Three times a legend

This year’s Grand National marks the 50th anniversary of Red Rum’s first win. Jack Watkins explains why we may never see his like again

- Jack Watkins

IN 2007, Red Rum came top of an Ipsos-Mori poll that asked the public to name Britain’s most famous horse. It was 12 years after his death and 30 after his third and last Grand National victory, but he finished well ahead of the fictional Black Beauty and the ill-fated 1981 Derby winner, Shergar. It would be interesting to see the outcome of a repeat poll today. Tiger Roll, the first winner of back-to-back Grand Nationals since Red Rum (in 2019 and 2020), might barely register a blip by comparison.

This is partly owing to a shrinking awareness of racing among the wider public and partly because Tiger Roll resides in Ireland, but it is down to the special charisma of ‘Rummy’ and his remarkable story, too. It is also, perhaps, a recognition of the especially thrilling and demanding nature of the Grand National in the 1970s, in comparison with the reduced, albeit still captivating, spectacle and test of today.

Yet there were mixed emotions when Red Rum first won 50 years ago. It’s often forgotten that the true hero of the 1973 renewal was the valiant runner-up, Crisp. This huge steeplechaser from Australia had been speedy enough to win the two-mile Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 1971 and had enough stamina to finish fifth in the 1972 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Crisp, saddled with the top weight of 12st in the 1973 National, was made 9-1 joint favourite with Red Rum, who was carrying 23lb less.