Grand National 2022 LIVE: Result and reaction as Noble Yeats wins the big race at Aintree
Follow the latest updates from Aintree and the 174th edition of the iconic handicap steeplechase
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow all the latest updates from the 2022 Grand National at Aintree as one of British sport’s most iconic events returns for a 174th edition.
Coronavirus caused the cancellation of the race in 2020 and kept the crowds away in 2021, so for the first time in three years, fans will be able to watch in person at Aintree and help create that famous atmopshere.
A stacked field of horses and jockeys look to make history for themselves, the trainer and owner with 40 runners and riders ready to try and win the most valuable jump race in Europe.
Minella Times, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, triumphed 12 months ago and returns to try and make it two in a row this year but there are plenty of fancied horses in the field, including Any Second Now, Escaria Ten, Snow Leopardess and Longhouse Poet.
Follow all the latest updates below:
Grand National 2022: Pinstickers’ guide to all the runners and riders in Saturday’s Aintree showpiece
Saturday afternoon sees the 174th running of the Grand National at Aintree.
The Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now heads the betting at 8/1, and right here we run through the entire field:
Grand National 2022: Pinstickers’ guide to all the runners and riders
Aintree hosts the famous race on Saturday
How to watch the Grand National
The Grand National is scheduled to get underway at 5.15pm later today. Coverage of all the races at Aintree got underway on ITV1 from 1pm and once the Grand National is finished they will continue to broadcast the other races until 6.15pm.
Grand National 2022: Full list of runners and odds
An hour to go until the Grand National gets going. Here’s a full list of all the runners competing in the 174th edition of the race:
Grand National 2022: Full list of runners and odds
The 2022 edition is set to be the 174th edition of the race
View from the bookies
David Johnson, who works for the family firm of on-course bookies Paul Johnson, told the BBC: "We have not been here for the National since 2019.
"It’s massively important to be back and a huge part of our business comes from these big races. The crowds have been good, today is sold out and you can tell people have missed it.
"Minella Times would be our worst loser - racegoers just want to back whatever Rachael Blackmore is riding."
Will the mare win the big one?
Victory in the Grand National for Snow Leopardess would be one of the most heart-warming stories in Aintree history.
The ten-year-old has returned to action after giving birth to a foal and is bidding to be first mother to win the race, as well as the first mare to triumph since Nickel Coin in 1951.
The grey has won three out of her three races this season, including at Aintree in December over the National fences in the Becher Chase to mark her out as a contender.
She is owned and bred by Marietta Fox-Pitt, whose son William is a three-time Olympic equestrian medallist.
Walsh’s day?
Mark Walsh has rode home on his second winner of the day as Sire du Berlais beats Flooring Porter in the JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle.
That’s back-to-back wins for the Irishman. Is today going to be his day? Will he win the Grand National later on?
A double for Mark Walsh?
Gentleman De Mee has beaten Edwardstone in the Poundland Maghull Novices’ Chase. Edwardstone had been the horse to beat over this distance but just couldn’t keep up the challenge in the closing stages.
It’s strong victory for jockey Mark Walsh that sets him up nicely ahead of the Grand National later this afternoon where he is riding one of the favourites: Any Second Now.
Latest odds
There’s less than two hours to go until the big race and Any Second Now is the frontrunner at 9/1. Snow Leopardess and Minella Times are close behind at 10/1 with Fiddlerontheroof at 11/1.
Snow Leopardess win Virtual Grand National
One of the rising quirks of Grand National day is the running of the Virtual Grand National ahead of the race.
As it says in the name this is an animated virtual running of the national based on weight, previous results as well as other criteria to see who will win the big race later on.
If you believe in omens Snow Leopardess won this year’s animated version of the real thing.
Steve Rogers of Inspired Entertainment,the company creates the CGI races for a TV special, said: “The team have been working on this virtual race and on the race prediction algorithm for months.
“We use the latest technology including artificial intelligence software to create the most life-like representation.
“In 2017 the winner of the Virtual Grand National came second in the real race, in 2018 Tiger Roll won both, and the computer has been very close on the final position of other runners and riders.”
Fans back at Aintree
Rachael Blackmore and Minella Times made horse racing history in front of empty stands last year as the Grand National took place behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This year though 70,000 fans are in attendance to see her attempt at completing a stunning double.
Can she win the Grand National again and receive the cheers and applause that she missed out on last year?
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