As we all know, few pre-race favourites actually win the Grand National. In fact, you can practically count them on two hands.
Not only was Grittar the 1982 favourite, but he was also owned and trained by the same man – Frank H Gilman.
What made the win even more remarkable was that he was ridden by amateur jockey Dick Saunders, who, at the age of 48, is still the oldest person to have ridden a Grand National winner.
So how exactly did all of these events, any of which on their own would be remarkable, come together to create the perfect set of circumstances in which Grittar flourished on April 3rd 1982?
Great Form = Great Weight
Grittar's solid form hadn't escaped the eyes of the Handicapper, who, after wins in the Cheltenham and Liverpool Foxhunters, lumbered him with 11-05.
That didn't stop Gilman who decided Grittar should be entered in the National the following year. In preparation for the National, he won at Leicester before finishing a solid sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
It's also why he went off on odds of 7/1 on the day despite the age and status of his jockey, which did little to deter the public from backing him.
Amateur jockey Dick Saunders thought he should have a professional rider and suggested Peter Scudamore but Gilman had other ideas and said, “if he runs then you ride” little knowing Saunders was set to become the oldest jockey to ever win the race.
How The 1982 Race Unfolded
On April 3, 1982, Grittar lined up alongside 38 other horses for the 136th running of the Grand National.
As the field set off Grittar settled into a steady rhythm as the notorious Aintree fences took their toll on the rest of the field, with many horses falling or being pulled up.
Saunders employed a clever strategy known as the “Fred Winter” run, staying on the inside where the drops on landing are steeper than elsewhere.
As the race progressed, Grittar began to assert his dominance. Coming into the final stretch, he found himself comfortably in the lead.
Hard Outlook mounted a challenge, but Grittar's superior stamina and jumping ability proved too much, and he crossed the finish line 15 lengths ahead of his nearest rival.
50/1 outsider Hard Outlook finished second, with Loving Words finishing a distant third. The winning time of 9 minutes and 12.6 seconds was the second-fastest in the race's history up to that point, behind only Red Rum's 1973 victory.
In all, only eight horses finished the race the last of which was Cheers, ridden by Geraldine Rees, the female jockey to ride in the race.
Two More Attempts
Grittar was known for his unique personality. Described as “awkward to break in” and “bloody-minded at times,” he had a reputation for being a challenging horse.
However, these traits may have contributed to his toughness and determination on the racecourse.
Jockey Dick Saunders retired immediately after the race and went on to become Chairman of the Aintree Stewards.
After his Grand National triumph, Grittar continued to race for two more seasons. However, he often found himself carrying top weight in handicaps, making victories more challenging to achieve.
In the 1983 Grand National, he started as the favourite again, carrying joint top weight of 11st 12lb. Ridden by Paul Barton, he finished a respectable fifth behind Corbiere.
In 1984, he returned to Aintree for his third and final Grand National attempt. Ridden by the legendary John Francome, he completed the course, finishing tenth behind Hallo Dandy.
This performance demonstrated his consistency and durability, traits that had served him so well throughout his career.
Grittar's Grand National victory stands as a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the world's most famous steeplechase.
His win, achieved through the combined efforts of a talented horse, a skilled amateur jockey, and a dedicated owner-trainer, continues to be remembered fondly by racing enthusiasts.
Grittar died aged 25 in Leicestershire where he spent most of his life with his late owner and trainer Gilman.
Dick Saunders paying tribute to the National winner, said he was a “wonderful character and a great horse to place at those big Aintree fences”.
