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External videos
	Full replay of the 2017 Grand National Racing TV, YouTube

2017 Grand National
Grand National
	;
Location	Aintree Racecourse
Date	8 April 2017
Winning horse	One For Arthur
Starting price	14/1
Jockey	Derek Fox
Trainer	Lucinda Russell
Owner	Two Golf Widows
Conditions	Good to soft
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The 2017 Grand National (officially known as the 2017 Randox Health Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 170th official running of the Grand National horse race at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The showpiece steeplechase over a distance of 4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km) took place on 8 April 2017, the final day of a three-day meeting. A maximum field of 40 runners competed for a share of a prize fund of £1 million.^[1]

Randox Health is the new sponsor of the main race and the festival itself for the next five years.^[1] It was broadcast live on television by ITV for the first time. There was live radio coverage by BBC Radio, which has held the radio rights since 1927, and by Talksport, which covered the main race live for the fourth time.

The race was won by One For Arthur, only the second horse trained in Scotland to win the Grand National (the other being Rubstic in 1979). One For Arthur was ridden by Derek Fox and trained by Lucinda Russell, and was sent off at odds of 1014 14/1.^[2]

Race card

A total of 110 entries were received for consideration in the 2017 Grand National and were announced on 1 February 2017. Among the early favourites were Don Poli, who won three Grade 1 races in the 2015–16 season, and 2016 National runner-up The Last Samuri. The 2015 winner, Many Clouds, who was also among the ante-post favourites, died of a pulmonary haemorrhage shortly before the entries were announced.^[3]

The weights were announced on 14 February and headed by Lexus Chase winner Outlander, however, trainer Gordon Elliott indicated that he would not run. The top five weighted horses were all Irish-trained, including three by Elliott. One runner (Otago Trail) was scratched before the weights were assigned.^[4] Ninety-five entries remained after the first scratching deadline on 28 February. Elliott, who had earlier expressed his dissatisfaction with the weights assigned to his horses, withdrew several of his entries, including Outlander, Empire of Dirt and Don Poli, leaving Carlingford Lough as the new top weight. Vieux Lion Rouge, who won the Grand National Trial at Haydock, was now the favourite with the bookmakers, at 12/1.^[5] The field was reduced to 79 following the second scratching deadline on 21 March.^[6] The five-day confirmation process began on 3 April with 70 horses advancing, following the withdrawal of top-weight Carlingford Lough. The final field was announced on 6 April, including four reserves in case of any withdrawals before 1 pm on 7 April.^[7] One of the top 40 horses going into the confirmation stage (Pendra) withdrew.^[8] There were no further withdrawals before the deadline, leaving the following 40 starters:

No	Horse	Age	Handicap (st–lb)	SP	Jockey	Trainer
1	The Last Samuri (IRE)	9	11-10	1016 16/1	David Bass	Kim Bailey
2	More Of That (IRE)	9	11-06	1016 16/1	Barry Geraghty	Jonjo O'Neill
3	Shantou Flyer (IRE)	7	11-05	1050 50/1	Jonathan Moore	Rebecca Curtis
4	Perfect Candidate (IRE)	10	11-05	1033 33/1	Paddy Brennan	Fergal O'Brien
5	Saphir Du Rheu (FR)	8	11-05	1016 16/1	Sam Twiston-Davies	Paul Nicholls
6	Roi Des Francs (FR)	8	11-03	1050 50/1	Jack Kennedy	Gordon Elliott (IRE)
7	Wounded Warrior (IRE)	8	11-02	1033 33/1	Sean Flanagan	Noel Meade (IRE)
8	Wonderful Charm (FR)	9	11-02	1028 28/1	Ms Katie Walsh	Paul Nicholls
9	Tenor Nivernais (FR)	10	11-01	1040 40/1	Aidan Coleman	Venetia Williams
10	Blaklion	8	11-01	1008 8/1 F	Noel Fehily	Nigel Twiston-Davies
11	Drop Out Joe	9	11-01	1033 33/1	Tom O'Brien	Charlie Longsdon
12	Le Mercurey (FR)	7	11-00	1050 50/1	Sean Bowen	Paul Nicholls
13	The Young Master	8	10–13	1020 20/1	Mr Sam Waley-Cohen	Neil Mulholland
14	Cause of Causes (USA)	9	10–13	1016 16/1	Mr Jamie Codd	Gordon Elliott (IRE)
15	Regal Encore (IRE)	9	10–13	1033 33/1	Robbie Power	Anthony Honeyball
16	Vieux Lion Rouge (FR)	8	10–12	1012 12/1	Tom Scudamore	David Pipe
17	Definitly Red (IRE)	8	10–12	1010 10/1	Danny Cook	Brian Ellison
18	Ucello Conti (FR)	9	10–12	1020 20/1	Daryl Jacob	Gordon Elliott (IRE)
19	Double Shuffle (IRE)	7	10–12	1033 33/1	Adrian Heskin	Tom George
20	Houblon Des Obeaux (FR)	10	10–12	1050 50/1	Charlie Deutsch	Venetia Williams
21	Pleasant Company (IRE)	9	10–12	1011 11/1	Ruby Walsh	Willie Mullins (IRE)
22	One For Arthur (IRE)	8	10–11	1014 14/1	Derek Fox	Lucinda Russell
23	Ballynagour (IRE)	11	10–11	1066 66/1	David Noonan	David Pipe
24	O'Faolains Boy (IRE)	10	10–11	1050 50/1	Paul Townend	Rebecca Curtis
25	Highland Lodge (IRE)	11	10–11	1025 25/1	Henry Brooke	James Moffatt
26	Bishops Road (IRE)	9	10-10	1066 66/1	Jamie Moore	Kerry Lee
27	Lord Windermere (IRE)	11	10-10	1033 33/1	Leighton Aspell	Jim Culloty (IRE)
28	Saint Are (FR)	11	10-10	1025 25/1	Davy Russell	Tom George
29	Vicente (FR)	8	10-10	1016 16/1	Brian Hughes	Paul Nicholls
30	Just A Par (IRE)	10	10-09	1033 33/1	Harry Cobden	Paul Nicholls
31	Measureofmydreams (IRE)	9	10-09	1040 40/1	Donagh Meyler	Noel Meade (IRE)
32	Raz de Maree (FR)	12	10-09	1033 33/1	Ger Fox	Gavin Cromwell (IRE)
33	Stellar Notion (IRE)	9	10-09	1050 50/1	David Mullins	Henry de Bromhead (IRE)
34	Rogue Angel (IRE)	9	10-08	1020 20/1	Bryan Cooper	Mouse Morris (IRE)
35	Cocktails At Dawn	9	10-08	1033 33/1	Nico de Boinville	Nicky Henderson
36	Thunder And Roses (IRE)	9	10-07	1025 25/1	Mark Enright	Mouse Morris (IRE)
37	Gas Line Boy (IRE)	11	10-07	1050 50/1	Robert Dunne	Ian Williams
38	Goodtoknow	9	10-07	1066 66/1	Jake Greenall	Kerry Lee
39	La Vaticane (FR)	8	10-06	1080 80/1	Richie McLernon	David Pipe
40	Doctor Harper (IRE)	9	10-06	1050 50/1	Connor O'Farrell	David Pipe

Great Britain unless stated.
Amateur jockeys denoted by preceding title, e.g. Mr.
Liam Treadwell was due to ride Tenor Nivernais but was replaced by Coleman after getting injured.^[9]

Race overview

Two false starts occurred before the race could get underway, the first caused by several horses running off too keenly and the second by The Young Master and Raz de Maree jumping the gun from a standing start. When the race eventually began properly, the 50/1 outsider Roi Des Francs led the field on the first circuit with Rogue Angel and Highland Lodge also prominent.^[2] The 10/1 second-favourite Definitly Red was pulled up at Valentine's, whilst Saphir Du Rheu fell at the 11th.

As the horses rounded the turn to begin the second circuit, Roi Des Francs was carried out by a loose horse^[2] and rejoined the field in mid-division, leaving Rogue Angel as the new leader. Saint Are, Blaklion and Vieux Lion Rouge remained close behind the leaders. With five fences remaining, the 8/1 favourite Blaklion moved up to challenge Rogue Angel for the lead, with Saint Are going third and Cause of Causes coming into contention. With two fences left to jump, Blaklion raced into a three-length lead over Rogue Angel, as Vieux Lion Rouge advanced into third and One For Arthur made significant progress through the field.

At the second-last, One For Arthur jumped into the back of the leader Blaklion, with Cause of Causes and Gas Line Boy moving up to contest first place. The four were all stride for stride as they took the last fence, but One For Arthur jumped into the lead and accelerated to go three lengths clear at the elbow, increasing that advantage in the final furlong as he crossed the finish line 4+1⁄2 lengths ahead of Cause of Causes in second, with 3+1⁄2 lengths back to Saint Are, who ran on well to clinch third by half a length from Blaklion.^[10]

There were no fatalities and all 40 runners returned safely to the stables.^[11]

Finishing order

Placed horses

1: One For Arthur

2: Cause Of Causes

3: Saint Are

4: Blaklion

The 19 horses to complete the course finished as follows:^[12]^[13]

Position	Horse	Jockey	SP	Distance	Prize money
1	One For Arthur	Derek Fox	1014 14/1	4+1⁄2 lengths	£561,300
2	Cause of Causes	Mr Jamie Codd	1016 16/1	3+3⁄4 lengths	£211,100
3	Saint Are	Davy Russell	1025 25/1	1⁄2 length	£105,500
4	Blaklion	Noel Fehily	1008 8/1 F	8 lengths	£52,700
5	Gas Line Boy	Robert Dunne	1050 50/1	10 lengths	£26,500
6	Vieux Lion Rouge	Tom Scudamore	1012 12/1	1 length	£13,200
7	Lord Windermere	Leighton Aspell	1033 33/1	Neck	£6,800
8	Regal Encore	Robbie Power	1033 33/1	Head	£3,600
9	Pleasant Company	Ruby Walsh	1011 11/1	14 lengths	£2,000
10	Houblon Des Obeaux	Charlie Deutsch	1050 50/1	2+3⁄4 lengths	£1,000
11	Ballynagour	David Noonan	1066 66/1	1+1⁄4 lengths
12	Le Mercurey	Sean Bowen	1050 50/1	3+1⁄2 lengths
13	Goodtoknow	Jake Greenall	1066 66/1	3+1⁄2 lengths
14	Just A Par	Harry Cobden	1033 33/1	6 lengths
15	La Vaticane	Richie McLernon	1080 80/1	7 lengths
16	The Last Samuri	David Bass	1016 16/1	6 lengths
17	Tenor Nivernais	Aidan Coleman	1040 40/1	7 lengths
18	Roi Des Francs	Jack Kennedy	1050 50/1	1 length
19	Wonderful Charm	Katie Walsh	1028 28/1	Last to complete

Distance measures from smallest to largest winning margin: nose, short head, head, short neck, neck, one length, a distance.

Non-finishers

The runners who failed to complete were as follows:^[12]

Fence	Horse	Jockey	SP	Fate
1st	Cocktails At Dawn	Nico de Boinville	1033 33/1	Fell
1st	Vicente	Brian Hughes	1016 16/1	Fell
6th (Becher's Brook)	The Young Master	Mr Sam Waley-Cohen	1020 20/1	Fell
6th (Becher's Brook)	Raz De Maree	Ger Fox	1033 33/1	Unseated rider
9th (Valentine's)	Definitly Red	Danny Cook	1010 10/1	Pulled up
9th (Valentine's)	Thunder And Roses	Mark Enright	1025 25/1	Unseated rider
11th	Saphir Du Rheu	Sam Twiston-Davies	1016 16/1	Unseated rider
13th	Stellar Notion	David Mullins	1050 50/1	Pulled up
15th (The Chair)	Measureofmydreams	Donagh Meyler	1040 40/1	Unseated rider
22nd (Becher's Brook)	Ucello Conti	Daryl Jacob	1020 20/1	Unseated rider
26th	Perfect Candidate	Paddy Brennan	1033 33/1	Pulled up
26th	Shantou Flyer	Jonathan Moore	1050 50/1	Pulled up
29th	Wounded Warrior	Sean Flanagan	1033 33/1	Pulled up
29th	Double Shuffle	Adrian Heskin	1033 33/1	Pulled up
29th	Doctor Harper	Connor O'Farrell	1050 50/1	Pulled up
30th	Highland Lodge	Henry Brooke	1025 25/1	Pulled up
30th	Rogue Angel	Bryan Cooper	1020 20/1	Pulled up
30th	O'Faolains Boy	Paul Townend	1050 50/1	Pulled up
30th	Drop Out Joe	Tom O'Brien	1033 33/1	Pulled up
30th	More Of That	Barry Geraghty	1016 16/1	Pulled up
30th	Bishops Road	Jamie Moore	1066 66/1	Pulled up

Broadcasting and media

As they head down towards the last, One for Arthur for Scotland, Blaklion, Cause of Causes and Wonderful Charm on the inside, they are four deep heading to the last! And it's One for Arthur who accelerates, and moves to the lead from Cause of Causes, as they head up this long run in. One for Arthur is out in front, Cause of Causes in second place for Jamie Codd, Blaklion now back in third as they head towards the elbow in the National. And it's One for Arthur, out in front for Derek Fox and Lucinda Russell, beginning to pull three lengths clear from Cause of Causes, back in third is Blaklion, Saint Are is running on late in the day but it's One for Arthur, who crept into the race for the first circuit and a half, and is keeping up the gallop towards the line! And Scottish flags are flying high! One for Arthur won it!

ITV lead commentator Richard Hoiles describes the climax of the race.

As the Grand National is accorded the status of an event of national interest in the United Kingdom and is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, it must be shown on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK. The race was broadcast live on TV by ITV. This was the first year that ITV broadcast the race live, following the decision by Channel 4 to drop the event and horse racing in general in 2016.^[14]^[15]

The coverage was led by Ed Chamberlin. Retired champion jockey Sir Anthony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald provided expert opinions throughout the coverage, with reports from Brough Scott, Luke Harvey, Oli Bell and Alice Plunkett and betting updates by Matt Chapman. The commentary team was Mark Johnson, Ian Bartlett and Richard Hoiles,^[16] who called the winner home for the first time in his terrestrial television commentary career.