Shifnal

When Shifnal won the Grand National in 1878, just 12 runners went to post. While that seems remarkable now, based on the current race, it was pretty common for the time, when the Grand National had yet to fully grow into the race and horse racing in general wasn’t as popular.

Claiming the race, Shifnal would be running in the race for the third time, which would become a total of four runs in the race afterwards.

This was his only win in the contest, after finishing 3^rd place in 1876 and 9^th in 1877. He would return in 1880, so two years after his victory, but would be pulled up and unable to finish the race, the one and only time that happened for him.

Looking at his win, the horse would come away in the closing stages to win by a distance of two lengths. He returned with an SP of 100/15, so was fancied in the market by punters, probably because of his previous third in the race, and the experience he had built up.

The horse was trained by John Nightingall for most of his career, and he was in charge of the horse when he won this race. He was ridden by John Jones, a talented rider at the time, though this would be his only Grand National win. Nightingall would have more success.

Four runs in total in the Grand National for Shifnal, with a win and third-place finish the best of those.

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