Forbra

Forbra’s win in the 1932 Grand National remains one of the race’s underdog stories. Sent to the race for the first time this year, he was unfancied, not expected to enjoy the test that the race brought, and due to that, was sent off as a 50/1 outsider in the betting market.

Ridden by jockey Tim Hamey and trained by Tom Rimell, the seven-year-old gelding had shown promise earlier that year, running behind Golden Miller when that horse was disqualified, so technically beating him, a great at this particular time of racing.

This was Forbra’s first Grand National appearance, but he returned for more the following two years, and this formed part of an excellent overall racing career.

The horse actually never fell during his racing career. Having three runs in the Grand National and not falling is good enough alone, but when you factor in that he never fell anywhere else, it’s even more impressive.

He placed 6^th in 1933 when trying to defend his crown at Aintree, running with over a stone more in weight on his back, so it was definitely a much tougher task. Twelve months later, his last Grand National run would come in 1934, when he would finish 4^th. A year later, in 1935, he would break a fetlock on the course at Newbury, which would sadly end his life.

It was a real underdog story of years gone by and an incredibly consistent runner who proved to be an excellent jumper of fences time and time again.

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