1961 Grand National: Results, Runners & Fallers

Grand National 1961 Nicolaus Silver
Nicolaus Silver

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 RimellFred 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

Non Finishers

Horse Fence Reason Starting Price Age Handicap Jockey Trainer
Floater 1 Fell 50/1 8 10-11 Eddie Harty Thomas Frederic Rimell
Tea Fiend 1 Unseated Rider 40/1 12 10-00 Ron Harrison George R Owen
Clover Bud 1 Brought Down 50/1 11 10-10 David Mould G Llewellin
April Queen 1 Fell 100/1 10 10-2 Anthony Biddlecombe H Payne
Carraroe 6 Fell 40/1 9 10-3 Peter Pickford William Cyril “Bill” Marshall
Kingstel 6 Fell 50/1 9 10-00 George Slack J Dennistoun
Brian Ogue 6 Unseated Rider 100/1 10 10-10 Joe Guest F Pullen
Taxidermist 6 Fell 40/1 9 11-4 John Lawrence Fulke T Walwyn
Wily Oriental 8 Pulled Up 40/1 9 10-6 Gerry Madden C Nesfield
Reljef 9 Unseated Rider 100/1 7 12-00 Boris Pomonarenko Unknown
Jimuru 9 Fell 33/1 10 10-4 John Leigh Lord Leigh
Oscar Wilde 10 Fell 45/1 11 10-4 Taffy Jenkins W Wightman
Vivant 15 Unseated Rider 50/1 8 10-6 David Nicholson W Stephenson
Bantry Bay 15 Unseated Rider 40/1 10 10-7 William Pigott-Brown H Dufosse
Hunter's Breeze 17 Fell 100/7 10 10-13 Francis Carroll Bryce-Smith
Fresh Winds 19 Unseated Rider 66/1 10 10-10 Roy Edwards W Whiston
Grifel 19 Refused 100/1 8 12-00 Vladimir Prakhov Unknown
Penny Feather 19 Refused 66/1 8 10-1 Johnny Lehane N Hall
Double Crest 22 Refused 50/1 9 10-7 Angus Irvine Tom William Dreaper
Imposant 22 Pulled Up 100/1 9 10-13 Mr R Couetil Jack O’Donaghue
Oxo 22 Pulled Up 20/1 10 11-8 Michael Scudamore W Stephenson