23/08/2026
🐌 L’ESCARGOT: THE HORSE WHO STOPPED RED RUM MAKING HISTORY
When people talk about the Grand National in the 1970s, Red Rum usually gets most of the attention. But L’Escargot put together a career that deserves to be remembered alongside him.
His name translates from French as “the snail”, which was rather unfair for a horse who could do what L’Escargot did!
Long before his Aintree win, he had already made his mark on both sides of the Atlantic.
🇺🇸 In 1969 he went to America, won the Meadow Brook at Belmont Park in record time and ended the year as the US Champion Steeplechaser.
Then came Cheltenham.
🏆 In 1970, he caused a huge upset by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup at 33/1 under Tommy Carberry.
A year later he came back and won it again, this time at 7/2, becoming a dual Gold Cup winner.
But Aintree took a little longer to crack.
His first Grand National attempt in 1972 ended at the third fence.
In 1973 he finished third, behind Red Rum and Crisp.
In 1974 he got even closer, finishing second to Red Rum.
Then came 1975.
Red Rum was trying to win an incredible third Grand National in a row, and most of the attention was naturally on him.
L’Escargot had other ideas.
Now aged 12 and ridden once again by Tommy Carberry, he finally got his National. And he didn't just beat Red Rum.
He beat him by 15 lengths.
Red Rum would eventually get that third National in 1977, but on that April afternoon in 1975, the stage belonged completely to L’Escargot.
From American champion to twice winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup and finally beating Red Rum at Aintree, what a racehorse he was.
🐎 Who remembers L’Escargot, and where would you rank him among the great chasers of the 1970s?
