Is the 2023 Grand National at Aintree on Saturday (5.15pm, Live on TV: ITV1) set to be another dominated by Irish-trained horses? Quite possibly as they line up in huge numbers but a horse trained elsewhere is a worthy favourite.more…
Fiona Derek
Fiona Derek is our horse racing expert. She has been involved with horses since she was a child and is active in horse racing as both a rider and owner. She has also earned a living as a writer.Grand National Review 2022: 50/1 Noble Yeats Gives Amateur Sam Fairytale Ending
The 50/1 shot Noble Yeats provided a perfect conclusion to the Corinthian jockey Sam Waley-Cohen’s riding career when he stayed on to win the 2022 Grand National on April 9. He was the only amateur in the race and became the first to win it sincemore…
Grand National Preview 2022 & Betting Tip: 16/1 Each-Way Long-shot
The crowds are back and the 2022 Grand National at Aintree on Saturday (5.15pm, ITV) promises to be a memorable one. Irish trained horses dominated in the 2021 National and the Emerald Isle is strongly represented again.more…
Grand National Review 2021: Minella Times Carries First Woman Rachael Blackmore into Racing History
The 2021 Grand National was deprived of spectators but there was no shortage of emotion when Rachael Blackmore triumphed on the 11/1 shot Minella Times for trainer Henry De Bromhead at Aintree on 10th April. Wearing the famous yellow and green-striped colours ofmore…
Grand National Preview & Betting Tip 2021: Have Faith in Saint
The 2021 Grand National will be a subdued affair without the crowds at Aintree on Saturday but the buzz around it as a betting proposition is undiminished by their absence (5.15pm; TV: Live on ITV).
Half the field at Aintree have some chance ofmore…
New Grand National Favourite A Feather in O’Neill’s Cap
Cloth Cap is now as short as 6/1 with some firms in the Grand National betting after his impressive win in the listed Premier Chase at Kelso on Saturday (March 6). Jockey Tom Scudamore kept things simple, taking the lead frommore…
Tiger Roll Drifts in Grand National Betting After Boyne Flop & Trainer Sanction
Tiger Roll’s participation in the Grand National must be in doubt and not just because of his abysmal latest run. His trainer Gordon Elliott has since been barred from running his horses in the UK while a picture of him sitting astride a dead horse is investigated.more…
Welsh National Winner Secret Reprieve Shortens For Aintree
There hasn’t been a winner of the Welsh Grand National who has gone on to win the Grand National at Aintree in the same season. Binadaree (2003) and Silver Birch (2004) have won both races this century but in different seasons. Secret Reprieve is now 25/1 to win the Aintree Grand National after an impressive win inmore…
Bridgwater: Conditional Can Claim Grand National
Trainer David Bridgwater has unfinished business with the Grand National and believes The Conditional could win it. Bridgwater was narrowly denied victory as a jockey in Aintree’s showpiece in 1996. He was beaten and slightly hampered bymore…
Grand National Review 2018: 10/1 Tiger Roll Leads Dominant Irish
Last updated February 12th, 2020
Tiger Roll, the 10/1 joint second favourite in the 2018 Grand National betting, looked set for an easy victory under Davy Russell with a six length advantage at the elbow but Pleasant Company (25/1) kept finding for Danny Mullins and they crossed the line together.
A photo was needed tomore…
Grand National Preview 2018 & 25/1 Betting Tip: Red In The Pink
Last updated September 24th, 2020
The 2018 Grand National is an extremely open renewal with many horses trying Aintree’s toughest obstacles and this distance for the first time (5.15pm Saturday live on ITV).
There are a couple of horses who have National form towards the top of the betting, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Blaklion is one ofmore…
Grand National Review 2017: One For Arthur, 14/1 For Scotland
Last updated February 12th, 2020
Anyone who had backed the 2017 Grand National winner One For Arthur (14/1) had to look very hard to spot him in running but he galloped into contention when it mattered to win comfortably under Derek Fox by four and a half lengths.
Saddled by Lucinda Russell for ‘Two Golf Widows’, Deborah Thomson and Belinda McClung, One For Arthur became themore…
Grand National Review 2016: Mouse Rules at 33/1
Last updated February 12th, 2020
The 2016 Grand National was good for the bookies as 33/1 shot Rule The World outstayed 8/1 joint favourite The Last Samuri to win by six lengths under David Mullins for Mouse Morris and owner Gigginstown, aka Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary.
The third placed 13-year-old Vics Canvas was totally ignored by punters at 100/1 but the handicapper rated themore…
Grand National Review 2015: Many Clouds Reigns at 25/1
Last updated February 12th, 2020
The 2015 Grand National gave trainer Oliver Sherwood his first, jockey Leighton Aspell his second and owner Trevor Hemmings his third Grand National victory.
It was also a good result for the bookies when the high-class 25/1 shot Many Clouds bounced back to form, carrying a big weight to victory in the Aintree showpiece. The bookmakers weremore…
Grand National Review 2014: Pineau De Re of Sunshine at 25/1
Last updated February 12th, 2020
The 2014 Grand National left some top trainers’ hopes in tatters as Pineau De Re, the first National runner sent out by Dr Richard Newland (pictured), was the toast of Aintree. The 25/1 shot in the Grand National betting tested the balance of his jockey, Leighton Aspell, but not his strength in riding a finish.
The 11-year-old French-bred got themore…
Grand National Review 2013: Auroras Encore stuns at 66/1
Last updated February 12th, 2020
Bookmakers cheered loudest in the closing stages of the Grand National 2013. Trainer Sue Smith’s unheralded Auroras Encore, ridden by stable jockey Ryan Mania, pinged the last and powered away to claim victory at the dismissive odds of 66/1.
It was a fairytale first tilt at the Grand National for both Auroras Encore and his jockey. The partnership had comemore…
Grand National Review 2012: Neptune Collonges Nicholls’ First at 33/1
Last updated February 12th, 2020
It took a photo for the judges to decide that Neptune Collonges, a 33/1 outsider in the Grand National betting ridden by Daryl Jacob, had got the better of Sunnyhillboy. The distance was given as a nose but it was little more than a flared nostril of the striking grey.
No commentator had dared tomore…
Grand National Review 2011: Ballabriggs Bags It at 14/1
Last updated February 12th, 2020
It’s not easy to win the National from the front but Ballabriggs, a 14/1 shot in the Grand National betting, was prominent from the off and managed to outstay the field under a vigorous drive from Jason Maguire.
He bravely fought off a final challenge from the impeccably connected amateur, Sam Waley-Cohen onmore…
Grand National Review 2010: McCoy Breaks Hoodoo on Don’t Push It
Last updated February 12th, 2020
The 2010 Grand National was a triumph for punters as AP McCoy finally broke his Aintree duck on the 10/1 joint-favourite, Don’t Push It. The partnership attracted an avalanche of money on the day, badly bruising the bookies. It was a first win for McCoy’s boss, owner JP McManus and trainer Jonjo O’Neill too.
For once McCoy did notmore…
Grand National Review 2009: Mon Mome 100/1 Upset
Last updated February 12th, 2020
How can a 100/1 shot in the Grand National not just win but leave the field trailing, looking distinctly one-paced in his wake? Mon Mome, trained by Venetia Williams, did exactly that under Liam Treadwell, having started at a triple-figure price that suggested he had no hope.
There were no obvious reasons for themore…
Grand National Review 2008: Comply Or Die at 7/1
Last updated February 12th, 2020
Plenty of horses were in with a chance two out in the 2008 Grand National. That soon changed when the 7/1 joint favourite Comply Or Die effortlessly took the lead under Timmy Murphy after the last and maintained it to beat King Johns Castle (20/1) by four lengths.
Willie Mullins’ Snowy Morning (16/1) was amore…
Grand National Review 2007: Silver Lining for Bookies at 33/1
Last updated February 12th, 2020
When the 33/1 shot Silver Birch held on to beat the strong finishing Mckelvey (12/1) by three-quarters of a length in the 2007 Grand National the celebrations in the winners’ enclosure were extraordinary. His young rookie trainer, Gordon Elliott, was ecstatic. So were the bookies.
Silver Birch had taken themore…
Grand National Review 2006: Numbersixvalverde Triumphs for Madden
Last updated February 12th, 2020
Approaching the last the 5/1 joint favourite Hedgehunter and Ruby Walsh looked likely to reward their many supporters but Numbersixvalverde scooted away under Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden to win the 2006 Grand National (pictured).
Hedgehunter, the winner in 2005 for Willie Mullins, could only finish six lengths behind him in second undermore…
Grand National Review 2005: 7/1 Hedgehunter Bolts Up
Last updated February 12th, 2020
Hedgehunter, the 7/1 favourite for the 2005 Grand National, put up an impressive weight-carrying performance as he strolled to victory.
Trainer Willie Mullins had concerns before the race but the nine-year-old Irish-bred readily asserted his superiority before his jockey Ruby Walsh had even asked him for an effort. He became the first horse tomore…
Grand National Review 2004: McCain Strikes Again
Last updated February 12th, 2020
The 2004 Grand National witnessed a much-loved and familiar old face in the winner’s enclosure as Ginger McCain (pictured) landed a fourth win in the showpiece race.
Aintree came alive when his Amberleigh House (16/1) emerged from an unpromising position and outstayed younger opponents. The 12-year-old had been very patiently ridden bymore…
Grand National Trends: Age Matters
Last updated February 1st, 2021
The minimum age for horses in the Grand National is now seven-years-old, but what is the optimum age of the winner? Past trends demonstrate a distinctive peak age range and imply that horses of certain ages are best avoided.
We take a look at the past trends and draw conclusions from the pattern of winners’ ages. Are theremore…
Grand National Breeding Trends: Rise of the French Bred
Last updated February 12th, 2020
Looking at a horse’s breeding can definitely improve your chances of picking a winner, but that doesn’t mean targeting the progeny of specific sires. There have been stronger, location-based trends in the past and a new one appears to be developing.
British-bred horses dominated the list of National winners until 1999 when the Irish-bred Bobbyjo’s victory formore…
Grand National Trainer Trends: Evan help us
Last updated February 12th, 2020
Years ago there were definitely trainers to follow in the Grand National. Fred Rimell, the five-time champion trainer had an enviable record. He won it with ESB in 1956, Nicolaus Silver in 1961, Gay Trip in 1970 and finally with Rag Trade in 1976.
The legendary Vincent O’Brien, another champion trainer, won it with three different horses inmore…
Jockey Trends: Grand National Jockeys To Follow
Last updated February 12th, 2020
It is the horses that have to jump the 30 fences in the Grand National but some jockeys seem much better at helping them than others. Following the top performers in conventional jumps races is not always a good idea when it comes to Aintree. So are any of the top jockeys worth following?
The record-breakingmore…
Trends of the Grand National Weights
Last updated February 12th, 2020
The Grand National is a handicap and that means horses carry weights according to the official handicapper’s opinion of their respective merits. The best horses carry more weight than those with apparently less ability.
The handicapper is a single man whose job it is to frame the weights of the race. His theoretical aim ismore…
Crocks Can Win: Red Rum, Aldaniti, Silver Birch
Last updated February 12th, 2020
When you are looking through the Grand National runners, don’t necessarily shy away from horses that have had physical problems and overcome injuries. Many winners would not have passed a thorough vetting yet they still provided fairytale outcomes, securing themselves legendary status in Aintree’s rich history.
The most successful Grand National horse ofmore…