Grand National first jump, suddenly veered across the leading group at the 23rd, causing them to either stop, refuse or unseat their riders. Racing journalist Lord Oaksey described the resulting pile-up by saying that Popham Down had "cut down the leaders like a row of thistles". Some horses even started running in the wrong direction, back the way they had come. Foinavon, whose owner had such little faith in him that he had travelled to Worcester that day instead, had been lagging some 100 yards behind the leading pack, giving his jockey, John Buckingham, time to steer his mount wide of the
1927 Grand National — refused. Bovril III, a 100/1 outsider, finished in second place by one length, with Bright's Boy another length behind in third. This was the first National to be covered on BBC Radio. 1927 Grand National The 1927 Grand National was the 86th renewal of the world-famous Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 25 March 1927. The race was won by Sprig, the 8/1 favourite ridden by jockey Ted Leader. Leader's father, Tom, trained the winner. It was Sprig's third attempt at winning the National — his owner, Mary Partridge, having kept