
The 1940 Grand National would be the final running of the race until after World War II. This was the 99th running of the contest, and we would have to wait until 1946 to see the 100th race.
This particular contest saw just 30 runners go to post, a much smaller field than we’ve been used to associating with this race. The horse to come out on top was Bogskar, who would win the prize at odds of 25/1, recording a winning distance of four lengths over MacMoffat in second place.
Bogskar was having his first run in the race when landing the odds and would be in training to go again in 1946 and 1947, but he fell on both occasions. Had the race continued during the war, he would have been in his prime during those years and could have possibly won it again.
Lord Stalbridge was the winning trainer, taking care of a small string of runners, he would have five total attempts at the Grand National, with three of them coming with this horse. From those five efforts, this was the only time he saw his runner complete the course.
Flight Sergeant Mervyn Jones was the winning rider on the day, and it was his first and only ride ever in the Grand National. Who knows if he could have won it again. He was very sadly killed when his Spitfire was shot down over Norway, in 1942.
Results
Result | Horse | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Prize Money | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bogskar | 25/1 | 7 | 10-4 | £5000 | M Jones | Stalbridge |
2 | MacMoffat | 8/1 | 8 | 10-10 | £50 | Ian Alder | Captain L Scott Briggs |
3 | Gold Arrow | 50/1 | 8 | 10-3 | £250 sov | Peter Lay | J R Neill |
4 | Symaethis | 100/6 | 8 | 10-7 | - | Matthew Feakes | G Langlands |