The Grand National was first run, as the Grand
Liverpool Steeplechase, in 1839 and before World War I was regularly
won by amateur riders. However, throughout the twentieth century
amateur participation in the Grand National gradually tailed off and
the last amateur to win the world famous steeplechase was Marcus
Armytage, on Mr. Frisk, in 1990.
In fact, the current race conditions stipulate
that, to be eligible to ride in the Grand National, amateur riders
must have ridden at least 15 winners, at least 10 of them in
steeplechases. Of course, amateur riders do still ride in the Grand
National but, in the last decade or so, it’s been left to three
modern Corinthians, one male and two female, to fly the flag for
‘gentleman’ or, indeed, ‘lady’, riders at Aintree. As such
it's unlikely that you'll see amateur rider success in your Grand
National 2020 best bets. Though in future years who knows.
Sam Waley-Cohen first hit the headlines when
riding Liberthine, owned by his father, Robert, into fifth place
behind Silver Birch on his first ride in the Grand National in 2007.
On his next attempt, in 2009, his mount Ollie Magern fell at the
second fence, but Waley-Cohen was back again in 2011, riding another
horse owned by his father, Oscar Time, into second place, beaten just
2½ lengths, behind Ballabriggs. Oscar Time would prove a good
servant for the family, finishing fourth behind Auroras Encore in
2013 and fifteenth, as a 14-year-old, behind Many Clouds two years
later. In between times, Waley-Cohen rode erstwhile Cheltenham Gold
Cup winner Long Run, who was in second place when falling at
Valentine’s Brook on the first circuit. He has since failed to
complete the course.
Another Amateur rider, Katie Walsh didn’t make
her debut
in the Grand National until 2012, but then made an immediate
impact, partnering 8/1 joint-favourite Seabass, trained by her father
Ted, into third place, beaten a nose and 5 lengths, behind Neptune
Collonges and Sunnyhillboy.
Despite having what Walsh Snr. described as
‘glassy’ legs, he returned to Aintree the following year and was
sent off outright favourite for the National, only to bitterly
disappoint and trail in a well-beaten thirteenth of seventeen
finishers. Katie Walsh never improved on her debut effort, but did
complete the course on three of her four subsequent attempts in the
National and has still achieved the highest placing of any female
rider in the history of the race. She has paved the way for others to
pick up from where she left off.
Nina Carberry, like Katie Walsh, rode in the Grand
National six times, making her debut on Forest Gunner, who finished
ninth, and last, in 2006. However, despite completing the course on
three of her subsequent five attempts, her best-placed finish was
seventh on Character
Building in 2010, although the 10-year-old was never a factor,
and ultimately beaten 37 lengths in the famous renewal won by Sir
Anthony McCoy on Don’t Push It.
