Corbiere – 1983 Grand National Winner for Jenny Pitman

Corbiere, foaled in 1975 in the UK by M Parkhill, was sired by Harwell out of dam Bally Cashen.

As a chestnut gelding, Corbiere had a reddish-brown coat, a striking colour in thoroughbred racing, and showed great potential from an early age.

Corbiere was owned by the Burrough brewing family who named him after a lighthouse located near their home in the Channel Islands who sent him to be trained by Jenny Pitman from the age of three.

By the time he was seven years old he was becoming established a bonafide long-distance chaser and headed to Chepstow for the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in December 1982.

With jockey Ben de Haan on board, it was a tough race run on soft ground, but his training paid off as he pipped Pilot Officer to the finish line in a thrilling close finish.

This victory was significant not only because it showcased Corbiere's stamina and jumping ability, but also because it solidified his status as a strong contender for the Grand National at Aintree.

However, his prep season wasn't over just yet as he headed to, and won at Doncaster, before making his way to the Cheltenham Festival where he placed second in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup.

With all the signs looking good it was time for connections to turn their attention to Aintree.

1983 Grand National

The race took place on April 9, 1983, under soft going conditions, which suited Corbiere well.

Despite carrying a significant weight of 11 stone 4 pounds, he started as the fifth favourite with odds of 13/1.

Partnered with Ben de Haan once again, from the start, Corbiere positioned himself prominently and was always among the leaders, showcasing his bold jumping and steady pace.

Corbiere stayed close to the front, navigating the early fences with ease in a race that saw several fallers, including notable entries like Grittar, the previous year's winner.

As the race progressed, Corbiere began to dispute the lead with Hallo Dandy until the rival eventually dropped back two fences from home.

Two fences out and Corbiere seized a clear lead. Despite a strong challenge from the Irish horse Greasepaint, ridden by Colin Magnier, Corbiere maintained his advantage.

In the final 100 yards, Greasepaint closed in, but Corbiere surged ahead again to win by three-quarters of a length.

Four More Nationals

Raised ten pounds for the 1984 National, any punter who knew about form would have realised that Hallo Dandy who had finished well in fourth in 1983 on unfavourably soft ground would do well on his preferred ground, having only been raised one pound to a tiny ten stone two pounds.

He was well backed at 13-1, while Corbiere stood at 16-1. Corbiere managed to come home third, just behind Greasepaint, but Hallo Dandy was the winner by four lengths.

The 1985 National saw Corbiere treated equally harshly in his handicapping with just four pounds less than the previous year, making him one of only two horses above eleven stone in a field of forty.

He jumped flawlessly under Peter Scudamore who had taken over from the injured De Haan, but his twenty-five pound disadvantage saw him finish in third.

Back again in 1986, he fell at the fourth fence during his fourth attempt at the race and his fifth effort in 1987, as a twelve year old saw him finish twelfth.

It was a remarkable achievement to run in five consecutive Grand Nationals and even though he only won once, his legacy has become more and more appreciated in more recent years given that so few horses have run in as many renewals.

Making History

Corbiere’s victory was not just a testament to his stamina and jumping prowess but also to the expert training of Jenny Pitman, who became the first woman to train a Grand National winner.

Pitman, an avid horse woman, was just fourteen months old when she was first put on a pony.

She went on to prove herself a prolific trainer and in 1997 became the only trainer other than Martin Pipe to win all of the big four Grand Nationals, when Mudahim won the Irish Grand National.

She knew she had a winner in Corbiere when he was the only horse to keep running in a hailstorm, but it was his win in a Nottingham bumper and subsequent win the Welsh National at Chepstow that convinced her she had a had a Grand National runner on her hands.

Not only was she right then but she also went on to win a second time with Royal Athlete in 1995, which was even more special given that her horse Esha Ness was first past the post in the void National of 1993.

But it is her legacy as Corbiere's trainer that has brought her the greatest recognition. Other than Manifesto in 1895 and Red Rum in the 1970s, no other horse has run in five back-to-back Grand Nationals.