10 of the Biggest Grand National Outsider Winners

The Grand National has always been a race in which the unexpected can happen. Favourites have often been beaten at Aintree, while horses given almost no chance by the betting market have gone on to produce some of the most famous victories in the race’s history.

From 100/1 shocks to a fairytale victory on a jockey’s final ride, here are ten of the biggest Grand National outsider winners.

1. Tipperary Tim — 1928 — 100/1

Tipperary Tim was the very first 100/1 winner in Grand National history in a race in which just two horse of the 42 starter field complete the course.

2. Gregalach — 1929 — 100/1

Remarkably, another 100/1 winner arrived just one year later, with Gregalach triumphing in the largest Grand National field ever assembled as a record 66 horses went to post.

3. Caughoo — 1947 — 100/1

Caughoo emerged from thick fog to win by 20 lengths in one of the strangest Nationals ever staged, with the conditions even prompting claims afterwards that winning jockey Eddie Dempsey had taken a shortcut.

4. Foinavon — 1967 — 100/1

Foinavon was behind the leaders when a loose horse caused complete chaos at the 23rd fence. Being able to avoid the resulting pile-up allowed him to gallop to victory. The event was so memorable the fence is now named after him.

5. Mon Mome — 2009 — 100/1

Mon Mome was the first 100/1 winner in 42 years. In a faultless display he beat the previous year’s (2008) winner Comply Or Die by 12 lengths. The win meant that Venetia Williams was only the second woman in history to train a Grand National winner.

6. Rubio — 1908 — 66/1

Rubio’s story is the stuff of movies. After a break in his career he spent pulling a trolley, his return saw him training for and then winning the Grand National by ten lengths.

7. Russian Hero — 1949 — 66/1

Russian Hero may well as have been a 66/1 outsider, but you wouldn’t have known it without checking the betting odds. He produced a commanding performance to beat Roimond by 8 lengths in a 43-runner National field.

8. Ayala — 1963 — 66/1

Jockey Pat Buckley was just 19 years old when he rode 66/1 shot Ayala to victory in the National. In a gritty performance he held off  Carrickbeg by three-quarters of a length.

9. Auroras Encore — 2013 — 66/1

Ryan Mania had a dream Grand National debut on board 66/1 Auroras Encore, powering clear to win by nine lengths at 66/1

10. Noble Yeats — 2022 — 50/1

Noble Yeats gave amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen a fairytale ending on the final ride of his career, winning the Grand National at 50/1.