Grand National Runners-Up & Greatest Near-Misses

Winning The Grand National can come down to mere strides, a fall or incredible bad luck. Throughout the years some runners up have had performances almost as famous as the winner. These are the top 10 greatest Grand National runners-up and near misses: From the incredible challenge from Crisp against Red Rum right through to Devon Loch’s extraordinary collapse just 30 yards from the finishing post.

1. Devon Loch — 1956 — 100/7

Devon Loch looked certain to win for the Queen Mother when,  40 yards from the finishing line, he inexplicably sprawled on the run-in and was unable to continue, handing victory to E.S.B. in perhaps the most famous Grand National near-miss of all.

2. Crisp — 1973 — 9/1 Joint-Favourite

Carrying a huge 12 stone, Crisp produced one of the greatest losing performances in racing history, building a commanding lead before Red Rum relentlessly closed him down and caught him near the finish to win by just three-quarters of a length.

3. Red Rum — 1975 at 7/2 Favourite; 1976 at 10/1

After winning the Grand National in 1973 and 1974, a staggering achievement in its own right, he finished runner-up in both of the next two Nationals. He then had a final bite of the cherry winning for a record third time in 1977 at the age of 12.

4. Suny Bay — 1997 at 8/1; 1998 at 11/1

The popular grey finished second in consecutive Grand Nationals, chasing home Lord Gyllene in 1997 before producing an especially gallant effort under top weight of 12 stone when runner-up to Earth Summit in testing conditions a year later.

5. What’s Up Boys — 2002 — 10/1

What’s Up Boys looked poised to become the first grey Grand National winner since Nicolaus Silver when he went clear late in the 2002 race, only for Bindaree to rally and pass him again in the closing stages.

6. Clan Royal — 2004 at 10/1 Joint-Favourite; 2005 at 9/1

Few horses endured more Grand National frustration: Clan Royal finished second to Amberleigh House in 2004, then returned a year later and was around six lengths clear when a loose horse carried him out at Becher’s Brook on the second circuit.

7. Sunnyhillboy — 2012 — 16/1

Sunnyhillboy was denied by the smallest possible margin, with Neptune Collonges catching him on the line to win by a nose in the closest finish in Grand National history.

8. Pleasant Company — 2018 — 25/1

Pleasant Company launched a tremendous late challenge against Tiger Roll and was gaining with every stride, but the winning post arrived just in time for Tiger Roll, who held on by a head after a photo finish.

9. Any Second Now — 2021 at 15/2; 2022 at 15/2 Favourite

Any Second Now finished third in 2021 even though he was badly hampered and losing ground, then managed to go one space better as Favourite in the betting odds the following year , being beaten by two and a quarter lengths by 50/1 outsider Noble Yeats.

10. I Am Maximus — 2025 — 7/1

The 2024 winner came agonisingly close to completing back-to-back victories when finishing second to Nick Rockett in 2025, but the story gained a remarkable final twist when I Am Maximus returned in 2026 and regained the Grand National crown — the first horse since Red Rum to do so.