| Grand National | |
  | |
| Location | Aintree |
|---|---|
| Date | 10 April 2021 |
| Winning horse |  Minella Times |
| Starting price | 11/1 |
| Jockey | Rachael Blackmore |
| Trainer | Henry de Bromhead |
| Owner | J. P. McManus |
| Conditions | Good to soft |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Full replay of the 2021 Grand National Racing TV, YouTube |
The 2021 Grand National (officially known as the Randox 2021 Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 173rd annual running of the Grand National horse race, held at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England,[1] on 10 April 2021. The event was once again sponsored by Randox Health, although the name on the race from this year onwards was shortened to simply "Randox". The total prize fund for the race was £750,000, down by £250,000 from the last meeting in 2019.
The race was won by Minella Times, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, who became the first female jockey to win the Grand National.[2] De Bromhead, who won the race as a trainer for the first time, also trained the second-place finisher Balko des Flos. The winner was owned by J. P. McManus, who had previously won the race as an owner in 2010 with Don't Push It.[3] The Long Mile was euthanised after fracturing a hind leg. Jockey Bryony Frost was treated for injuries after falling from Yala Enki.[4]
Having been cancelled the year before due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 race and entire festival meeting took place behind closed doors for the first time in its history, because of continuing restrictions. Despite speculations and calls from some leading figures in racing for the meeting to be pushed back in the calendar so that it could possibly take place when betting shops are open, it was confirmed the race would retain its original date.[5]
The death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was announced shortly before the second day of the meeting. The meeting continued as scheduled, with tributes including a two-minute silence before racing, jockeys wearing black armbands on their silks as a mark of respect and the Union Jack on the Queen Mother Stand being lowered to half-mast.[6]
- ^ "Grand National 2021 | 8–10 April | Randox Grand National". www.thejockeyclub.co.uk.
- ^ Sport, Telegraph (10 April 2021). "Grand National 2021 full results: the winner, the finishers, the fallers and where your horse finished". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Mottershead, Lee (10 April 2021). "Rachael Blackmore makes history on 11–1 Minella Times in 2021 Grand National". Racing Post. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ Grand National horse dies following injury during race, Manchester Evening News, 10 April 2021
- ^ "Grand National 2021 date confirmed amid calls to change Aintree festival". The Mirror. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
- ^ Muscat, Julian (10 April 2021). "'He was such fun' – racing pays tribute to Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh". Racing Post. Retrieved 10 April 2021.