Grand National Runners

A maximum of 40 runners line up for the Grand National annually. The Grand National is one of the most famous steeplechases in the world.

For the Grand National Runners Guide for 2016 then follow the link.

The race takes place in early April each year and is at the back end of the national hunt calendar on the final day of a three-day meeting, a month after the Cheltenham Festival.

It was first held officially in 1839 and excluding the two World Wars, it has only once not been held. This was in 1993 when the race was deemed void due to a false start. The majority of the Grand National runners ignored this, though, and carried on running.

Up until 2000, there was no limit on the number of entries for the Grand National but it was reduced at the start of the millennium in one of a number of safety measures added to ensure the race is as safe as possible for the Grand National runners.

In 1929, a record 66 runners lined up at the start for the contest that year which was eventually won by Gregalach at odds of 100/1. That was far more than in 1883 when the race attracted just 10 runners on that occasion. Zoedone was one of the early winners that year.

The field in this race have to negotiate 4m4f around the National Course at Aintree where the obstacles are bigger than usual under national hunt rules.
There are a total of 30 fences in the race as they go around the circuit twice. These include Becher's Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn, three of the toughest tests the horses have to overcome.

Due to the Grand National being a handicap race, runners will carry different weights to make it as fair as possible. This is determined according to the handicapper, who will consider the rating of each horse when assigning these weights.

No horse has carried 12 stone to success since Red Rum in 1974. Ginger McCain's runner won the steeplechase on three occasions and also finished second twice.

Red Rum became a household name due to his performances in this race. Following his death in 1995, he was buried near the winning line on the National Course at Aintree.
There have also only been six winners since World War Two that have carried more than 11st 5lbs to victory. 

The trend of age has also been significant from the runners in the Grand National. No seven-year has prevailed since 1940, while it was 1923 when a horse older than 12 succeeded.

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