Malcolm Pannett / 22 March 2009 Free Bet

Easter Hero would go on to win two Cheltenham Gold Cups but in 1928 he was responsible for the first major pile-up in National history.

In the lead over Becher's Brook, which he jumped in spectacular fashion, Easter Hero either thought about refusing or slipped on the approach to the Canal Turn, which was a ditch at the time, and ended up stuck on top of the fence blocking the course.

The following pack was left with nowhere to go and those taking evasive action baulked others with a chaotic domino effect taking more than 20 horses out of the contest. Only a single figure number set out for the second circuit and they were further reduced to three by the second last.

Great Span was probably going the best but his saddle slipped and he decanted his 17-year-old jockey Bill Payne on the floor. The loose Great Span then harried new-leader Billy Barton who in turn came down at the last leaving the Tipperary Tim as the only horse to complete the course without falling. In doing so the 100-1 shot lost his maiden tag while Billy Barton was remounted to take second.

In 1929 the ditch at the Canal Turn was filled in and Easter Hero jumped it, albeit tentatively. The 9-1 favourite, in the record field of 66, looked a certain winner until he spread a plate in such a fashion that the horseshoe twisted round gashing another leg. Even so he struggled on to finish second to Greglach - another 100-1 winner.

The one-eyed Glenside had been the first to be the only one not to fall when he won in 1911. His only surviving rivals, Caubeen and Rathnally (who was remounted to finish second), eliminated each other when they collided at the fence after second Becher's, the same fence at which Foinavon would benefit years later from a similar melee to the one caused by Easter Hero. More recently Red Marauder and Smarty fought out a memorable finish after most of the field were taken out of the race by Paddy's Return also at the Canal Turn.

The Royal Family has been associated with horseracing since its inception hence the soubriquet 'the sport of kings'. However, talk of the National and the Royal connection that most readily comes to mind is the inexplicable collapse of Devon Loch in 1956 which was taken with such dignity by the Queen Mother and spawned a writing career for jockey Dick Francis. The annus mirabilis for the Royal Family though, was 1900.

The Prince of Wales, who would become Edward VII, was a keen racing fan and had already won the Derby with Persimmon in 1896 and had a runner in the National as early as 1884. In 1900 he was represented by Ambush II who had finished seventh the previous year behind Manifesto.

This time Ambush II was receiving 24lb from Manifesto who had been allotted a staggering 12st 13lb. The pair fought out a terrific battle with the weight telling in the end and the hats in the grandstand flew into the air to celebrate the Royal winner. The Prince of Wales, though, was far from finished for the year as his Diamond Jubilee, born in the year of his mother's sixtieth year on the throne, went on to win the Triple Crown.

Ambush II was back again in 1903 when he was involved in a finish that was strangely portentous of Devon Loch and where two horses with very similar names played a major part in the finish.

Both Drumree and Drumcree, along with Ambush II, had been to the fore for most of the second circuit. Drumree led after the second last but before the last he suddenly dropped to the floor as if shot leaving the way clear, or so it appeared, for Ambush II to win again. But Ambush II hit the top and toppled over presenting the race to Drumcree.

As for Drumree he eventually got to his feet and walked away apparently unharmed. Similarly, Limerock looked certain to win the 1917 War National, which was held at Gatwick, until collapsing just before the line, and of course Devon Loch made it three in 1956.