Fred Rimell - Grand National Great

Fred Rimell is one of the most successful Grand National trainers in the history of the race. Only fellow legend Ginger McCain has achieved the same number of wins in the Grand National – and three of those came from the great Red Rum.

Fred's case was slightly different. He trained four different National winners over a span of 20 years, having also ridden in the race on numerous occasions as a jockey. When you look at the current leading trainer, Paul Nicholls, who has yet to train a single National winner it's easy to see what an achievement this is.

It was shortly after watching the 1936 National that Fred became engaged to Mercy Rimell – the dashing future champion jockey. That year, Fred rode the favourite, Avenger, but it was a faller at halfway.

Fred won the National Hunt Champion Jockey title four times between 1939 and 1946 – though his career was cruelly cut short in 1947 when he suffered two falls that both resulted in a broken neck.

Fred turned his love of racing to training horses and another amazingly successful career was launched. Just four years after starting, Fred won the first of a succession of Champion Trainer titles.

A few years later, in 1956, Fred and Mercy were to achieve their first Grand National winning success in bizarre circumstances when their horse ESB ran past the Dick Francis-ridden Devon Loch who had sensationally collapsed on the run in with the race at his mercy.

Mercy recalls her husband saying : "Good God, I've won the National. But what a terrible way to do it."

The Rimell husband and wife team were back in the Aintree winner's enclosure five years later with Bobby Breasley ridden Nicolaus Silver, a 28-1 shot in the horse racing odds, who was often ridden in training by Mercy herself.

Nicolaus Silver had been targeted by dopers before the National. Apparently, Fred's suspicions were aroused when a French woman visited the yard, posing as an owner. Fred moved his National contender to a box usually inhabited by another grey in his yard and the dopers got at the wrong horse!

Gay Trip was Fred's easiest winner, winning by 20 lengths, in 1970. With stable jockey Terry Biddlecombe injured, Gay Trip was partnered by Pat Taaffe. Terry had his chance on Gay Trip two years later but was beaten two lengths by Well To Do.

The Rimell's last winner was Rag Trade in 1976 which overcame the great Red Rum. Fred won two more Champion Trainer titles before his death in 1981. Today the Rimell National legacy is carried forward by Fred's grandson Mark.