followed home by Balko Des Flos, Any Second Now, Burrows Saint and Farclas, as Irish-trained horses filled the first five places.

Minella Times was a second Grand National winner for owner J.P. McManus, after Don’t Push It in 2010, and a first for trainer Henry de Bromhead. However, his name is etched, indelibly, into the record books alongside that of Rachael Blackmore, who created history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National.

Sadly, due to covid-19 the actual Grand National didn’t take place in 2020. We had to make do with a ‘virtual’ Grand National instead.

History records that Bindaree won the Grand National in 2002 to give Gloucestershire trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies his second win in the celebrated steeplechase after Earth Summit in 1998. However, Twiston-Davies, who had reportedly been left with ‘a bigger debt than Argentina’ after buying out former business Peter Scudamore and was experiencing a less-than-stellar campaign in 2001/02, revealed afterwards that he had intended to retire if Bindaree had not won.

In any event, ridden by Jim Culloty, Bindaree took the lead at Becher’s Brook on the second circuit and, although carried wide by a loose horse – ironically, his better-fancied stable companion, Beau – at the Canal Turn, maintained that lead until the final fence. At that point, he was headed by the well-fancied What’s Up Boys, ridden by Richard Johnson, who took a three-length lead, despite edging right, on the run-in. However, switched to the inside at the famous ‘Elbow’, Bindaree rallied to good effect in the closing stages, regaining the lead inside the final hundred yards to win by 1¾ lengths at odds of 20/1. In so doing, he made Jim Culloty one of a small, select band of jockeys to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same season.

Twiston-Davies remained unconvinced regarding his future, although he did concede, ‘now that I have won the National again, I may keep a few boxes here at the house.’ Years later, he reflected on his second National success, saying, ‘He [Bindaree] is the horse who stopped me from retiring, and none of all this would be happening now if it weren’t for him.’