In this series we analyse the Grand National trends. Aintree’s past often provides the key to unlocking future National winners. Read on for some serious analysis of the trends in advance of this year’s race.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…