However, being ridden by jockey Tommy Stack for the second consecutive National, the gelding clinched his unprecedented third title, bringing his career earnings to a then steeplechasing record of £114,000.

However, the horse finally returned somewhat to his best form when coming sixth in his preparatory race to the 1977 Grand National, the Greenall Whitley Chase at Haydock.

It was not until Becher's Brook (the 22nd) that Red Rum went into first position, when the leader and pre-race favourite, Andy Pandy, over-jumped the fence and came down, when going easily in front and 10 lengths clear.

Red Rum was left in front and his lead grew gradually, and he came home 25 lengths ahead of second-placed Churchtown Boy and the mare Eyecatcher in third.

[2] Churchtown Boy had won the Topham Trophy over the national fences just two days earlier when ridden by Chris Read, who finished third in this race on Eyecatcher.

[5][6][7] In an innovation, the BBC placed an audio microphone on one of the jockeys, opting for Graham Thorner, who was partnering Prince Rock, with a view that the rider could give viewers a verbal experience of the National.

The audio, however, proved unusable as Thorner, forgetting he was wired for sound, recorded three minutes of expletive-riddled content before a final tirade of expletives signaled his twelfth-fence exit.