1990 Seagram Grand National

[@gantzdevries5321]

One of the most memorable winners of the National, start of a new decade, glorious sunshine, record time, great horse name, flashy silks and a cracking finish....

[@betfairscassanova]

still sends a shiver down my spine. still a teenager back then, i backed mr frisk in the morning @ 25/1, super horse that day. thanks.

[@chaingangsoldier3100]

2 fatalities occurred in this meeting, the first was Roll-A-Joint who fell at the first Canal Turn, breaking his neck and dying almost instantly, while the other was Hungary Hur who incurred a leg fracture while running towards the 19th fence, pulled up and was later euthanised.

[@SFGfx]

I loved Durham Edition and backed him in every National. So sad he couldn't quite get up. My Mum had Mr Frisk though and I had DE each way, so we both made a little money.

[@ebojfmdboojoh4023]

still holds the record for the fastest time to complete the race I believe

[@mythbusterman8541]

Correct and the race was slightly longer in those days .

[@mikekavanagh8952]

Such a Great Horse, Saved 5 lives ,

[@dlamiss]

Wilson was amazingly slow to spot uncle Merlin falling.

[@keithwellerlounge74]

Because it's the most exciting? The most difficult to win? Racing aint all about Cheltenham, people belittle the Grand National but it takes a special kind of horse to win it, a great jumper and true stayer. The handicap thing is overplayed these days anyway, Neptune Collognes was one of the best horses in the field and proved it despite having a lot of weight. The Gold Cup often has a very classy winner but not always, Synchronised was essentially a national horse and he wasn't the best jumper.

[@CharlotteWeb100]

Remember watching this in the pub with my Dad as a kid and hadn't realised the faller at the Canal Turn was still on the ground where he'd gone on the first circuit and honestly wondered whether he was was trampled to death if the job wasn't already done. Even then at that age I didn't understand why commentators came under fire for referring to an “obstruction / obstacle on the course” and still wonder what the alternative is or should be. Bearing in mind the race is broadcast live on a Saturday afternoon what's the most honest but least distressing thing younger viewers or anyone that doesn't want to know should hear in this situation? 10yr old me would have preferred just the one word over the grisly details and commentators hurriedly telling me “And now as they jump the Canal Turn we have a dead horse that wiped out earlier still there actually - just dead. Viewers at home may not be able to appreciate the extent and severity cos someone was too keen on and just dragged the fecker over to one side then covered him in what looks like that ground sheet from my tent but trust me there's a dead horse under it. Anyway never mind him he's dead - so pressing on...” I'm being deliberately crass but seriously what's the preferred form of addressing this during a live broadcast?

[@herthechicken]

I do believe in the ‘89 renewal, two horses suffered fatal falls at Becher’s first time round and as the field came to jump it second time, the same commentator said the field were jumping to avoid a dead horse, or something along those lines. Must have learnt from it anyway.

[@jtyt1123]

Awsome.....just not the same race now.......

[@rohansrider]

Sorry you are wrong. 21 horses have died in this race since the fences were amended. In 2001 only two finished plus two remounted. So it goes on. If it is so damned easy there would be far fewer fallers and more finishers and not fatalities. The last race with two horse killed was 2012: 'According to Pete' and Synchronised . Happily since then no more dead horses on the course to cover with tarpaulins . I am sick of all the comments about the GN being easy. Get on a fit fast horse and try it yourself!

[@MrKevster77]

fond memories i remember backing mr frisk to win and durham edition ew

[@martinji]

even better than having bet on Mr Frisk, was that my brother had bet on Durham Edition. Happy days.

[@shaunspadah5790]

Completely lost interest in the race after watching this race new fences smashing red rums record unforgivable

[@russbug100]

This brings back memories I was the stable Lad and exercised Durham Edition

[@paulguise698]

Hiya Russ, Did Durham Edition come 2nd twice or just once?

[@keithwellerlounge74]

Agreed mate, the coverage in the 90s was so much better. It went downhill about 10 years ago and it's the poorest it's been now. Probably the right time for the BBC to let it go considering. Much better commentary team in the 90s too, Julian Wilson saying 'Uncle Frisk' is pretty hilarious, but the trio of O'Sullevan/Hamner/McGrath was the best imo.

[@julzyboy1973]

@UlsterGroundhopper We'll never know but Uncle Merlin was going ever so well. Davies was giving Armytage lots of advice as they went round together. Davies should have been holding on tighter and sitting back a little. Bet he got a ribbing off the other jockeys after the race.

[@rohansrider]

Uncle Merlin was jumping superbly too, he was the riderless horse who came in came in third.

[@julzyboy1973]

@@BertSmithLondon Uncle Merlin was not in the Whitbread of 1990

[@julzyboy1973]

The last 2 runnings of the race on BBC have been spoilt by the cameramen tinkering with the camera angles. Bechers Brook being the best example of ''if it ain't broke don't fix it'' the fence is now seen by the viewer side-on spoiling the experience of seeing this great fence being jumped from a head on position like it was back in 1990 here.

[@adrianduffner2521]

Backed him as he jumped for fun had a great cruising speed what a thrill bought a new telly and video great memories lved that horse

[@leedavies6347]

My 1st memory of horse racing ....picked the winner out for my mum at 5yrs of age 🤣🤣🤣

[@richardpawlowski7722]

This was Mr Frisk winning for all you True Horse racing fans out there.

[@charleeboytruth8195]

Trainer Arthur Stephenson didn't have all that many big race winners but he did have a great number of minor race winners, and he was happy with that. One of his famous quotes was: "Little fish are sweet".

[@leeoffill1605]

Uncle Merlin would of won that

[@jonmacdonald5010]

Least someone else realises that

[@julzyboy1973]

@littlebay75 We'll never know but John Burke was fuming with himself after falling off Andy Pandy the horse was going like a train. Red Rum came home alone so its hard to judge how well he was doing. Andy Pandy had a long lead like Crisp did but unlike Pitman, Burke knew what it took on the run in to win a national & Andy Pandy would not have died on the run in like Crisp did. Red Rum pulverised the field in '74 but he had help in '73 & '77 with poor riding from Pitman & the fall of Andy Pandy.

[@Smallscousefox]

i was stuck in town 4 this National n watched it with my m8 in a tv rental shop! i had Uncle Merlin n the air was blue when he unseated Davies ;o/ got 3rd with Rinus tho!

[@leedavies6347]

Mr frisk still holds the record of fastest winner

[@chrisvarney85]

Did Durham Edition only compete in 3 Nationals? 2nd in 88, 5th in 89 and 2nd in 90? Or did he run more? Fantastic 3 efforts!

[@julzyboy1973]

yes just the three. Perhaps if he had ran in it as an eight or nine year old he could have won it.

[@bernardthegwp71020]

Came 6th in 91

[@paulrobinson40]

Ran in 4

[@mikekavanagh8952]

Such a Great Race and a Magnificent Horse,

[@stevenhand6562]

What a national so wanted Durham edition to win but fair play to mr frisk to great horses

[@dlamiss]

i had backed DE two years earlier and was gutted but had Mr Frisk this time

[@derekcath1955]

thankyou mr frisk...........put alot of money in my pocket

[@TheGiantKillers]

Could Uncle Merlin have gone any closer with Davies on board than he did without?

[@julzyboy1973]

We'll never know but Uncle Merlin was going ever so well. Davies was giving Armytage lots of advice as they went round together. Davies should have been holding on tighter and sitting back a little. Bet he got a ribbing off the other jockeys after the race.

[@mercuryvapoury]

5:24 - Coarse ****er... Oh my!

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

Major obstruction at the canal turn was a dead horse

[@stuartrichards70]

i was at the canal turn that day,i think the horse was roll a joint,just run into the fence,didnt get up.

[@GOATAli]

Never seen two horses finish a national so fast and smooth..

[@Bob-jy4pq]

Going was on the fast side that day. 8 mins 47 secs, the quickest recorded time in the history of the race.

[@williamnightingale2285]

Ground was Firm which will never happen again as the whole course is able to be watered. The race now has a different starting point closer to the Melling Road and after remeasurements is 4m 2f 74yd yards so Mr Frisk's record will stand for good now. The race was probably never 4m 4f anyway as the old starting point is no more than 150 yards back from where the start is now meaning runners only covered about 4m 3f or so.

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

@@williamnightingale2285I bet it felt like 6 miles to horses like red marauder, which happened to be my biggest ever national win until Neptune Collonges won at 33/1 again lol.

[@julzyboy1973]

@ 6.50 you will see Hywel Davies being unseated on Uncle Merlin. That was poor riding. An experienced Jockey who had won it 1985 should have stayed aboard. This sort of fall happened in '77 when Andy Pandy did the same thing handing it to Red Rum on a plate.

[@rohansrider]

Andy Pandy was caught out by the drop and staggered and then fell, in Uncle Merlin's case it was jockey error

[@charleeboytruth8195]

Rosalind Mercer. Uncle Merlin buckled on landing over Becher's and gave Davies very little chance of staying on board. Mind you I did back Mr.Frisk.