A horse named Regal would lead home the 19 runners that took part in the 1876 Grand National. In a close finish, he would win the race by a neck, beating off Congress, who was second here, and then also second again a year later.
Regal wasn’t fancied by too many people on the day, and that led to him being returned with a starting price of 25/1.
The race was run on soft ground, so conditions were a challenge for those taking part, but that didn’t stop Regal from winning this race at the very first time of asking.
He would go on to have a total of six runs in the Grand National and almost won it again when he finished second in 1881, but he just fell short.
The winning trainer was James Jewitt, and just like the horse, he was also having his first attempt at winning the Grand National here. Further success would come later in his career, Jewitt would go on to win the 1882 Grand National with Seaman.
A year later, he would train Congress to finish second, and he was also the trainer of Regal when he finished second in 1881, so his good record could have been a lot better.
Joe Cannon was the winning jockey, this being his only Grand National win from a total of seven career rides in the race.
He teamed up with Jewitt again the following year with Congress, so had that horse won, it would have been back-to-back winners for the jockey and trainer combo.
Results
| Result | Horse | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Prize Money | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regal | 25/1 | 5 | 11-3 | £1485 | Joe Cannon | James Jewitt |
| 2 | Congress | 25/1 | 10 | 11-8 | - | E P Wilson | G Palmer |
| 3 | Shifnal | 33/1 | 7 | 10-13 | - | Robert I’Anson Jr | John Nightingall |
| 4 | Chimney Sweep (2) | 25/1 | 9 | 10-8 | - | John Jones | John Jones |
| 5 | Rye | 25/1 | 6 | 10-00 | - | George Waddington | W Weston |
| 6 | Jackal | 100/8 | 8 | 11-00 | - | Richard Marsh | Richard Marsh |
| 7 | Phryne | 20/1 | 8 | 11-3 | - | John Goodwin | T Golby |
| 8 | Master Mowbray | 100/8 | 11 | 11-11 | - | George Holman | George Holman |
| 9 | Pathfinder | 20/1 | 9 | 11-00 | - | William Reeves | William Reeves |
| 10 | Defence | 100/8 | 10 | 11-11 | - | Tommy Pickernell | D Marsh |
Non Finishers
| Horse | Fence | Reason | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gazelle | 3 | Refused | 40/1 | 5 | 10-9 | R Flutter | H May |
| Thyra | 13 | Refused | 20/1 | 6 | 10-6 | Bill Daniels | T Stevens |
| Zero | 19 | Fell | 20/1 | 6 | 10-10 | Vsc Melgund | C Richardson |
| Gamebird | Pulled Up | 40/1 | 7 | 10-12 | J Hutchinson | Unknown | |
| Spray | 14 | Pulled Up | Unknown | 6 | 10-2 | Tommy Cunningham | Tommy Cunningham |
| Palm | 3 | Refused | 100/8 | 8 | 11-00 | F Barnes | A Yates |
| Chandos | 21 | Fell | 100/30 | 6 | 11-7 | James Jewitt | J Cannon |
| Clonave | 3 | Refused | 22/1 | 8 | 11-5 | P Gavin | J Monaghan |
| The Liberator | 18 | Fell | 40/1 | 7 | 10-11 | T Ryan | T Ryan |