How many times did Richard Dunwoody win the Grand National?
Forced into retirement in December, 1999, after aggravating a neck injury, Richard Dunwoody won the Grand National twice. On his first attempt in the Grand National, in 1985, Dunwoody led over Becher’s Brook on joint-favourite West Tip, only for his mount to crumple on landing and fall. Nevertheless, the partnership made amends in 1986, with West Tip tackling the leader Young Driver halfway up the run-in, as Dunwoody glanced across at his toiling rival, and staying on well to win by two lengths. Indeed, West Tip proved a grand servant to connections, finishing fourth in the Grand National in 1987 and 1988 and second in 1989, all under Dunwoody.
Dunwoody subsequently succeeded Peter Scudamore as stable jockey to Martin Pipe and won the first of three consecutive jockeys’ titles in 1992/93. The following season, he won the Grand National again on Miinnehoma, trained by Pipe and owned by Liverpudlian comedian Freddie Starr. In an attritional renewal, run on heavy going, Miinnehoma was one of just six finishers, but could be called the winner some way from home, racing upsides the eventual second, Just So, from the third-last fence before cruising into the lead on the run-in to win by 1ΒΌ lengths.