Mr Frisk: the Grand National record-holder who pulled off a famous double

A degree of fortune is always needed to win a race of any description, and 30 years ago this month, the stars aligned perfectly for Kim Bailey and amateur rider Marcus Armytage as Mr Frisk became the first, and only, horse to win the Grand National and Whitbread Gold Cup (now the bet365 Gold Cup) in the same season.

However, the famous double nearly never came to pass, with Bailey having to convince Mr Frisk's American owner, Lois Duffey, to let the horse tackle the famous Aintree fences.

Bailey explains: "Mrs Duffey was not very keen about the idea and was worried about the horse's welfare. We managed to persuade her and at the last minute she decided to turn up which was a blessing in disguise as she at least she arrived to see it [the race]."