Having failed to enthuse many with the opening day from 1996's Royal Ascot yesterday, I offer you jump action today! All the 80's Grand Nationals, in full, 1980-1989, 2 hours of nostagia! No betting of course, but imo you don't always need a gamble to enjoy a race. That said, I was on the second in 1980, Rough and Tumble, who looked at the last that he might catch the leader. But didn't!
Some observations having watched all these 20-30 years later. So many horses return to the GN time and again - West Tip and Corbierre 5 times each, Delmoss, Little Polvier, Spartan Missile, Grittar and Zongalero amongst them How chaotic the whole event seemed then, rider-less horses all over the place, leaving the track, then re-entering it again. One poor jock was in the rear, but hugging the rail, when the rail suddenly ended, and a re-entering loose horse side swiped him - he did well to stay on! We now have the no remounting rule, and it's easy to see why. I can't remember the horses names but I saw one remounted at the 4th, only to fall again at the 5th. And one remount went on to finish 4th! The crowds were a lot closer than I think they are today, so that one idiot could duck under the rail and do a weird dance in the face of the oncoming leaders. He ducked back to avoid being trampled, unfortunately. I'd forgotten how many times my selections placed. GN as always been a bit lucky for me, but had quite a few places as well - I cheered them on, but the reults was always the same I even cheered on Spartan Mssile in Alderniti's race who got close but not close enough. And cheered home Rhyme N Reason again, even though I knew he'd win lol
Most of my successes were before the 80s Reebs but I did have 4 winners in the 80s Aldaniti Grittar Hallo Dandy Last Suspect Last Suspect was the most satisfying ever as I told the whole family and all the builders who were building our house (whilst we lived in a mobile home in the grounds) at 66/1 The most frustrating was Ben Nevis (40/1) who I had backed the year before but ignored when it won
