2004 Grand National
| Grand National | |
 |
|
| Location | Aintree |
|---|---|
| Date | 3 April 2004 |
| Winning horse | Amberleigh House |
| Jockey | Graham Lee |
| Trainer | Ginger McCain |
| Owner | Ms. A. L .Dikel, Halewood International |
| Conditions | Good |
|
← 2003
2005 →
|
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The 2004 Grand National (known as the Martell Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 157th official annual running of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 3 April 2004 and attracted the maximum permitted field of 40 competitors for total prize money of £600,000 including £348,000 to the winner.
39 of the 40 original entrants took part in the race — Tyneandthyneagain was withdrawn. On the run-in after the final fence (where Hedgehunter fell when in close contention), any one of three horses looked capable of clinching victory, but it was 16-1 shot Amberleigh House who finished first, three lengths ahead of Clan Royal, who in turn was two lengths from Lord Atterbury. The winning horse was trained by Ginger McCain, who secured his fourth Grand National win, 31 years after his first with Red Rum. 11 of the 39 starters completed the course, with all of the fallers returning safely to the stables.
The public gambled an estimated £200 million on the outcome of the race but no clear favourite emerged as four horses started off as joint-favourites.
2002 National winner Bindaree was one of the 10-1 joint-favourites after winning the Welsh National at Chepstow in the last December. He had also run well to finish second over one circuit of the Aintree course in the Becher Chase in November where he had been beaten another joint-favourite, Clan Royal. The inexperienced Jurancon II also attracted public attention after being chosen as the ride of champion jockey Tony McCoy having won the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup in February, and Joss Naylor completed the quartet after finishing second in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup in November. Hedgehunter was 11-1, the 2001 Irish Grand National winner David's Lad was 12/1, and 2003 National winner Monty's Pass was also among the leading fancies at 20/1.
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