Who Will Win the 2024 Grand National?
by Steve Ashfield | by Steve Ashfield
All Eyes on Aintree
The Grand National takes place at Aintree on April 13 and again Corach Rambler is expected to go off favorite. That was the case last year and the Scottish trained runner remains in good form.
For safety reasons there will only be 34 runners and many will come from Ireland. Irish trainers Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins will field half the runners in this legendary race. Just who is in with a great chance of winning the 2024 Grand National?
Another Win for Corach Rambler?
Not since 2019 have we seen a horse win the Grand National for a second successive year. That was Tiger Roll but there's one other major statistic that needs to be taken notice of. Corach Rambler was the 8/1 favorite when winning in 2023. He's again expected to go off as favorite this year. Not since the late 19th century has the favorite won this legendary race two years in a row.
Corach Rambler was a comfortable winner last year and remains a class horse. That was shown in March when finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. We know he can get the four miles and two furlongs and can safely negotiate the difficult fences at Aintree. Now aged ten years old, if winning he'd be the oldest winner since 2014 and is 5.50 at William Hill to win this race. He does have more weight to carry this year though.
Mullins also runs Meetingofthewaters who is bidding to become only the second seven year old since 1940 to win the Grand National. A win on Saturday would be his third of the season. However, he did unseat his rider at the first fence at Leopardstown in February. Will he cope with the Aintree fences?
Can the King of Cheltenham Conquer Aintree?
Irish trainer Willie Mullins has had 100 winners at the Cheltenham Festival. He's not quite had that success at Aintree though. Only with Hedgehunter in 2005 has he won the Grand National. Could that change this year?
He trains the second favorite I am Maximus who won the Irish Grand National in 2023. The eight-year-old comes to Aintree in good form having recently won a Grade 3 race at Fairyhouse. He's a consistent sort but those wanting to back him must take two important factors into account. This is his first race at Aintree and he's never gone beyond three miles and five furlongs. He's available at 9.00 with bet365 to win this race.
Could Mr Incredible live up to his name at Aintree? He's another Willie Mullins contender but has run over four miles. He did that in the recent Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter where he finished second. Mr Incredible will hope for better luck than encountered in last year's Grand National. His saddle slipped leading to him unseating his rider at the 24th fence. A good run looks likely this weekend.
Plenty of Contenders to Consider
As always seems to be the case, there are plenty of contenders to win the Grand National. It's a race that is always full of excitement and one that attracts bets from people who probably won't place another wager all year.
Vanillier finished second in this race last year and again has a good chance of success. He finished behind I am Maximus last time out but is better in at the weights for this Grand National. That's the same situation regarding Corach Rambler and that may well prove decisive this weekend. He's 10,00 at Unibet to win on Saturday.
Kitty's Light is also one to consider after winning the Scottish Grand National last year. That was run over four miles so there's a good chance the extra couple of furlongs in this race will be in his favor.
Winning the Grand National in the past is a good starting point when looking at who might be successful this year. Noble Yeats was the winner at Aintree in 2022 and is again in the field this year. Noble Yeats finished fourth last year and has won one race this season. Carrying 11 stone 11 lbs will make it difficult to win but a place is definitely a possibility.
Available at 41.0 with WIlliam Hill is Coko Beach. Trained by George Elliott, this runner led last year's race. A mistake led to him being pulled up but his last race was won and could go well again this year.
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Odds to win the Grand National
- Corach Rambler, odds of 6.50
- I am Maximus, odds of 8.00
- Vanillier, odds of 9.00
- Meetingofthewaters, odds of 11.00
- Mr Incredible, odds of 13.00
- Kitty's Light, odds of 13.00
- Panda Boy, odds of 15.00
- Mahler Mission, odds of 17.00
- Nassalam, odds of 21.00
Odds from bet365
