The 1843 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was the fifth official annual running of a handicap Steeple-chase, later to become known as the Grand National Steeplechase handicap horse race which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool on Wednesday March 1st 1843 and attracted a field of sixteen runners.

Although recorded by the press at the time as the eighth running of the Grand Liverpool, which was renamed the Grand National in 1847, the first three runnings were poorly organised affairs and are today regarded as unofficial.

This year the race was run as a handicap, with horses weighted according to their ability. In previous years they had all carried the same amount. The National has remained a handicap ever since.^[1]

Competitors and betting

• The 3/1 favourite was Peter Simple, a 9 year old grey entire who had finished third in both the 1841 and 1842 races carrying the top weight of 13stone 6lbs and ridden by John Frisby.
• 4/1 Lottery, the 13 year old winner of the 1839 race, carrying 12 stone 6lbs and ridden for the fifth time by Jem Mason.
• 4/1 The Returned, a 9 year old carrying 12 stone who had finished fourth last year and was partnered this year by Major D Campbell
• 10/1 Dragsman, a 7 year old carrying 11 stone 3lbs and ridden by John Crickmere.
• 10/1 Goblin, a 12 year old carrying 11 stone 6 lbs who had finished fifth in 1841 and was giving 1840 winning jockey, Bartholomew Bretherton his fifth ride in the race.
• 10/1 Nimrod, an 8 year old carrying 11 stone and ridden by former Epsom Derby winning rider, Bill Scott.
• 10/1 Tinderbox, a 6 year old carrying 11 stone 7lbs and ridden by G Moore.
• 12/1 Claude Duval, carrying 11 stone 7 lbs and ridden by Joe Tomblin.
• 12/1 Vanguard, an 8 year old carrying 8 stone 10lbs and providing last year's winning rider, Tom Olliver with his fifth ride in the race.

The remaining runners were totally unconsidered and went unquoted by the bookmakers

• Bucephalus was an 11 year old carrying 11 stone 5lbs and ridden by Whitworth.
• Consul, an 11 year old who had finished distanced last year, carrying 11 stone 12lbs and ridden by F Oldaker.
• Croxby, carrying 11 stone 6lbs and ridden by William McDonough.
• Redwing, an 8 year old carrying 11 stone 10lbs and ridden by Thomas Doolan.
• The Romp, an 8 year old carrying 11 stone and ridden by H B Hollingshead.
• Teetotum, a 6 year old carrying 11 stone 7 lbs and ridden by W Lockwood.
• Victoria, a 6 year old carrying 11 stone 10lbs and ridden by T Taylor.

It was won by Vanguard, ridden by Tom Olliver, who became the first rider to win the race twice. Olliver was very fond of Vanguard and was later presented with the horse as a gift. When Vanguard died Olliver had the horse's hide used to make a sofa.

Favourite Peter Simple was pulled up by the distance judge and classed as distanced even though he completed the course. This was under a now defunct practice where a judge would pull up any horse who had not reached his location in front of the stands by the time the winner had finished the race.

Results

Winner: Vanguard, ridden by Tom Olliver and owned by George Stanhope, the 6th Earl of Chesterfield

Second: Nimrod, ridden by William Scott.

Third: Dragsman, ridden by John Crickmere.

Fourth: Claude Duval, ridden by Joe Tomblin.

Other finishers:

• 5th Goblin
• 6th Bucephalus
• 7th Lottery

Distanced:

• Peter Simple
• The Returned

References

1. ^ The Grand National 1839-1955 - BBC News

• www.hometown.aol.co.uk/captainbeecher/1843VANGUARD