A weight Of Expectation
RED RUM had to shoulder top weight of 12st in the 1974 Grand National — but trainer Ginger Mccain, as usual, wasn’t short of confidence.
“I keep looking for a horse to beat him but there isn’t one,” Mccain told the Daily Mirror’s Frank Corless.
“The good going will suit and I am not worried about the weight.”
Twelve months earlier, Red Rum had carried 10st 5lb when pouncing on a leg-weary Crisp Strides from the Aintree winning post to launch the greatest National legend of them all.
Despite an additional 23lb on his back, the nine-year-old Red Rum was quoted as the 7-1 favourite on the morning of the race.
Dramatically
“The odds could shorten dramatically as the betting builds up to the ‘off’ this afternoon,” forecast the Mirror’s back page.
A gamble on Scout from 14-1 to 7-1 market leader saw Brian Fletcher’s mount drift to an improbable 11-1 third choice.
But punters who had backed Red Rum to become the first backto-back National hero since Reynoldstown were rewarded with a seven-length victory from dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner L’escargot and Tommy Carberry.
Charles Dickens, at 50-1, was a short head back in third.
Red Rum’s backers suffered their only anxious moment when the pocket battleship bay, bought by octogenarian owner Noel Le Mare for 6,000 guineas in 1972 and trained on Southport beach by Mccain, pitched on landing at the fifth-last of the 30 fences.
“I remember thinking, ‘That’s it!” admitted Fletcher.
“But he found a leg from somewhere and he went on as if nothing had happened.
“Anyone could have ridden this horse. He is incredible,” added the 26-year-old jockey, capturing his third National in seven years.
“It’s Double Rum!” proclaimed the Sunday Mirror as William Hill chalked Red Rum up as the 10-1 favourite to rack up an unprecedented hat-trick in 1975.
Immortality
After seconds to L’escargot in 1975 and Rag Trade in 1976, Red Rum would finally achieve National immortality when carrying 11st 8lb to beat Churchtown Boy in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee year.
“He has so much confidence, he thinks he’s the greatest,” said Mccain of his stable star.
Three weeks later, Red Rum became the only horse in history to win the Aintree and Ayr Grand Nationals in the same season — at the traditional winner’s homecoming in 1974.
“And I reckon he’s right.”