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My brother heard from John Williams the jockey of Boom Docker in the ‘77 Grand National. John later became a jockey on the Flat winning the Stewards Cup and Ceasarewitch. In his career he also won the Norwegian National twice and rode in the 1990 Derby.
My brother wanted to know why he thought Boom Docker refused.
John wrote back
“I’m convinced he saw a loose horse coming the other way and being clear his mind lost its competitiveness. I had won on him from the front at Market Rasen and Lingfield so it was an unusual thing to do but we were alone with no company. The previous year I was unlucky at Bechers second time around and was brought down in 5th or 6th place”
Having back the winner of that race, Boom Docker’s lead didn’t concern me. Thought he would always be caught especially as a classier horse Crisp tried it a few years earlier (which at the time I didn’t know about). It was how quick Andy Pandy built his lead afterwards until second Becher’s which looked more of a chance of winning. However when Andy Pandy fell the rest is history.
Since then the always some horses who take a lead on first circuit, but not there on the second.
You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.The stars aligned that’s for sure. Didn’t Andy Pandy go on to win the Whitbread after that?
That’s such an interesting story, KC, thanks for sharing it. I’d never seen an explanation for the refusal before. And indeed, if you watch the video, as Boom Docker is coming to the Melling Road there is a horse on the outside of the course heading at full pelt in the opposite direction.
Like RR77, I don’t think for a second Boom Docker would have won – but he was a ridiculous distance clear at the time.
And yes, Andy Pandy won the Whitbread a few weeks later. Now, if he had stood up at Becher’s, things might have got interesting on the run for home…Things might have got interesting had Churchtown Boy not fluff his jump at the final. Red Rum had 2 loose horses to race against on the run in, which was part of Peter O’Sullivan’s famous commentary which fills me with pride every time I hear it.
Got the video of Red Rum’s 1977 victory so going to watch it, later on.
I knew about The Queen’s Mum horse Devon Loch spread eagling on the run in and the explanation of jumping a shadow. She was a real sporting person at heart, as was her Daughter the late Queen when her horse won the Ascot Gold Cup.
You've got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don't mess with mister in between.Thanks for posting this Kendal Cavalier. I have always found it remarkable how far clear Boom Docker was. Possibly he had a slightly bigger lead at the 17th than even Crisp did in 1973.
In both instances the lead became huge when the horse in second place, who was well ahead of the remainder of the field, fell at The Chair. Grey Sombrero was the faller in 1973, and Sage Merlin in 1977. Very sadly Grey Sombrero was a fatality.
It would have been fascinating to see how Boom Docker had fared if he had continued to race that day. Similarly, it would have been fascinating to see how Andy Pandy had done if he had stayed on his feet. The history of the Grand National is full of such “what ifs”, and all the more interesting for it.
Andy Pandy must have still had plenty left in the tank judging by the way he quickly reappeared and won the Whitbread – though jumping was at that time truly the name of the game in Grand Nationals.
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