First glimpse of Grand National trophy after hallmarking

The first glimpse of this year’s Grand National trophy has been released after the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office hallmarked it earlier this week.

The announcement follows the news that, for the first time in the Grand National’s history, a new trophy will be designed every year during the horse race’s sponsorship with global diagnostics company Randox Health.

The first of the five new trophies will be unveiled at the Weights Evening reception on Tuesday, 14 February.

The hallmarking represents the final stage in the design of the trophy, and, in advance of the annual Weights Reception, over the next 14 days a series of “teaser images” of the trophy will be released before the grand unveiling at the Victoria and Albert in London.

The trophy has been created at workshops at Burghley House in Stamford by Irish silversmith Shannon O’Neill, who described the silver 2017 trophy as an “ornate work of art, laced with images depicting the speed, agility and excitement of jump racing, and decorated with a red stone”.

Peter FitzGerald, founder and managing director of Randox Health, said: “Given that the Randox Health Grand National is such an iconic event it is fitting that each winner will receive an inimitable trophy; their own unique piece of history.

“To win this event, given the demanding nature of the course and the quality of the competition, requires preparation, stamina, skill and teamwork of the very highest standard.”