2 minutes 1997 - Lord Gyllene wins the 'Monday National'
We are now just ten days away from the 2024 Grand National and as excitement builds towards the latest renewal of the world’s greatest steeplechase we begin our countdown from ten to one of the most memorable moments in the race’s long history.
10 - The Monday National
Year: 1997
Winner: Lord Gyllene
Odds: 14/1
The 1997 Grand National was originally scheduled for 3:45pm on Saturday 5th April. However, with excitement beginning to build towards the race, Aintree Racecourse was evacuated following two bomb threats made by the IRA (Provisional Irish Republican Army). During a time of heightened tension between the IRA and the UK, a call was made at 2:49pm warning of at least one device planted at the racecourse before a second call to the police control room at 2:52pm.
A crowd in excess of 60,000 was completely evacuated from Aintree Racecourse and with vehicles remaining locked within the confines of the venue this left approximately 20,000 racegoers completely stranded on Merseyside.
The race was rescheduled for Monday 7th April and despite expecting a crowd of under 10,000 to attend, racing fans turned out in their masses with more than 20,000 spectators in attendance.
The Race
Bottom weight, Go Ballistic went off as 7/1 race favourite following a solid run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup one month earlier. However, he would struggle throughout and was pulled up just before the 29th fence.
Under the ride of jockey, Tony Dobbin, the New Zealand-bred Lord Gyllene would leqad from start to finish to triumph by 25 lengths for trainer, Steve Brookshaw. Suny Bay (8/1) and Camelot Knight (100/1) rounded off the top three. Camelot Knight’s jockey, Carl Llewellyn would return twelve months later to triumph on board Earth Summit.
Finishing Positions
| Position | Name | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lord Gyllene | 14/1 |
| 2nd | Suny Bay | 8/1 |
| 3rd | Camelot Knight | 100/1 |
| 4th | Buckboard Bounce | 40/1 |
| 5th | Master Oats | 25/1 |
| 6th | Avro Anson | 12/1 |
| 7th | Killeshin | 33/1 |
| 8th | Dakyns Boy | 100/1 |
| 9th | Nahthen Lad | 14/1 |
| 10th | Valiant Warrior | 33/1 |
| 11th | Antonin | 14/1 |
| 12th | Northern Hide | 66/1 |
| 13th | Turning Trix | 25/1 |
| 14th | Pink Gin | 100/1 |
| 15th | New Co | 40/1 |
| 16th | General Wolfe | 16/1 |
| 17th | Evangelica | 33/1 |
Non-Finishers
| Fence | Name | Starting Price | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Full of Oats | 33/1 | Fell |
| 7th | Back Bar | 100/1 | Brought Down |
| 7th | Glemot | 50/1 | Unseated Rider |
| 11th | Nuaffe | 100/1 | Fell |
| 13th | Don't Light Up | 100/1 | Unseated Rider |
| 14th | Straight Talk | 50/1 | Fell |
| 15th | Celtic Abbey | 66/1 | Unseated rider |
| 20th | Smith's Band | 12/1 | Fell |
| 21st | Mugoni Beach | 100/1 | Pulled up |
| 21st | River Mandate | 50/1 | Pulled up |
| 21st | Scribbler | 100/1 | Pulled up |
| 22nd | Spuffington | 100/1 | Unseated rider |
| 22nd | Wylde Hide | 11-01 | Unseated rider |
| 27th | Dextra Dove | 33/1 | Pulled up |
| 27th | Grange Brake | 100/1 | Refused |
| 27th | Feathered Gale | 16/1 | Pulled up |
| 27th | Lo Stregone | 14/1 | Pulled up |
| 29th | Bishops Hall | 50/1 | Pulled up |
| 29th | Go Ballistic | 7/1 F | Pulled up |
A Countdown Of The Greatest Grand National Moments
10. The Monday National (1997)
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