1946 Grand National: Results, Runners & Fallers

The 1946 Grand National was a historical marker in the race. It wasn’t because of anything that happened during the race, but was the year, as it was the 100^th running of this special race.

34 runners went to post in the race, and the horse that went down as being the 100^th winner of the Grand National was Lovely Cottage. He won the contest, returning at odds of 25/1 and recording a winning distance of four lengths from 100/1 shot Jack Finlay, who finished second.

The betting market this year was dominated by Prince Regent, who went off as 3/1 favourite after landing the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the month before the Grand National, coming here to try and land both big races but falling short.

The winning trainer was Tommy Rayson. He had four previous runners in the race, and every single one of them had failed to finish. This was fifth time lucky, though and would actually be the final runner Rayson had in the race.

Captain Robert Petre was the winning rider. He had one pre-war ride in the race, but then nothing until this one. He would also ride in the race a year later in 1947, but his win in 1946 would be the only time he completed the course, and that completion was a win.

First Grand National Since the War

The 1946 Grand National would not only be the 100^th running, but it would also be the first time the race had been run since the war. Prior to this year taking place, 1940 was the last Grand National, so there were five missing years between that running and this race.

Horse racing, like many other sports, had been turned upside down due to the war, and that goes a long way to explaining the lack of runners in this particular year, as those in the industry got back on their feet and started to plan things again, with a new crop of runners.

The race would go off without any problems, and it would be a nice and simple return, though the race did see one equine casualty on course.

Results

Non Finishers