The Liverpool Grand National at Aintree

The first Grand National took place in 1836. I was not around then, but I was for the first televised running of the race in 1960. I think I have only missed one live running of the race since then. In 1960 I had placed an Ante-Post bet on The Spring Double. The first leg was Mustavon which duly won with my winnings going on to Merryman in The Grand National. Great memories and I still have a picture of Merryman, with Gerry Scott on board, jumping the last fence, hanging on a wall in my home. So my love affair with the Grand National began.
My interest in racing started in 1954 at the age of twelve years eleven months. I used to listen to my parents and aunts and uncles discussing the big horse races. They asked me to select a horse for the 1954 Derby. I went for the jockey not the horse and chose Lester Piggott riding Never Say Die. Extra pocket money !
While still at Grammar School I had a part time job delivering Corona door to door. I was a van boy. The drivers were having a sweepstake on the 1958 Derby. I picked Hard Ridden out of the hat and was allowed to have a bet on him. Good old Charlie Smirke booted it home. Pure luck !
I decided I needed to understand what racing was all about and was intrigued with advertisements that would appear on a Saturday afternoon by Joe Davis advertising Timeform.
I purchased their Racehorses of 1959 Annual and have continued having them ever since. Nowadays the Flat Racing does not get my interest until after the Grand National.
As usual this years Grand National looks very open. I will be coming up with a short list nearer the time.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".