| The first horse to win the Grand National in consecutive years, Irish-bred Abd-el-Kader stood just under 15 hands. A top steeplechaser in Ireland, he ran in the Grand National five times, and his 1850 win set a course record that stood until 1893, although the course had been altered during those years. "Little Ab's" dam was a coach mare purchased for 40 guineas, later a "brilliant" hunter who won two steeplechases. His sire was by the weight-carrying racehorse Sultan, who got two particularly significant sire sons, the good racehorse Glencoe, imported into the U.S., and the undefeated Bay Middleton. |
