The 1968 Grand National was a real test for those taking part, with heavy ground adding more to the natural test that this course and race offered to participants. Just six of the 21 runners were able to complete the course, and they were led home by The Lamb.
He would win the race at odds of 10/1 and recorded a winning distance of two lengths, with Pearl Driver back in second place, unable to catch him.
The Lamb was having his first run in the Grand National here, and he would become a dual winner of the race later in time. He would be away but come back to run in the 1871 Grand National, which he won three years after lifting this first title. A third run would come in 1872, with a lot more weight on his back, and he was a very respectable fourth place in that event.
The winning trainer was Ben Land Snr, who was having his one and only win in the Grand National here after plenty of attempts. This would come towards the end of his career, and he would have a total of 10 Grand National runners. You could certainly say he deserved a win as before this. He had finished second twice and third once, so he had been close.
The winning rider was George Ede, who was also having his first Grand National win here. He had nine rides in the race, and like the trainer, he got his winner towards the end of his career.
There is no record of why The Lamb did not compete in the 1869 and 1870 races, but had he been able to compete in those during his prime, he could well have been a horse that had more than two wins to his name.
Results
| Result | Horse | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Prize Money | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lamb | 10/1 | 6 | 10-7 | £1570 | George Ede | Ben Land Snr |
| 2 | Pearl Diver | 9/1 | 8 | 10-12 | - | Kaye Tomlinson | A Cowley |
| 3 | Alcibiade | 100/6 | 8 | 11-10 | - | Col George Knox | C Cornell |
| 4 | Captain Crosstree | 33/1 | Unknown | 10-5 | - | William Reeves | William Reeves |
| 5 | Astrolabe | 25/1 | 8 | 12-00 | - | Alfred French | J Cassidy |
| 6 | Helen | 10/1 | 7 | 10-1 | - | Alec Goodman | G Palmer |
Non Finishers
| Horse | Fence | Reason | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buszke | Valentines Brook 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 40/1 | Unknown | 12-00 | Count Szapary | Unknown |
| Daisy | Valentines Brook 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 11/1 | 9 | 11-7 | Tommy Pickernell | J Purnell |
| Slieve Carne | 1 | Refused | 50/1 | 5 | 10-00 | G Pritchard | Unknown |
| Fan | 3 | Refused | 10/1 | 6 | 10-6 | A Thorpe | G Palmer |
| Kingswood | Water Jump | Fell | Unknown | 6 | 10-12 | P Gilroy | Unknown |
| Thalassius | Bechers Brook 1ST CIR | Fell | 40/1 | 6 | 10-00 | Hiram Crawshaw | Chris Green |
| Huntsman's Daughter | LATE 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 100/6 | 8 | 10-12 | George Holman | William Holman Snr |
| Moose | LATE 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 8/1 | 8 | 10-7 | Walter White | A Cowley |
| Garus | Bechers Brook 1ST CIR | Refused | 33/1 | 10 | 10-12 | Johnny Page | Harry Lamplugh |
| Hall Court | MID 2ND CIR | Pulled Up | 50/1 | 9 | 11-4 | Ben Land Jnr | Capt J Browne |
| Chimney Sweep (1) | 1 | Fell | 7/1 | 6 | 12-00 | Jimmy Adams | Edwin Weever |
| Charming Woman | Bechers Brook 1ST CIR | Brought Down | Unknown | 9 | 10-00 | J Terratta Jnr | W Saunders |
| The Plover | 1ST FNC 2ND CIR | Refused | Unknown | 8 | 10-10 | Robert Walker | Robert Walker |
| The Nun (2) | Water Jump | Fell | 100/6 | 8 | 11-6 | John Wheeler | T Golby |
| Mentmore | 4 | Fell | Unknown | 7 | 10-6 | L Hyland | Unknown |