1990 Grand National

The 1990 Grand National (officially known as the Seagram Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 144th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England, on 7 April 1990. The off time was 3.20pm.

Mr. Frisk won the race in a time of 8 minutes and 47.80 seconds, breaking Red Rum's 1973 record by 14.10 seconds. He was ridden by amateur jockey Marcus Armytage. This record still stands^[when?], even though the race has been 342 yd (312.72 m) shorter since 2013.

Second was Durham Edition, and third Rinus. The 7/1 favourite Brown Windsor finished fourth. In fifth was Lastofthebrownies, ridden by Charlie Swan, and Richard Dunwoody rode Bigsun home in sixth place.

There were two equine fatalities during the race. Roll-A-Joint fell at the first Canal Turn, breaking his neck and dying almost instantly, while Hungary Hur incurred a leg fracture while running towards the 19th fence, pulled up and was euthanised.

Brown Windsor was made 7/1 favourite after a year which had seen him win the Whitbread Gold Cup and finish narrowly beaten in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury. Under the guidance of John White he had every chance jumping the Canal Turn second time in fourth place but was unable to make any further impression on the leader along the Canal side and by the time they turned for the penultimate fence he was beaten, maintaining his fourth place to the finish. Brown Windsor did not race again until 1992 with a series of prep races before a second tilt at the National when he was again among the leading contenders only to fall at Becher's first time. He never again attempted the National but did return three times for the Fox Hunters Chase, being beaten second in both 1994 and 1995 before being brought down in what proved his final race in 1996. Brown Windsor was retired to the hunting field and died at the age of twenty-four in 2006.

Durham Edition was backed down to 9/1 having won both the Charlie Hall Memorial Pattern Chase at Wetherby in November and the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at the same course in December, having previously proven himself in the National, finishing second in 1988 and fifth in 1989. Once again partnered by Chris Grant, he tracked the first circuit in mid division, moving up to eighth jumping the Chair before creeping into closer contention on the second circuit. By the time the Canal Turn was reached he was fifth and crossing the Melling Road moved into second to issue a challenge to the eventual winner at the final fence. The horse gave his backers every chance on the run in but was unable to close down a length disadvantage and ended beaten second for the second time in three Nationals. Durham Edition returned for a fourth and final attempt at the National in 1991, finishing sixth.

Bigsun came into popular support and shared favouritism until minutes before the race, going off at 15/2. He arrived at Aintree as the winner of the Ritz Club Chase at the Cheltenham Festival three weeks earlier and in addition had been given the minimum 10 stone to carry by jockey Richard Dunwoody, albeit the Ulsterman weighed out 2 lbs overweight. In the race itself Bigsun turned for the second circuit in the main pack but was always trailing the leaders without ever getting into a challenging position. His finishing position of sixth was as close as he was at any point of the race.

Rinus came to Aintree having won the Greenall Whitley Gold Cup at Haydock Park in February under Richard Dunwoody but with the Ulsterman opting to ride Bigsun, the mount went to Neale Doughty who had previously won the race and never failed to complete the course. Sent off at 13/1 they moved into the leading half dozen as the runners came to the Canal Turn for the first time and stayed in touch with the leader throughout. Rinus moved up into a distant second place at the fourth fence from home but was never able to close a ten length advantage built up by the winner and was passed going to the second last flight by the eventual second before staying on, one paced to finish third.