Hedgehunter won in 2005
The Martell Grand National at Aintree is arguably the World’s most famous National Hunt race.
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The first official race at Aintree was held on July 7, 1829 and on Tuesday February 26, 1839, Lottery became the first winner of The Grand National. In those days the field had to jump a stone wall (now the water jump), cross a stretch of plough land and finish over two hurdles.
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Since those days, the Aintree course has undergone a number of changes over the ‘Topham family years’, from 1949-73 to when Seagram Distillers stepped in to provide the solid foundation on which Aintree's revival has been built.
The last Seagram-sponsored National was in 1991 when the race was won by a horse which chairman Straker twice had the opportunity to buy; the horse's name was Seagram.
The Seagram subsidiary, Martell Cognac, took over sponsorship in 1992. Over the course of Martell's sponsorship, the race has again experienced a boom, with record attendances over the last few years. In 2004, the race was to be the very last Martell Cognac Grand National meeting, with Martell's priorities changing and therefore not renewing its sponsorship. In 2004, around 150,000 people were at Aintree to witness the last Martell backed race.
Top weight Hedgehunter is among 68 entries still in the Grand National at the five-day confirmation stage. A maximum of 40 horses will run.
The 2005 winner is joined by last year's champion Numbersixvalverde for the famous steeplechase at Aintree.
A total of 68 horses remain in the 2007 Grand National at Aintree after the five-day declaration stage - a maximum field of 40 will line up on the day.
