One For Arthur, who won the Grand National in 2017, had the distinction of being just the second horse trained in Scotland to win the world famous steeplechase, after Rubstic in 1979. A former pointer, for his career under Rules, he was owned by Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson, under the ‘Two Golf Widows’ banner and trained by Lucinda Russell in Milnathort, Kinross-shire.
Three times a winner over hurdles in early 2015, One For Arthur made a winning debut over fences in a novices’ chase at Kelso later that year, but it was not until the 2016/2017 season that he emerged as a bona fide Grand National contender. A winning seasonal debut, again at Kelso, earned him a 10lb rise in the weights and, off his revised mark, he finished a promising fifth, beaten just three lengths, in the Becher Chase, over the Grand National fences, at Aintree. He subsequently won the Classic Chase at Warwick, earning a further 11lb rise in the weights, and so headed back to Aintree for the Grand National off a handicap mark of 148, which equated to 10st 11lb.
Ridden by Derek Fox, as he had been all season, One For Arthur was sent off at 14/1 and barely gave his supporters an anxious moment. He travelled and jumped well throughout, led between the final two fences and stayed on strongly to win by four-and-a-half lengths. Russell said afterwards, “I am so proud of the horse. He jumped fantastically and Derek gave him a great ride.” Fox, too, paid tribute to his mount, saying, “It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had. He’s just such a brave horse.”
One For Arthur missed the 2018 Grand National through injury, but returned to Aintree, off a 7lb higher mark, for the 2019 renewal. Ridden, once again, by Derek Fox, he made headway into fifth place at the final fence, but weakened on the run-in to finish seventh, beaten 26 lengths, behind Tiger Roll. He had three more starts, without success, before being retired in November 2020. He died less than three years later, in March 2023, after a sudden bout of colic.