The trend of big-priced winners of the Grand National continued in 1949, with 66/1 outsider Russian Hero taking the contest by a comfortable eight lengths.
Trained by George Owen and ridden by Leo McMorrow, with both of them landing their first and only win in this race with the success in 1949.
Winning owner was Fearnie Williamson, who took home the first prize, which was £13,000 in this particular year.
The day was described as slightly firm, which led to 43 runners participating in the contest, 11 of whom finished the race.
We saw a large number of runners falling, with 26 of the 32 that failed to complete, all having their own independent falls at various stages of the race.
Cromwell was sent off at just 6/1 for the race, a relatively short-priced runner for the time, but was only good enough to finish 4th in the contest.
This was the third race in a row where a big outsider came out on top. As mentioned, Russian Hero was a winner at 66/1, while a year earlier, we saw a 50/1 winner, and before that, in 1947, a 100/1 winner.
Results
| Result | Horse | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Prize Money | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russian Hero | 66/1 | 9 | 10-8 | £9453 10s | Leo McMorrow | George R Owen |
| 2 | Roimond | 22/1 | 8 | 11-12 | £1158 | Dick Francis | George Beeby |
| 3 | Royal Mount | 18/1 | 10 | 10-12 | £579 | Patrick Doyle | J B Powell |
| 4 | Cromwell | 6/1 | 8 | 11-3 | £289 10s | Anthony Mildmay | Peter Victor Ferdinand Cazalet |
| 5 | Flaming Steel | 33/1 | 8 | 10-9 | - | Joe Spencer | T H Yates |
| 6 | Happy Home | 10/1 | 10 | 11-10 | - | Bryan Marshall | Fulke T Walwyn |
| 7 | Tonderman | 66/1 | 12 | 10-4 | - | Jack Bloom | J Bloom |
| 8 | Lucky Purchase | 50/1 | 11 | 10-2 | - | Alec Jack | Banks |
| 9 | Bricett | 20/1 | 12 | 10-9 | - | Tim Molony | W Stephenson |
| 10 | Clyduffe | 66/1 | 14 | 10-00 | - | Jimmy Power | J S Wight |
| 11 | Perfect Night | 66/1 | 11 | 10-00 | - | Derek Ancil | Horton |