Dick Francis walks away from the scene, a dream shattered.

After Deven Loch's collapse just forty yards from the winning post, during the 1956 Grand National.

Dick Francis - Devon Loch is led back

The 1956 Grand National and the Devon Loch Mystery

Devon Loch, owned by the Queen Mother was Dick’s mount for the 1956 Grand National; one of eight times he was to ride in the race during his career. Devon Loch had successfully cleared the last fence and was several lengths ahead of his nearest rival, ESB, but just fifty yards from the winning post disaster struck. Devon Loch jumped into the air, landing on his stomach. The horse scrambled to his feet but was in no fit state to continue the race, leaving the way clear for ESB to sail past and win. Typically the Queen Mother was more concerned over the welfare of her horse, jockey and trainer than the fact that she had just lost the Grand National. In spite of countless theories no one will ever know what really went wrong. Some say that the horse slipped on a wet patch of the course, others, that the roar of the crowds as the horses entered the home straight frightened the animal, but Devon Loch was no novice, he had heard the roar of the crowds before. It has also been said that the un-blinkered, Devon Loch caught sight of the jump on the other side of the rails, confused, the horse jumped into thin air. Strange though this theory may sound there is some evidence to substantiate it. During the 1901 Grand National, Grundon ‘jumped’ a narrow footpath that crossed the course; fortunately, unlike Devon Loch, he didn’t suffer any ill effects and went on to win the race.