
The going was quick for the 1961 Grand National, officially described as good to firm on the day, with 35 runners taking part in the race.
The victory would go to Nicolaus Silver, winning by five lengths at a price of 28/1.
In behind, we nearly saw a back-to-back winner, with Merryman II finishing second here after winning the race a year earlier.
He was fancied to do so too, sent off as one of the favourites for the race.
Nicolaus Silver was trained by Fred Rimell, a man with a hugely impressive record in the race, and he was ridden by Bobby Beasley, having his second ride in the race, and it was his only success.
First Grey Winner for 90 Years
Grey runners always catch the eye in the Grand National, and some people will bet on grey runners every time they see one, especially those who are not familiar with the form of a race.
Nicolaus Silver rewarded anyone following that method in 1961 with a win in the race, but it was certainly overdue.
His success was the first in 90 years for a grey runner, a long time to wait, but seeing these grey horses win is part of the history of the race and part of the reason why people will still today, back a grey to win the contest if they see one is running.
Second Grand National Success for Rimell
Fred Rimell is a man closely associated with the Grand National, so much so that he was called “Mr Grand National” in many racing circles.
He would win the race four times in his career, and Nicolaus Silver was the second of those wins.
He began with ESB in 1956, won this race in 1961, and would land further winners in 1970 and 1976.
One of the real stalwarts of Grand National racing, a man who dedicated so much of his training to finding a winner in the race, and in 1961, we saw him rewarded with his second success, thanks to Nicolaus Silver crossing the line in first place.
Results
Result | Horse | Starting Price | Age | Handicap | Prize Money | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nicolaus Silver | 28/1 | 9 | 10-1 | £18270 2s 6d | Bobby Beasley | Thomas Frederic Rimell |
2 | Merryman II | 8/1 | 10 | 11-12 | £2208 10s | Derek Ancil | Neville Franklin Crump |
3 | O'Malley Point | 100/6 | 10 | 11-4 | £1104 5s | Paddy Farrell | W Stephenson |
4 | Scottish Flight II | 100/6 | 9 | 10-6 | £552 2s 6d | Bill Rees | Peter Victor Ferdinand Cazalet |
5 | Kilmore | 33/1 | 11 | 11-00 | - | Fred Winter | Henry Ryan Price |
6 | Wyndburgh | 33/1 | 11 | 11-5 | - | Tim Brookshaw | James Kenneth Murray Oliver |
7 | Jonjo | 7/1 | 11 | 10-7 | - | Pat Taaffe | J W Osborne |
8 | Badanloch | 20/1 | 10 | 10-11 | - | Stan Mellor | George R Owen |
9 | Team Spirit | 20/1 | 9 | 10-13 | - | Willie Robinson | Dan L Moore |
10 | Siracusa | 100/7 | 8 | 10-1 | - | Jumbo Wilkinson | Robert Renton |
11 | Mr What | 20/1 | 11 | 11-9 | - | David Dick | D J Morgan |
12 | Ernest | 33/1 | 9 | 10-1 | - | Johnny East | Robert Renton |
13 | Sabaria | 100/1 | 10 | 10-2 | - | Mick Roberts | Bob Turnell |
14 | Irish Coffee | 50/1 | 11 | 10-6 | - | Jimmy Magee | F D Farmer |