A to Z of the Grand National

AMATEURS: The race was most recently won by a member of the unpaid ranks when journalist Marcus Armytage scored on Mr Frisk in 1990.

BECHER’S BROOK: In 1839, Captain Martin Becher fell from his horse Conrad at the ditch and crawled into the brook.

CHAIR: The Chair is the biggest obstacle on the course.

DOUGLAS: Former British Lions star John Douglas won the National as an owner in 1979, with Rubstic.

ELBOW: One of the most famous parts of the Aintree track.

FAVOURITES: The last favourite to win was 10-1 Don’t Push It in 2010.

GREYS: Only three greys have ever won the National, The Lamb (1868 and 1871), Nicolaus Silver (1961) and Neptune Collonges (2012).

HOLIDAY: Holiday camp owner Fred Pontin won in 1971 with Specify.

IRISH: Bobbyjo ended a 24-year drought for Irish-trained horses when winning in 1999.

JOCKEYS: Ruby Walsh and Leighton Aspell are the only jockeys still riding to have won the National twice.

KILMORE: Kilmore, in 1962, was the second National winner as a jockey for Fred Winter.

LADY RIDERS: Charlotte Brew became the first woman to ride in the race in 1977, but her mount Barony Fort refused at the fourth-last fence. Katie Walsh finished third on Seabass, trained by her father, Ted, in 2012.

MOVIES: Aldaniti’s emotional 1981 success inspired the movie ‘Champions’.

NICKEL: Nickel Coin was the last mare to win the National, in 1951.

OUTSIDERS: Five horses have won the race at odds of 100-1 – Tipperary Tim (1928), Gregalach (1929), Caughoo (1947), Foinavon (1967) and Mon Mome (2009).

PLASTIC: Fences now have plastic inserts to replace the traditional timber and rubber padding ‘cores’ and are more forgiving on horses.

QUEEN MOTHER: The Queen Mother looked certain to gain a popular success in 1956 when Devon Loch was clear on the run-in. But he suddenly sprawled flat on the ground yards from the winning post and ESB galloped past to steal the prize.

RED RUM: No horse can match Red Rum’s National record. Winner of the race in 1973 and 1974, he was second the next two years before his historic third victory in 1977.

START: As part of safety changes, the start of the race has been moved forward by around 90 yards.

TELEVISION: The National is now screened in 84 countries, with an estimated worldwide audience of more than 500 million. This year will be the first one broadcast on ITV.

USA: Ex-American chasers Jay Trump and Ben Nevis came across to Britain to land the National in 1965 and 1980.

VOLUPTUARY: Voluptuary, bred by Queen Victoria, had never jumped a fence before winning in 1884.

WINTER: The late Fred Winter is the only man to have ridden (Kilmore 1962, Sundew 1957) and trained (Jay Trump 1965, Anglo 1966) two National winners. X-RATED: Mick Fitzgerald’s famous ‘better than sex’ quote after winning on Rough Quest in 1996.

YOUNGEST: Bruce Hobbs, 17, was the youngest jockey to win the National, scoring on Battleship in 1938.

ZONGALERO: Zongalero was second to Rubstic in 1979 and had also been runner-up in the Mackeson and Massey-Ferguson Gold Cups.