2008 Grand National 2008 Grand National The 2008 Grand National (known as the John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 161st official annual running of the world-famous Grand National steeplechase which took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 5 April 2008 and attracted the maximum permitted field of 40 runners, competing for total prize money of £450,640. Joint-favourite Comply or Die and Irish jockey Timmy Murphy won the race (it was Murphy's eleventh attempt at the National), four lengths ahead of King John's Castle in second place and Snowy Morning in third. Cloudy Lane, ridden by Jason Maguire, was
1836 Grand Liverpool Steeplechase present course record. The race was a selling race and its status as an official Grand National was revoked some time between 1862 and 1873. The race was started at 2pm over a course almost identical to the modern Grand National course, although the fences were all no more than high earth banks with the exceptions of two brooks and a water jump in front of the stands. Despite this at least three of the runners had to be put at the first fence for a second time after refusing. None of the ten riders are known to have been