2015 Grand National


The 2015 Grand National was the 168th annual running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase took place on 11 April 2015, the final day of a three-day meeting. A field of 39 runners competed for a share of the £1 million prize fund, and all returned safely to the stables following the race.
The 2015 National was won by Many Clouds, ridden by Leighton Aspell and trained by Oliver Sherwood. This was Aspell's second consecutive Grand National victory, having won aboard Pineau de Re in 2014. Many Clouds is owned by Trevor Hemmings, who also owned the winners in 2005 and 2011.
The race was sponsored by ginger-beer producer Crabbie's for the second year. It was broadcast live on television by Channel 4, which took over the television rights after 2012; and on radio by BBC Radio, which has held the radio rights since 1927, and Talksport, which was covering the race live for the second time.

Race card

Entries for the 2015 Grand National closed on 3 February 2015 and 98 entrants were announced the following day, down from the record 115 that had been received for the 2014 race. Prior to the handicap announcement one horse was scratched, while another was ruled out as unqualified. Handicap weights were announced by the British Horseracing Authority in London on 17 February. A scratching deadline on 3 March saw the total number of horses reduced to 87; the second scratching deadline on 24 March reduced the field to 74. The five-day confirmation stage took place on 6 April and left 65 potential runners, reduced to 40 on 9 April.
One horse, number 14 Carlito Brigante, was subsequently declared a non-runner, reducing the field to 39 – the first time since 2004 that the maximum 40 did not start.
NoColoursHorseAgeHandicap SPJockeyTrainer
1Lord Windermere 911–10Brian O'ConnellJim Culloty
2Many Clouds 811–09Leighton AspellOliver Sherwood
3Unioniste 711–06Noel FehilyPaul Nicholls
4Rocky Creek 911–03Sam Twiston-DaviesPaul Nicholls
5First Lieutenant 1011–03Ms. Nina CarberryMouse Morris
6Balthazar King 1111–02Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs
7Shutthefrontdoor 811–02Tony McCoyJonjo O'Neill
8Pineau de Re 1211–00Daryl JacobRichard Newland
9Ballycasey 810–13Ruby WalshWillie Mullins
10Spring Heeled 810–12Nick ScholfieldJim Culloty
11Rebel Rebellion 1010–12Ryan MahonPaul Nicholls
12Dolatulo 810–11Dougie CostelloWarren Greatrex
13Mon Parrain 910–11Sean BowenPaul Nicholls
14Non-RunnerN/AN/AN/AN/A
15Night in Milan 910–09James ReveleyKeith Reveley
16Rubi Light 1010–09Andrew LynchRobert Hennessy
17The Druids Nephew 810–09Aidan ColemanNeil Mulholland
18Cause of Causes 710–09Paul CarberryGordon Elliott
19Godsmejudge 910–08Wayne HutchinsonAlan King
20Al Co 1010–08Denis O'ReganPeter Bowen
21Monbeg Dude 1010–07Liam TreadwellMichael Scudamore
22Corrin Wood 810–07David CaseyDonald McCain
23The Rainbow Hunter1110–07David BassKim Bailey
24Saint Are 910–06Paddy BrennanTom George
25Across the Bay 1110–06Henry BrookeDonald McCain
26Tranquil Sea 1310–05Gavin SheehanWarren Greatrex
27Oscar Time 1410–05Mr. Sam Waley-CohenRobert Waley-Cohen
28Bob Ford 810–04Paul TownendRebecca Curtis
29Super Duty 910–04Will KennedyIan Williams
30Wyck Hill 1110–04Tom CannonDavid Bridgwater
31Gas Line Boy 910–04James BestPhilip Hobbs
32Chance Du Roy 1110–04Tom O'BrienPhilip Hobbs
33Portrait King 1010–03Davy CondonMaurice Phelan
34Owega Star 810–03Robbie PowerPeter Fahey
35River Choice 1210–03David CottinRichard Chotard
36Court by Surprise 1010–03Richie McLernonEmma Lavelle
37Alvarado 1010–03Paul MoloneyFergal O'Brien
38Soll1010–02Tom ScudamoreDavid Pipe
39Ely Brown 1010–02Jonathan BurkeCharlie Longsdon
40Royale Knight910–02Brendan PowellRichard Newland

Robbie McNamara was due to ride Lord Windermere but withdrew due to injury.

Race overview

The race saw a larger than usual number of fallers on the first lap, including the favoured Balthazar King, whose fall at the Canal Turn led to the field being diverted around that fence on the final lap. Jockey Ruby Walsh helped stewards alert the field to the diversion. Balthazar King suffered broken ribs in the fall.
Many eyes were on Tony McCoy on the favourite Shutthefrontdoor on what was his last Grand National. He told the media he would retire immediately after the race if he won but his mount ran out of stamina on the home turn and eventually finished fifth.
It was left to Many Clouds, ridden by Leighton Aspell, to come through to win the race. Aspell became the first rider to win successive Nationals since Brian Fletcher rode Red Rum to victory in 1973 and 1974. Saint Are finished second, with Monbeg Dude third, and Alvarado fourth for the second time. Pineau de Re, the previous year's winner and now ridden by Daryl Jacob, finished 12th.

Finishing order

Nineteen runners completed the course as follows:
PositionHorseJockeySPDistancePrize money
1stMany CloudsLeighton AspellWon by lengths£561,300
2ndSaint ArePaddy Brennan6 lengths£211,100
3rdMonbeg DudeLiam Treadwell lengths£105,500
4thAlvaradoPaul Moloney lengths£52,700
5thShutthefrontdoorTony McCoy F lengths£26,500
6thRoyale KnightBrendan Powell10 lengths£13,200
7thTranquil SeaGavin Sheehan lengths£6,800
8thCause of CausesPaul Carberry14 lengths£3,600
9thSollTom Scudamore10 lengths£2,000
10thChance Du RoyTom O'Brien5 lengths£1,000
11thMon ParrainSean Bowen lengths-
12thPineau de ReDaryl Jacob6 lengths-
13thOwega StarRobbie Power25 lengths-
14thSpring HeeledNick Scholfield lengths-
15thOscar TimeMr. Sam Waley-Cohen lengths-
16thFirst LieutenantMs. Nina Carberry5 lengths-
17thRocky CreekSam Twiston-Davies lengths-
18thNight in MilanJames Reveley lengths-
19thDolatuloDougie CostelloLast to complete-

Non-finishers

Broadcasting and media

With Clare Balding unavailable to present Channel 4's coverage, due to her BBC commitments as The Boat Race was unusually held on the same day, Nick Luck therefore led the coverage, being the first male lead presenter of the race since 1999. Luck's usual role of anchoring the event from the trackside studio was filled by Emma Spencer, supported by Jim McGrath and Graham Cunningham. Reports were provided by Mick Fitzgerald and Alice Plunkett and betting updates by Tanya Stevenson and Brian Gleeson. To broaden the scope of its coverage, flat racing jockey Frankie Dettori joined the team as a guest reporter for race day and more emphasis was placed on style and fashion of racegoers and celebrities, with fashion expert Gok Wan presenting segments on both race day and the preceding 'Ladies Day' on the festival meeting.
The commentary team was by Richard Hoiles, Ian Bartlett and Simon Holt, who called the winner home for the third time. Following the race, Spencer, Fitzgerald and Hoiles guided viewers on a fence-by-fence analysis of the race.
Further Channel 4 programming in the build-up to the race included special editions of chatshow Alan Carr: Chatty Man and Sunday Brunch, the latter being shown under the title of Weekend Brunch, with segments of the programme coming direct from Aintree.
The BBC continued an unbroken run of 83 consecutive renewals of the race to be broadcast live on radio, dating back to 1927. The race was part of its 5 Live Sport broadcast, presented by Mark Pougatch with pre-race build-up from former National riders Andrew Thornton and Luke Harvey. Cornelius Lysaght interviewed connections in the ring and Rob Nothman provided market updates. The commentary team for the race itself was Malcolm Tomlinson, Darren Owen, Gary O'Brien and John Hunt, who called the finish.