With so many horse races held worldwide, it must be difficult to pick just one you would want to win as an owner.
However, for a few, there’s only one race they really want: the Grand National. So much so that they actively go out to win it year after year, even when they’re already a leading owner in the race.
To date, six people hold the joint record, having won the Grand National on three occasions. Interestingly, only two can realistically win it again, so the next few renewals will be very interesting as both try to make history.
So, who are the six owners? Which horses brought them victory? And can any of them add the elusive fourth victory to their list of achievements?
JP McManus
J.P. McManus is well-known in the world of horse racing, particularly in Ireland and the UK.
The Irish businessman and philanthropist has a keen eye for talent and has owned numerous successful racehorses over the years.
With wins in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, King George VI Chase, and many other Grade 1 races across the country, he has had incredible success in the sport.
But few other wins have given him as much pleasure as the three at Aintree.
Don’t Push It – 2010
Monumental for more than being JP McManus’s first win in the race, it was also the first and only Grand National win for legendary jockey AP McCoy.
Tony McCoy had been attempting to win the Grand National since his first ride in 1995. Before his win in 2010, he had ridden in the race 14 times without success.
Don’t Push It went off on odds of 10/1, and with the entire country cheering him on, McCoy gave a masterclass in riding as he navigated every obstacle between him and victory.
It was the first win for McCoy, trainer Jonjo O’Neill, and JP McManus.
Minella Times – 2021
Almost as epic as the first win with Don’t Push It, JP McManus made history again in 2021 when Minella Times romped to victory, this time with Rachael Blackmore on board.
With no crowds at Aintree (COVID restrictions), it was a much quieter affair than usual, but Blackmore didn’t let that stop her from riding the race of her life.
The glass ceiling was finally smashed, paving the way for other young female jockeys to succeed in the sport.
I Am Maximus – 2024
Champion trainer Willie Mullins had already been having the year of his life, having just recorded his 100th winner at the Cheltenham Festival.
He was also primed to take the Champion Trainer title, and all he needed to seriously contend was the Grand National.
So, saddling I Am Maximus for JP McManus presented his best opportunity for the win, and with Paul Townend on board, the duo duly delivered, giving their backers another day to remember.
Gigginstown House Stud
More widely known as being owned by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, Gigginstown House Stud is known for its burgundy and white silks and the sheer number of entries at all major British and Irish meetings and festivals.
Rule The World – 2016
Rule The World’s win in 2016 was a fairy tale story. The horse had never won a steeplechase before and had overcome significant injuries earlier in its career.
Prepped expertly by trainer Mouse Morris and under the guidance of jockey David Mullins, Rule The World triumphed despite his 33/1 odds.
Not only was it a first for O’Leary and Gigginstown, but it was particularly emotional for Mouse Morris, who had lost his son the previous year.
Tiger Roll – 2018 & 2019
The little horse that could, Tiger Roll was known for his small stature, but as they say, the best of goods come in small packages, and Tiger Roll certainly proved that.
Not content to win just one Grand National, he returned the following year to win again, a feat not achieved since the days of Red Rum in 1973 and 1974.
We will never know if he could have mastered the elusive three-in-a-row because the race was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, and Michael O’Leary withdrew him from it in 2021.
O’Leary believed that the handicapper had given Tiger Roll an unfair mark of 166, which did not reflect his age or form, so he took him out of the race, ending his chances of a third win.
Trevor Hemmings
Trevor Hemmings was a prominent British businessman who built a diverse and successful career across various industries, from property and entertainment to sports and leisure.
He started his career in the construction industry, eventually founding Hemmings Developments. He later acquired the Pontin’s holiday camp chain and several other ventures, including the Blackpool Tower and Pleasure Beach amusement park.
However, horse racing was his passion, and the Grand National was his favourite race, so winning it, not just once but three times, was one of his greatest achievements.
His first was with jockey Ruby Walsh and Hedgehunter in 2005, which, incidentally, was also Willie Mullins’s first win in the race as a trainer.
Six years later Hemmings, along with the McCains, was back in the winning enclosure with Ballabriggs in 2011.
Then came the third win in 2015 when the Oliver Sherwood trained Many Clouds was guided to victory by jockey Leighton Aspell.
Despite his public success, Hemmings lived a relatively private life away from the spotlight. He passed away on October 11, 2021, leaving behind a legacy of sporting excellence.
Noel Le Mare
Noel Le Mare was a businessman from Southport who had a lifelong ambition to win the Grand National. Little did he know, when he met Ginger McCain, that he would end up owning one of the most famous horses in the world, not just in the National.
Encouraged by McCain, Le Mare purchased Red Rum, who was trained on the beaches of Southport before his Aintree debut in 1973.
Demonstrating his competitive spirit, he had to chase down the leader, Crisp, before ultimately winning by less than a length.
With jockey Brian Fletcher on board, Red Rum, Ginger McCain, and Noel Le Mare returned in 1974 to win a second consecutive Grand National, the first horse to do so since Reynoldstown in the 1930s.
With Red Rum now a household name, the treble was on in 1975, but it was not to be as Red Rum could only manage second place behind the winner, L’Escargot.
History repeated itself in 1976, when, again, only a second-place finish was on the cards for the legendary race horse.
But Red Rum’s Grand National journey was not over. In 1977, he showed the world exactly what he was capable of by winning an unprecedented third Grand National by a staggering 25 lengths.
His three wins have never been equalled and remain some of the most celebrated achievements in horse racing history.
Sir Charles Assheton-Smith
Sir Charles Assheton-Smith, originally known as Charles Duff, was a prominent racehorse owner in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
He achieved his first success in the Grand National, with Cloister in 1883 and had to wait nearly 20 years before striking gold again with Jerry M in 1912.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait as long for his third win, which came the following year when Covercoat raced to victory to win the Grand National in 1913.
James Octavius Machell
The very first owner to win three Grand Nationals was also the only one to have actually trained two of the horses that won for him.
The fact that he won all three Nationals within four years and with three different horses is remarkable and has never been repeated.
It started in 1873 with Disturbance, a well-prepared horse that showcased Machell’s training skills.
The following year, Reugny stepped up to the starting tape with John Richardson on board. Reugny went off as the 5/1, and he didn’t disappoint, bagging a second win for Machell and cementing his status and reputation as a terrific trainer.
But more was to come in 1874 when Regal was sent out by trainer James Jewitt. He gave Machell his third and final victory in the race, making history as the first owner to ever accomplish it.
Conclusion
As we’ve learned from above, only six owners have ever won the Grand National three times.
Now, only two remain with the potential to add a fourth or even a fifth title, and they are JP McManus and Gigginstown.
With I Am Maximus already being primed for a repeat performance in 2025, could JP beat O’Leary to the punch and become the most successful owner in history? Time will tell.
