Tim Forster Cheltenham Gold Cup (1964, 1965, 1966). Last Suspect was said to be "moody, unreliable, disinterested". During the race at Warwick prior to the 1985 Grand National, the 11-year-old gelding pulled himself up. Forster and the Duchess of Westminster only ran him in the race at the insistence of his jockey Hywel Davies. Last Suspect won by 1 lengths in front of Mr Snugfit and the 1983 Grand National winner Corbiere coming in third. Forster moved to Downton Hall Stables, 2 miles north of Ludlow on the Downton Hall estate in Shropshire in the summer of 1994. Forster retired with a
1985 Grand National on BBC. Those who questioned the ability of the two favourites turned instead to champion jockey John Francome who would partner 8/1 chance Drumlargen. The horse had been third in the previous year's Cheltenham Gold Cup while speculation was rife that this would be Francome's last attempt at the National, having so far never won the race. Despite being given top weight of 11 stones 10 lbs, Corbiere was by now something of a housewive's favourite at 9/1, having followed victory in the race in 1983 by finishing third in 1984. This year he would be deprived of his partner