2014 Grand National

An increase in fallers and unseated riders this year from last year. The easier fences resulted in just 8 horses either falling or unseating in 2013 but that number increased to 13 this time around.

The weights were headed by 2 Grade 1 winners marking this down as one of the classiest renewals of the race in years. There was no real plunge horse with bookies going 10/1 the field. Teaforthree and Double Seven would eventually go off 10/1 joint favourites. Teaforthree would go on to unseat his rider at the Chair with Double Seven running a gallant race in 3rd under Tony McCoy.

Across The Bay and Mr Moonshine made the early running, the former was almost carried out by a loose horse after the 16th fence which then handed the initiative to Mr Moonshine who led until 4 out before fading badly to 15th.

Also racing handily were the well fancied pair Balthazar King and Rocky Creek. Both would eventually finish in the top 5, the former never actually led but eventually finished second to the easy winner whilst Rocky Creek put in a remarkable performance considering his inexperience, leading until the approach to the penultimate fence before fading very late on to 5th.

The race was won by 25/1 shot Pineau De Re, giving his trainer Dr Richard Newland a winner of the Grand National at his first attempt. The horse raced in mid division until just after the half way stage when he was allowed to bowl long closer to the pace by rider Leighton Aspell after the 16th fence. Pineau De Re took the lead up 2 out and eventually drew clear to win by a very comfortable 5 lengths. He did make a couple of mistakes with his jumping but none were too serious.
Pineau De Re had finished third in the 3 mile Pertemps hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival just 22 days earlier.
The first 4 home in the 2014 Grand National all carried less than 11 stone with 9 year old Alvarado filling 4th spot carrying just 10-2. The Fergal O'Brien trained runner finished well, coming from 10th to 4th after the final fence. Perhaps the lack of run since January just cost him a bit.

Finishers
1	Pineau De Re	11	10-6	Richard Newland	Leighton Aspell	25/1
2	Balthazar King	10	10-13	Philip Hobbs	Richard Johnson	14/1
3	Double Seven	8	10-11	Martin Brassil	AP McCoy	10/1JF
4	Alvarado	9	10-2	Fergal OBrien	Paul Moloney	33/1
5	Rocky Creek	8	11-5	PaulNicholls	Noel Fehily	16/1
6	Chance Du Roy	10	10-6	Philip Hobbs	Tom OBrien	33/1
7	Monbeg Dude	9	10-9	Michael Scudamore	Paul Carberry	16/1
8	Raz De Maree	9	10-3	Dessie Hughes	Davy Condon	50/1
9	Swing Bill	13	10-1	David Pipe	Conor OFarrell	66/1
10	Kruzhlinin	7	10-6	Donald McCain	Wilson Renwick	100/1
11	Buckers Bridge	8	10-10	Henry De Bromhead	A E Lynch	66/1
12	The Package	11	10-4	David Pipe	Tom Scudamore	14/1
13	Vesper Bell	8	10-5	Willie Mullins	Katie Walsh	40/1
14	Across The Bay	10	10-11	Donald McCain	Henry Brooke	50/1
15	Mr Moonshine	10	10-12	Sue Smith	Ryan Mania	20/1
16	Prince De Beauchene	11	10-10	Willie Mullins	Paul Townend	20/1
17	Hunt Ball	9	11-7	Nicky Henderson	Andrew Tinkler	50/1
18	Hawkes Point	9	10-6	Paul Nicholls	Ryan Mahon	50/1
Did Not Complete:
UR	Our Father	8	10-8	David Pipe	Denis O’Regan	25/1
FELL	Rose Of The Moon	9	10-3	David O’Meara	Jake Greenall	50/1
UR	The Rainbow Hunter	9	10-7	Kim Bailey	Aidan Coleman	25/1
UR	Burton Port	10	10-8	Jonjo O’Neill	Brian Harding	16/1
Fell	Wayward Prince	10	10-13	Hilary Parrot	Jack Doyle	66/1
PU	Lion Na Bearnai	12	10-10	Thomas Gibney	Davy Russell	33/1
PU	Vintage Star	8	10-7	Sue Smith	Brian Hughes	50/1
PU	Walkon	9	11-0	Alan King	Wayne Hutchinson	33/1
UR	Teaforthree	10	10-12	Rebecca Curtis	Nick Scholfield	10/1JF
PU	Shakalakaboomboom	10	10-3	Nicky Henderson	David Bass	16/1
FELL	Mountainous	9	10-7	Richard Lee	Jamie Moore	40/1
RR	Battle Group	9	10-10	Johnny Farrelly	Brendan Powell	40/1
UR	Last Time DAlbain	10	10-2	Liam P Cusack	Robbie Colgan	50/1
PU	Triolo D’Alene	7	11-6	Nicky Henderson	Barry Geraghty	16/1
PU	Colbert Station	10	11-0	Ted Walsh	Mark Walsh	33/1
UR	Twirling Magnet	8	10-5	Jonjo O’Neill	Richie McLernon	100/1
PU	Quito De La Roque	10	11-1	C A Murphy	Brian O’Connell	40/1
FELL	Big Shu	9	10-8	Peter Maher	Peter Buchanan	14/1
FELL	Long Run	9	11-9	Nicky Henderson	Sam Waley-Cohen	12/1
FELL	Golan Way	10	10-5	Tim Vaughan	Michael Byrne	66/1
FELL	One In A Milan	9	10-2	Evan Williams	Adam Wedge	40/1
UR	Tidal Bay	13	11-10	Paul Nicholls	Sam Twiston-Davies	16/1