Oil painting of the 1901 Grand National 'Grudon' painted by Margaret Bletsoe, daughter of the winning owner/trainer Bernard Bletsoe, bears signature

Oil painting of the 1901 Grand National 'Grudon' painted by Margaret Bletsoe, daughter of the winning owner/trainer Bernard Bletsoe, bears signature and date lower right margin, 87 by 119cm. frame; 60 by 91cm. canvas overall condition good with no obvious damage to canvas bears some white paint marks crackling apparent; gilt frame with losses to boarder and corners with surface scratching  The weather condition on the day of the 1901 Grand National were appalling and the race was run in a howling snowstorm. Trainer Bernard Bletsoe hit on the idea to pack Grudon's hooves with butter in the hope that this would prevent snow from clogging in them. It is not recorded if any of the other trainers followed this example but it worked as Grudon, a horse who was one of the leading contenders in the betting market at odds of 9-1. His rider Arthur Nightingall set off without any difficulty while most of the other competitors struggled. Legend has it that Nightingall became so confident that he hacked around most of the second circuit alongside Algy Anthony on his struggling mount Covert Hack until leaving his rival behind with the words "Well I must be going now so ta ta". Provenance: Originally by family descent to Bernard Bletsoe's son & daughter-in law Percy and Gladys Bletsoe. The father of the present vendor worked for Mr & Mrs Bletsoe as a stable lad and groomsman. The painting was then gifted by Gladys to the vendor's father when she had to sell the family house and move into a nursing home. The vendor inherited the painting in 1981. The vendor's family all lived in Newton Bromswold in Northamptonshire. Grudon was foaled and trained across the county at Elms Farm, Denton.