Crisp made his British debut in a handicap race at Wincanton and was allotted 12 stone 7 pounds (79 kg).
He was ridden by Richard Pitman, who would go on to ride Crisp for the majority of his racing life, including at the Grand National.
Despite the setback, they aimed Crisp at the following year's Grand National, one of the world's most famous steeplechases, at Aintree near Liverpool.
[2] Crisp went to the front in the early stages of the race and, when his nearest rival Grey Sombrero fell at The Chair, was left with a lead of 15 lengths.
At the same time, he heard the Tannoy commentator Michael O'Hehir declare, "And Red Rum is coming out of the pack, Brian Fletcher is kicking him hard!
Red Rum made up considerable ground on the 494-yard run-in, and two strides from the finishing post he passed Crisp to win by three-quarters of a length and claim the first of his first of three Grand National titles.
With a twenty three pound weight turnaround from Aintree, Crisp won by eight lengths, but injured himself in doing so, and was retired for the season.