The 1846 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase, later to become known as the Grand National Steeplechase, was the eighth official annual running of a handicap steeplechase. It took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on 4 March 1846 and attracted a then-record field of 22 entrants. It was won by the unconsidered outsider Pioneer.
Veluti, ridden by Jem Mason, a rider who had previously won the race in 1839 was sent off as the 11/2 favourite to win while the top weight of 12 stone 8 lbs was given to Firefly, the mount of Larry Byrne.
The course
The only contemporary report of the event was syndicated by the reporter of the Liverpool Mercury who recorded that the course consisted of thirty-one obstacles. This differed from the previous year in that a thorn fence had been installed in place of the wall jump at the distance chair in front of the stands. The competitors also now jumped three hurdles on the finishing straight where previously only one had stood. The fences that were noted were a large brook with a fence on the leading side, which was not yet officially described as Beecher's Brook and a high artificial thorn fence with a five foot wide and four foot deep water jump beyond.
Start – Just beyond the Melling Road. Fence 1 [17 on the second circuit] Plain good fence. Fence 2 [18] Plain good fence. Fence 3 [19] Plain good fence. Fence 4 [20] Plain good fence. Fence 5 [21] Large brook with a fence on the landing side {Becher's Brook}. Fence 6 [22] A fence inclined to the left that takes the runners towards the Canal side. Fence 7 [23] A fence inclined to the left that takes the runners towards the Canal side. Fence 8 [24] A fence inclined to the left that takes the runners towards the Canal side. Fence 9 [25] A large water jump. Fence 10 [26] Out of the second field along the Canal. Fence 11 [27] Out of the third field along the Canal. Fence 12 [28] A fence into the Anchor Bridge Road. {Table Top}. Fence 13 [29] An artificial hurdle leaving the training ground on the racecourse proper. Fence 14 [30] An artificial hurdle, replacing the wall at the distance judge's chair, which stood here the previous year. Fence 15 A high artificial thorn fence with a water jump five foot wide and four foot deep. Fence 16 A bank into the Melling Road. Fence 31 An artificial hurdle adjacent to the water jump.
The course for this race was incorrectly flagged with the result that as much as half a mile was added to the distance.
Peter Simple led for the majority of the first circuit. Lady Gray Fell at the first jump evaded her rider's attempt to remount while The Scavenger refused. He tried to refuse the second jump as well before finally getting his way at the third. Pickwick's rider lost a stirrup at the second fence and was quickly tailed off while Mameluke and Hornihihharriho collided at the fence before Becher's Brook. The former fell and was quickly remounted while the latter was baulked and brought down by another passing horse, with jockey, Lee-Carter taking several kicks, one of which left him with a heavy facial wound. Lancet's rider, William McDonough, was knocked from his horse by a mounted spectator as the field were turning to enter the race course proper and was badly bruised, Troubadour fell at a fence along the Canal side and Tinderbox was unable to negotiate the Table top jump at the Anchor Bridge crossing.
Perambulator led the field on the racecourse, having completely overpowered his rider, who did well to stay on board when the pair nearly parted company at the fence in front of the stands. However, they still held a lead of many lengths over the Water jump, ahead of Veluti, Golden Pippin, Peter Simple, Major A, Switcher, Carlow and Culverthorpe, accompanied by the riderless Lady Gray and Lancet. Having battled through the first circuit, a long way off the pace, Pickwick's rider decided That continuing was futile and pulled up without going out for another round.
Golden Pippin took up the running, heading away from the stands, only to bolt off the course, down Seed's Lane, where he collided with a cart and fell. Both Perambulator and Veluti attempted to follow suit, the former being kept on course by other horses while the latter was expertly kept on track by Jem Mason. However, both lost ground to the new leader Peter Simple, who was passed by Cure-All approaching Becher's Brook for the second time, where Culverthorpe made a bid to win the race, opening up a good lead over Switcher, Veluti, Peter Simple and Eagle with Brenda and the remounted Mameluke both briefly coming into contention before fading.
As the runners approached the racecourse, Culverthorpe still led from Veluti with Pioneer moving through tiring horses to take third. Peter Simple and Cure-All were among those to realise they were beaten at this stage while Veluti was unfortunate to break down after jumping the penultimate hurdle. As Pioneer drew up alongside Culverthorpe many of the Irish contingent in the stands began cheering, believing that his white silks were instead the straw colours of Switcher instead. However most realised by the time Pioneer passed the post in front that it was the unconsidered outsider who had been victorious, Culverthorpe held off Switcher, Eagle and Firefly for the minor placings. The majority of the remainder passing the post had pulled up before the hurdles.
Although an unconsidered outsider, Pioneer was quoted at a price of 200/10 the evening before the race although few, if any bets were known to have been struck and few bookmakers offered a price. He proved himself to be a very good horse by winning a prestigious race at Leamington Spa the following week. His rider, William Taylor was a twenty-seven-year-old vet and was one of nine riders making their Grand National debut. Most reports suggest that owner, Mr Adams had been very clear before the race that he would not risk a penny of his own money on his own horse and indeed had made no effort to have the horse trained for racing.[2]
At the time, Allen McDonough and Horatio Powell were both taking a record eighth ride in the race, however the 1836 race, in which Powell took part was discounted as an official National in the 1860s and the races of 1837 and '38, in which McDonough took part were also discounted during the Second World War.
