1847 Grand National

The 1847 Grand National Steeplechase was the ninth official annual running of a Handicap Steeple-chase Horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on March 3rd 1847 and attracted a then record field of twenty-six runners.

The competitors and betting

The Roarer, ridden by Jem Mason who had previously won the race in 1839 was sent off as the 4/1 favourite to win while the top weight of 12 stone 10 lbs was given to St Ruth, the mount of Charlie Canavan. The full list of runners and riders, in order of betting at the off was as follows.

* 4/1 The Roarer, carrying 10 stone 7 lbs and was the seventh ride in the race for the 1839 winner, Jem Mason in the colours of Lord Strathmore.

* 10/1 Culverthorpe, carrying 11-06 and was Horatio Powell's fifth ride in the race in the colours of Mr D'Arcy.

* 11/1 Mathew, a nine year old carrying 10 stone 6 lbs and ridden by Denny Wynne, taking his second ride in the race after finishing third in 1846, trained by John Murphy at Conyngham Lodge, County Kildare, Ireland for Mr John Courtenay.

* 12/1 Jerry, The 1840 winner now aged 13 and carrying 11-06. J Bradley took his third ride in the colours of Mr Moseley.

* 12/1 Saucepan, an 8 year old carrying 12-02 as a seventh ride for William McDonough in the colours of Mr J Power.

* 13/1 Pioneer, the 1846 winner, aged 7 and carrying 11-12. Captain William Peel took his third ride in the colours of Mr Ouseley.

* 14/1 St Leger, a seven year old carrying 12-03 to provide a record ninth ride in the race for twice winning jockey, Tom Olliver, owned by Mr Watt.

* 15/1 Avoca, carrying 10-10 as a debut ride for Captain J Broadley in the colours of Captain Gambler.

* 20/1 Brunette, a thirteen year old carrying 12-06 and was an eighth ride in the race for the winner of the 1838 unofficial race, Alan McDonough in the colours of Mr Preston.

* 20/1 Red Lancer, carrying 10-08 as a debut ride for Lord Strathmore in the colours of Mr Neale.

The following were not quoted by the bookmakers who would list them on their betting boards under the phrase 'Any price these others'. Punters were then invited to ask the bookmaker for a price, which he would then either accept or decline.

* Ballybar, a 7 year old carrying 11-12 for debut rider T Turner in the colours of Mr Robertson.

* Barmaid, a 7 year old carrying 10-08 as a second ride in the race for W Lockwood in his own colours.

* Cavendish, a 7 year old carrying 10-10 as a third ride for twice runner up William Scott in the colours of Mr Walter.

* Clinker a 12 year old carrying 10-07 as a debut ride for Maloney in the colours of Mr Kirkpatrick.

* Cumberland Lassie, an 8 year old carrying 10-04 as a debut ride for J E Maddox in the colours of Mr Smith.

* The False Heir, a 13 year old carrying 11-04 and a debut ride for G Wilson in the colours of Mr Hall.

* Frederick, a 6 year old carrying 11-02 and was the third ride in the race for J Abbott in the colours of Mr Preston.

* Gayhurst, carrying 10-07 as a debut ride for T Wesley in his own colours.

* Grenade, a 6 year old carrying 10-08 as a debut ride for Ratcliff in the colours of Mr Anderson.

* Latitat, carrying 11-00 as a debut ride for Charles Bevill in his own colours.

* Marengo, carrying 11-00 as a sixth ride for P Barker in the colours of Captain Barnett.

* Midnight, a 5 year old carrying 10-10 as a debut ride for W D Gardner in the colours of Mr A Browne

* The Pluralist, cayying 11-04 for debut rider W Denby in the colours of Mr Hall.

* Quicksilver, a 7 year old carrying 10-04 as a debut ride for Rawson in the colours of Colonel Taylor.

* St Ruth, carrying top weight of 12-10 for debut rider Charlie Canavan in the colours of Mr R J Moore.

* Tramp, 7 year old carrying 10-06 as a debut ride for William Archer in the colours of Mr W Hall.

* Valeria, a 6 year old carrying 10-03 as a second race ride for James Dally in the colours of Mr Oaksey.

* Young Lottery, a 5 year old carrying 10-07 for debut rider John Butler in the colours of John Elmore.

The Race

During the first circuit there were several refusals but only Marengo, who fell heavily at the third fence and Cumberland Lassie, who ran out in the vicinity of Anchor Bridge, did not make it back to set off on the second circuit.

"Jerry" led over the water jump and back out into the country the second time where several rivals issued challenges only to refuse or fall. Despite this only Clinker who fell and Red Lancer, who was pulled up were not persevered with.

St Leger led over the final hurdle but was caught and passed on the long run in by Mathew who scored by 1 length with Jerry a further length back in third place. Pioneer was fourth, Culverthorpe fifth, The False Heir sixth and Brunette last of seven officially recorded finishers.

Sixteen other horses have been officially recorded as non finishers as they had not reached the distance judge's chair, positioned beside the plain fence in front of the stands, alongside the elbow, by the time "Brunette" had past the finishing post. In modern times they would still have been classed as finishers and are recorded as passing the post in the following order. Ballybar, Young Lottery, The Pluralist, Frederick, St Ruth, Latitat, Avoca, Cavendish, Midnight, Barmaid, Grenade, Gayhurst, Tramp, Quicksilver, Valeria and last to finish, the favourite The Roarer.

Aftermath

The win has gone down in history as being a hugely popular one among the Irish, bearing in mind that this was at the height of the potato famine in the country. In truth the Irish press largely ignored the race in those days and it was only the wealthy friends of Mr John Courtenay in and around the County Cork area who benefitted from the victory. In actuality Courtenay was considered among the most ruthless of the landowners who were, at this time forcibly evicting their tennants for being unable to meet their rent and as a result the rank and file Irishmen had placed heir support with another Irish entrant "Brunette".

Much of the early history of the Grand National was told many years after the events and often from memory with the result that the winner, "Mathew" appears on the winners board at Aintree carrying the modern spelling of Matthew. The sixth horse "The False Heir" is often recorded as a non finisher while the favourite "The Roarer", along with "Young Lottery" are not recorded as having taken part at all. As a result many modern books and websites state six finishers in a field of twenty-six runners instead of the seven from twenty-eight recorded by the press of the time.

ources

The Irish Newsletter March 4th 1847

The Times March 4th 1847

The Liverpool Mercury March 4th 1847

www.hometown.aol.co.uk/captainbeecher/1847MATHEW.html