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The turf

How the slowest horse won — and caused the biggest upset in Grand National history

Laid-back, relaxed Foinavon was given 100-1 odds of winning the 1967 race. Then disaster struck

9 November 2013

9:00 AM

9 November 2013

9:00 AM

On a grey October morning, along a Berkshire lane leading up to the Ridgeway amid fields stuffed with pheasant, 30 of us joined a mini-pilgrimage. The former champion jockeys Graham Thorner and Stan Mellor had made it along with Marcus Armytage, who won the Grand National on Mr Frisk. There, too, were a cluster of racing historians including Chris Pitt and John Pinfold.

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