Grand National runners: Pinstickers' guide to 2024 Aintree race

All the runners and riders ahead of Saturday's big, big race.

It's the biggest race of the year and an event in which lots of us take an interest.

So which horse should you get behind in Saturday's Aintree Grand National, which is scheduled to get going at 4pm?

Here's your guide to the runners and riders ahead of the 2024 renewal. 

1: Noble Yeats 9yrs 11st 12lb 

Trainer: Emmet Mullins 

Jockey: Harry Cobden 

Rating: 6/10 

Odds: 20-1 

The 2022 National hero put up a decent defence of his crown when fourth last year and has run with credit over hurdles this season. Each-way prospects.

2: Nassalam 7yrs 11st 8lb 

Trainer: Gary Moore 

Jockey: Caoilin Quinn 

Rating: 5/10 

Odds: 16-1 

A runaway winner of the Welsh National at Christmas but up 16lbs for that success. Out of his depth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his only start since.

3: Coko Beach 9yrs 11st 8lb 

Trainer: Gordon Elliott 

Jockey: Jordan Gainford Rating: 4/10 

Odds: 33-1 

Has had a fine season and ran a cracker over these fences when second in the Becher Chase in December. Previous two National runs suggest stamina limitations though.

4: Capodanno 8yrs 11st 8lb 

Trainer: Willie Mullins 

Jockey: Keith Donoghue 

Rating: 6/1 

Odds: 25-1 Pulled up in this race last year but has had a far smoother preparation for his return to Aintree. Each-way squeak at a decent price.

5: I Am Maximus 8yrs 11st 6lb 

Trainer: Willie Mullins 

Jockey: Paul Townend Rating: 9/10 

Odds: 7-1 

Last year’s Irish National hero returned to Fairyhouse to bag a Grade One in December and thumped Vanillier in the Bobbyjo Chase last time out. Ponderous jumping style the only slight concern.

6: Minella Indo 11yrs 11st 6lb 

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead 

Jockey: Rachael Blackmore 

Rating: 4/10 Odds: 16-1 

Denied the chance to enhance a superb Cheltenham record when the Cross Country Chase was abandoned last month, the 2021 Gold Cup winner looks up against it here.

7: Corach Rambler 10yrs 11st 6lb 

Trainer: Lucinda Russell 

Jockey: Derek Fox 

Rating: 7/10 Odds: 5-1 

Could be called the winner of last year’s National from a very early stage and ran a massive race to finish third in the Gold Cup last month. Worry is how tired he looked at the finish.

8: Janidil 10yrs 11st 6lb 

Trainer: Willie Mullins 

Jockey: Jody McGarvey 

Rating: 1/10 

Odds: 66-1 

Winless since February of last year, a sequence destined to be extended further here given his best performances have come over trips considerably shorter than this.

9: Stattler 9yrs 11st 5lb 

Trainer: Willie Mullins 

Jockey: Patrick Mullins 

Rating: 3/10 

Odds: 33-1 

An impressive winner of the National Hunt Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival but hasn’t won since and would prefer a sounder surface. Hard to fancy.

10: Mahler Mission 8yrs 11st 5lb 

Trainer: John McConnell 

Jockey: Ben Harvey 

Rating: 8/10 

Odds: 14-1 

Would have won last year’s National Hunt Chase but for a fall at the second last and ran a cracker when second in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last time out. Massive player.

11: Delta Work 11yrs 11st 4lb 

Trainer: Gordon Elliott 

Jockey: Jack Kennedy 

Rating: 7/10 

Odds: 20-1 

Third in this race two years ago, he’s not getting any younger but Gordon Elliott regards him as the best of his eight runners and that alone makes him hard to dismiss.

12: Foxy Jacks 10yrs 11st 4lb 

Trainer: Mouse Morris 

Jockey: Gavin Brouder 

Rating: 2/10 

Odds: 66-1 

Won at Cheltenham earlier this season before running well in defeat at Leopardstown over Christmas. His jumping is a worry, even though the Aintree fences are not what they once were.

13: Galvin 10yrs 11st 2lb 

Trainer: Gordon Elliott 

Jockey: Sam Ewing 

Rating: 3/10 

Odds: 33-1 

Ensured Davy Russell’s final National experience would be a short one by falling at the first last year and ground conditions will be against him this time. Difficult to fancy.

14: Farouk d’Alene 9yrs 11st 1lb 

Trainer: Gordon Elliott 

Jockey: Donagh Meyler 

Rating: 2/10 

Odds: 66-1 

Well fancied for the 2022 Brown Advisory Novices Chase, a race in which he fell two fences from home, he was off the track for 613 days thereafter and is hard to fancy here.

15: Eldorado Allen 10yrs 11st 0lb 

Trainer: Joe Tizzard 

Jockey: Brendan Powell 

Rating: 3/10 

Odds: 66-1 

Has bits and pieces of form that would give him an each-way squeak but his last win came in February 2022, a losing streak that’s unlikely to end here.

16: Ain’t That A Shame 10yrs 10st 13lb Trainer: Henry de Bromhead 

Jockey: David Maxwell 

Rating: 3/10 

Odds: 50-1 

Bagged a big pot when winning the Thyestes Chase in January but didn’t stay in last year’s National and there’s no obvious reason why he’ll do so this time.

17: Vanillier 9yrs 10st 12lb 

Trainer: Gavin Cromwell 

Jockey: Sean Flanagan 

Rating: 6/10 

Odds: 9-1 

A fast-finishing second in last year’s National, his entire season has been built around going one better in 2024. That said, the ease with which I Am Maximus beat him last time out was discouraging.

18: Mr Incredible 8yrs 10st 11lb 

Trainer: Willie Mullins 

Jockey: Brian Hayes 

Rating: 6/10 

Odds: 12-1 

Enigmatic but talented and ran a big race off top weight in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter last month, his only outing since his saddle slipped in last year’s National.

19: Run Wild Fred 10yrs 10st 10lb 

Trainer: Gordon Elliott 

Jockey: Tom Hamilton 

Rating: 1/10 

Odds: 100-1 

A Thyestes Chase and Irish National runner-up but those runs were back in 2021 and his recent form suggests just getting around will be an achievement. No chance.

20: Latenightpass 11yrs 10st 10lb 

Trainer: Tom Ellis 

Jockey: Gina Andrews 

Rating: 4/10 

Odds: 40-1 

Has shown a liking for these fences in the past, winning the 2022 Foxhunters’ either side of placed efforts in the same race. A far tougher test await here though.

21: Minella Crooner 8yrs 10st 10lb 

Trainer: Gordon Elliott 

Jockey: Kevin Sexton 

Rating: 3/10 

Odds: 66-1 

Looked a promising type as a novice hurdler but his recent form is underwhelming. Should he get around, he’s more likely to be last than first.

22: Adamantly Chosen 7yrs 10st 9lb 

Trainer: Willie Mullins 

Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe 

Rating: 4/10 

Odds: 33-1 

Beat Roi Mage by 14 lengths at Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day but that was his first win since October 2022 and another who would prefer better ground.

23: Mac Tottie 11yrs 10st 9lb 

Trainer: Peter Bowen 

Jockey: James Bowen 

Rating: 4/10 

Odds: 66-1 

Ticks the course box having won three of his four starts at Aintree but those wins were over a considerably shorter trip than the National marathon. Suspect stayer.

24: Chemical Energy 8yrs 10st 9lb 

Trainer: Gordon Elliott:

Jockey: Danny Gilligan 

Rating: 3/10 

Odds: 25-1 

Second to Gaillard Du Mesnil in last year’s National Hunt Chase and sixth to Desertmore House in the Kerry National in his sole start this season. Hard to fancy.

25: Limerick Lace 7yrs 10st 8lb 

Trainer: Gavin Cromwell 

Jockey: Mark Walsh 

Rating: 6/10 

Odds: 14-1 

Showed a terrific attitude to win the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham last month but looked to be outstayed by Coko Beach when stepped up in trip earlier this season.

26: Meetingofthewaters 7yrs 10st 8lb 

Trainer: Willie Mullins 

Jockey: Danny Mullins 

Rating: 5/10 

Odds: 8-1 

An impressive winner of the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas but the fact Mark Walsh has opted to ride Limerick Lace tempers enthusiasm.

27: The Goffer 7yrs 10st 8lb 

Trainer: Gordon Elliott 

Jockey: Sean Bowen 

Rating: 3/10 

Odds: 66-1 

Two places behind Meetingofthewaters when a distant fifth in the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham last month, he looks in the grip of the handicapper.

28: Roi Mage 12yrs 10st 8lb 

Trainer: Patrick Griffin 

Jockey: James Reveley 

Rating: 3/10 

Odds: 50-1 

Ran well for a long way in last year’s race but Amberleigh House was the last 12-year-old to win the National so the trends – and his own form – are against him.

29: Glengouly 8yrs 10st 7lb 

Trainer: Willie Mullins 

Jockey: Michael O’Sullivan 

Rating: 4/10 

Odds: 66-1 

Second in two big handicaps this season but faded tamely at Cheltenham last time out and is hard to fancy on the basis. On the plus side, he does like deep ground.

30: Galia Des Liteaux 8yrs 10st 7lb 

Trainer: Dan Skelton 

Jockey: Harry Skelton 

Rating: 6/10 

Odds: 25-1 

Disappointed when sent off favourite at Exeter last time out but produced a career-best effort when second in the Classic Chase at Warwick in January. Will relish conditions.

31: Panda Boy 8yrs 10st 7lb 

Trainer: Martin Brassil 

Jockey: JJ Slevin 

Rating: 7/10 

Odds: 10-1 

Second to Meetingofthewaters at Christmas and fourth over hurdles on his most recent start. Likely to run another big race but may find a few too good again.

32: Eklat De Rire 10yrs 10st 7lb 

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead 

Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe 

Rating: 2/10 

Odds: 80-1 

Second to Velvet Elvis at Fairyhouse in February but pulled up at Cheltenham last month, the third time in three trips to Britain in which he failed to finish.

33: Chambard 12yrs 10st 7lb 

Trainer: Venetia Williams 

Jockey: Lucy Turner 

Rating: 3/10 

Odds: 66-1 

Won the Becher Chase in deep ground in December but his form since suggests that race may have left a mark. Hard to envisage him playing a meaningful part.

34: Kitty’s Light 8yrs 10st 7lb 

Trainer: Christian Williams 

Jockey: Jack Tudor 

Rating: 6/10 

Odds: 14-1 

Won the Eider, Scottish National, and bet365 Gold Cup last season and will be a big player if returning to that form. Would prefer better ground though.

Darren Norris’ verdict: Willie Mullins can crown a glorious season by bagging his second Grand National with I AM MAXIMUS fancied to land the spoils. Last year’s Irish National winner is the only horse in the line-up with a Grade One to his name this season and, providing he takes the unique jumping test Aintree provides, can make that class edge tell. Coral Gold Cup second Mahler Mission could be his biggest threat and looks sure to run a big race. Delta Work and Panda Boy both look solid each-way contenders. With conditions in her favour, Galia Des Liteaux could prove the best of the British.