Grand National Outsiders: Biggest Long-Shot Results
The Grand National has produced some well known shock results in its history, with unfancied outsiders defying huge odds to win at Aintree. Over the years several outsider horses have claimed victory at enormous starting prices, including a handful of legendary 100/1 winners.
| Year | Horse | SP (starting price) | How it happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Tipperary Tim | 100/1 | Tipperary Tim produced one of the biggest upsets the race has ever seen. The 1928 Grand National turned into a war of attrition, with only a few horses making it to the finish, and he was the one left standing at the end. |
| 1929 | Gregalach | 100/1 | Gregalach made it two 100/1 winners in successive years, helping cement the Grand National’s reputation for unpredictable results. Few would have expected another outsider to follow Tipperary Tim so quickly. |
| 1947 | Caughoo | 100/1 | Caughoo’s victory came at huge odds and in unusual circumstances. The race was run in foggy conditions, and his win later became the subject of debate, with some rivals questioning how the race had unfolded. |
| 1967 | Foinavon | 100/1 | Foinavon took advantage of one of the most chaotic moments in Grand National history. A pile-up at the 23rd fence stopped much of the field, but he avoided the trouble, kept going, and built enough of a lead to win. |
| 2009 | Mon Mome | 100/1 | Mon Mome was largely dismissed in the betting but stayed on powerfully to win at a huge price. His victory was the first by a 100/1 shot in the Grand National for more than 40 years. |
| 2013 | Auroras Encore | 66/1 | Auroras Encore was not high on many shortlists before the race, but he travelled strongly and finished the race off well. His win also gave trainer Sue Smith a place in Grand National history. |
| 2022 | Noble Yeats | 50/1 | Noble Yeats was still a novice chaser, which made his win all the more surprising. The result also carried a strong human story, with amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen winning the Grand National on his final ride. |
| 2025 | Nick Rockett | 33/1 | Nick Rockett was part of a powerful Willie Mullins team, but he was not the yard’s most obvious winner beforehand. He outran bigger-name stablemates and led home a Mullins-dominated result at Aintree. |
We’ve included the 100-1 winners of the race, as what an achievement for those horse and jockeys (and the punters backing them!) but for recent years have included the likes of Noble Yates and Nick Rockett impressive long odds wins as they are still fresh in the memory for many.
The last 100-1 Grand National shock winner is worth noting though, as it came a full 42 years after the prior, and of course is Mon Mome. He was barely considered by most punters before the race, but he travelled well and stayed on. Ridden by Liam Treadwell and trained by Venetia Williams, he pulled clear to win in decisive style, with the outsider leaving his shorter-priced rivals behind. It was the first time since Foinavon in 1967 that a 100/1 shot had won the Grand National. No luck involved, Mon Mome simply outstayed the field and won well. That’s the way to do it!