Owned by Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson, collectively known, for racing purposes as ‘Two Golf Widows’, trained by Lucinda Russell in Milnathort, Kinross-shire and ridden by Derek Fox, One For Arthur won the Grand National in 2017. In so doing, he became just the second horse trained in Scotland, after Rubstic in 1979, to win the world-famous steeplechase.
One For Arthur made a successful start to his 2016/17 campaign, winning at Kelso and Warwick either side of finishing a close fifth in the Becher Chase, over the Grand National fences, at Aintree. In the latter contest, he stayed on well from two out over a seemingly inadequate three-and-a-quarter miles and was going on at the finish, highlighting his claims as a bona fide Grand National contender. However, his progressive form did not go unnoticed by the handicapper, such that, when he lined up in the Grand National on April 8, 2017, he was 21lb higher in the weights than at the start of the season.
Sent off at 14/1 fifth favourite, One For Arthur was patiently ridden at Aintree, but made steady progress from the rear early on the second circuit, moved into contention at the second-last fence, where he had a minor coming together with favourite Blaklion. He jumped through to lead over the final fence and, although Cause of Causes, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by amateur Jamie Codd chased him all the way to the line, he was never making any real impression and One For Arthur passed the post four-and-a-half lengths to the good. Winnning trainer Russell said of him, “He has done us proud, done Scotland proud and done everyone at the yard proud.”
After his Grand National triumph, One For Arthur did not see a raceccourse again until the 2018/19 season, when he unseated rider on his first two starts before finishing sixth in 2019 Grand National, 26 lengths behind the winner, Tiger Roll. After three more unsuccessful starts, and a wind operation, he was due to run in the 2020 Grand National, but with that race cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he was retired from racing the following November.