1985 Grand National of the betting public put their faith in last year's champion Hallo Dandy at 14/1, Fethered Friend at 16/1, and Classified at 20/1 with Hill of Slain, Kumbi, Scot Lane, Broomy Bank, Rupertino, Tacroy and Talon considered the only others in the field capable of winning the race. Last Suspect was among those largely unconsidered at 50/1. In the company of Welsh jockey Hywel Davies he had developed a reputation as a stubborn horse and had pulled himself up in his last race. His owner, Anne, Duchess of Westminster, instantly decided to scratch her horse from the race, having never
Bartholomew Bretherton (jockey) Bartholomew Bretherton (jockey) Bartholomew Bretherton (1812–1866) was a jockey from Maghull, north of Liverpool who rode many times in the Grand National as an amateur rider, winning the race in 1840 in the colours of Henry Villebois on his horse Jerry. Bretherton's father was Francis Bretherton (c. 1770 – 1833), coach proprietor of Maghull. Bretherton was his eighth child and third son. Bretherton's father and older brother Peter (second child and first son of Francis) were credited with starting horse-racing at Maghull Meadows, the precursor of Aintree Racecourse, in the late 1820s and 1830s. On 29 February 1836 a handicap