The 2024 Grand National at Aintree Racecourse begins on Saturday April 13 with last year’s winner Corach Rambler as the hot favourite.
Arguably the world’s biggest horse race, watched by millions, sees 34 riders compete over 30 obstacles, over four miles and two furlongs at the AZX, for a prize pool of £500,000.
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The Grand National is the only show jumping race that the whole world watches.
It’s the biggest race for a reason, on the biggest scale of endurance, physicality and the best, toughest show horses around.
Corach Rambler won the 2023 renewal under Derek Fox as the favorite cruised to victory, making the most of a very low rating after winning the Ultima the previous month at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
Noble Yeats, who had won it the previous year at staggering odds of 50/1, was fourth last year, close to top weight.
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This year, like all Grand Nationals, the bets are once again wide open with a new series of scratches to be achieved among the 58 current riders still in the running.
It was reduced from 81 on March 26, with many outsiders eliminated from the race, as well as a few surprises.
Grand National winners by year
| Year | Horse | Age | Weight | Coach | Jockey | P.S. |
| 2023 | Rambler Corach | 9 | 10-5 | Lucinda Russell | Derek Fox | 8/1 |
| 2022 | Noble Yeats | 7 | 10-10 | Emmet Mullins | Sam Waley-Cohen | 50/1 |
| 2021 | Minella Times | 8 | 10-3 | Henry De Bromhead | Rachel Blackmore | 11/1 |
| 2019 | Tiger Roll | 9 | 11-5 | G Elliott | David Russell | 4/1 |
| 2018 | Tiger Roll | 8 | 10-13 | Gordon Elliott | David Russell | 14/1 |
| 2017 | One for Arthur | 8 | 10-11 | Lucinda Russell | Derek Fox | 14/1 |
| 2016 | Rule the world | 9 | 10-7 | Morris Mouse | David Mullins | 33/1 |
| 2015 | Lots of clouds | 8 | 11-9 | O Sherwood | Leighton Aspell | 25/1 |
| 2014 | Pineau De Ré | 11 | 10-6 | Dr Richard Newland | Leighton Aspell | 25/1 |
| 2013 | Auroras Again | 11 | 10-3 | Mrs S Smith | Ryan Manie | 66/1 |
| 2012 | Neptune Collonges | 11 | 11-6 | P Nicholls | Daryl Jacob | 33/1 |
| 2011 | Ballabriggs | ten | 11 | D McCain | J Maguire | 14/1 |
| 2010 | Don’t push | ten | 11-5 | J O’Neill | AP McCoy | 10/1 |
| 2009 | My mum | 9 | 11 | V Williams | L Treadwell | 100/1 |
- Corach Rambler – 9/2
- I am Maximus – 8/1
- Vanilla tree – 8/1
- Panda Boy – 10/1
- Mission Mahler – 12/1
- Noble Yeats – 14/1
- Meetingthewaters – 14/1
- Capodanno – 16/1
- Light of kittens – 16/1
- Minella Indo – 16/1
- Galvin – 20/1
- Chemical energy – 20/1
- Mr. Incredible – 20/1
- Limerick Lace – 25/1
- Latenightpass – 25/1
- BAR 33/1
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See all Grand National odds HERE.
Tips for the 2024 Grand National
Choosing the winner of the Grand National is unlike any other, but it’s also rare.
In previous years, 40 horses had to be sorted and despite a few winning favorites in recent years, there is always that chance that a big-money runner could surprise us all.
At this stage, there are still 81 riders in the running, but this number will ultimately be reduced to a maximum of 34.
4m2f is a difficult feat for horses to get around, so you have to choose horses that can stay, and there are often plenty of them, many having never officially run that far before.
We know Corach Rambler and Noble Yeats can, they’ve done it before and won it.
Noble Yeats was a surprise in the year he won it, having previously only covered 3m1f as his longest race, at 50/1.
The level of horses is also increasing this year and this will certainly allow for better show jumping courses.
This gives a semblance of hope to a few horses who know how to stay, jump and also have the potential to surprise.
And at this point, with so many riders still in play, we’d have to pick a few and they are (shown at): Vanilla tree (12/1), A categorical choice (33/1), Chemical energy (25/1), Empire Steel (100/1), Late pass (33/1) and Tommy Beau (150/1).
Grand National 2024 how to watch
- TV channel:ITV.
- Location: Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England.
- Date and time: 4 p.m., April 13, 2024.
Changes for the 2024 Grand National
This year there are some changes to the Grand National after a difficult period with crashes and downgraded riders.
One of the biggest changes to the famous race is the number of runners.
A huge reduction from 40 to 34, which will go a long way to reducing falls and poorly seated riders that so often come from crowded obstacles and horses getting in each other’s way over obstacles.
This is a huge step forward in horse welfare from the original limit of 40 riders put in place 40 years ago.
This reduction has been called for for many years and, as racing needs to do something to appeal more to the masses, it is certainly a great start.
In addition, the first obstacle has been moved while the horses will also start from a standing start, in order to reduce speed as they approach the first obstacle.
The departure time is also adjusted from the usual rest time of 5:15 p.m. to approximately 4 p.m.
Very often, during this race, even if the start was at 5:15 p.m., to organize the 40 runners and get them all off at an equal gallop, they often did not start the race until between 5:20 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Each horse participating in the Grand National must also be at a better level than a year ago, with an overall score increasing from 125 to 130, which should guarantee better jumpers and therefore fewer falls.
The fences were also adjusted and slightly modified ahead of this year’s race.
The 11th fence was lowered to 4 feet 10 inches, while foam and rubber boards were installed at the bottom to help cushion any falls or collisions.
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