Well To Do

Well To Do was a British-bred chestnut horse who would go on to have Grand National success in 1972. The horse was both trained and owned by Tim Forster, who would become a Grand National legend with three total wins as a trainer in the race, this horse provided him with his first.

When Well To Do went to the Grand National in 1972, it was his first run, it would also be his last. The horse was bought for just £750 as a three-year-old and won back £25,000 in prize money from the Grand National alone.

The story of why Forster became the horse’s owner is sad, yet it shows how good he was at picking out a horse. Well To Do was one of five runners under the same owner who would sadly die. The horses needed to be moved on, but Forster was allowed to keep one as his own, and he chose Well To Do.

Initially, the horse was not thought of as a Grand National prospect, but Forster was persuaded to enter him. Shortly after entering him, the horse would go and win the four-mile chase at the Cheltenham Festival, proving both his quality and stamina ahead of the big day at Aintree.

Graham Thorner, a very positive jockey booking, rode Well To Do. When that information was released, the horse’s odds went from 33/1 to 14/1, such was the positivity around Thorner.

Well To Do would take up the race at the final flight and kick on again at the elbow. He would record a winning distance of two lengths, with the low weight on his back a big advantage against those trying to catch him.

Well To Do’s Big Race Wins

Forster rarely put Well To Do into the top-quality races throughout his career. He certainly wasn’t highly tried.

The Grand National is the stand-out big win of his career. While winning the four-mile chase at the Cheltenham Festival en route to the Grand National, he would have to be seen as his second, though a much lower-quality contest.

Full Results