Grand National runners: Pinstickers' guide to 2024 Aintree 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
: 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.
