No Grand National can realistically be described as an anti-climax, but the 1978 renewal did lack superstar quality after three-time winner Red Rum, due for one last hurrah at the age of 13, was found to be slightly lame on the eve of the race, withdrawn and immediately retired. In his absence, 42 horses went to post and the 1976 winner, Rag Trade, back with George Fairburn after ill-feeling among his co-owners, was sent off favourite at 8/1. Rag Trade never really featured and, tragically, was pulled up before Becher’s Brook on the second circuit, having brokeb down so badly that the only solution was for him to be humanely euthanised.
On the prevailing good going, 15 horses completed the course and, in a driving finish, the first five home were covered by a distance of less than four lengths. Victory went to the 14/1 chance Lucius, trained by Gordon W. Richards in Greystoke, near Penrith, Cumbria and ridden by Bob Davies, who nosed ahead inside the final furlong and stayed on best of all to win by half a length. Sebastian V, ridden by Ridley Lamb, finished second, just a neck ahead of Drumroan, ridden by Gerry Newman, and a further two lengths ahead of Coolishall, who just prevailed in a photo finish for fourth place with The Pilgarlic, ridden by Richard Evans.
Reflecting on his victory, decades later, winning jockey Bob Davies said, “I was a bit lucky. But only in the way I got the ride. Dave Goulding should have ridden him for Gordon Richards, as he was his jockey, but he hurt his back at Wetherby on the Monday.” Interestingly, Davies, who had been champion jockey in 1968/69 (jointly), 1969/70 and 1971/72, was completing the Grand National Course for just the second time. Although only a nine-year-old in 1978, Lucius never ran in the Grand National again.