2004 Grand National: Amberleigh House

Amberleigh House wins the 2004 Grand National with a strong surge to the line in a thrilling finish and a fairytale success for Aintree legend Ginger McCain, son Donald McCain and jockey Graham Lee.
With Clan Royal for Jonjo O'Neill and Lord Atterbury for Martin Pipe tiring in the closing stages, Amberleigh House forged to the finish to triumph at the grand age of 12 and at 16/1.
Hedgehunter made a gallant attempt on his first Grand National attempt but came down at the final fence - he emerged fine from his tired fall and went on to contest the Grand National a further three times, notably landing the 2005 Grand National the following year and then finishing runner-up behind Numbersixvalverde at Aintree in 2006.

[@herbiehartwig9685]

Love watching these old nationals, I can remember most of these runners .

[@grincher2006]

love the bechers pile up. its what legends are made of.

[@eddiehitler8257]

Watched this in my lunch break at work. Had 50 on HH, thought he was dead. Finished work, forgot about my 50 when I found out he got up. Backed him all ends up following year, most impressive winner ever in my eyes 😍

[@tonykelly4151]

They are all impressive winners but nothing trumps Lord Gyllene pal.... Led from pillar to post finished like it was a Sunday stroll

[@helenemillar7626]

Another amazing victory for Ginger McCain with his game little horse, Amberleigh House! So reminiscent of Red Rum's first spectacular GN win in '73! :)

[@QueenAmethyst55]

Amberleigh House the legend. Really want to visit him soon. RIP Ginger xx and Rummy. xx

[@jonnybeeston]

David Casey waving the jockeys either side of hedgehunter after that fall and the horse and legend of the race getting up too is quite touching.

[@73KHS]

RIP Amberleigh House 4-14-17

[@stuartgish]

Come on, it's 14-4-17 (day-month-year)

[@73KHS]

stuart griffith What’s the big deal Stuart, both ways are correct.

[@erikwhitebeard79]

Look at hedgehunter on the ground at the last,looks stone cold dead. Lucky enough he was just knackered and badly winded. One year on becomes the best national winner in 15 years.magical.

[@robertrozel7045]

+erikwhitebeard shumer Thanks for the info. I was afraid he was gone

[@erikwhitebeard79]

Robert Rozel your welcome dude

[@AlanDuggan89]

I actually he was dead when I saw him pitting his neck back on the ground, glad he got back up

[@DiRTemma]

I'm so glad I seen this comment about hedgehunter being ok, it did look bad when he didn't try and get up

[@jen6879]

@@DiRTemma we had an excellent (and unfortunate) view of Hedgehunter’s horrible fall. Can still remember the gasps of shock all round us. David Casey trying to alert the oncoming riders and then tending the horse was very moving 😔 We had backed them that year but happily cheered HH to victory in 2005!

[@shedboystu]

ill never forget that day as long as i live, had amberleighhouse at 33/1

[@73KHS]

R.I.P. Clan Royal 9-16-13

[@stuartgish]

16-9-13

[@leehancock8208]

I backed AH at 40's after hearing ginger say he ran a blinder at bangor on dee and was fresh as paint: I decorated my house with the winnings!!!

[@vixitrixalina]

@Smallscousefox i know, i panicked when he didn't get up, but it was clear he was exhausted coming to the fence, i reckon he just had to rest his legs before getting up. he was absolutely fine though - he proved this a year later!

[@TheGamingPigeon1999]

cant believe i had amberleigh house as my first ever bet.

[@ChicaneHead]

I backed Jurancon II that year. One of 4 co-favourites and he fell at the 4th i think. Was gutted!!!

[@cjn880lcfc]

what a great commentary

[@trampo87]

@dinney123 yea was just knackered and will have been winded when he fell mate, took him a while to get his breath back, and i was on when he went on to win the following year

[@spacepathfinder1]

RESPECT!

[@michaelcloherty5352]

Great jockey greame Lee Up mervue

[@goingbehind1093]

Liam Cooper dropped his whip on Clan Royal, hence the steering problems. He would have won without that and I'd have been a few quid richer!

[@SteveMullington]

R.I.P Ginger "Mister Aintree".

[@jonnybeeston]

It's classic racing but I don't like to see any of our heroes fall. R.I.P. Twist Magic this week.

[@liverpool5917]

Thumbs up for the Grand National being named after either Red Rum or Ginger? Or both

[@alexanderkahl1288]

Hedgehunter fell at the final fence, oof.

[@Smallscousefox]

My heart nearly stopped when Hedgehunter fell n didnt get up ;o( my money was on him ...n also the following year when he won ;o) bloody Clan Royal hampered my other horse Lord Atterbury on the run in ;o/ i was not a happy bunny lol

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

I had amberleigh house at 20s , only a bluey ew but it paid for a weekend out lol

[@dinney123]

why did hedgehunter just lay there? I may sound like an idiot but was he hurt or was he just exhausted?

[@TheWestender68]

Brilliant race cappa bleu 4th last year sure to win this year 14-1 get on

[@FORESTDONS]

That was quite similar to what crisp did at the elbow but of course clan royal is not the great CRISP.

[@vixitrixalina]

@liverpool5917 I do think that the National should now be "Ginger McCaine's Grand National, sponcored by John Smiths". at least for 2012, but preferably forever :)

[@jonnybeeston]

@comeonshaymen I'm afraid so died at the 2nd last in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.

[@abbykateadderstep7852]

EVERYONE! of these god damn videos I see R.I.P to a horse. I don't know how humans can be so dumb to ignore what is clearly animal cruelty.

[@liverpool5917]

@vixitrixalina "Ginger Mccain and Red Rum's Grand National sponsered by John Smiths" :D

[@diabeticfridge2930]

Won me a grand

[@comeonshaymen]

@jonnybeeston Twist Magic's dead??!!! RIP U legend

[@mrbigshot1986]

what an awful ride by cooper on clan

[@mrbigshot1986]

awful ride by deckie casey - glad that plonker is retired now - rode it too aggressively

[@BettyJoycee]

i really ike horse races but steeple chases are just so... cruel. for both horses and riders. grand national is crazy- i don´t like it. didn´t believe it is this cruel before i saw this.