Q 01/05

Aintree Racecourse, home of the Grand National, is in which English county?

A) Merseyside

B) Lancashire

C) Cheshire

D) Greater Manchester

Answer · why

A) Merseyside

The course sits just outside Liverpool, and rail links from London and Birmingham in 1839 helped turn a local chase into a national event.

Q 02/05

Under what name was the race first run in 1839?

A) Liverpool Grand Chase

B) Aintree Grand Chase

C) National Steeplechase Cup

D) Grand Liverpool Steeplechase

Answer · why

D) Grand Liverpool Steeplechase

Some historians argue the true first running was in 1836, won by The Duke, but efforts to restore those races to the record books have failed.

Q 03/05

How many fences do the horses jump in the Grand National?

A) 30

B) 32

C) 40

D) 36

Answer · why

A) 30

There are 16 fences on the course; 14 are jumped twice, while The Chair and the Water Jump are only taken on the first lap.

Q 04/05

Which aptly named horse won the first official Grand National in 1839?

A) The Duke

B) Lottery

C) Jerry

D) Sir William

Answer · why

B) Lottery

His 14 minutes 53 seconds remains the slowest winning time in the race's history.

Q 05/05

Becher's Brook takes its name from a rider who did what at the fence in the first Grand National?

A) Broke his collarbone landing

B) Cleared it standing in his stirrups

C) Fell into the water

D) Refused it three times

Answer · why

C) Fell into the water

Captain Martin Becher sheltered in the water while the rest of the field thundered over him.