The 2015 Grand National (officially known as the 2015 Crabbie's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) 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 (st–lb)SPJockeyTrainer1Lord Windermere (IRE)911–10Brian O'ConnellJim Culloty (IRE)2Many Clouds (IRE)811–09Leighton AspellOliver Sherwood3Unioniste (FRA)711–06Noel FehilyPaul Nicholls4Rocky Creek (IRE)911–03Sam Twiston-DaviesPaul Nicholls5First Lieutenant (IRE)1011–03 Ms. Nina CarberryMouse Morris (IRE)6Balthazar King (IRE)1111–02Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs7Shutthefrontdoor (IRE)811–02Tony McCoyJonjo O'Neill (IRE)8Pineau de Re (FRA)1211–00Daryl JacobRichard Newland9Ballycasey (IRE)810–13Ruby WalshWillie Mullins (IRE)10Spring Heeled (IRE)810–12Nick ScholfieldJim Culloty (IRE)11Rebel Rebellion (IRE)1010–12Ryan MahonPaul Nicholls12Dolatulo (FRA)810–11Dougie CostelloWarren Greatrex13Mon Parrain (FRA)910–11Sean BowenPaul Nicholls14Non-RunnerN/AN/AN/AN/A15Night in Milan (IRE)910–09James ReveleyKeith Reveley16Rubi Light (IRE)1010–09Andrew LynchRobert Hennessy (IRE)17The Druids Nephew (IRE)810–09Aidan ColemanNeil Mulholland18Cause of Causes (USA)710–09Paul CarberryGordon Elliott (IRE)19Godsmejudge (IRE)910–08Wayne HutchinsonAlan King20Al Co (FRA)1010–08Denis O'ReganPeter Bowen21Monbeg Dude (IRE)1010–07Liam TreadwellMichael Scudamore22Corrin Wood (IRE)810–07David CaseyDonald McCain23The Rainbow Hunter1110–07David BassKim Bailey24Saint Are (FRA)910–06Paddy BrennanTom George25Across the Bay (IRE)1110–06Henry BrookeDonald McCain26Tranquil Sea (IRE)1310–05Gavin SheehanWarren Greatrex27Oscar Time (IRE)1410–05Mr. Sam Waley-CohenRobert Waley-Cohen28Bob Ford (IRE)810–04Paul TownendRebecca Curtis29Super Duty (IRE)910–04Will KennedyIan Williams30Wyck Hill (IRE)1110–04Tom CannonDavid Bridgwater31Gas Line Boy (IRE)910–04James BestPhilip Hobbs32Chance Du Roy (FRA)1110–04Tom O'BrienPhilip Hobbs33Portrait King (IRE)1010–03Davy CondonMaurice Phelan (IRE)34Owega Star (IRE)810–03Robbie PowerPeter Fahey (IRE)35River Choice (FRA)1210–03David CottinRichard Chotard (FRA)36Court by Surprise (FRA)1010–03Richie McLernonEmma Lavelle37Alvarado (FRA)1010–03Paul Moloney Fergal O'Brien38Soll1010–02Tom ScudamoreDavid Pipe39Ely Brown (IRE)1010–02Jonathan BurkeCharlie Longsdon40Royale Knight910–02Brendan PowellRichard Newland Great Britain unless stated. Amateur jockeys denoted by preceding title, e.g. Mr.

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 (whose horse Ballycasey was brought down) 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 money1stMany CloudsLeighton AspellWon by lengths£561,3002ndSaint ArePaddy Brennan6 lengths£211,1003rdMonbeg DudeLiam Treadwell lengths£105,5004thAlvaradoPaul Moloney lengths£52,7005thShutthefrontdoorTony McCoy F lengths£26,5006thRoyale KnightBrendan Powell10 lengths£13,2007thTranquil SeaGavin Sheehan lengths£6,8008thCause of CausesPaul Carberry14 lengths£3,6009thSollTom Scudamore10 lengths£2,00010thChance Du RoyTom O'Brien5 lengths£1,00011thMon ParrainSean Bowen lengths12thPineau de ReDaryl Jacob6 lengths13thOwega StarRobbie Power25 lengths14thSpring HeeledNick Scholfield lengths15thOscar TimeMr. Sam Waley-Cohen lengths16thFirst LieutenantMs. Nina Carberry5 lengths17thRocky CreekSam Twiston-Davies lengths18thNight in MilanJames Reveley lengths19thDolatuloDougie CostelloLast to complete

Non-finishers FenceHorseJockeySPFate1Ely BrownBrian Hughes100/1Fell1Gas Line BoyJames Best66/1Fell1Al CoDenis O'Regan18/1Unseated rider3 (open ditch)Rubi LightAndrew Lynch50/1Unseated rider4Corrin WoodDavid Casey66/1Pulled up5UnionisteNoel Fehily16/1Fell6 (Becher's Brook)River ChoiceDavid Cottin100/1Fell8 (Canal Turn)Balthazar KingRichard Johnson17/2Fell8 (Canal Turn)BallycaseyRuby Walsh25/1Brought down19Court by SurpriseRichie McLernon33/1Pulled up25 (Valentine's)Across the BayHenry Brooke33/1Pulled up25 (Valentine's)Super DutyWill Kennedy66/1Pulled up25 (Valentine's)Lord WindermereBrian O'Connell33/1Pulled up26The Rainbow HunterDavid Bass33/1Fell26The Druids NephewAidan Coleman10/1Fell27 (open ditch)Rebel RebellionRyan Mahon33/1Pulled up28 (ditch)Portrait KingDavy Condon50/1Fell29GodsmejudgeWayne Hutchinson18/1Pulled up29Wyck HillTom Cannon66/1Pulled up29Bob FordPaul Townend50/1Pulled up

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.

See also Horseracing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races

References

External links