If you grew up with the Grand National as a spring ritual, 1988 still feels very Aintree. Britain was deep into the Thatcher years, Liverpool were on their way to another First Division title, and Grandstand shaped many a Saturday afternoon.
The year would later be remembered for tragedy with Piper Alpha in July and Lockerbie in December, while March brought the merger of the SDP and Liberals. But on Saturday 9 April, the country’s attention was fixed on Aintree and a National that packed a season’s drama into fewer than ten minutes.
The Set-up
Officially the Seagram Grand National, the 142nd running went to post on good to soft ground. Forty faced the starter. Sacred Path headed the market at 17/2, while Rhyme ’n’ Reason was a widely fancied 10/1 chance for David Elsworth and Brendan Powell.
He arrived with proper credentials. He had won the Irish Grand National three years earlier, lifted the Racing Post Chase in January, and was going well in the Gold Cup before falling four out. Plenty felt the Aintree test, where rhythm and stamina are everything, would suit him down to the ground.
The supporting cast brought familiar storylines. West Tip, the 1986 hero, returned once more. Durham Edition, all grit and honesty, had the profile National fans respect. Lean Ar Aghaidh, third in 1987, was back with unfinished business. Everything pointed to a clean, searching test over those famous 30 fences.
The Race
From the very first obstacle you knew it would be lively. Sacred Path, the favourite, got no further than the first fence. Even at Aintree it is unusual for a market leader to bow out before the race has drawn breath, and the early shape changed in an instant.
The defining moment came five fences later at Becher’s Brook. Rhyme ’n’ Reason met it wrong, splayed on landing and almost sat down. For a heartbeat it looked over. Powell somehow kept the partnership together, gathered him up and let the horse find his stride again.
By the time they reached the Canal Turn and headed out into the country, the 10/1 chance had gone from a handy early spot to last, with a mountain to climb and two long miles to do it.
What followed was measured, patient riding. Powell resisted the urge to chase. He allowed Rhyme ’n’ Reason to recover, crept past beaten horses, and arrived at Becher’s second time as a live contender.
The second circuit then took its toll, as it so often does. Strands of Gold came down when still travelling. Course Hunter made a costly blunder. Little Polveir had taken it up and was still travelling well before unseating.
Rhyme ’n’ Reason inherited the lead at the 26th but was headed at the second-last. That was Durham Edition coming to win his race, a proper stayer who rarely ran a bad one.
Turning for home, you would have forgiven Powell for thinking the Becher’s scare had emptied the tank. Instead, his partner dug in again. Over the last they were close enough. On the run-in Rhyme ’n’ Reason lengthened, reeled in Durham Edition and went away.
Four lengths at the line, job done in 9 minutes 53.5 seconds. Monanore was eight lengths back in third, and West Tip, dependable as ever, stayed on for fourth. Only nine of the forty finished, which tells you plenty about the test.
Why It Mattered
Aintree always rewards resilience, and 1988 delivered a textbook case. The image of Rhyme ’n’ Reason almost sitting down at Becher’s then somehow recovering to win is why this one stays in the mind. Plenty have survived Becher’s. Not many have done that, dropped to last, then climbed back to take the prize.
It was a landmark day for Powell, who judged both pace and horse to perfection, and a feather in the cap for Elsworth, already a top-class trainer and a master at preparing a horse for a big afternoon.
The colours of owner Juliet Reed were part of many racing memories in that era, and they were out in front when it mattered most.
There was, however, a sting in the tail. The Becher’s incident had consequences. Rhyme ’n’ Reason was found to have fractured a hock, almost certainly at that fence. He underwent surgery the next day and did not race again. National winners often come back to defend, and it is hard not to wonder what he might have done twelve months later.
The Bare Facts
- Date: Saturday 9 April 1988. Official title: Seagram Grand National.
- Going: good to soft. Time: 9m 53.5s.
- Runners: 40.
- Finishers: 9.
- Winner: Rhyme ’n’ Reason, a nine-year-old carrying 11st, trained by David Elsworth, ridden by Brendan Powell, returned at 10/1.
- Distances: four lengths to Durham Edition, then eight to Monanore, West Tip fourth. Favourite Sacred Path fell at the first.
Where it sits in National history
Every era has its Aintree snapshots. For the late eighties you could point to West Tip’s longevity, Little Polveir gaining redemption with victory in 1989, and Mr Frisk’s record time in 1990. Nestled among them is Rhyme ’n’ Reason, the horse who nearly bowed out at Becher’s yet found a way to win.
Durham Edition returned in 1990 and finished second again, the sort of admirable Aintree regular who helps define the race for a generation. West Tip’s fourth place felt like bumping into an old friend. He strung together a remarkable sequence of Nationals and always seemed to be there when the cameras picked up the leading group late on.
If you are building a Grand National scrapbook, the 1988 edition earns a full page. The form book shows the places and prices. The film shows Powell lifting his partner off the floor and timing the run-in with cool hands. That is the essence of this race. It rewards the brave horse, the calm ride and the trainer who produces one ready for the day that matters.
For regulars of this blog, 1988 needs little gloss. It was a proper Aintree contest, run at a proper Aintree pace, on a day when the sport gave the country something to cheer that was not politics or grim headlines. In a year remembered for highs and very deep lows, Rhyme ’n’ Reason found a sliver of light in early April and made it his own.
