Let's talk about... Devon Loch's incredible Grand National defeat in 1956

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Ben Linfoot - Devon Loch drama remains a mystery

It’s hard to think of anything comparable to Devon Loch’s last-gasp capsize in the 1956 Grand National in the history of the sport.

The nearest I can think of is Dayjur’s jumping of the shadow late in the day in the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but at least there was a shadow.

For Devon Loch, there was no explanation. At least, nothing definitive.

He’d jumped beautifully, avoiding drama, over the 30 biggest fences in racing and was clear on the run-in with the race firmly in his grasp. The crowd were cheering home the Queen Mother’s horse and, today, he’d be 1.01 on Betfair with thousands traded. You mightn’t even get that. It was all over bar the shouting.

A second later he’s sprawled on the ground. E.S.B gallops past him to win the race and Devon Loch’s jockey, Dick Francis, is disconsolate - a saggy sight as he picks up his whip as you can see in the main picture above.

The theories as to what happened are wide and varied.

Francis always blamed the noise.

In his autobiography, Sport Of Queens, he said: “I have never in my life heard such a noise. It rolled and lapped around us, buffeting and glorious, the enthusiastic expression of love for the Royal Family and delight in seeing the Royal horse win.

“I remember how startled I was when I first heard the cheers for M’as-tu-vu at Lingfield, and they were a whisper compared with the enveloping roar at Liverpool."

Others close to the horse had different theories.

Trainer Peter Cazalet’s head lad, Jim Fairgrieve, believed it was a slip. Another lad in the yard, Alex King, thinks too much glucose may have caused him to suffer cramp.

Some onlookers believed the wing of the water jump caught his eye. Some said a leaking stop cock from that jump caused a false patch of ground. One vet blamed an infestation of red worms in his youth that caused bad circulation in his hindquarters.

Dave Dick, who rode E.S.B, thought it was lack of oxygen, saying Devon Loch’s tongue was ‘almost black’ as he went past the stricken horse and the time of the race – Devon Loch would’ve broken the track record at the time had he stayed on his feet – adds some weight to his theory.

Of course, if we don’t know by now we’ll never know. And as the Queen Mother said at the time: "That’s racing.”

Send us your views

Do any of our readers remember the Devon Loch National? Can you think of any other similarly unlucky losers? What other Grand National hard-luck stories do you recount? Send all of your stories to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks please let us know.

Alan Jacobs: None more unlucky for me than Beau in 2001. Heading onto the 2nd circuit and going great guns, due to horrendous conditions and carnage at the Canal Turn which had wiped out half the field, Beau had only 3 (vastly inferior) rivals to beat and it seemed a matter of how far for Nigel Twiston-Davies’ likeable gelding.

However, disaster struck at the 17th as Beau’s reins slipped to one side of his head. Carl Llewelyn tried desperately to fix the rein situation and the partnership stayed intact over the next. In a race against time before the formidable 19th fence, Llewelyn just couldn’t manage to achieve the impossible and an inevitable brush of the top of the fence unshipped him from his mount. He tried desperately to chase down the horse and if he had caught him, would have been the only horse in the history of the race to lose his rider and still win. Heartbreakingly, Beau managed to break into a gallop and Llewelyn had no chance.

I hadn’t backed a Grand National winner for 10 years before that...and to this day, Seagram remains my last Grand National winner – but, although Sunnyhillboy runs it close, it is safe to say, Beau is my unluckiest loser.

Sam Evans: I'm 77 and can remember well DEVON LOCH in 1956 national. Very unlucky. Should have won. But as you know others benefit from misfortune. ESB was the first grand national winner I backed. So while one horse should have won, I in turn had good luck.

George Goodenough: In 2002 Bindaree beat What's Up Boys and Blowing Wind but I don't recall any body picking up on the coincidental fate of this trio in 2004. All had their race ended at Bechers 1st time round with ur, bd and ref. Memories are blurring but I've an idea at least two were connected if not all three.

Steve G: One very unlucky National for me and A.P. McCoy was 2005. I backed Clan Royal quite confidently and ante-post at a huge price Take the Stand. Take the Stand then ran second in the Gold Cup and eventually went off at 16-1. Take the Stand unseated at the chair, fair enough, he wasn't the best of jumpers and it was a big price. I then watched horrified as riderless he ran across Becher's and carried out Clan Royal who was going great guns ridden By A.P.. It was a long way out but that year did seem to be Aintree specialist Clan Royal's best chance, He would have been the only horse to win the Topham and the National. He also won the Becher chase.

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