Randox Grand National (Premier Handicap) 4m 2f 74y The Jockey Club announces today The Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse will have a new earlier start time of 4pm from this year.

Confirmation of the new time comes as a total of 94 horses were entered for the 176th running of the world’s greatest steeplechase on Saturday 13th April at today’s noon deadline.

The switch from 5.15pm is one of several changes to the £1 million showpiece first announced nearly four months ago as part of an ongoing focus on equine welfare.

Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 4m 2f 74y – 4:00pm, Aintree, Saturday 13th April

RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL FESTIVAL NEWS: PROVISIONAL DECLARATIONS FOR THE 2024 RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL

Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 4m 2f 74y

4.00pm, Saturday 13th April

Current Going: Heavy, Soft in places

1 Noble Yeats (IRE) ts, p 9 11 12 Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Emmet Mullins Ireland Harry Cobden
2 Nassalam (FR) bl 7 11 8 John and Yvonne Stone Gary Moore Caoilin Quinn
3 Coko Beach (FR) bl 9 11 8 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
4 Capodanno (FR) ts 8 11 8 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland Keith Donoghue
5 I Am Maximus (FR) 8 11 6 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
6 Minella Indo (IRE) 11 11 6 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore
7 Corach Rambler (IRE) ts 10 11 6 The Ramblers Lucinda Russell Derek Fox
8 Janidil (FR) ts, p 10 11 6 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland Jody McGarvey
9 Stattler (IRE) ts 9 11 5 Mr R. A. Bartlett W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr P. W. Mullins
10 Mahler Mission (IRE) ts 8 11 5 Colm Herron & Rockview Racing Syndicate John McConnell Ireland Ben Harvey

11 Delta Work (FR) bl,ts 11 11 4 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
12 Foxy Jacks (IRE) p 10 11 4 Ms Rachel Carthy M. F. Morris Ireland Gavin Brouder
13 Galvin (IRE) 10 11 2 Mr R. A. Bartlett Gordon Elliott Ireland
14 Farouk d’Alene (FR) 9 11 1 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
15 Eldorado Allen (FR) ts 10 11 00 J P Romans & Terry Warner Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell
16 Ain’t That A Shame (IRE) 10 10 13 Mr David Maxwell Henry de Bromhead Ireland Mr David Maxwell
17 Vanillier (FR) ts, p 9 10 12 Mrs H. M. Keaveney Gavin Cromwell Ireland Sean Flanagan
18 Mr Incredible (IRE) 8 10 11 Paul Byrne & J. Carthy W. P. Mullins Ireland Brian Hayes
19 Run Wild Fred (IRE) bl 10 10 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
20 Latenightpass 11 10 10 Mrs P. A. Ellis Tom Ellis Miss Gina Andrews

21 Minella Crooner (IRE) p 8 10 10 KTDA Racing/Nick Courtney/Cillian Moran Gordon Elliott Ireland
22 Adamantly Chosen (IRE) 7 10 9 Watch This Space Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland Sean O’Keeffe
23 Mac Tottie ts 11 10 9 Steve & Jackie Fleetham Peter Bowen James Bowen
24 Chemical Energy (IRE) 8 10 9 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
25 Limerick Lace (IRE) 7 10 8 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell Ireland Mark Walsh
26 Meetingofthewaters (IRE) h 7 10 8 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland Daniel Mullins
27 The Goffer (IRE) ts 7 10 8 Mr Allan Snow Gordon Elliott Ireland
28 Roi Mage (FR) 12 10 8 Pryde/Van Der Hoeven/McGladery/Beaumont Patrick Griffin Ireland James Reveley
29 Glengouly (FR) 8 10 7 Roaringwater Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland M. J. M. O’Sullivan
30 Galia des Liteaux (FR) p 8 10 7 Mr Michael Ariss Dan Skelton Harry Skelton

31 Panda Boy (IRE) p 8 10 7 Old Pals Partnership Martin Brassil Ireland
32 Eklat de Rire (FR) 10 10 7 Mr P. Davies Henry de Bromhead Ireland Darragh O’Keeffe
33 Chambard (FR) 12 10 7 David & Carol Shaw Venetia Williams Miss Lucy Turner
34 Kitty’s Light ts, p 8 10 7 R J Bedford & All Stars Sports Racing Christian Williams Jack Tudor

34 runners
26 Irish-trained

Eliminated
Malina Girl (IRE), Desertmore House (IRE), Kinondo Kwetu, Shakem Up’arry (IRE), Ontheropes (IRE), Fakir d’Alene (FR), Annual Invictus (IRE), Amirite (IRE), Tullybeg (IRE), Iron Bridge (IRE), Cepage (FR), Famous Bridge (IRE), Frontal Assault (IRE), Good Boy Bobby (IRE), Tommie Beau (IRE), Where It All Began (IRE)

The post List of runners, riders and weights for the 2024 Aintree Grand National appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Taking each other on with Burrows Saint! @kevinblake2011 and @CoddJJ have contrasting views on the 2019 Irish Grand National winner…

Watch now on YouTube: https://t.co/NO1c4cdRzF pic.twitter.com/C7pQ4OKuW2

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 6, 2021

The Grade One-winning jockey picked up the plum spare ride aboard the eight year old, who is trained by his father Willie Mullins, when regular rider Paul Townend failed to recover from a foot injury sustained in a fall at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

It will be the fourth time the 31 year old has ridden in the world’s greatest steeplechase since making his debut in it in 2011, and he believes the Susannah Ricci-owned gelding represents his best chance of winning.

Burrows Saint, who landed the Irish National in 2019, warmed up for his first start over the famous fences when chasing home stablemate Acapella Bourgeois in the Grade Three Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February.

He said: “It is fantastic to pick up the spin on him and obviously Paul hasn’t recovered from his fall in Fairyhouse. The weight (10st 13lb) is quite light for me but it is just enough. He is in great form at home. The lad that rides him out is very happy with him.

“I got a sit on him over at Haydock this morning and he ticks a lot of the boxes. He is the right age at eight years old. He has the right kind of weight and is progressing as he has only had nine runs over fences. I’m really excited to be sitting on him.

“It was in the back of my head (that I might get the ride). I saw the weight was doable. I was watching it from then. I was never expecting to ride a horse with a live chance in the Grand National. It doesn’t get any better than this. I did 11st 1lbs on a filly 10 days ago as I’m quite in the championship (amateur jockeys) with Jamie (Codd) so I was watching my weight anyway.

“I usually have one with lots of weight that is an outsider. Ever since I was seven or eight and I read a book on the history of the Grand National, I wanted to win it. Some people like the Gold Cup, but for me this is the race I’ve always wanted to have a crack at so it doesn’t get any better.

“To be able to do it riding one of Willie’s would be great and for Rich Ricci. We’ve been very lucky to get here. Since Marcus won it, Jamie Codd has come very close and Sam Waley-Cohen has come very close so hopefully one of us (amateur riders) will be able to crack the nut soon enough.

“I was second on a horse called Boxer Georg in the Foxhunters a few years ago. Willy Twiston-Davies beat me on Baby Run. That’s the closest I’ve come (to winning over the fences). My dad won the Foxhunters on Atha Cliath and to win one over the National fences would be a dream before I hang up my boots.”

Although the coronavirus pandemic forced last year’s race to be cancelled, Mullins believes that may have been no bad thing for Burrows Saint.

He added: “On the stats, missing the race as a seven year old last year is probably a good thing as no seven year old has won the race since 1940 so that might have been a blessing in disguise. He is a year older and he is still relatively unexposed. I think he ticks a lot of boxes.

“I think everything has gone pretty much to plan. He had a nice couple of runs over hurdles and a nice run in the Bobbyjo. I know he didn’t win but he wears a tongue strap and heavy ground wouldn’t have suited him well. When he won the Irish National it was this sort of ground so that will bring out improvement.”

Closutton handler Mullins will also be represented in the National by Burrow Saint’s last time out conqueror Acapella Bourgeois, Cabaret Queen and Class Conti.

The Cheltenham Festival-winning rider added: “I rode Acapella Bourgeois out this morning as well and he seems in great form. Danny gets on very well with him.

“Obviously he beat Burrows Saint in the Bobbyjo so where one is the other shouldn’t be far away. I suppose Burrows Saint will improve more for the better ground as Acapella  Bourgeois seems to like that heavy ground so that might swap the placings there. He is a horse that is a little bit older as he is 11. He is probably a little bit more exposed but he is in great form and he has a nice racing weight as well.

“Class Conti has to have a little squeak of getting placed. I suppose the worry with him is will he be able to lie up with the early pace. He is a safe jumper. He will like the ground. My mother Jackie rides him out at home so she will take a lot of the credit if he wins. Brian Hayes gets the spin on him. I could see him running into a place quite easily.

“Sean O’Keeffe rode a winner for us at Cheltenham and he gets a spin on Cabaret Queen. She has won the Kerry National at Listowel and she has won a couple of good handicap chases. Her form has tapered off a little bit but I think this drier ground will suit her well. I think there are worse long shots than her.”

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According to this cool infographic on freebetoffers.org.uk, 1 in every 3 bets that is placed is by a female, and it’s not just the guys who like to have a cheeky wager. 

The National is one of the richest races in the world with a purse of £1,000,000 available for the winner and has been a must watch event for families and friends over the world for many years, not just keen racing fans.

According to bookies, this year’s contest will be a close one. Those new to betting on the Grand National should know that the favourite win rate is only 15% and that in the past half a century, the age of the winning horses has always been between nine and twelve years old. Also, the average odds of a winning horse are 20 to 1. Below, we look at who the experts see as this year’s favourites. 

Cloth Cap

Jonjo O’Neill’s Cloth Cap is poised to be one of the shortest-price favourites in history. The gamble on this horse is gaining traction as more bets come in, and April 10 gets closer. It won the Ladbrokes Trophy earlier in the season and dominated the bet365 Premier Chase in March. Thus, in most handicapper’s eyes, it’s the favourite. Unibet is currently offering 4 to 1 odds.

Any Second Now

Ted Walsh’s Any Second Now is also primed for a Grand National bid. The nine-year-old horse owned by JP McManus claimed the 2019 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup, but it did not look in excellent shape on March 13 when it landed the Grade 2 Webster Cup. However, Any Second Now is the consensus second-favourite behind Cloth Cap, boasting ten to one and twelve to one odds at most sportsbooks. In trainer Walsh’s opinion, Any Second Now would have won last year’s Grand National if it would have taken place. He believes that the horse’s chances are equally good this time around, as it is coming off a recent career-best performance, and it is going into the race with a decent frame of mind.

Burrows Saint

According to top UK publications such as the Sun, money is pouring in on Burrows Saint. The Willie Mullins trained horse that impressed at the Cheltenham Festival. The eight-year-old equestrian has never participated in the Liverpool race before. Yet, despite its lack of experience, punters believe that it has an equal chance to claim the principal reward as Any Second Now. Thus, many bookmakers have the option available at ten to one odds. Burrows Saint won the 2019 Irish Grand National, and by all accounts, it will be in top form come April 10.

Over 10% of the world population are expected to tune in to the race this weekend. Lets hope its another race to remember.

The post Who Are the Favourites for This Year’s Aintree Grand National? appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Sandy Dudgeon, senior steward of the Jockey Club, said: “The Randox Health Grand National festival was just three weeks away and it is very clear to us it will not be possible for the event to take place. Public health must come first.

“We were working on a plan to stage the Grand National behind closed doors given its importance to the racing industry and beyond, but following the new government measures confirmed this evening to help to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, this is not a viable option.

“I know this is hugely disappointing news for the many people who work in our sport and the many millions who were looking forward to this year’s event, but very sadly these are exceptional times and this is the responsible thing to do.”

The post 2020 Grand National meeting cancelled appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

1. Aintree Grand National is one of the longest racecourses 

Year after year, an entire nation waits for the Grand National. But did you know that the Aintree racecourse near Liverpool is one of the longest in the UK? The four and a half mile long course is also known as one of the most difficult tracks in the world as its length is paired with 30 fences designed to challenge all of the 40 riders.

2. The first Grand National was won in 1839

The first Grand National edition was held in 1839 and featured less forgiving fences than it does now. The edition was won by a horse named Lottery.

3. The first Grand National winner was also the slowest winner

Lottery might be known as the first horse to win the Grand National, but it also holds the title for being the slowest horse to ever win the race. Indeed, it took Lottery a whopping 14 minutes and 53 seconds to win the race, whereas nowadays, races are won in a matter of minutes, if you blink you might miss them.

4. The youngest jockey to win the Grand National was only 17 years old

The youngest jockey to ever win it, Bruce Hobbs, was only 17 years old when he rode the horse Battleship to victory in 1938. 

5. The first female jockey raced in the Grand National in 1977

For over 130 years, the Grand National, like many other sports,  was exclusive to men. But, this soon changed as in 1977 Charlotte Brew became the first woman jockey to ever ride a horse during the event. Brew pathed the way for more women to join the race and in 1995, Jenny Pitman was the first female winner of the Grand National.

6. You don’t have to be a professional jockey to win the Grand National

In fact, many amateur jockeys have won the event throughout the years, including journalist Marcus Armytage in 1990. 

7. The Chair is the most intimidating fence 

The Grand National counts 30 fences, but only one can intimidate even the most experienced riders. It’s The Chair, a fence standing at 5 feet and 3 inches tall and that can challenge both jockeys and horses. 

8. Red Rum is the most successful Grand National horse

From all horses to ever race in the Grand National, Red Rum stands out. The horse has won the race three times between 1973 and 1977, despite suffering from a debilitating bone disease. 

9. Golden Miller is the only horse to have completed the Cheltenham-Grand National double

Golden Miller is the only horse in the Grand National history to have completed the Cheltenham and Grand National double. Not only did he win both races in 1934, but Golden Miller is also the most successful Cheltenham Gold Cup horse, winning five consecutive wins between 1932 and 1936.

10. Vincent O’Brien was the only trainer to win the Grand National three years in a row

Talking about consecutive years, Vincent O’Brien is one of the most renowned trainers for managing to train three successive champions. His horses Early Mist, Royal Tan, and Quare Times won the Grand National in 1953, 1954, and 1955, respectively. 

The post 10 Things to Know Before Heading to the Grand National appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Thousands of punters flock to Aintree for the prestigious race, whilst 600 million people around the globe halt to a standstill. It is believed that half of the adults in the United Kingdom place a bet on the National. However, many people don’t even know where to start. 

Well, not to worry as our beginner’s guide to this year’s race will make you nothing short of an expert and maybe even give you some stats to impress your mates with down in the pub. 

Where and when is the Grand National? 

The Grand National is held at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool. The three-day festival takes places in April with Liverpool’s Day opening the meeting on April 2nd before being followed by the infamous Ladies Day. The National itself takes place on Saturday, April 4th at 5:15pm. 

How long is the race and how many hurdles are there? 

The race is somewhat of a marathon for the horses. The course is a whopping four miles and two and a half furlongs long, a full mile longer than Cheltenham’s Gold Cup course. There are 30 hurdles around the track, including 16 steeplechase fences – there is no wonder the Aintree course is considered one of the most difficult to complete. 

How many horses compete? 

105 horses have been entered for the National. However, between now and the final entries on April 2nd, the horses will dwindle down to 40, although, last year only 12 of those who started the race finished – the fewest for 11 years. 

What does the term ‘the going’ mean? 

‘The going’ refers to the condition of the turf underfoot on the day of the race. This is important as it can affect a horse’s race. If the going is soft it means the ground is holding more moisture and could cause a slower race, while if the going is firm, it means the ground is hard and can result in a faster face. Horses tend to perform better in certain conditions, so it is worth checking all this before having a flutter. 

Who is the favourite and how often do they win? 

Last year’s winner, Tiger Roll, is the industry’s favourite to win the National. Should the Gordon Elliott-trained horse win the illustrious race back-to-back, he would be the first to do so since the much-loved Red Rum in the 1970s. 

In terms of the favourite going on to win the race, it doesn’t happen as often as you’d think. In the last 10 Grand Nationals only two of the favourites have won – Don’t Push It in 2010 and Tiger Roll last year. 

Does the horses’ weight matter? 

Yes, horses carrying more than 11 stone rarely win the race, in fact, since 1983 only four horses weighing more than 11st have gone on to win the race – all of which came last decade. To narrow it down a little more, only two horses over 11st 5lbs have won the race since 1977 – Neptune Collonges in 2012 and Many Clouds five years go. 

Does the horses’ age matter?

Simply put once more, yes! There hasn’t been a Grand National winner under the age of eight for over 75 years, so avoid seven-year-old’s at all costs. In terms of what age to look out for, it has been mostly varied across the last number of years, so maybe keep an eye out for ten-year-olds, such as Tiger Roll. 

Other things to look out for when picking your horse

• All winners since 1970, bar Rule The World, have won over three miles. 

• Nine of the last 20 winners have jumped the infamous Aintree hurdles in the past

• 18 of the last 28 winners have been no further than 10th in the betting. 

• Irish-trained horses are always worth a punt – eight of the last 20 winners have come from the Emerald Isle.

The post Your beginner’s guide to the 2020 Grand National appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.