Thanks for joining us. We’ll have more from Greg Wood and Sean Ingle at Aintree later this evening, with more follow-up on Sunday.
The Grand National didn’t go the Skelton way but just about everything else has. Look Me was second. Merlin Allen was third. “This is the one we trained for this race,” says Dan Skelton. “He’s had a winter break and we really prepped him for this. Heidi, big day for her. What a meeting, we’ve had a fabulous day.”
On Panic Attack: “She didn’t even get her landing gear on. There was a lot going on out there, an old-fashioned National, and everyone’s OK, that’s the main thing.”
He pays tribute to Willie Mullins, as Willie did for him earlier.
Forthfactor wins the bumper
Look Me is sat towards the rear of the field as Bass Hunter sets the pace as they go to the back straight. Bass Hunter sets the pace as they turn into the final straight from Rices Pool. Look Me looks for room and goes on the outside. Forthfactor under Heidi Palin, a Skelton horse, takes it, a 10/1 shot.
The horses are at the start for the bumper…and off they go over the two-mile race. Rices Pool is to the fore. Bass Hunter sits out the front as they go past the grandstand.
Paul Townend rides Look Me in the bumper, and is last to take to the track before the final race of the Aintree festival.
Ben Jones, whose ride on Jordans smashed apart the race, had this to say to the Racing Post: “It was unbelievable. I had such a smooth run round, it was just magical. “I had a wonderful time. He nearly got brought down in the early part of the race and it was probably the best thing really because I just took my time and let him warm up into it. After I jumped the Canal Turn for the last time he just lit up. He jumped unbelievably. The loose horses probably didn’t help me round the Elbow, if they came with me he wouldn’t have got so lonely but he’s run a blinder.”
5.00 NHF odds
Bass Hunter – 7/4
Look Me – 3/1
Risky Obsession – 11/1
One Knight – 12/1
Rices Pool – 14/1
Merlin Allen – 16/1
Ronnie Russet – 16/1
The Perfect Poet – 18/1
18/1 BAR
5.00 NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE, 2M 209YD
There may be more punters streaming towards central Liverpool than there are in the stands as the final race of the meeting sets off, but there are some very promising young horses engaged in the bumper and most recent winners have been worth following next season. The clear form pick is Bass Hunter, third in the equivalent race at Cheltenham last month, but there is, as ever, a wealth of untapped potential in the field and Willie Mullins’s Look Me, Dan Skelton’s Risky Obsession and the once-raced Rices Pool, who posted a useful time when successful on debut at Taunton in February, are all interesting alternatives.
SELECTION: RICES POOL
More from winning trainer Willie Mullins: “He got a fantastic ride. It was a good call to stick with Aintree with him, rather than go down the Gold Cup route. It’s hard to win with top weight but maybe the modern National is changing and we have to look at it differently. This is the race we aspire to win when we go into racing.”
Here’s our report, with Greg Wood’s copy to follow from Aintree.
What happened to your horse?
F= fell, PU = pulled up, UR = unseated rider
Top Of The Bill is up, according to ITV’s Ed Chamberlin. Robbie Dunne is being assessed at hospital.
Robbie Dunne, who was unshipped from Stellar Story, the Gordon Elliott horse, took a heavy fall and has received treatment.
Grand National result
1. I Am Maximus (Paul Townend) 9-2 Fav
2. Iroko (Jonjo O’Neill Jr.) 18-1
3. Jordans (Ben Jones) 28-1
4 .Johnnywho (R P McLernon) 12-1
34 ran
Fuller result to follow.
There are concerns over Top Of The Bill, as ridden by Toby McCain-Mitchell and trained by Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies. He was among the leaders before coming down. Quai De Bourbon, ridden by Donagh Meyler and trained by Willie Mullins, has walked into a horse ambulance.
Willie Mullins, winning trainer: “Most trouble he got was from his stablemates they didn’t give him much room. Wow, a good call from JP. I wanted to go down the Gold Cup route. He said he was well handicapped. Paul just executed it perfectly. It’s the race you want to win and grow up watching….[I Am Maximus] is just a superstar.”
Updated
Willie Mullins has trained the last three Grand National winners, with I Am Maximus in 2024 and 2026, either side of Nick Rockett in 2025. Jordans, well, did it go too early? PW Mullins, last year’s winning jockey, was shipped out at the first.
Paul Townend, the winning jockey, speaks to Alice Plunkett: “The cheekpieces helped. I wasn’t going to be the one to go chasing thenm and I was able to get a lead ot the Elbow. I didn’t know where the loose horse was going yo go. He’s a really good horse. This lad wasn’t telling me not to ride him so I couldn’t not ride him. It’s right up there, in my sport it’s Grand Nationals and Gold Cups. I got em both.”
Updated
Iroko came in second, with Jordans in third and Johnnywho in fourth, High Class Hero in fifth. Paul Townend wins the Gold Cup and Grand National, and did it carrying top weight. More shades of Red Rum.
I Am Maximus wins the Grand National!
Jordans goes over the second last, and is chased to the elbow as I Am Maximus runs him down to regain the Grand National, the first to do so since Red Rum in 1977.
Updated
To Becher’s, Amirite and Top Of The Bill, a mistake by I Am Maximus. Over the Canal Turn there’s another mistake from I Am Maximus. Top Of The Bil, Imperial Saint and Monty’s Star, overtaken by Jordans under Ben Jones. He’s gone to the second last.
Updated
Banbridge went at the The Chair. Amirite continues to be up at the front, and I Am Maximus has had a quiet race, staying out of trouble. Amirite is briefly hampered, and Jagwar goes amid a few at the 20th fence.
Updated
Amirite and Top Of The Bill lead over the 12th. The Real Whacker is struggling out the back and is pulled up at the 13th. Johnnywho is the leading McManus horse. A loose horse may be a problem but runs out of the way.
Faller at the first! Grangeclare West unseats PW Mullins, last year’s winning jockey. Panic Attack goes at the third as Amirite is an early leader at 50/1. Mr Vango goes at Becher’s. Gerri Colombe unseats at the next.
And they're off in the Grand National
I Am Maximus goes off favourite at 11-2, Panic Attack at 7-1. There is, as polymarkets would have predicted, a false start. They take a turn, and are asked for another, and to go back. But they’re off….
Updated
Will there be a false start? Odds-on, considering events at Cheltenham and jockeys’ haste to get decent position ahead of the first fence, which is not far away.
The bell rings, and the jockeys must now end their pre-race chat with the owners. JP McManus was swamped by green and gold shirts. Jockeys and horses head to the start.
Updated
I Am Maximus, now back as favourite, is the only previous winner in the field, with Nick Rockett absent. Some familiar colours in the field, those of Party Politics, the 1992 winner, and also Corbiere, the 1983 winner.
The jockeys enter the parade ring, and pose for the group photo. Soon it will be time to mount their horses. The green and gold of the JP team dominate, as does the starred colours of the Gigginstown Stud, run by the O’Leary family.
Nervous moments for all, not least for the sport as a whole. Friday’s death of Golden Star and that of Get On George earlier today have brought focus on to safety issues. This may be the biggest race of all but it can also shine an uncomfortable glare on the sport.
The Grand National horses are now in the parade ring, and the crowd are deep amid an outbreak of sun. Then we go to the National Anthem, sung by Laura Wright.
Briefly favourite, by the way, is Jagwar, ridden by Mark Walsh for JP McManus – has there been a JP plunge on the Greenall-Guerriero training partnership? I Am Maximus, the 2024 winner, has also been plunged on; that’s a JP horse, too. And trained by Willie Mullins. Grangeclare West, another Mullins horse, and ridden by PW Mullins, last year’s winning pilot, is third favourite. In fact, a great deal of flux at the top of the market.
Current Oddschecker odds: I Am Maximus 8-1, Jagwar 17-2, Panic Attack 10/1, Grangelclare West 10/1, Jonnywho 11/1, Montys Star 12/1, Oscars Brother 18/1 BAR
NB: Tom Bellamy replaces Kielan Woods on Marble Sands. Bellamy was set to ride Nick Rockett, only for the horse to cough and be ruled out.
Current odds for the 4.00 Aintree, Grand National, 4m2½f
Panic Attack 13/2
I Am Maximus 7/1
Grangeclare West 5/2
Jagwar 8/1
Johnnywho 9/1
Monty’s Star 11/1
Iroko 12/1
Oscars Brother 14/1
Captain Cody 16/1
Gorgeous Tom 18/1
Haiti Couleurs 20/1
Stellar Story 22/1
Final Orders 22/1
Champ Kiely 25/1
Perceval Legallois 28/1
Quai De Bourbon 28/1
Twig 33/1
Favori De Champdou 33/1
Firefox 33/1
Gerri Colombe 33/1
Jordans 33/1
Lecky Watson 40/1
Spanish Harlem 40/1
Beauport 40/1
Top Of The Bill 40/1
Imperial Saint 40/1
The Real Whacker 50/1
Amirite 50/1
Mr Vango 50/1
High Class Hero 50/1
Three Card Brag 50/1
Banbridge 50/1
Marble Sands 66/1
Answer To Kayf 80/1
Good afternoon, and here we go for the biggest steeplechase of them all. Let’s all hope for a good and safe race.
Here’s the field of 34 horses, their rider and jockey.
1. I Am Maximus; Paul Townend; Willie Mullins
3. Banbridge; JJ Slevin; Joseph O’Brien
4. Grangeclare West; Patrick Mullins; Willie Mullins
5. Gerri Colombe; Jack Kennedy; Gordon Elliott
6. Haiti Couleurs; Sean Bowen; Rebecca Curtis
7. Spillane’s Tower; Sean Bowen; Jimmy Mangan
8. Firefox; Keith Donoghue; Gordon Elliott
9. Monty’s Star; Darragh O’Keeffe; Henry de Bromhead
10. Spanish Harlem; Brian Hayes; Willie Mullins
11. Lecky Watson; Sean O’Keeffe; Willie Mullins
12. Champ Kiely; Danny Mullins; Willie Mullins
13. Iroko; Jonjo O’Neill Jr; Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
14. Favori De Champdou; Danny Gilligan; Gordon Elliott
15. Three Card Brag; Jordan Rainford; Gordon Elliott
16. Oscars Brother; Daniel King; Connor King
17. Mr Vango; Jack Tudor; Sara Bradstock
18. High Class Hero; James Bowen; Willie Mullins
19. Stellar Story; Robert Dunne; Gordon Elliott
20. Beauport; Sam Twiston-Davies; Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
21. Captain Cody; Jonathan Burke; Willie Mullins
22. Jagwar; Mark Walsh; Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
23. Perceval Legallois; Harry Cobden; Gavin Cromwell
24. Gorgeous Tom; Sean Flanagan; Henry de Bromhead
25. The Real Whacker; Gavin Sheehan; Patrick Neville
26. Quai De Bourbon; Donagh Meyler; Willie Mullins
27. Answer To Kayf; John Shinnick; Terence O’Brien
28. Jordans; Ben Jones; Joseph O’Brien
29. Final Orders; Conor Stone-Walsh; Gavin Cromwell
30. Marble Sands; Kielan Woods; David Killahena & Graeme McPherson
31. Panic Attack; Harry Skelton; Dan Skelton
32. Top Of The Bill; Toby McCain-Mitchell; Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
33. Johnnywho; Richie McLernon; Jonjo & A J O’Neill
34. Twig; Beau Morgan; Ben Pauling
36. Imperial Saint; Callum Pritchard; Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
37. Amirite; Phillip Enright; Henry de Bromhead
And with that I’ll hand over to John Brewin who will take over the reins in the build-up to the Grand National.
Liverpool Hurdle (3.05pm) result
1 Home By The Lee (J J Slevin) 5-1
2 Take No Chances (Harry Skelton) 18-1
3 Honesty Policy (Mark Walsh) 5-2 Fav
Updated
Liverpool Hurdle (3.05pm)
And they’re off … Hewick leads in the early stages and they have two circuits to go … Jingko Blue is prominent as well as is Home By The Lee … Doddiethegreat and Honesty Policy are just behind the leaders … turning for home and Home By the Lee goes for it … Impose Toi comes there strongly ... Lavida Adiva challenges … but Home By The Lee goes for home again and kicks home for victory – a really strong stayer wins for Joseph O’Brien.
Updated
Liverpool Hurdle (3.05pm) betting
Honesty Policy – 5/2
Jingko Blue – 5/1
Air Of Entitlement – 6/1
Strong Leader – 7/1
Home By The Lee – 8/1
Impose Toi – 8/1
Hiddenvalley Lake – 9/1
Lavida Avida – 25/1
25/1 BAR
Betting via Oddschecker
Liverpool Hurdle (3.05pm) preview
Five of the 11 runners here lined up for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, including Home On The Lee, the shock winner, and Honesty Policy, who was seven lengths away in fifth. The market suggests the latter, the current 7-2 favourite, will turn the form around today and Gordon Elliott’s gelding can also boast winning form at the track in the two-and-a-half mile novice hurdle here last year, while his closest rival in the betting is a festival winner in Jingko Blue, who streaked sixth lengths clear of the field in the meeting’s two-mile-five handicap hurdle. And there is a third festival winner too to consider, as Air Of Entitlement was the final victor of the meeting in the Martin Pipe Conditionals’ Handicap Hurdle, a race that has been won by several future Grade One winners in recent seasons. Strong Leader, meanwhile, has had a wind operation since his latest start, finished second in this last year having won it the year before, and will be a big danger to all if back in that kind of form.
SELECTION: STRONG LEADER
2.30pm FREEBOOTER HANDICAP CHASE (result)
1 Mr Hope Street (Harry Skelton) 4-1
2 Lookaway (J M Quinlan) 7-2 Fav
3 Konfusion (G Sheehan) 20-1
Closing stages replay here.
Updated
2.30pm FREEBOOTER HANDICAP CHASE
And they’re off … no they’re not … it’s another false start … and they line up again … and they are off this time … Glengouly leads after the first fence … Bad is at the back … Lookaway has a good position … Bad is at the back … Leave Of Absence is just behind the leaders having run round the inside all the way so far … Bad (as ever) is at the back … they have a circuit to go … not much change in the order (but Bad is still at the back) … Josh The Boss gets a bit closer … Brave Fortune is pulled up … Konfusion comes into it … they turn for home … Lookaway goes for home … Mr Hope Street comes with a good-timed challenge .. and wins for guess who? Yes that trainer Dan Skelton!!!!!
Updated
2.30pm FREEBOOTER HANDICAP CHASE betting
Mr Hope Street – 3/1
Lookaway – 4/1
Brave Fortune – 6/1
Leave Of Absence – 8/1
Cruz Control – 8/1
Chance Another One – 8/1
Uncle Bert – 12/1
Deep Cave – 14/1
16/1 BAR
Betting via Oddschecker
2.30pm FREEBOOTER HANDICAP CHASE preview
Another possible line to the National here as Leave Of Absence finished fifth in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, in which Johnnywho, Jagwar and Iroko finished first, second and 10th respectively. The favourite, though, is Dan Skelton’s novice Mr Hope Street, who beat only one rival home on his handicap debut in early March, although that was his first start for four months and he has been eased 1lb in the weights since. Lookaway is going for a hat-trick after two wins at Kempton, while Joseph O’Brien’s Brave Fortune is another interesting runner after just two runs for his new trainer, incuding a staying-on fourth at Thurles in January that suggested this return to three miles will suit.
SELECTION: LEAVE OF ABSENCE
MERSEY NOVICE HURDLE (1.55pm) result
1 Bossman Jack (Harry Skelton) 11-4 Jt Fav
2 Soldier Reeves (Tristan Durrell) 15-2
3 Ballyfad (Jack Kennedy) 11-4 Jt Fav
Closing stages replay here.
Updated
1.55pm MERSEY NOVICE HURDLE
And they’re off … The French runner Rooster Crowing with Bryony Frost on board has taken up the running in the early stages … Charisma Cat is following the leader … Lord Byron is at the back … Masked Man has made up ground into third place … it has started persisting down very heavily during this race … Lord Byron makes an error … Ballyfad is in a good position … they turn for home … Bossman Jack takes the lead … it’s that man Dan Skelton again … he’s trained another winner as Bossman Jack kicks clear for a smooth enough success! And Skelton’s Soldier Reeves is second!
Updated
Get On George became the second fatality at this year’s Grand National meeting after pulling up in the second race at Aintree on Saturday.
The six-year-old gelding, trained by Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith, was attended to by vets on the course and was put down immediately after the race. It was the second fatal injury to a racehorse at this year’s Aintree showpiece.
On Friday, Gold Dancer suffered a fatal injury after making a bad mistake at the last before continuing to run on a considerable distance to win the Mildmay Novice Chase. Jockey Paul Townend told stewards the horse felt sound and continued running in a straight line to the finish before losing his action round the bend. Vets at the scene agreed the best course of action was to humanely euthanise Gold Dancer who had broken his back. The British Horseracing Authority said it would further assess the incident through its fatality review process.
Efforts have been made in recent years to improve the safety of the Grand National, including moving the front fence forward to try to slow down the start of the race and restricting the maximum number of runners to 34. PA Media
Updated
1.55pm MERSEY NOVICE HURDLE betting
Bossman Jack – 3/1
Ballyfad – 3/1
Montemares – 6/1
Soldier Reeves – 7/1
Scorpio Rising – 7/1
Charisma Cat – 8/1
Lord Byron – 18/1
Masked Man – 22/1
25/1 BAR
1.55pm MERSEY NOVICE HURDLE preview
The performance of Kaka’s Cousin in the preceding handicap will be an interesting pointer to the chance of Olly Murphy’s Scorpio Rising, who won the Sandown handicap in which Kaka’s Cousin finished fourth. The six-year-old was steered around the festival and has more than earned this tilt at a Grade One by stringing together four straight wins in progressively stronger company this season. Gordon Elliott is going for a five-timer in this race with Ballyfad but he did not cut much ice in the equivalent race at Cheltenham, where Dan Skelton’s Bossman Jack, who is vying for favouritism with Ballyfad, looked unlucky not to finish closer when four lengths behind the winner in sixth.
SELECTION: SCORPIO RISING
William Hill Handicap Hurdle (1.20pm) resut
1 Wade Out (G Sheehan) 18-1
2 Eagle Fang (Patrick M O’Brien) 28-1
3 Chart Topper (Brian Hayes) 25-1
4 Supremely West (Harry Skelton) 7-1
Closing stages replay here
Updated
1.20pm HANDICAP HURDLE
And they’re off … no they’re not … it’s a false start! They are going to try again … they’re off the second time … Bold Endeavour leads in the early stages … Kaka’s Cousin comes up to join him as they go round the first circuit … Eagle Fang is just behind the leaders … they have another full circuit to go … Ikarak is making ground … Harbour Lake is in mid-division … Eagle Fang goes to the front … they are on the home turn … Wade Out comes to challenge at the last hurdle … Wade Out kicks clear for a very smooth victory!
Updated
1.20pm HANDICAP HURDLE betting
Hold The Serve – 7/2
Kakas Cousin – 7/2
Fortune Timmy – 7/1
Get On George – 8/1
Supremely West – 9/1
Absolutely Doyen – 10/1
Good To Be Alive – 11/1
Quantum Quest – 16/1
20/1 BAR
Betting via Oddschecker
1.20pm HANDICAP HURDLE preview
A big field for this handicap hurdle for stayers but the market is dominated by a trio of lightly-raced novices in Kaka’s Cousin, Hold The Serve and Fortune Timmy. All three have plenty of scope to progress beyond their current handicap marks so it is probably a question of which one will find the most improvement, and Hold The Serve, with just four races in the book, could be the one, as he has run out a comfortable winner of his last three starts. Kaka’s Cousin, meanwhile, was better than the bare result when fourth in a highly competitive handicap at Sandown last time, while Fortune Timmy is a handicap debutant after finishing in midfield in the Grade one Turners Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.
SELECTION: HOLD THE SERVE
12.45pm MAGHULL NOVICE CHASE result
1 Mirabad (Tristan Durrell) 50-1
2 Salvator Mundi (Paul Townend) 8-11 Fav
3 Be Aware (Harry Skelton) 10-1
Closing stages replay here.
Updated
12.45pm MAGHULL NOVICE CHASE
And they’re off … should be plenty of pace on here as a few like to get on with it early … Be Aware jumps to the right at the first but grabs the lead … Salvatore Mundi has powered through the field to run with Be Aware up at the front ... the favourite has not been all that fluent to be fair … they still lead on the turn for home … Kala Conti was ready to challenge but fell three out … Mirabad is ready to challenge … takes it up and kicks clear for an easy win! Dan Skelton, the outative champion trainer, lands another big prize.
Updated
12.45pm MAGHULL NOVICE CHASE betting
Salvator Mundi – 11/10
Kala Conti – 11/4
Mighty Bandit – 7/1
Be Aware – 10/1
No Questions Asked – 20/1
Alnilam – 22/1
Mirabad – 50/1
King Of Kingsfield – 50/1
Full betting via Oddschecker
1.55pm MERSEY NOVICE HURDLE preview
The performance of Kaka’s Cousin in the preceding handicap will be an interesting pointer to the chance of Olly Murphy’s Scorpio Rising, who won the Sandown handicap in which Kaka’s Cousin finished fourth. The six-year-old was steered around the festival and has more than earned this tilt at a Grade One by stringing together four straight wins in progressively stronger company this season. Gordon Elliott is going for a five-timer in this race with Ballyfad but he did not cut much ice in the equivalent race at Cheltenham, where Dan Skelton’s Bossman Jack, who is vying for favouritism with Ballyfad, looked unlucky not to finish closer when four lengths behind the winner in sixth.
SELECTION: SCORPIO RISING
Updated
1.20pm HANDICAP HURDLE preview
A big field for this handicap hurdle for stayers but the market is dominated by a trio of lightly-raced novices in Kaka’s Cousin, Hold The Serve and Fortune Timmy. All three have plenty of scope to progress beyond their current handicap marks so it is probably a question of which one will find the most improvement, and Hold The Serve, with just four races in the book, could be the one, as he has run out a comfortable winner of his last three starts. Kaka’s Cousin, meanwhile, was better than the bare result when fourth in a highly competitive handicap at Sandown last time, while Fortune Timmy is a handicap debutant after finishing in midfield in the Grade one Turners Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.
SELECTION: HOLD THE SERVE
Greg Wood
Updated
Going to start running through our race previews now …
12.45pm MAGHULL NOVICE CHASE preview
An early start for the action at Aintree with a Grade One novice chase that got rather lost last year, when it was off at 5.00 race, an hour after the National. The three principals in the betting were all steered around Cheltenham last month and so arrive here fresh, and the standout is Willie Mullins’s Salvator Mundi, thanks to his winning form in the Grade One novice over this trip at this meeting 12 months ago. His main market rival is Gordon Elliott’s mare Kala Conti, second in the Grade One Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown in February, while Mighty Bandit is stepping up from handicap company after reeling off three straight wins.
SELECTION: SALVATOR MUNDI
Updated
There is also one change of jockey from those printed in your morning papers. Kielan Woods has not recovered from his fall earlier in the week and that means he will miss the ride on Marble Sands in the Grand National, and will be replaced by Tom Bellamy.
Updated
We have a new National favourite and it’s the mare Panic Attack. No mare has won the National since Nickel’s Coin in 1951, when only three finished! Panic Attack is a slick jumper of a fence and has been in terrific form this season. Here’s the early betting for the market leaders:
Panic Attack – 7/1
Jagwar – 8/1
I Am Maximus – 9/1
Grangeclare West 9/1
Johnnywho – 11/1
Montys Star – 12/1
Oscars Brother – 14/1
Iroko – 16/1
Updated
Aintree non-runners
These won’t be turning up in theire respective races so cross them off your lists. Nick Rocket, last year’s winner of the Grand National, has the sniffles!
1.55pm Turners Mersey Novice Hurdle
3 Came From Nowhere (Unsuitable Going)
2.30pm William Hill Handicap Chase
4 Imperial Saint (got into the Grand National as a reserve)
5 Amirite (got into the Randox Grand National as a reserve)
8 Myretown (Vet’s Certificate, abscess)
14 Stolen Silver (Bruised foot))
3.05pm JET2 Liverpool Hurdle
2 Happy Jacky (Transport issues)
4.00pm Grand National Handicap Chase
2 Nick Rockett (Coughing)
7 Spillane’s Tower (Horse not qualified)
35 Pied Piper (Lame)
Good morning. There was rain around this morning at Aintree when the BBC Breakfast weatherman was giving his forecast but it’s cleared up and the ground still has some juice in it. They always water the track well with safety in mind.
Grand National Course: Good to Soft
Mildmay Course (Chase & Hurdle): Good to Soft, Good in places
Aintree tell us “there was 2mm of rain overnight. The showers should clear by mid-morning for a partly sunny day but here is the slight chance of a further shower mid-afternoon.”
Preamble
Welcome to Aintree on Grand National morning, where a sellout crowd is gathering to witness one of the most historic and compelling spectacles in sport as 34 runners and riders line up for the big race at 4pm BST.
An early smattering of rain is clearing away, there’s a brighter forecast for later in the afternoon, and the betting market for the National is already heating up with an early gamble on Jagwar, one of just three seven-year-olds in the field. Panic Attack, the only mare in the field, is popular too, even though the last female (horse) to win was way back in 1951, and has just taken over at the top of the market at 8-1, while Jagwar is top-priced at 17-2 and yesterday’s favourite, I Am Maximus, has drifted out to 9-1 in a place.
Other names that leap out of the list for a variety of reasons are Oscars Brother, from the two-horse yard of Connor King in Ireland; Haiti Couleurs, bidding to be a first Welsh-trained winner since 1905, who is ridden by Sean Bowen and trained by his former babysitter, Rebecca Curtis; and Mr Vango, trained by Sara Bradstock, whose father, the hugely popular broadcaster and journalist Lord John Oaksey, finished second aboard Carrickbeg way back in 1963.
Every punter will have their own way of picking a winner, of course, and Gorgeous Tom may well be popular later with the nation’s Thomases and their kith and kin, and I reckon he might well be in with a decent each-way chance. Picks for the National itself and the ITV races in the run-up to the big one are here, a full guide to all of the runners is here, and you can, as always, follow all the news, views and market moves here on the blog as the countdown begins to the biggest race of the year.
Updated
