This was run on the 27th March 1908 with the going heavy despite sunny weather.The winning time was 10 minutes 33 2/5 secs. NOTE that the first and second were both trained by William Costello who trained at the Danebury stables managed by Fred Withington.

GRAND NATIONAL 1908

While the press recorded William Costello as the trainer at the time, some 31 years later, when Fred Withington was elected to the Jockey Club in 1939 he claimed that he was the real trainer, and that Costello was Head Lad working under his supervision. The words of Mandy Rice-Davis come to mind, 'Well, he would say that wouldn't he?'.

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Pos. Horse Jockey Owner
1 RUBIO H Bletsoe Major F Douglas-Pennant
2 MATTIE MACGREGOR W Bissell Mr W Cooper
3 THE LAWYER III Mr P Whitaker Mr P Whittaker
4 FLAXMAN A Anthony His Majesty the King
also SPRINGBOK J O'Brien Colonel R L Birkin
also RED HALL Mr H G Farrant Mr H G Farrant
also KIRKLAND F Mason Mr F Bibby
also CHORUS R Chadwick Mr Foxhall Keene
also MOUNT PROSPECT'S FUTURE R Morgan Mr P Nelke
also ROMAN LAW A Newey Mr A Buckley Jnr
also SEISDON PRINCE M Phelan Mr T Ashton
also EXTRAVAGANCE H Aylin Mr G Walmesley
also LARA Mr Bulteel Captain J Foster
also NANOYA J Lynn Mr B W Parr
also TOM WEST H Murphy Mr H Hardy
also JENKINSTOWN F Morgan Mr S Howard
also YORK II W Rollason Mr G Walmesley
also PADDY MAHER Mr O'B Butler Colonel Kirkwood
also DATHIA T Anthony Mr J W Philipps
also PROPHET III J Dillon Mr Foxhall Keene
also JOHNSTOWN LAD E Driscoll Mr J M Kerne
also WEE BUSBIE D Phelan Mr J E Rogerson
also ALERT III J Harland Mr T G Paget
also WILD FOX III Captain W A Pallin Captain W A Pallin
  Betting
6/1 Kirkland
8/1 Tom West
8/1 Springbok
10/1 Johnstown Lad
100/8 Paddy Maher
100/7 Roman Law
100/7 Mount Prospect's Future
100/7 Seisdon Prince
100/7 Extravagence
100/7 Lawyer III
25/1 Mattie Macgregor
25/1 Lara
33/1 Flaxman
66/1 Rubio
100/1 Wild Fox III
100/1 Alert III
100/1 Wee Busbie
100/1 Prophet III
100/1 Dathia
100/1 York II
100/1 Jenkinstown
100/1 Nanoya
100/1 Chorus
100/1 Red Hall
  Over Round 110%
The extract above shows the declarations the day before the Grand National, with Castello clearly shown as the trainer

For further details of Rubio's exploits, and a picture from the grandson of trainer William Costello, use the link below.
https://thesmjr.ning.com/page/rubio-from-towcester-station-to-aintree-legend

I am very grateful to John Pinfold for the picture shown below. I can recommend Gallant Sport and An Aintree Dynasty, both written by John Pinfold. To purchase a copy of either book go to the Amazon Grand National store shown below.
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwgreyhoundd-21?node=337&page=1

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses

Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent.
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