We had a surprise winner of the 1856 Grand National as one of the outsiders, Freetrader, would take the contest. He was returned with an SP of 25/1, and considering his exploits 12 months earlier, that SP was definitely a surprise.
He came here on the back of a 2nd placed effort in 1855, but despite a similar weight and similar conditions, he was not fancied to go close again. He certainly proved the bookmakers wrong.
The ground on the day was called good to soft, and from the 21 competitors that started the race, 10 of them were able to complete and finish.
The winning jockey was George Stevens, who was having his first Grand National winner with just his second ride. Little did we know at the time that this would be the start of a very special career, one closely associated with this race.
Stevens eventually became a five-time winning jockey in this race, with further success in 1863, 1864, 1869, and 1870. He would go down as one of the greatest jockeys in his era, and his Grand National record, in particular, has stood the test of time. He’s still one of the race’s greats.
William Holman was the winning trainer, and he’s another who was at the start of his Grand National career. While he didn’t get the same winners as Stevens, he ended with a very respectable record of three wins.
He would win this, his fifth attempt at winning the race, then go on to have further success in 1858 with Little Charley and then in 1860 with Anatis.
A year after this win, Freetrader would return to try and defend his crown. However, he would not be able to complete it, falling with Stevens once again taking the ride. It would be a final Grand National attempt for the horse.
Results
| Result | Horse | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Prize Money | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freetrader | 25/1 | 7 | 9-6 | £720 | George Stevens | William Holman Snr |
| 2 | Minerva | 25/1 | 6 | 9-10 | - | R Sly Jnr | Unknown |
| 3 | Minos | Unknown | Unknown | 9-4 | - | R James | Unknown |
| 4 | Star Of England | 25/1 | 9 | 10-2 | - | Walter White | Unknown |
| 5 | Little Charley | 40/1 | 8 | 9-4 | - | T Burrows | H May |
| 6 | Emigrant | 100/6 | 10 | 10-2 | - | Charles Boyce | Charles Boyce |
| 7 | The Forest Queen | 15/1 | 9 | 10-2 | - | J Thrift | A Fulton |
| 8 | The Potter | 10/1 | 7 | 9-8 | - | Joseph Kendall | S Arnold |
| 9 | Jean Du Quesne | 9/2 | 8 | 10-6 | - | Harry Lamplugh | Harry Lamplugh |
| 10 | Seaman (1) | 7/1 | 8 | 10-4 | - | F Martin | F Martin |
Non Finishers
| Horse | Fence | Reason | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jumpaway | MID 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 25/1 | Unknown | 9-10 | John Hanlon | John Hanlon |
| Stamford | Bechers Brook 2ND CIR | Refused | 15/1 | Unknown | 9-2 | Chris Green | Charles Boyce |
| The Pasha | FNC AFT Valentines Brook 2ND CIR | Fell | 40/1 | Unknown | 10-4 | D Meaney | Davies |
| Harry Lorrequer | Bechers Brook 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 5/1 | 5 | 8-10 | W Fowler | W Fowler |
| Banstead | 2ND FNC 2ND CIR | Fell | 50/1 | 6 | 9-4 | William Bevill | H Boyce |
| Liverpool Boy | MID 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | Unknown | 6 | 9-00 | H McLean | Unknown |
| Victor Emmanuel | 2 | Fell | Unknown | 6 | 9-4 | W Seffert | J Pickering |
| British Yeoman | Anchor Bridge Crossing 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 40/1 | 16 | 9-7 | Alec Goodman | Unknown |
| Dan O'Connell (2) | Canal Side 2ND CIR | Fell | Unknown | Unknown | 9-4 | R Archer | Unknown |
| Sir Peter Laurie | Proceeds's Lane | Ran Out | 12/1 | 14 | 10-12 | Sam Darling Jnr | William Holman Snr |
| Franc Picard | AFT Anchor Bridge Crossing 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | Unknown | 10 | 10-12 | F Wakefield | Harry Lamplugh |