Probably like many people I have just a passing interest in the sport of horse racing which is only really sparked to any great extent on Grand National day each year. My dad was more of a fan and took me with him to a few meetings when I was younger but even that has failed to generate any sustained enthusiasm as the years have passed. Despite this as the morning of the 2025 National roles around I realise I already have a myriad of fantastic memories associated with it. Little do I realise they are about to be topped.

The first one comes from way back in 1973 when I was five years of age. In front of our black and white television (only three channels then as well) I am with my mum and dad. My parents have allowed me to pick a horse, called Crisp, as part of their overall bet and the image on the screen that day is showing it leading the field as they approach the final straight. Unfortunately it is about to be passed by the future Grand National legend Red Rum on its way to the first of three wins at the event.

By 1977 I have developed more than a passing interest in football and have already persuaded my dad to take me to Anfield to see Liverpool play on a couple of occasions. On April 2nd the stars align with Liverpool playing Leeds at 1130am and the Grand National at Aintree in the afternoon. Leaning on my dad’s horse racing interest I persuade him to take my cousin, a Leeds fan, and I along to both.

While the trusty Austin 1100 (FOB 561 D) gets us to the train station safely and British Rail play their part by arriving in Liverpool on time the pre-match vibe is slightly spoilt by our taxi to the ground being rear ended. Fortunately, for us anyway, we are close enough to the ground to walk the final part. A Liverpool win is then followed by Red Rum’s record breaking third National win. I feel very fortunate to be stood near the winning post as that happens.

Fast forward to 1989 and I am in my last year as a student in Liverpool. My best friend Brucie has come up for the weekend and part of the plan is to attend the National. The details of what happened are a little sketchy but it was something along the following lines. As in 1977 Liverpool had played in a morning kick off and we had gone from there to the National. Being impoverished students we had headed to the cheapest part of the course, a long way from the grandstand and being able to see what was actually happening. If I’m totally honest I’m not sure we were even charged for entry.

In traditional British fashion we favoured the underdog in the betting market and a horse called ‘Smartside’ caught our attention and was duly backed at a starting price of 300/1. Once the race began in the far distance we joined hundreds of others in climbing on fences or abandoned trollies to try and get a view of what was happening. As the field flew past we roared our encouragement for Smartside while having no real clue where he was. I think the race itself had actually finished when we spotted Smartside for definite. He had fallen and was being slowly walked back to the finish by his jockey.

My dad passed away in the summer of 2007 so I was determined to be present at Aintree in 2008 to place a bet in his honour. It wasn’t exactly a tipping master stroke to pick out the race favourite, Comply Or Die, as the winner. Win it did though much to my nostalgic pleasure and from a much better vantage point than 1989.

So to 2025. Below I present my 87 year old mum’s handwritten selections for the race, ready for me to place in the online world. Basically 7 two pound each way bets for a combined total of £28. I would be the first to admit that in a field of thirty four runners by the law of averages you would hope for at least one or maybe (if you were lucky) in the first four. However to have picked all of the first four, ticked on the left hand side is incredible and surely not done by even those most knowledgeable about the sport. Another great memory to add to the list above, hopefully there are still many more to come.