Five of the biggest underdogs to have won the Grand National

As one of the most high-profile horse races in the world, the Grand National is never short on excitement or drama – but the race gets even more exciting when it ends with an unexpected result.

Over the course of the history of the National, five horses have won the race at gigantic odds of 100-1.

In the case of these five winners, being the biggest underdogs to ever win the famous race was enough to thrill those in attendance and truly shock the world in the process.

Some of these longshots have fascinating stories to accompany their legendary rides and will go down in horse racing history as a result.

The question is, however, which horse will be the next huge underdog to ascend to the top of the sport by winning the four-and-a-half mile spectacle?

Here, we take a look at some of the biggest upsets in Grand National history…

Who are the biggest underdogs to have won?

In 2013, the most recent odds upset, saw the little known trainer and jockey combination of Sue Smith and Ryan Mania team up for victory with Auroras Encore at odds of 66-1.

Having previously retired from riding at the age of 21, winning jockey Mania certainly justified his return to the saddle by guiding the former Scottish National runner up into the winner's enclosure.

The race itself was notable in that all 40 runners made it to the Canal Turn without incident for the first time ever – while a record 32 of the 40 were still in contention heading into the second circuit.

With many more fancied rivals hogging the cameraman's focus, Arouras Encore emerged from the pack to take up third spot after Valentine's – the 25th fence – and then astonishingly took the lead with a superb jump at the last.

A strong finish saw him land the coveted prize by a facile looking nine lengths ahead of the more fancied Cappa Bleu and Teaforthree.

Just before the start of 1928 Grand National, William Dutton, a non-professional jockey onboardTipperary Tom, heard a friend yell out to him that he could win the race if every other horse fell down.

Ironically enough, that is exactly what happened.

In a 42-horse field, 41 horses took a spill over the entirety of the race. Of those 41 horses to fall, 40 of them were unable to finish the race. And while one of the horses to take a fall during the course of the 1928 Grand National was able to finish the race, they were unable to catch up to Tipperary Tim.

This was the first time in the history of the Grand National that a horse was able to defy the Grand National odds and win as a 100-1 long shot.

The 1928 Grand National also set a record for the fewest horses to finish a Grand National race.

Believe it or not, there were two straight 100-1 underdogs who managed to win the Grand National.

In 1929, Gregalach managed to follow up on the unlikely performance of Tipperary Tim to claim the race as a huge underdog.

It is entirely possible that there will never be another back-to-back run of Grand National winners at such long odds again.

One of the most impressive things about the unlikely victory for Gregalach was the fact that this Grand National featured the most horses at the start of any race in the history of the event.

There were a jaw-dropping 66 horses who were entered into the race and took part in its start, which should have made it extremely difficult for a horse that wasn't at the top of the odds list to come out on top.

It is one thing for a huge underdog to go ahead and win a race like the Grand National, shocking the world in the process. But it is another thing for that underdog to dominate the field to the point that they make the rest of the runners look like they were the 100-1 long shots.

That is exactly what happened in 1947 when Caughoo destroyed the rest of the horses in the field to earn one of the most astounding results in horse racing history.

Caughoo won the race by 20 lengths over the second-place finisher, winning comfortably in a race that is usually anything but comfortable for its competitors.

In 1967, two decades after Caughoo put together one of the most dominant performances in the history of the race, another 100-1 long shot claimed gold.

This time it was Foinavon defying the horse racing odds en route to a win that yielded massive payouts for those courageous enough to back him.

It has been said that three jockeys turned down the opportunity to ride him in the event before John Buckingham accepted the chance to take part in the race.

With the historic performance that Buckingham and Foinavon turned in, it should go without saying that the jockey does not regret the decision to take a chance on a horse that nobody else wanted to ride.

Grand National 2021 runners and entries

1 Santini (GB) 9 11-10 167 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson

2 Bristol de Mai (FR) 10 11-10 167 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies

3 The Storyteller (IRE) 10 11-8 165 Mrs Pat Sloan Gordon Elliott IRE

4 Chris’s Dream (IRE) 9 11-7 164 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE

5 Yala Enki (FR) 11 11-3 160 Hills of Ledbury Ltd Paul Nicholls

6 Ballyoptic (IRE) 11 11-1 158 Mills & Mason Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies

7 Definitly Red (IRE) 12 11-1 158 Phil & Julie Martin Brian Ellison

8 Lake View Lad (IRE) 11 11-0 157 Mr Trevor Hemmings N. W. Alexander

9 Burrows Saint (FR) 8 10-13 156 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE

10 Magic of Light (IRE) 10 10-13 156 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Mrs J. Harrington IRE

11 Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 11 10-12 155 Slaneyville Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE

12 Talkischeap (IRE) 9 10-12 155 Mr Charles Dingwall Alan King

13 Anibale Fly (FR) 11 10-12 155 Mr John P. McManus A. J. Martin IRE

14 Tout Est Permis (FR) 8 10-12 155 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade

15 Mister Malarky (GB) 8 10-12 155 Wendy & Malcolm Hezel Colin Tizzard

16 Kimberlite Candy (IRE) 9 10-10 153 Mr John P. McManus Tom Lacey

17 Beware The Bear (IRE) 11 10-10 153 Mr G. B. Barlow Nicky Henderson

18 Pym (IRE) 8 10-10 153 Mrs Patricia Pugh Nicky Henderson

19 Any Second Now (IRE) 9 10-9 152 Mr John P. McManus T. M. Walsh IRE

20 Balko des Flos (FR) 10 10-9 152 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE

21 Alpha des Obeaux (FR) 11 10-9 152 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

22 Brahma Bull (IRE) 10 10-8 151 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE

23 Ok Corral (IRE) 11 10-8 151 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson

24 Takingrisks (IRE) 12 10-7 150 Mr Frank Bird Nicky Richards

25 Shattered Love (IRE) 10 10-7 150 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

26 Jett (IRE) 10 10-7 150 Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Mrs J. Harrington IRE

27 The Jam Man (IRE) 8 10-7 150 Ronan M. P. McNally Ronan M. P. McNally IRE

28 Lord du Mesnil (FR) 8 10-6 149 Mr Paul Porter & Mike & Mandy Smith Richard Hobson

29 Potters Corner (IRE) 11 10-6 149 All Stars Sports Racing & J Davies Christian Williams

30 Class Conti (FR) 9 10-6 149 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins IRE

31 Milan Native (IRE) 8 10-6 149 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

32 Discorama (FR) 8 10-6 149 Thomas Friel/Andrew Gemmell Paul Nolan IRE

33 Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 12 10-5 148 Prof Caroline Tisdall & Mr John Gent David Pipe

34 Cloth Cap (IRE) 9 10-5 148 Mr Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O’Neill

35 Cabaret Queen (GB) 9 10-5 148 Syndicates.Racing W. P. Mullins IRE

36 Minellacelebration (IRE) 11 10-5 148 Mr Nick Elliott Katy Price

37 Canelo (IRE) 8 10-4 147 Mr John P. McManus Alan King

38 The Long Mile (GB) 7 10-4 147 Mr John P. McManus J.P.Dempsey IRE

39 Give Me A Copper (IRE) 11 10-4 147 Done, Ferguson, Mason, Nicholls & Wood Paul Nicholls

40 Hogan’s Height (IRE) 10 10-3 146 Foxtrot Racing: Hogan’s Height Jamie Snowden

41 Minella Times (IRE) 8 10-3 146 Mr John P. McManus Henry de Bromhead IRE

42 Farclas (FR) 7 10-3 146 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

43 Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 12 10-3 146 Ms G. Howell Georgie Howell

44 Double Shuffle (IRE) 11 10-2 145 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George

45 Ami Desbois (FR) 11 10-2 145 The Reserved Judgment Partnership Graeme McPherson

46 Keeper Hill (IRE) 10 10-2 145 McNeill Family Warren Greatrex

47 Gold Present (IRE) 11 10-2 145 Mr and Mrs J. D. Cotton Nicky Henderson

48 Blaklion (GB) 12 10-2 145 Darren & Annaley Yates Dan Skelton

49 Secret Reprieve (IRE) 7 10-1 144 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams

50 Some Neck (FR) 10 10-1 144 Some Neck Partnership John McConnell IRE

51 Deise Aba (IRE) 8 9-13 142 Mr Trevor Hemmings Philip Hobbs

52 Kauto Riko (FR) 10 9-13 142 Mr and Mrs J.Dale and Partners Tom Gretton

53 Fagan (GB) 11 9-13 142 Mr Ben Brackenbury Alex Hales

54 Golan Fortune (IRE) 9 9-13 142 P Middleton, M Lowther Phil Middleton

55 Valtor (FR) 12 9-13 142 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson

56 Captain Drake (IRE) 8 9-11 140 Gary Stevens and Brian and Sandy Lambert Harry Fry

57 Run Wild Fred (IRE) 7 9-11 140 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

58 The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 8 9-11 140 The Ginge Army Nigel Twiston-Davies

59 Crievehill (IRE) 9 9-11 140 Highclere T’Bred Racing- Crievehill Nigel Twiston-Davies

60 Another Venture (IRE) 10 9-11 140 Racing For Maggie’s Partnership Kim Bailey

61 Prime Venture (IRE) 10 9-10 139 Mrs Janet Davies Evan Williams

62 Le Breuil (FR) 9 9-10 139 Mrs Emma Palmer Ben Pauling

63 Flying Angel (IRE) 10 9-10 139 Mr R. J. Rexton Nigel Twiston-Davies

64 Achille (FR) 11 9-9 138 Mrs Vida Bingham Venetia Williams

65 Hold The Note (IRE) 7 9-9 138 Mr T. P. Radford Mick Channon

66 Plan of Attack (IRE) 8 9-9 138 Mr A. Halsall Henry de Bromhead IRE

67 Roaring Bull (IRE) 8 9-9 138 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

68 Dounikos (FR) 10 9-9 138 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

69 Treacysenniscorthy (IRE) 9 9-8 137 Paula Widger Robert Widger IRE

70 Musical Slave (IRE) 8 9-8 137 Mr John P. McManus Philip Hobbs

71 Soupy Soups (IRE) 10 9-8 137 Equi ex Incertis Partners Neil Mulholland

72 Beau Bay (FR) 10 9-7 136 Mr Peter Green & Dr RDP Newland Dr Richard Newland

73 Shantou Flyer (IRE) 11 9-7 136 David Maxwell Racing Limited Paul Nicholls

74 Hear No Evil (IRE) 9 9-7 136 Mr Patrick Joseph McCartan Noel C. Kelly IRE

75 Monbeg Notorious (IRE) 10 9-6 135 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

76 Aforementioned (FR) 8 9-5 134 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

77 Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 11 9-3 132 Cahill, Atwell & Crofts Neil Mulholland

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