didn’t Esha Ness ‘win’ the race in a very good time, and would probably have been the winner had it not been a void race? Felt so sorry for his jockey.
The image of John White, head in his hand(s), realising that he hadn’t won the National is still etched in my mind; however I don’t recall anyone suggesting that he was an especially unlucky loser given that most of the field either didn’t start or pulled up within a circuit including Party Politics. It was a fast time by general standards (the race was run on good to firm going) but still nearly 13 seconds slower than Mr Frisk who carried 9lb more. In fairness to Esha Ness though, the horses who filled the places were classy types who gave credence to the form being sound.