Taking place at Aintree Racecourse on April 9 2011, the 2011 Grand National was the 164th Grand National event. The price money this year totalled £950,000 – an impressive figure when compared to previous years.

This unprecedentedly monetary reward was praised as the largest amount ever given in a steeplechase event and remains so to this day!

 

This year 19 horses completed the course, measuring a 4 1/2 mile stretch. Many falls happened on the first circuit. Despite the chaotic nature of the race, Ballabriggs outmaneuvered all to give Donald McCain, Jr. his first Grand National win as a trainer, while Jason Maguire came out as the winning jockey onboard. In fact, the Irish-trained Ballabriggs had been coached by Donald father – Ginger McCain – who had clinched a total of 4 victories in similar events.

Owned by Trevor Hemmings, the gallant winner collected a total of £535,135 – a lofty sum outshining anything that had come before it. At the same time, Jason Maguire posted the second-fastest time of 9 minutes and 1.2 seconds. Success upon success!

The winning Ballabriggs/Maguire pair had been a 14/1 shot whose striking performance caught many by surprise. The second and the third places were clinched by Oscar Time/Sam Waley-Cohen(£201,590) and Don’t Push It/Tony McCoy(£100,890).