The BBC Grand National 1980 - Ben Nevis

[@LB1973]

ah I hadn't seen this since it happened. glad someone uploaded it finally. Its quite a well known national in my town as it basically bust the bookie. I live in the shadow of Ben Nevis in Fort William and basically everyone in the town went oh I'll have my horse and put something on Ben Nevis. The local independent bookie didn't offset and by the next week his shop was a Ladbrokes. I heard it was over a million in outlay as you could get him at 50s

[@goodlife6145]

It's amazing how I remember many of the horses' names and yet this is the first viewing of it I've seen since. First started watching the National in 1973 with Rummy. The race was a MAJOR event throughout the 1970s and quite a number of years after. Great to see this again.

[@gazowen7310]

Sadly like most things now just another day the national now like cup final day challenge cup final as well too much of a good thing sadly the Derby as well just another horse race

[@goodlife6145]

@@gazowen7310 People looked forward to it in those pre-VCR times partly because they wouldn't be able to see it on 'catch up', and we didn't have 24-hour punditry! That said, the internet is good as an archive, and it offers more choice than tv these days.

[@kepnjem]

What a horse! Tough as nails. Incidentally, The Pilgarlic seemed to run and be placed in every National I can remember as a kid!!

[@Grogster2007]

And my mum backed him every time just because of the name...God bless my mum

[@shaunspadah5790]

he also finished 4th in the 81 foxhunters and also may have completed a topham maybe 1976

[@glynnevans1851]

@@shaunspadah5790 I believe you are right sir .In the 76 Topham 'this was won by a grey horse called Lictor ridden by David Sutherland he sadly past away earlier this year..The best Topham I ever saw was 1972 Sunny Lad ridden by Ken White for the legendary Fred Rimell .. who also won the National 50 years ago with Gay Trip, Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝

[@gazowen7310]

@@glynnevans1851 inch Arran topham was good uncle bing as well

[@glynnevans1851]

@@gazowen7310 Hi Gaz, cheers for your reply. Inch Arran also Momentous and ridden by David Mould who was a very acumlished horse man and modest too. You mention Uncle Bing too, John Francome gave him a peach of a ride. Up until 1990 the Topham chase was very well respected and carried credibility sir. Sadly the National course as been gradually diluted down to O and as become a long distance hurdle type course with no real test of skill. These days the course compared up until 1990 are Light years apart. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝

[@colinjennings3661]

Rubstic, zongalero, the pilgarlic, royal stuart..they all seemed to be in the race for years

[@chatham43]

...The Pilgarlic in particular ran in several Nationals....a real stalwart....

[@scottfraser2623]

That perennial visitor The Pilgarlic . Another cracking horse who loved Aintree

[@burnleyfan11965]

He was a very good horse 4th,5th,6th and 3rd.His problem was he didnt have the speed but could keep going the whole trip.If they had done a 3rd circuit i reckon he would have won at least once,cos he rarely gave a dodgy jump

[@shaunspadah5790]

what does perennial mean

[@burnleyfan11965]

@@shaunspadah5790 Regular

[@glynnevans1851]

@@burnleyfan11965 Quite right sir ,Also he ran a Momentous 3rd in the 81 foxhunters. A True gallant stayer as u indicate and I would like to add Spanish Steps too..With all this fuss about Tiger Roll ' no disrespect but Totally different Nationals when Red Rum won..May I ask u do u remember 50 years ago this week when Gay Trip won with the master of his craft ' Pat Taffe because poor Terry Biddlecombe was in hospital with a injury prior to national week. Also do you remember Jump Sunday? N Mrs Topham .With reference to Burnley I remember Frank Casper in the late 60s ..my kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝

[@glynnevans1851]

@@shaunspadah5790 I think it is a regular annual plant sir but u may need to ask a public school academic for a detailed answer ..The Pilgarlic was a genuine gallant stayer just like Spanish Steps..Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝

[@TS-bn7zt]

The Pilgarlic, loved that horse!! Good old memories. Thank you.

[@teenoso4069]

I hear these names and it takes me to another place filled with memories and The Pilgaric as reliable as night follows day.

[@chatham43]

...know what you mean....

[@andrewlane4766]

the perfect race for the gallant old Pilgarlic - everyone else stopped and that doughty old campaigner trundled into a place

[@goodlife6145]

Yes, that horse always was either third or fourth as I recall. Fond memories!

[@pathofpeace9586]

Ben Nevis .... I was only a kid and backed him previous year when he fell in the melee at the chair, but I stayed loyal to him in 1980 at 40/1 and I will never forget screaming him home from beachers onwards, a crazy few minutes, best ever!!!

[@markstea69]

I was 10 knew nothing about horse racing apart from the grand national with my love of red rum, all week I kept on to my dad Ben Nevis will win the national, I was playing football that afternoon and the manager said who did you say was going to win the National I said Ben Nevis, he said it won, my dad had £5 each way on it @ 40/1 he took me and mum shopping and for dinner, he backed Aldaniti in 1981 as well and had it in his works sweepstake 😊😊

[@gazowen7310]

Great story I've a similar story 04 I was playing cricket everyone asked me who was gonna win the national I said amberleigh house put a good bet on it drinks on me that night

[@michaelpower4372]

Bought a paper the morning of the 1980 Grand National. Opened the page the horse names were on, my daughter was two at the time gave her a pen told her to hold it up and drop it onto the page the horse names were on. It landed on Ben Nevis so went to the bookies and back Den Nevis each way I couldn't believe it when Den Nevis won Allways remember Den Nevis every year the Gran National is on.

[@gazowenowen250]

Ben Nevis was going well in 79 when caught in the melee at the chair

[@dawnkeir549]

Love these old nationals

[@chatham43]

..thanks for your comment...can't beat the old nationals..

[@josephjohnston8573]

Smart move by Fenwick at Becher's second time. Kept Delmoss to the inside and forced him to take on the more difficult part of the fence. Fascinated by Flashy boy who seemed to survive well into the second circuit.

[@bobbell4461]

horse started his life running in Northern point to points, it turns out I saw him run at the Cumberland Farmers meeting at Dalston. Another dual winner of the Maryland Hunt cup to win at Aintree. A pity more don't come over to have a go.

[@mikemorgan7893]

Clive James” by the end of the race there were far more BBC commentators, then horses. At the start of the race there had mearly been a few more”

[@terrylayland9760]

Ron Hyett.What a man and a character.Would love to write his life story.

[@mikelewis1436]

Ron later revealed he was holding The Pilgarlic back approaching the Canal Turn (wrongly) believing Ben Nevis would fade in the closing stages - this proved a blessing in disguise as the old stager was 'virtually unconscious' with fatigue as they struggled towards the last...

[@saints16o5o87]

the fences look so much bigger back then. loved Rough and Tumble ine of the first bets i ever had my dad do for me gave a great run round Aintree.

[@shaunspadah5790]

if only every national was like this 4 finishes out of 30, no fatilities or serious injuries, tough but fair fences and heavy going its called steeplechasing, not suitable viewing for the fairies of today

[@Formula1Madx]

🧚‍♂️🧚‍♀️🧚

[@levisjeans1901]

Shun, I have to confess to enjoying watching the thrills and spills (as long as they all get up and walk away ok), but that doesn't sit well these days

[@davebesag]

@@MsVanorak There hasn't been a Grand National ran on faster than good ground since 1990.

[@gantzdevries5321]

The pilgarlic was a plodder, but he was an exceptionally safe jumper..

[@arkle1964]

A childish and ridiculous attitude. There are arguments about the fences but why would you want every Grand National ran on heavy ground. What would the point be?

[@gary1961]

I love what AP McCoy just said on the telly about Tiger Roll and he's glad it isn't running so it can't win 3 Nationals and be compared to Red Rum.

[@chatham43]

.....yep...I saw that...made me chuckle...of course comparing Tiger to Rummy would have been ridiculous.....took the wind out of Ed Chamberlains sails.....good for AP....

[@teenoso4069]

Completely different and any comparison is futile. Easier to get round, but not easier to win

[@malcs0]

The injustice here is that John Francome, a brilliant horseman who would "present" a horse at a fence, never won this race despite riding some good horses, including Rag Trade in 75 whom he nursed round in last (but not out of sight). In 76 the owner took the horse out of Fred Winter's yard and sent him to Fred Rimmell; the horse won under John Burke beating Red Rum.

[@richardbranton7396]

malcs0 Fred winter didn't train him before rimell , I think it was Arthur Pitt , and was way behind in 75,francome hated riding him didn't get along with him

[@rohansrider]

Johnny Francome prior to NH racing was Junior European Show Jumping Champion, that's why he was so good over fences, as you say 'present' a horse.

[@shaunspadah5790]

francome said he had a most uncomforable ride on rag trade in 75, which might be why the horse was moved, he should have ridden spartan missile in 81 but the owner opted to ride himself, ended up riding no hoper So, francome said he should have got a nighthood for gettin the horse round, rode grittar but the horse finished lame, not much luck for one ot our greatest jockeys

[@kepnjem]

Rag Trade was the ugliest horse ever! I don't mean that in a nasty way...but he was. He had feathers!

[@gazowenowen250]

Francome would probably won in 76 on golden wrapper cantering when fell

[@pathofpeace9586]

Great ride on heavy ground by Amateur Jockey Charlie Fenwick .... slowing before the canal turn to get the best angle, saving energy to the last fence, then gaining another 15L quickening away. Ben Nexis - Power Stayer!

[@goodlife6145]

Can't beat those vintage commentators, especially Mr. O'Sullevan. They brought added drama to the race.

[@johnwalsh3512]

The National has always been my fav race , 1980 I needed £500 badly , Ben Nevis got me out of a mess ! £20 ew ! A great day 😊

[@jtyt1123]

Great upload

[@Peter-gv2gn]

Brilliant steeplechasing as it was once, great to hear the gallant The pilgarlics name once more ( my late mother backed it each year it ran) , nowadays the race is just another long steeplechase , sad but commercial fact.

[@diabeticfridge2930]

You wouldn't get stories like this or Aldaniti anymore

[@andrewwarmington]

I'm sure I remember an old Irish punter being interviewed afterwards because he had correctly got the 1-2-3-4 order

[@gazowenowen250]

Delmoss ran in a few nationals

[@martinanderson8815]

Back when the grand national was a true chalenge unlike now sad to see it how good was red rum

[@shaunspadah5790]

Rustic didnt fall at the chair he skidded along the surface makin it impossible to jump the fence brilliant jumper but slow would have completed maybe 3rd

[@shaunspadah5790]

Ben Nevis literally walking towards the canal turn Chris Grant first ride on flash boy they had a disagreement about completion

[@myfrobert]

I'm just wondering what happened at the 19th fence, where was probably a pile-up took place and yielded most casualties. Besides, I also hope the GN 2021 can be held as planned after the edition this year has been cancelled due to the cornovirus crisis.

[@andycook7244]

yes, something definitely happened that wasn't adequately picked up in the commentary. Zongalero barely got over it and refused at the next, I think. Looked as if Prince Rock came to grief here - running on the inside and doesn't appear to be there after that fence. When you see how many set out on the final circuit, it's amazing how few are still going by the time they get to Bechers.

[@paulspice720]

That must have been heavy, even the winner was hack-cantering most of the second circuit. And if anything was going to finish then it would be The Pilgarlic. He could have done with going around again.

[@TheMeepUsesTheDefiniteArticle]

weird how few finishers there were here given the relatively small amount of fallers (for the 80s - would be loads by modern standards)

[@kevinmunday5782]

i turn the volume down as they approach the last to shut out that screeching woman. so over the top americans at times.....

[@chatham43]

...me too....

[@shaunspadah5790]

Delmoss ran a great race only Ben Nevis challenging after 3 miles might have won or 2nd his front running in 82 and 83 was unremarkable as he quickly dropped out on the 2nd circuit

[@gazowen7310]

I heard a rumor Tim Forster said to Charlie Fenwick keep remounting

[@teenoso4069]

He did but it wasnt before the National. I heard Charlie Fenwick's explanation

[@gazowen7310]

@@teenoso4069 what was it

[@shaunspadah5790]

come on two to one, i hope julian wilson isnt using tony preston as his back up

[@dawnkeir549]

Agree it was 3 to one

[@richardrundle3638]

The even worse part is that the horse Wilson identified as "Two to One" wasn't even Three to One, it was Kininvie. Three to One didn't come towards the front until quite a lot later.

[@gazowen7310]

@@richardrundle3638 Wilson did the same 76 with churchtown boy calling him lad

[@ILoveMusicfromthesonwards]

​@@gazowen7310 in 1977, Wilson mentioned Eyecatcher TWICE (6th and 10th) in the top 10 runners jumping Valentines 2nd time round...

[@eugenekeher978]

Ben Nevis grand stayer x shades of Jay Trump American amateur ridden x only four finished x i seem to remember a punter landing a special bet offered x correctly naming the first four home in the correct order x astronomical odds. x.

[@davidcole9971]

I liked old Delmos, if he hadn't fallen I think he would have been placed, as he was the following year.

[@horse_breeding]

Only three finished

[@chatham43]

.....not sure..I think Even Up was bought by The Sun newspaper for the race....thank gawd he didn't win.....just imagine the corny headlines the next day....

[@doornier]

Think Even Up was a Mirror Punters Club horse.

[@chatham43]

@@doornier ..thanks....got the newspapers mixed up...the Sun sponsored the race of course...

[@TheGiantKillers]

Julian Wilson really was a shite commentator. When he wasn't stumbling over the names, he was mispronouncing them or even just getting the names totally wrong. Listen to how the other commentators correctly pronounce Dromore as opposed to Wilson's mispronunciation.

[@keithwellerlounge74]

They just had him on cos he was posh. I'm grateful for him being replaced by Jim McGrath when I was young. It was a great commentary team in the 90s until Peter O'Sullevan retired.....then we had to suffer Tony O' Hehir.

[@gary1961]

@@keithwellerlounge74 Tony O'Hehir was the worst ever commentator. He absolutely spoiled the race from the moment he mumbled and missed fallers, and continually got names wrong - and they had him for 10 years!!!!