The 1874 Grand National was won by Reugny, who would come home to win the race with a starting price of 5/1.
He would win the race comfortably by six lengths in the end and was strongly fancied by punters on the day, given his starting price. The race was run on good to soft ground on the day.
Reugny was having his second run in the Grand National after he finished in 8th position a year earlier. After a break, he would return to the Grand National in 1877 but was pulled up in that contest.
The winning trainer and jockey would be completing the second part of a special double here. They combined to have the winner of the Grand National one year earlier, with Disturbance winning the race in 1873.
To make this feat even more impressive for trainer James Machell, the two winners he had back-to-back were actually the only two runners he would ever have in the race. Some have a perfect record of one from one, but there are not many, if any, out there that have a perfect record in the race with two wins from two runs.
Jockey John Richardson had two rides in the race before the two winners, so he would end his record with two wins from four rides, still an excellent return for someone who did not have a long career as a jockey.
The pool of jockeys and trainers with Grand National runners was not huge at the time, certainly not as big as in more recent years. However, there is no doubt that winning the race in back-to-back years was a very impressive feat. Add to the fact that it was a duo that did it together as both jockey and trainer, and it adds even more to the achievement.
Results
| Result | Horse | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Prize Money | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reugny | 5/1 | 6 | 10-12 | £1890 | John Richardson | James Machell |
| 2 | Chimney Sweep (2) | 25/1 | 7 | 10-2 | - | John Jones | John Jones |
| 3 | Merlin | 40/1 | Unknown | 10-7 | - | Jimmy Adams | John Jones |
| 4 | Defence | 25/1 | 8 | 11-13 | - | Vsc Melgund | C Richardson |
| 5 | Master Mowbray | 50/1 | 9 | 10-5 | - | Alfred Holman | William Holman Snr |
| 6 | Disturbance | 25/1 | 7 | 12-9 | - | Joe Cannon | C Richardson |
| 7 | Columbine (3) | 12/1 | 10 | 10-6 | - | Ernest Harding | W Jenkins |
| 8 | Ouragan | 50/1 | 9 | 10-5 | - | G Mulcaster | R Sly Jnr |
| 9 | Derviche | 25/1 | 7 | 10-12 | - | Robert I’Anson Jr | John Jones |
| 10 | Daybreak | Unknown | 8 | 10-11 | - | W Holt | Unknown |
| 11 | Eurotas | 14/1 | 6 | 11-8 | - | Tommy Pickernell | W Martin |
| 12 | Furley | 12/1 | 6 | 11-10 | - | Arthur Yates | Duggan |
Non Finishers
| Horse | Fence | Reason | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dainty | 22 | Brought Down | 66/1 | 8 | 10-7 | J Hathaway | Unknown |
| Last Of The Lambs | 1 | Fell | 40/1 | 5 | 10-00 | E Dalglish | Unknown |
| Heraut D'Armes | 6 | Fell | 25/1 | 7 | 10-8 | Capt D Smith | L Hyland |
| Vintner | 2 | Fell | 7/1 | 7 | 10-3 | Hiram Crawshaw | G Barry |
| Bretby | Pulled Up | Unknown | 8 | 10-00 | Bill Daniels | Unknown | |
| Casse Tete | 22 | Fell | 100/15 | 9 | 11-00 | H Day | A Cowley |
| Fantome | 11 | Fell | 20/1 | 6 | 10-10 | Johnny Page | J Rickaby |
| Paladin | 2 | Fell | Unknown | 5 | 10-3 | J Rudd | Unknown |
| Congress | Pulled Up | 16/1 | 8 | 11-4 | E P Wilson | H Wilson | |
| Lord Colney | 2 | Fell | Unknown | 5 | 10-00 | E Rickards | Shepherd |