Which Horse Has The Fastest Grand National Time Since 1839?

Heading into the 2025 Grand National we’ve now had 176 renewals of the world’s greatest steeplechase – with the first one way back in 1839 – but over the years which horse holds the record for the fastest Grand National time?

Many Clouds Is The Fastest Grand National Winner Since 2013

A safety review after the 2012 race, the Grand National between 2013 and 2015 saw the start moved forward and away from the crowds to help the horses – which reduced the race distance by 110 yards.

While not long after from 2016, the advertised trip was amended to 4m 2 1/2f after the findings of a survey of distances at all National Hunt tracks by the BHA.

Distances were now measured via a midpoint of a course with a surveyor’s wheel – which led to a more accurate distance reading with most being shorter than advertised in the past.

At some tracks the minimum 2m trip would be actually less – while the longer NH races had more precise readings and bigger swings – like the Grand National, which led to the new advertised distance of 4m 2 1/2f.

But, it’s worth pointing out the race was still run over the exact same course.

In short, they’ve just streamlined how the race distances were measured – being recorded on a much more accurate and tighter line.

Since all this happened, the fastest Grand National time has been by MANY CLOUDS in 2015.

This Oliver Sherwood-trained 8 year-old (at the time) won the National that year in 8m 56.8 seconds and so far is the quickest winner since the new advertised Grand National distance was introduced in 2013.

The Many Clouds super-fast time was even more remarkable as the horse was winning with 11st 9lbs in weight.

Which was the most carried since Red Rum landed the spoils with 12st on his back in 1977.

Only Two Grand National Winners Have Run Under 9 Minutes

In fact, Many Clouds is one of just TWO winners to have broken the 9-minute mark since the Grand National was first run back in 1839.

We talk about the other to break the 9 minute mark below.

Heading into the 2025 National, Many Clouds is also the most recent English-trained Grand National winner, with Irish and Scottish handled horses winning the last eight renewals.

Many Clouds was also giving owner Trevor Hemmings his third National win after Hedgehunter and Ballabriggs.

That year the horse was a win for the bookmakers too – being sent off as a 25/1 chance with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.

WATCH: Many Clouds Winning The Grand National In 2015

Grand National Winners and Times Since 2013

What Was Last Year’s Winning Grand National Time (2024)?

In 2024 horse racing fans saw the JP McManus-owned I AM MAXIMUS win the National in 9m 16.42 secs which puts him 8th in the list of quickest winners since 2013 (see below).

I Am Maximus was sent off the joint 7/1 Grand National favourite and was giving trainer Willie Mullins a second success in the race. Having won it in 2005 with Hedgehunter.

The horse will be back in 2025 to defend his title and try and scoop the Grand National prize money for a second year.

If he can, he’ll join recent double winners of the race – Red Rum and Tiger Roll.

WATCH: I Am Maximus Winning The 2024 Grand National

Grand National Winners Since 2013 Ranked By Time

Note: 2020 – Cancelled (Covid)

Mr Frisk’s 1990 Win Remains The Fastest Grand National Run

The Grand Natioal track record still sits with MR FRISK, who won in 1990.

Mr Frisk’s winning time of 8m 47.8 secs remains the fastest Grand National run. Which was also achieved at the age of 11.

His super-fast time was put down to the lightning-quick ground that year, which was described as ‘FIRM’.

Along with Many Clouds, he is one of just two horses to WIN the National in under 9 minutes.

Oh, the Many Clouds win was also run on ‘good-to-soft’ ground.

The first ever National winner, a horse called Lottery, landed the prize in a time of 14m 53 seconds.

WATCH: Mr Frisk Winning The 1990 Grand National

https://youtu.be/3ggCVZSlIw4?si=pLU9d-1Y4fxT90yZ