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
2012 Grand National completed the course in eighth place. His jockey Brian O'Connell said: "The ground was just a little bit too quick for him. It was my first ride and a thrill a minute." Sam Twiston-Davies, the youngest jockey in the race, who rode the oldest horse Hello Bud, called his mount "a legend". The 14-year-old horse gave his trainer's son a "great ride", he said. Tom Scudamore, whose mount Junior fell at the second fence, said: "It was brief, unfortunately." As the Grand National is accorded the status of an event of national interest in the United Kingdom and is listed