This took place on Wednesday 4th March 1868 on heavy going and the weather was cloudy and windy. The winner was owned by Lord Poulett, trained by Ben Land and ridden by Mr George Edwards, winning by 2 lengths in 10 minutes 30 seconds, with 10 lengths back to the third.

GRAND NATIONAL 1868

There were 107 subscribers paying 25 sovereigns, of which 45 declared and 21 accepted. A further 300 sovereigns was added, although the second received 50 sovereigns, meaning the pot was £1785. (Equivalent to £141,200 in 2017)

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Pos. Horse Jockey Owner
1 THE LAMB Mr Harry Edwards Lord Poulett
2 PEARL DIVER Tomlinson Mr E Brayley
3 ALCIBIADE Colonel Knox Mr B J Angell
4 CAPTAIN CROSSTREE W Reeves Mr R Herbert
also ASTROLABE A French Mr E Bournet
also HELEN Mr Goodman Mr Barber
also HALL COURT B Land Captain J M Browne
also BUSZKE Count Szapary Count Carolyi
also CHIMNEY SWEEP J Adams Lord Coventry
also DAISY Mr Thomas Mr W R H Powell
also THE NUN Wheeler Mr E Green
also GARUS J Page Duke of Hamilton
also KINGSWOOD Gilroy Mr W Forbes
also HUNTSMAN'S DAUGHTER G Holman Mr T V Morgan
also THE PLOVER Mr R Walker Mr R Walker
also MOOSE W White Mr E Brayley
also FAN Thorpe Mr Barber
also MENTMORE Hyland Mr W Forbes
also CHARMING WOMAN Terratta Jnr Mr J Willing
also SLIEVE CARNE Mr Pritchard Mr G H Moore
also THALASSEUS Mr Crawshaw Lord Stamford
  Betting

Bell’s Life and the Sporting Chronicle provided a detailed account of the race on Saturday 7th March 1868, the article forming the backbone of the information shown below.

Dilatory manipulation at the telegraph board kept the eager multitude long in suspense as to the numerical strength of the field, and exactly who the intended performers were. At 3.05pm the race got underway without even the smallest sign of fractiousness, Garus making the early running, accompanied by Huntsman’s Daughter, Charming Woman and Mentmore. However, well before the second fence tragedy struck when Chimney Sweep came down and suffered a broken leg. The Lamb showed in advance at the ditch and rails, but Charming Woman’s account was closed when jumping far too short at the obstacle. On the journey to Beecher’s Brook, Captain Crosstree took over the lead from The Lamb and Daisy, with Kingswood, Thalassius and Mentmore in close attention, although the last mentioned trio all came to grief at the Brook. Captain’s lead had increased by Valentine’s Brook, followed at some distance by The Lamb, but he in turn was passed by Daisy on the field prior to re-joining the course proper. The field closed up at the Stand water jump, The Lamb leading in the centre by a neck from Captain Crosstree, with Alcibiade also making a bid for glory on the far side of the pair. Approaching Beecher’s second time round, Captain Crosstree returned to the head of affairs, but at this point Daisy had to call it a day, leaving Alcibiade to chase the Captain. Through a couple more meadows both Alcibiade and the Captain beat a retreat leaving The Lamb and Pearl Diver to go on together. On the run to the final hurdle near the distance a good battle ensued between the pair before Pearl Diver got the upper hand by 2 lengths, with a further 10 lengths back to Alcibiade in third. The brave Captain Crosstree held on to claim fourth place, while Moose and Huntsman’s Daughter were the next pair to finish.
7/1 Chimney Sweep
8/1 Moose
9/1 Pearl Diver
10/1 The Lamb
10/1 Fan
10/1 Helen
11/1 Daisy
100/6 The Nun
100/6 Huntsman's Daughter
100/6 Alcibiade
25/1 Astrolabe
33/1 Garus
33/1 Captain Crosstree
40/1 Thalassius
40/1 Buszke
50/1 Slieve Carne
50/1 Hall Court
100/1 Charming Woman
100/1 Mentmore
100/1 The Plover
100/1 Kingswood
  Over Round 109% Note that unquoted horses have been allocated 100/1.
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