Grand National LIVE: Winner, results and reaction from dramatic race at Aintree

The biggest race in the British horse racing calendar concluded the three-day festival at Aintree

Revellers enjoy 176th Grand National at Aintree

I Am Maximus won the 2024 Grand National at Aintree in a topsy-turvy race where a winner couldn’t be called until the final straight. The 2023 champion Corach Rambler unseated jockey Derek Fox at the first fence which opened up the field for the rest of the riders.

Glengouly set the early pace fighting for the front with Foxy Jacks as the experienced jockeys looked to position themselves in the middle of the pack. Kitty’s Light moved up to third with Latenightpass and Galia Des Liteaux making charges towards the front of the field.

Rachael Blackmore’s Minella Indo and Jack Kennedy’s Delta Work - both 28/1- battled for the lead as Paul Townend and I Am Maximus kicked on.

Blackmore leapt the last slightly ahead but didn’t have the staying power, as I Am Maximus swept past and stormed to the finish line to win with ease – handing trainer Willie Mullins his second Grand National victory after Hedgehunter in 2005.

Follow along with our blog below for all the reaction from Aintree:

Grand National 2024 - live updates

• Grand National day delivered great drama at Aintree
• RESULT: I Am Maximus took victory for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend following a dramatic race
• I Am Maximus pulled away from Rachael Blackmore on Minella Indo down the home straight
• Last year’s winner Corach Rambler fell at the first fence
• Full result from the 2024 Grand National
• How has the race been made safer?

[13 April 2024 10:34 · Mike Jones]

Grand National 2024 runners and riders

Here is the full list of horses running in the 2024 Grand National.

1. Noble Yeats(J: Harry Cobden; T: Emmet Mullins)
2. Nassalam (J: Caoilin Quinn; T: Gary Moore)
3. Coko Beach (J: Jordan Gainford; T: Gordon Elliott)
4. Capodanno (J Keith Donoghue; T: Willie Mullins)
5. I Am Maximus (J: Paul Townend; T: Willie Mullins)
6. Minella Indo (J: Rachael Blackmore; T: Henry De Bromhead)
7. Corach Rambler (J: Derek Fox; T: Lucinda Russell)
8. Janidil (J: Jody McGarvey; T: Willie Mullins)
9. Stattler (J: Patrick Mullins; T: Willie Mullins)
10. Mahler Mission (J: Ben Harvey; T: John McConnell)
11. Delta Work (J: Jack Kennedy; T: Gordon Elliott)
12. Foxy Jacks (J: Gavin Brouder; T: Mouse Morris)
13. Galvin (J: Sam Ewing; T: Gordon Elliott)
14. Farouk D’Alene (J: Donagh Meyler; T: Gordon Elliott)
15. Eldorado Allen (J: Brendan Powell; T: Joe Tizzard)
16. Ain’t That A Shame (J: David Maxwell; T: Henry De Bromhead)
17. Vanillier (J: Sean Flanagan; T: Gavin Cromwell)
18. Mr Incredible (J: Brian Hayes; T: Willie Mullins)
19. Run Wild Fred (J: Tom Hamilton; T: Gordon Elliott) - Horse withdrew on morning of the race
20. Latenightpass (J: Gina Andrews; T: Tom Ellis)
21. Minella Crooner (J: Kevin Sexton; T: Gordon Elliott)
22. Adamantly Chosen (J: Sean O’Keeffe; T: Willie Mullins)
23. Mac Tottie (J: James Bowen; T: Peter Bowen)
24. Chemical Energy (J: Danny Gilligan; T: Gordon Elliott)
25. Limerick Lace (J: Mark Walsh; T: Gavin Cromwell)
26. Meetingofthewaters (J: Danny Mullins; T: Willie Mullins)
27. The Goffer (J: Sean Bowen; T: Gordon Elliott)
28. Roi Mage (J: James Reveley; T: Patrick Griffin)
29. Glengouly (J: Michael O’Sullivan; T: Willie Mullins)
30. Galia Des Liteaux (J: Harry Skelton; T: Dan Skelton)
31. Panda Boy (J: JJ Slevin; T: Martin Brassil)
32. Eklat De Dire (J: Darragh O’Keeffe; T: Henry De Bromhead)
33. Chambard (J: Lucy Turner; T: Venetia Williams) - Horse withdrew on morning of the race
34. Kitty’s Light (J: Jack Tudor; T: Christian Williams)

[13 April 2024 10:21 · James Boyle]

Grand National 2024 tip

Racing tipster James Boyle is never afraid to pick a long shot and he’s got a 100/1 shout on the National:

“Eldorado Allen is 100/1 as he’s not certain to stay and he definitely has problems with his wind. I’m hoping that taking off the cheekpieces will help, as he doesn’t seem to enjoy them, and given his wind trouble he’s always a likely contender to show wildly differing form from one run to the next. Going down another 3lbs is no harm either and he’s capable of running above 150. If he can latch on for long enough, it wouldn’t be the biggest shock to see him in with a chance despite the price.”

Read more from James here

[13 April 2024 10:06 · Luke Baker]

‘It’s magic’: Lucinda Russell excited to return to Aintree for Grand National

Lucinda Russell has her sights on another monumental day at Aintree when Corach Rambler defends his Randox Grand National title.

The 10-year-old ran out an impressive winner 12 months ago and will attempt to join the likes of Tiger Roll and the legendary Red Rum on the select list of back-to-back champions.

Buoyed by the performance of Ahoy Senor at the track on Thursday, the Scottish trainer is hopeful ahead of her Cheltenham Gold Cup third’s quest to join the Aintree immortals.

[13 April 2024 09:53 · Luke Baker]

Anger rises with Jockey Club after cuts to prize money on eve of Grand National

Britain’s leading racecourse group, the Jockey Club, revealed last Sunday that it is cutting it’s contributions to prize money funds this year after declining attendance figures at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Dwindling attendances coupled with the impact of affordability checks have hit the Jockey Club’s revenues meaning they need to reduce their spending with the reduction in prize purses expected to total around £1.5m from May until the end of the year.

Jockey Club chief executive Nevin Truesdale said the cuts were due to the “very, very significant financial headwinds” it is facing.

The decision has been met with growing anger and frustration from the Thoroughbred Group – an umbrella organisation representing owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys and stable staff – which said the costs its own members were facing would be negatively impacted by the prize money reductions.

[13 April 2024 09:41 · Paul Millward]

Grand National 2024 tip

Horse racing tipster Paul Millward is swerving the favourite today and has selected Coko Beach as an each-way option instead:

“He was due to run in the abandoned cross country race at the Cheltenham Festival last month, but his preparation for this race has been similar to previous years. He will come into the race fresh and ready to do himself justice, and if he can avoid trouble in the running, a top-six finishing position will be within his grasp.”

Read more from Paul here

[13 April 2024 09:32 · Luke Baker]

Grand National tips: Experts on best bets and horses to watch at Aintree

Racing ambassador Alex Hammond spoke to Sky Bet and legendary jockey Ruby Walsh chatted to Paddy Power about their tips for the big race on Saturday

Saturday 13 April, 16:00 – Grand National

Alex Hammond: “I’m going with a horse that actually came second in the Midlands National last time, Mr Incredible. He’s talented and quirky but certainly has the ability to run a big race if all goes to plan, so it’s Mr Incredible for me in the Grand National.”

Ruby Walsh: “I thinkCapodanno, then Delta Work and I’m going to go with Martin Brassil’s other horse Desertmore House. But even listening to Ronnie Bartlett maybe on about Stattler and Galvin [potentially not running] on soft ground, I think there’s a chance Desertmore House could get in so I’m going to stick him in as well, the Kerry National winner.”

Ruby Walsh’s 1-2-3: Capodanno, Delta Work, Desertmore House

[13 April 2024 09:25 · Luke Baker]

Grand National 2024: What changes have been made to make Aintree race safer?

The Grand National has implemented a number of new safety measures for the 2024 race, including a reduction in runners from 40 to a maximum of 34.

Last year’s race, won by Derek Fox on Corach Rambler, was delayed by 14 minutes after a protest from animal rights activists and one horse died.

Here’s a list of the changes made:

• Maximum number of runners down from 40 to 34
• The first fence will be moved 60 yards closer to the start and a standing start – as opposed to allowing the horses to run – for all races over the National fences
• The start will be brought forward from 5.15pm local time to 4pm, therefore ensuring the ground doesn’t dry up too much and become too quick for the horses
• Horses will no longer be led by a handler on course in the pre-race parade to afford the horses more time to prepare
• Loose horses will be caught more easily by changes to the alignment of the running rail on the inside of the course
• The 11th fence will be reduced in height by two inches, from 5ft to 4ft 10in
• Softer foam and rubber ‘toe boards’ will be put at the base of the jumping side of each fence
• More pop-up irrigation to water the course
• The minimum handicap rating for horses will go up from up to 130 from 125, aligning it with all top-level Grade One races
• The introduction of a review panel of industry experts to assess every runner making jumping errors in 50 per cent or more of their most recent eight races

[13 April 2024 09:18 · Luke Baker]

Grand National betting guide: All 34 horses rated and ranked

The biggest event on the British horse racing calendar is upon us again as the 2024 Grand National at Aintree will see millions of Brits have a flutter on the race as they try to beat the bookmakers.

The field has been reduced from 40 horses to a maximum of 34 this year in the interest of safety but that’s still plenty for a pinsticker’s guide to the runners and rider.

The exact field is now confirmed and we’ve rated and ranked all the runners and riders to give you a headstart on the opposition.

Here we run through every horse in the field:

[13 April 2024 09:14 · Diarmiud Nolan]

Grand National 2024 tip

Our horse racing analyst Diarmuid Nolan is taking on the favourite by backing Meetingofthewaters in the Grand National. Here’s why:

“I like the chances of Meetingofthewaters. He was brilliant at Christmas when effortlessly taking the ultra-competitive Paddy Power Chase and won that day at Leopardstown in the shape of a horse who was far better than a mere handicapper. He was unlucky when unshipping his jockey at the Dublin Racing Festival and thereafter he ran a perfect preparation race when third in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival. Meetingofthewaters should handle the test an Aintree Grand National will throw at him.”

Meetingofthewaters is currently available at 8/1 in the Grand National odds.

[13 April 2024 08:58 · Luke Baker]

Everything you need to know about the Grand National

The anticipation for the Grand National continues to rise as the biggest event in the British horse racing calendar has finally arrived.

The event at Aintree takes place this afternoon and King George VI Chase winner Hewick topped the weights at 11st 12lb when they were announced earlier this year, so will now run in the Aintree Bowl instead. Meanwhile, last year’s winner Corach Rambler was allocated 11st 2lb and appears to be a red-hot favourite heading into the race.

Gavin Cromwell’s Vanillier will carry 10st 8lb and is likely to enter as one of the fancies with several bookmakers, having only been beaten by two and a quarter lengths in last year’s contest.

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are saddling 16 runners between them, which is almost half the field and considerably more than the entire British contingent.

Here’s everything you need to know about the race: