1902 Aintree Grand National – Shannon Lass

The 1902 Grand National took place on Friday 21 March at Aintree racecourse. It was the 64th renewal of the event.

In the field this year was the 1901 runner-up Drumcree. He was to finish out of the places here but would bounce back to win the race in 1903. Also present was the dual Grand National winner Manifesto. Now aged fourteen, he would put in another gallant effort to finish in third place while shouldering top weight of 12st 8lbs.

The winner this year though was the mare Shannon Lass. She was the eleventh mare to win the race. It had been a relatively common occurrence for mares to win up to this point but it would be more than forty years before we would see another.

Shannon Lass was owned by bookmaker Ambrose Gorman, a popular character who used his wealth to make considerable improvements to the lives of residents of Telscombe village, which he owned. He funded repairs to the village church and paid for every house to be connected to mains electricity. He was also known to have made a Christmas gift of wellington boots and a book to every child in the village.

• 

• 

Full Race Result:

01	Shannon Lass	David Read	7	10-1	20/1	3 lengths
02	Matthew	Willie Morgan	6	9-12	50/1	3 lengths
03	Manifesto	A E Piggott	14	12-8	100/6
04	Detail	Arthur Nightingall	6	9-9	25/1
05	Lurgan	R Freemantle	6	10-12	100/8
06	Tipperary Boy	T Moran	8	11-6	100/8
07	Drumcree	Mr Charles Nugent	8	10-10	6/1
08	Barsac	Frank Mason	10	9-12	7/1
09	The Sapper	H Brown	9	10-3	40/1
10	Miss Cliffden II	Mr Harry Ripley	6	9-7	50/1
11	Steady Glass	Mr Longworth	10	9-8	100/1	Last to complete

Also ran: Drumree, Helium, Inquisitor, Arnold, Dirkhampton, Aunt May, Whitehaven, Fairland, Zodiac, Gossip.

Result and data confirmed with Morning Post, and Sporting Life, Saturday 22 March 1902.

Post-race Report:

But for the sulky Whitehaven they would all have gone off beautifully at the second attempt, but at the third Mr. Coventry effected a capital start. Nothing fell at the first fence, at which Drumcree led Matthew, and then the last-named settled down with a lead which he was destined to live up to more or less until close home, nearly bringing off a 50 to 1 chance. In addition to the fall mentioned above in the first round which ruined the chance of Drumree, Dirkhampton was also a victim of a very small percentage, and we counted eighteen over the water, Barsac and Inquisitor having in turn taken them along, and now at a slow pace Helium, Inquisitor, Aunt May, Barsac, Arnold and Matthew were in front, Drumcree in the centre division, Manifesto, going one pace, at his heels, heading the last batch, of whom Gossip was hopelessly beaten.

After going into the country the second time Tipperary Boy took second place to Inquisitor, who made a mistake at the third fence, but was recovered, and then Tipperary Boy was left at the head of affairs, with Aunt May, Matthew and Barsac next. Helium, Zodiac, Whitehaven, and Aunt May were next added to the “onted” division, and long before Valentine’s Brook was reached the second time Drumcree’s chance was gone; while at that well-known landmark Matthew headed Tipperary Boy, Inquisitor taking third place, with Shannon Lass going strong, and Lurgan lay next, and old Manifesto, whose steady stride had worn down a lot of opponents, having next place.

Two fences further on Inquisitor came down, and Matthew, jumping beautifully, led them into the racecourse, where Arthur Nightingall, who had been riding a nice patient race, brought Detail into second place, next being Lurgan, Manifesto and Shannon Lass, it looked anybody’s race. Three fences from home Shannon Lass became second, with Tipperary Boy well up, and he took third place.

Two fences from home Detail held a very rosy chance but for a mistake at the last obstacle where Shannon Lass headed Matthew, and full of running Mr. Graham’s mare gradually forged ahead, and amidst great enthusiasm finished a gallant winner by three lengths, admirably ridden by D. Read. Old Manifesto going as strong as ever, though incapable of a spurt, came in for an ovation as he finished third three lengths behind the outsider, Matthew, and Detail, a bit unlucky, was fourth. Tipperary Boy pulled up and let Lurgan head him for fifth place, Drumcree finishing seventh.

Many had backed the winner on her smart jumping and good looks when third to The Pride Of Mabestown at Sandown, and the result was well received. Drumcree is evidently not cherry ripe, Tipperary Boy perhaps too fit, while Matthews’ forward running came as a surprise on his fourth to Venetian Monk at Kempton. However, ’tis to be hoped that those who were disappointed in the result had more than saved at the good price of 100 to 8.

Honours lie with old Manifesto, who, having twice won the race, finished third at the ripe age of fourteen, on his merits. The winner, who pulled up pretty fresh, had neither been whipped or spurred.

Sporting Life, Saturday 22 March 1902.