Comment
The story of Crisp, whose heroic defeat at the 73 Grand National helped tee up the legend of Red Rum
Crisp was beaten by Red Rum in racing s crown jewel despite having led at one stage by 30 lengths in one of the all-time epic races
Crisp (R) is beaten by Red Rum in the 1973 Grand National
Credit: REX FEATURES
It is an irony of sport and, indeed, soldiery – I am thinking Napoleon and Waterloo here – that occasionally the greats are defined by a defeat rather than their numerous victories.
Never was there a better example in racing than Crisp, one of the genuine heroes of the winter game – the front-running, bold-jumping, deep-chested chaser who tanked off in front and whose opposition rarely saw anything other than his backside.