Hello punters! A question that may arise in a sporting quiz at some time or other may be: What horse has a fence in the Grand National called after him? Well, the horse in question is Foinavon, who triumphed in the great race in a controversial manner in 1967, at the enormous price of 100/1, and ridden by John Buckingham.

The Foinavon fence, as it is called, is the 23rd fence on the famed Aintree circuit, and, incidentally, is also the smallest jump on the National course.

Foinavon, who was never what one would call a remarkable horse in any way, began his racing life in the ownership of Anne, Duchess of Westminster, who was also associated with the brilliant Arkle, one of the greatest chasers of all time.

Like Arkle, Foinavon was also called after a Scottish mountain, and was under the care of the renowned Irish trainer, Tom Dreaper, who had to be very patient with him, as he had a tendency to fall pretty often in his races. In spite of this, he still did manage to win three races, which also qualified him for the National. On the plus side, he did run fairly well in both the King George Chase at Kempton, and in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but, in the main, he did not threaten to light any fires in the racing world. He was eventually sold, and finished up in the yard of jockey/trainer John Kempton, who had the tough task of getting him ready for his National bid.

He was totally unfancied for the big race, being among the long-priced outsiders, and, as a matter of fact, on National day, trainer Kempton, who could not make the 10 stone weight allotted, chose to ride at another meeting, and handed the mount on Foinavon to John Buckingham, who had not been engaged by anybody else, and incidentally, was about to have his first ever ride in the Grand National. Well!

In the forefront of the betting were Honey End, ridden by Josh Gifford, Bassnet, Greek Scholar, Rondetto, and Princeful, while I would imagine that very few even knew that Foinavon was a declared runner, as he was among the 100/1 outsiders.

The starter got the field away to its usual pell-mell opening, with the normal panic-stricken stampede down to the first obstacle. At that fence, a horse fell, called Popham Down, and I ask you to keep that name in mind, for he was to prove to be the major catalyst in what was to occur later on in a sensational race. On went the field, going down to Becher's, with Princeful and Kirtle Lad showing the way, from a large group of horses, which contained most of the fancied runners.