Poor old Captain Becher has been the fall guy far too long.

The jockey's name became forever entangled with the Grand National after he fell at the perilous water jump during the 1839 race at Aintree. The fence was christened Becher's Brook - the nemesis of so many aspiring winners of the greatest steeplechase on earth.

Now an Oxford librarian has disputed this - claiming Becher should be hailed as the National's first winner. John Pinfold, of Parkers Street, East Oxford, said: "Capt Becher should take his place at the head of Aintree's role of honour. My research shows conclusively that the 1836 race was the first and that Becher won it on The Duke. He was a winner not a faller."

The Duke turned out to be the Red Rum of his time and went on to win the following year and finish third in 1838.

Mr Pinfold has spent seven years researching racing folklore and has rewritten the history books. He makes claims in his book, Gallant Sport. Until now, racing history has recorded that the first National at Aintree was held in 1839. Mr Pinfold, of Rhodes House Library, in South Parks Road, Oxford, has uncovered three earlier races held at the same track in 1836, 1837 and 1838.

Racing pundit Sir John Oaksey said: "John Pinfold proves conclusively, well to his satisfaction and mine, that Capt Becher won the inaugural Liverpool Grand Steeplechase on the Duke in 1836." But rival Grand National expert Reg Green described Mr Pinfold's findings as the "work of Dick Francis fiction". Mr Green remains convinced the first National was held in 1839. The race was officially renamed The Grand National in 1847 and is run over the same course as 170 years ago.

Mr Pinfold, who grew up in Liverpool, said: "Liverpool was very isolated then as there was no railway. The first races had only small fields and they weren't publicised well.

"The 1839 race was the first really big one because journalists came up from London on the new railway to report it. It wasn't until horses could be transported by train that the fields got bigger. Before that they had to walk. "Racing fans followed on horseback urging their riders on. As crowds got bigger the tenant farmers complained that their crops were being trampled. A deal was struck with the Earl of Sefton to buy the farmers out."

He said: "It became a labour of love and I am quite sad that I have solved it but you have to stop somewhere.

"My tip for the race this year is General Wolfe. I will be putting my money on him in the absence of The Duke."

Story date: Saturday 10 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.