Grudon

The winner of the 1901 Grand National was Grudon, a horse who had been at the race twice before, and while he completed every time, he wasn’t able to get in the frame. However, 1901 would change things for him, as he would come out on top.

Conditions took centre stage really in this particular year. It wasn’t really a case of who was the best horse, but instead, which horse was tough enough to last it out and succeed in the conditions.

That was Gruden, he had a love for the test, relished how things went, and perhaps equally as important, he had course experience, and knew his way around Aintree.

Many of his rivals in the race would fall. Conditions were simply too tough, but Grudon was able to steer clear of those around him who were struggling to get over the fences.

In the closing stages, Grudon would have enough left to take up the lead, and from then on, he was in front and ahead of the rest, claiming a win in this race for the third time of asking.

Earlier in his career, he would visit Aintree in 1898 first and finished 7^th in the Grand National that year. Two years after, and one year before his win, in 1900, he would visit the race again, and this time he would go one better to finish 6^th.

Finally, a note about the breeding angle of this win. Grudon’s dam was the same as Shannon Lass’ dam, who won the race the year after this in 1902. I can only assume at the time that there was a lot of talk around the dam, and plenty were looking to try and breed with her while they could, given the success she had produced with back-to-back Grand National winners.

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