| Pagename: | 1971 Grand National |
| Horse Race: | Grand National |
| Location: | Aintree |
| Date: | 3 April 1971 |
| Winning Horse: | Specify |
| Winning Jockey: | John Cook |
| Winning Trainer: | John Sutcliffe |
| Winning Owner: | Fred Pontin |
| Conditions: | Good |
| Previous: | 1970 |
| Next: | 1972 |
The 1971 Grand National was the 125th renewal of the Grand National horse race that took place at Aintree near Liverpool, England, on 3 April 1971.
Gay Buccaneer was very unlucky having been the clear leader at the Canal turn on the first circuit, only to be interfered with by a loose horse which resulted in him going from first to last, and finishing tenth. Specify was the winner from a close finish between the leading five in the final furlong.
| Position | Name | Jockey | Age | Handicap (st-lb) | SP | Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Specify | John Cook | 9 | 10-3 | 28/1 | ||
| 02 | Black Secret | Jim Dreaper | 7 | 11-5 | 20/1 | ||
| 03 | Astbury | Jimmy Bourke | 8 | 10-0 | 33/1 | ||
| 04 | Bowgeeno | Graham Thorner | 11 | 10-5 | 66/1 | ||
| 05 | Sandy Sprite | Ron Barry | 7 | 10-3 | 33/1 | ||
| 06 | Two Springs | Roy Edwards | 9 | 11-4 | 13/1 | ||
| 07 | Vichysoise | Philip Blacker | 9 | 10-3 | 100/1 | ||
| 08 | King Vulgan | John Crowley | 10 | 11-0 | 16/1 | ||
| 09 | Regimental | John Lawrence | 8 | 10-6 | 66/1 | ||
| 10 | Gay Buccaneer | Pat Black | 10 | 10-0 | 66/1 | ||
| 11 | Final Move | Tommy Stack | 11 | 10-0 | 66/1 | ||
| 12 | Limeburner (remounted) | John Buckingham | 10 | 10-0 | 100/1 | ||
| 13 | Common Entrance (remounted) | Mouse Morris | 10 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Last to finish |
| Fence | Name | Jockey | Age | Handicap (st-lb) | Starting price | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Brian's Best | Richard Evans | 11 | 10-11 | 33/1 | Brought Down | |
| 01 | Country Wedding | Bob Champion | 9 | 10-0 | 50/1 | Brought Down | |
| 01 | Craigbrook | Peter Ennis | 12 | 10-1 | 80/1 | Fell | |
| 01 | Gay Trip | Terry Biddlecombe | 9 | 12-0 | 8/1 | Fell | |
| 01 | Twigairy | Eddie Harty | 8 | 10-6 | 25/1 | Brought Down | |
| 03 | The Laird | Jeff King | 10 | 11-12 | 12/1 | Fell | |
| 04 | Battledore | John Enright | 10 | 10-6 | 45/1 | Refused | |
| 06 | Copperless | Martin Gibson | 10 | 10-1 | 100/1 | Fell | |
| 06 | Pride of Kentucky | Tony Mawson | 9 | 10-0 | 50/1 | Brought Down | |
| 06 | Soldo | David Mould | 10 | 10-7 | 66/1 | Fell | |
| 08 | Highworth | Dick Woodhouse | 12 | 10-5 | 100/1 | Pulled Up | |
| 08 | Indamelia | Philip Hobbs | 8 | 10-5 | 100/1 | Fell | |
| 10 | Cnoch Dubh | Tommy Carberry | 8 | 10-11 | 20/1 | Fell | |
| 10 | The Otter | Buck Jones | 10 | 10-1 | 12/1 | Fell | |
| 10 | Zara's Grove | Gordon Holmes | 8 | 10-0 | 66/1 | Fell | |
| 11 | Lord Jim | Stan Mellor | 10 | 10-9 | 9/1 | Fell | |
| 12 | Kellsboro' Wood | Andy Turnell | 11 | 10-0 | 100/1 | Fell | |
| 15 | Miss Hunter | John Fowler | 10 | 10-0 | 33/1 | Fell | |
| 19 | Smooth Dealer | Arthur Moore | 9 | 10-3 | 33/1 | Refused | |
| 19 | Vulture | Sean Barker | 9 | 10-0 | 16/1 | Fell | |
| 22 | Beau Bob | Richard Dennard | 8 | 10-3 | 40/1 | Unseated Rider | |
| 22 | Money Boat | Bobby Coonan | 7 | 10-7 | 16/1 | Fell | |
| 27 | Charter Flight | Bill Rees | 9 | 11-8 | 25/1 | Pulled Up | |
| 27 | Flosuebarb | Joe Guest | 11 | 10-1 | 33/1 | Pulled Up | |
| 27 | The Inventor | Brian Fletcher | 10 | 10-7 | 20/1 | Refused |
A special Grand National Grandstand was presented by David Coleman on the BBC for the twelfth year. Three commentators were used this year, Peter O'Sullevan, Raleigh Gilbert and Julian Wilson. Peter Bromley was the lead commentator on BBC radio.
John Cook retired from racing the following year on medical advice and emigrated to Australia where he died after a long illness in 1999[4]