Grand National 2024: horse-by-horse guide to all the runners
Nine-year-old Noble Yeats Weighs 11st 12lb
If you remember betting on a horse two years ago despite the odds, then you'll know who I'm talking about. Even though he was given a higher weight last year, he still did well and finished fourth. He tends to race from behind, and even though the jockey has ridden him before, it'll be tough on heavy ground for him to catch up to the frontrunners.
Meet Nassalam: A 7-Year-Old, 11-Stone Wonder
The horse from Gary Moore's stable, who won the Welsh Grand National race in a very impressive manner in December and left everyone behind by 34 lengths, definitely looks like a strong contender for Aintree. Only a few horses in the race would really enjoy the very wet and muddy conditions. However, he has received a sudden and sharp increase of 16 pounds in weight, which makes his task more difficult as he is now required to give two pounds of advantage to his opponent Corach Rambler, who had a much better performance than him in the Gold Cup race last time. If it rains heavily, it could help him out to an extent, but the fact remains that the performance of the horse in Cheltenham only proves the likelihood of Corach Rambler winning, instead of Moore's horse.
Coko Beach: A 9yo, 11st 8lb Thoroughbred
In the past two National races, the horse started off strong and was keeping up with the other horses for about one and a half laps before losing stamina and slowing down about a mile before the finish line. However, in the most recent race at Punchestown, the horse performed exceptionally well on the cross-country course. Despite this, if he couldn't endure the National race in 2022 and 2023, he is less likely to do so now on more challenging ground. Therefore, bettors should keep in mind that repeating past mistakes is not wise.
"New Year's Eve: 8-Year-Old Capodanno At 11st 8lb"
He came here after putting on a remarkable show in a Grade One match at Cheltenham Festival last month. The previous race was for two and a half miles, but he has previously demonstrated that he can handle three miles quite well. Nevertheless, during his Grand National debut last year, he looked like he couldn't handle the distance and had to be pulled up before reaching the end. This year, the ground is softer, further increasing the probability of him weakening well before the conclusion of the race.
Meet 8yo Maximus, Weighing 11st 6lb
Did you know that there are over 150,000 long words in the English dictionary consisting of 10 letters or more? But, it’s pretty crazy that less than 12 words can be created using only the top row of keys on a typewriter. One of those few words is even the word "typewriter" itself! Moving on to a different topic, Willie Mullins has only had three out of his 65 racehorses come in first place since the beginning of 2018 in Britain’s handicap chases. However, one of his horses, who won last year's Irish National, looks promising. This thoroughbred demonstrated an impressive performance during the Bobbyjo Chase trials, even though the race was held on heavy ground. Although its jumping skills were a bit unsteady during the Irish Gold Cup in Leopardstown, it improved significantly during the last race. With the potential of this inexperienced but rapidly developing chaser, it wouldn't be surprising if it placed in the upcoming event.
Minella Indo: Experienced Champion
Henry de Bromhead's 11-year-old horse has the opportunity to make history. If he wins, he will join Golden Miller and L'Escargot as the only horses to have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National. Rachael Blackmore, the first and only female rider to have won, will be riding him. He finished fourth in a race at Cheltenham in November, which gives him a good chance based on his handicap. However, during that race, he ran out of energy towards the end, which may happen again as he is older than some of his rivals.
"10-year-old Corach Rambler At 11st 6lb"
In the past, there were significant time gaps between horses winning the Grand National, with a 38-year gap between Reynoldstown and Red Rum, and another 45-year gap between Red Rum and Tiger Roll. However, this year's event has a strong contender in last year's winner, Tiger Roll, who has a favorable chance of becoming the second horse to win the National twice in just five years and the eighth to do so overall. Trained by Lucinda Russell near Edinburgh, Tiger Roll has a higher rating than in his previous win, although he is still one of the best-handicapped horses in the race. Despite a tough race on difficult grounds during the Gold Cup last month, reports indicate that he is ready to perform exceptionally well again.
"Meet Janidil: 10-Year-Old, 11st6lb"
When arriving at Aintree, this horse has the same handicap mark as Corach Rambler. However, it qualified for the race running at about two and a half miles. It was evident in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month that the horse could not finish the race comfortably when attempting the three-mile distance over timber. Even on good ground, it barely manages to get through that distance. Therefore, the probability of it enduring another mile and a quarter on soft or heavy ground this Saturday is slim to none.
"9-Year-Old Stattler Weighing In At 11st 5lb"
After clinching the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in 2022, many viewed this hot steed as a favorite to secure the Gold Cup title. Alas, he has fallen short of winning six times consecutively since then. Even though he placed second by eight lengths in the prestigious Irish Gold Cup of February 2023, his skills have remained under the radar for a while. Furthermore, on his latest outing at Punchestown's cross-country course, his jumping was noticeably unstable.
"Mahler Mission: 8-Year-Old Races At 11st 5lb"
John McConnell, who is based in County Meath, has an impressive record with horses he trains, especially those that race in Britain. His first Grand National runner has a great chance of winning the race. The horse is an eight-year-old chaser who has not raced a lot but has shown that he is getting better with each race. He has a lot of stamina and likes to race fast, which is important in the Grand National. He is also strong in many other areas that are important for winning the race. He has been looked after well by his trainer and will be fresh and ready for the race on Saturday. Do not underestimate this horse as he has a real chance of winning.
"Delta Work: 11-Year-Old Weighing 11st 4lb"
Returning for his third try at the National, this horse placed third in his first attempt back in 2022, but was unfortunately unseated due to obstructions at the 20th fence last year. It's worth noting that potential winners in recent years have typically been between the ages of seven and nine, so at eleven years old, he's a bit older. However, he's definitely a top-tier performer, as evidenced by his victory over no less than Tiger Roll in the Cross-Country at Cheltenham, and his impressive showing on these same fences two years ago. Unfortunately, bad weather caused him to miss out on a third win last month, but trainer Gordon Elliott has carefully planned his schedule around Saturday's race, and he's starting off with a slightly lower handicap than in 2022. This horse is highly respected and should not be overlooked.
"Foxy Jacks: 10-Year-Old, 11st 4lb"
Last year, Mouse Morris made an unusual accomplishment at Aintree when his horse Rule the World won at odds of 33-1 and also gained his first victory over fences. However, this year his chances of winning are quite slim due to his history of jumping errors throughout his career of 28 chasing races, where he won only four. Although one of these wins was at Cheltenham's cross-country course, which often produces strong runners over these unique fences, he failed to perform well in the Topham two years ago when he hit the eighth fence and finally fell at the ninth. Hence, he should not be relied upon.
"Meet Galvin: A 10-year-old Weighing 11st 2lb"
It has been almost a year since he started as a promising contender at the odds of 22-1 for this race. He hasn't participated much since then and it seems like he was preparing for a second attempt at this race. Moreover, he has been given a weight reduction of 11lb, which could work in his favor. Another factor in his favor is that he has similar performance history to Delta Work, a horse from the same stable. However, Gordon Elliott, the trainer, has expressed his worries about the muddy ground, as this horse does better on a dry surface.
Farouk D'Alene: 9-Year-Old At 11st 1lb
There are eight horses that will be competing from the Gordon Elliott stable, but unfortunately one of them has fallen during two out of the last three races they've participated in over fences. This doesn't give us much hope for the upcoming race. One of the falls occurred at the Cheltenham Festival during a Grade One novice chase when the horse was still doing well. However, after the fall, this particular horse did not participate in any races for 18 months, and the race they did run at this year's Festival was not impressive.
"10-year-old ELDORADO ALLEN, Weighing 11st"
This horse is the third-best runner from Britain and has been a part of Colin and Joe Tizzard's stable since 2018. He has been in more races than many of his competitors, but had trouble breathing and had to be taken out of a race at Cheltenham recently. It wouldn't be surprising if he recovered quickly from that, but he's really a reliable horse who won't make big moves in the race.
"10-Year-Old Weighing 10st 13lb: Isn't That Unfortunate?"
The Corinthian amateur rider has had a lengthy and sometimes impressive past in the National competition. One notable competitor was the enthusiastic 18th Duke of Alburquerque, who rode until the age of 56. Other skilled riders, such as Sam Waley-Cohen, have also claimed victory in the past. However, David Maxwell, who has frequently ridden his own horses recently, may have a harder time succeeding in the event. This is because the previous rider, Rachael Blackmore, could not perform well with the 10-year-old horse last year, and the horse is now carrying more weight.
Young Vanillier, 9, Weighs 10st 12lb
Last year, this horse came from a different area to come second to Corach Rambler. Now, the horse weighs 9lb less than last year's winner. The horse also enjoys training at a local beach, similar to how Red Rum did. Recently, the horse lost by 14 lengths in a race at Fairyhouse, but now has an advantage of 4lb in weight. Even though the horse has a good chance of winning, Corach Rambler has a tendency to become idle at the end of the race, so the horse may place but is not likely to win this year.
"8-Year-Old MR INCREDIBLE Weighs 10st 11lb"
Willie Mullins's eight-year-old horse seems to attract bad luck, just like his animated namesake. During a race last year, the horse lost his rider, Brian Hayes, somewhere between the Canal Turn and the next obstacle. While the horse is undoubtedly talented, he has a few quirks that hold him back. He has refused to race twice in the past, which is a concern. Despite his obvious abilities, his record is disappointing with only one win in nine chase starts. Although his recent form has been impressive, including a close second in the Midlands National under top weight, his overall performance cannot be ignored.
"Fred, The 10-year-old, Runs Wild At 10st 10lb"
During last month's Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, one of the horses that participated in the National was pulled up due to the tough conditions. It's not a good sign when the word "Letters" appears next to a Grand National runner's name, and Gordon Elliott's 10-year-old horse has had a rough streak with three consecutive incomplete attempts. Despite being available at odds of 100-1, the horse doesn't seem like a lucrative option even with an additional zero at the end of the odds.
"Late Night Pass For 11-Year-Old Weighing 10st 10lb"
It's possible that a touching Netflix series could be made if this horse wins the race at Aintree, as Tom Ellis - a prominent point-to-point trainer - acquired a full license solely to train him. The horse, owned by Ellis's mom Pippa, will be ridden by his wife Gina Andrews, who led him to victory on these challenging fences in the Foxhunters' race the previous year. He previously defeated a few of today's competitors during a cross-country handicap at Cheltenham in November. Though he's now 9lb heavier, he's still not raced that much for an 11-year-old, making him an appealing each-way wager.
Minella Crooner: A Competitive 8-Year-Old
Despite having previously performed well in minor graded events, this horse has failed to live up to expectations in its two recent attempts at handicap racing over fences. These efforts, which include an appearance at the prestigious Ultima event at Cheltenham last month, only resulted in a notation of “P” on the horse’s record. In February, the horse trailed 25 lengths behind I Am Maximus in the Bobbyjo Chase, and it is unlikely to perform much better this coming Saturday. In fact, keeping itself below a score of 50 would be a significant achievement.
Adamant Pick: 7-Year-Old At 10st 9lb
To highlight the strengths of Willie Mullins's horse who is seven years old, one could mention that he's one of the five participants out of 34 who had a victory in their previous race. A closer look at his record, however, reveals a downside to this. The event he won wasn't impressive, akin to a low-quality beer. Furthermore, he hadn't won any competition since October 2022. Whenever he's entered a handicap contest without much change in his rating, he has had difficulty performing.
Title: Meet MAC TOTTIE - A 10st 9lb 11yo Athlete
This horse has been very successful in races that involve jumping over fences. It won the Topham in 2022 and the Grand Sefton in November 2021, both of which were two miles and five furlongs long. The horse's trainer, Peter Bowen, is also very good at training horses to jump over the National fences, with seven of his horses winning in the past. However, unless Bowen can somehow magically change the horse's physical abilities, it is unlikely that it will perform well in the most important part of the race.
"Chemical Energy For A 7-Year-Old, 10st 9lb"
Gordon Elliott has eight horses competing, some are unlikely to win, but this one is worth taking into account. The upcoming race on Saturday will only be his eighth time racing over fences. He didn't do well in the Irish Grand National last year but it was shortly after his best-ever run, where he came in second at the National Hunt Chase in Cheltenham. He did okay in the Kerry National in Listowel in September, but he made a few mistakes when jumping. He's young, only seven years old, and seems like he's been training for this race for a while.
"Limerick Lace: A 7-Year-Old At 10st 8lb"
This week, Mark Walsh chose Gavin Cromwell's mare from four choices. However, it is possible that he would have chosen I Am Maximus if Paul Townend had not already chosen it. Walsh will be riding a horse that won at the Cheltenham Festival last month but has no experience beyond three miles, let alone four. Although her full brother can handle three-and-a-quarter miles, it is still a big risk to believe she can go an extra mile.
"Meeting Of Waters: A 7-Year-Old At 10st 8lb"
Earlier this week, there was a lot of talk about how a particular subject might even be the favorite in a big gamble. However, it seems that is no longer the case. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of reasons to believe in this subject's abilities. For example, this subject managed to win a very valuable and competitive race at Leopardstown in December despite challenging conditions. It's worth noting that at the time of this win, the subject was relatively new to the Willie Mullins stable. Additionally, this subject's performance in the Ultima Handicap Chase was better than that of Noble Yeats, who went on to win the National in 2022. Overall, this subject has a lot of the same qualities that made Noble Yeats a champion.
"Golfer, Aged 7, Weighing 10st 8lb"
Highly favored for the Ultima Handicap Chase taking place in March at Cheltenham - the same race that Corach Rambler won prior to his triumph here last year. Despite performing well initially, the horse eventually lost steam in the final moments of the race. This horse has considerable experience in competing in handicap chases with large fields, but this has also allowed the handicapper ample opportunities to assess him. There is no clear indication that this horse will make significant progress in his career after facing his most significant challenge yet.
ROI MAGE: Champion At Just 12!
One year ago, he participated in a fair competition as a 33-1 underdog but tired out and took seventh place even though he stayed with the front runners for most of the race. Unfortunately, he ended up finishing almost 14 lengths away from the victorious Corach Rambler. Despite a small reduction in his handicap, it is improbable that he will significantly improve his performance this year. The last time a 12-year-old won the competition was in 2004 with Amberleigh House. Patrick Griffin's horse has a slim chance of being the next one to do so.
"Meet Glengouly: 8-Year-Old At 10st 7lb"
It appears that one of the less important horses in Willie Mullins's crew was quite eager during a significant two-and-a-half mile race in Cheltenham last month, but lost stamina and came in 16th out of 21. He hasn't tested his capabilities beyond three miles yet, and although he prefers to lead the way, it seems difficult for him to maintain that position.
"Meet 8-Year-Old GALIA DES LITEAUX: 10st 7lb Wonder"
If Dan Skelton's sole National runner comes out on top, he will likely become champion trainer over jumps for the first time. The runner is an eight-year-old mare who exhibited impressive endurance by placing second on soft ground over a distance of three miles and five furlongs at Warwick in January. She put all her effort into the straight, but it seemed to have taken a toll on her performance in the next race, where she was defeated despite being favored to win. She will need a substantial recovery to be successful in the upcoming race.
"Meet Panda Boy: 8-Year-Old, 10st 7lb"
Many runners towards the bottom of the list were uncertain of their start, including Martin Brassil's horse. However, he's now officially in and definitely worth considering as a contender. Although Brassil may not be as well-known as other trainers like Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, he did win the National back in 2006. This year, his horse is not heavily raced but has a lot of endurance and a great racing weight of 10st 7lb. In December, he finished four-and-a-half lengths behind Meetingofthewaters at Leopardstown, but on Saturday he has an advantage of being 11lb better off than his rival. Brassil has been working hard to fine-tune his horse's skills leading up to the race.
"Eklats Of Laughter"
A participant in this year’s race had a tough time running on sodden ground during the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham during the last outing. However, it can be seen as a positive that the runner did not have a strenuous race. Unfortunately, the runner's history depicts steady and frequent letdowns. Moreover, the runner was once a favorite in the prominent Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November 2021. Even Rachael Blackmore piloted the horse, yet it still resulted in a withdrawal. Since then, the runner has competed in five events with little success.
"Chambard: 12-Year-Old, 10st 7lb"
This horse, who has won at the Cheltenham Festival and over the National fences, is a good prospect for his amateur rider Lucy Turner. Turner has done well riding for Venetia Williams, who trained the most recent of the five horses to win the National at odds of 100-1. However, the horse is now 12 years old, which was considered too old 30 years ago and is likely even less feasible now that the race is of a higher quality. The horse will probably give Turner a good ride, but is unlikely to place in the top six.
"Kitty's Shining Performance "
Although Wales had a tough time in Six Nations' rugby and missed out on qualifying for the Euros, there is still hope for the country in the world of sports this spring. Thanks to his wins at the Scottish Grand National and Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last year, Christian Williams's horse has secured a spot in a race. This is exciting news for Wales, as a victory for the horse would be the first for the country since 1905. Additionally, this would be a meaningful success for the Williams family, who have faced challenges in the past year and a half since their daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in March 2023.
Judgment: 1. Mahler Assignment 2. Panda Lad 3. Corach Stroller 4. Delta Labor
Top contender outside the usual suspects: Chemical Energy
