Bourton provided a nice tonic, rewarding favourite backers returning the winner at 4/1. People who activly study the list of favourites in the ten years preceding this race will note that most have gone off at 4/1, the shape of the race typically being a well handicapped field of around 22-23 runners. Perhaps odds setting bookmakers back then lacked much imagination. It will be interesting to study the historical over-rounds, but it’s easy to imagine that betting margins were very high. Jockey John Tasker only enjoyed one win in the Grand National, as did owner William Moseley and trainer Henry Wadlow. But then one win is more than John Francome and Peter Scudamore managed in more recent times! History records that 20 went to post, and Bedford was the races sole fatality.

It was recorded that the 1852 winner Miss Mowbray was “got at” by race fixers and was withdrawn when hot favourite. If true this was a real shame as this star female would sadly not get another chance as in the 1855 running she would suffer a life ending fall.

Starting Price: 4/1 fav

Winning Distance: unknown

Owner: William Moseley

Jockey: John Tasker

Weight Carried: 11st12lbs.

Runners: 20

2nd: Spring

3rd: Crabbs

4th: Marley

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