Which trainers and owners hold the record for the highest number of wins in the Grand National?
In the history of the Grand National, three trainers have saddled four winners apiece. In chronological order of their first win, they are George Dockeray, Fred Rimmell and Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain. Dockeray was responsible for three of the first four ‘official’ National winners, namely Lottery (1839), Jerry (1840) and Gaylad (1842), before completing his quartet with Miss Mowbray (1852). Rimmell saddled unquestionably the luckiest National winner ever, E.S.B. (1956), who was the beneficiary when Devon Loch inexplicably collapsed on the run-in, but later added Nicolaus Silver (1961), Gay Trip (1970) and Rag Trade (1976) to his winning tally; the latter was one of just two horses to beat Red Rum in the National. Speaking of the incomparable Red Rum, the equally incomparable ‘Ginger’ McCain saddled ‘Rummie’ to his three victories (1973, 1974 and 1977) and, much latter in his career, won the National again with Amberleigh House (2004).
Noel Le Mare, owner of Red Rum, jointly holds the record for most wins with three other owners, namely James Octavius Machell, Trevor Hemmings and Gigginstown House Stud, owned by Michael O’Leary. Machell owned Disturbance (1873), Reugny (1874) and Regal (1876) but, following Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015) and Rule The World (2016) and Tiger Roll (2018 and 2019), respectively, Hemmings and O’Leary still have the chance to add to their winning tallies.