A total of 40 runners and riders will go to post for the Randox Grand National on Saturday evening, the world’s most famous jumps race, hosted at Aintree Racecourse. Who will come out on top and follow in the footsteps of the likes of Noble Yeats and Tiger Roll? Get our full Grand National expert analysis from our team of betting experts in our detailed runner-by-runner guide below.
5.15 Aintree (Saturday, April 15): Randox Grand National racecard and betting
Loves these fences and was placed at the last two Nationals; up 8lb since last year’s second to Noble Yeats but was 20 lengths clear of Delta Work back in third. Might find one too good but can hit the frame again.
Trainer: Ted Walsh
Jockey: Mark Walsh
Won the race in style last year; has a 19lb rise in the weights to contend with and he hasn’t been in the best of form.
Trainer: Emmet Mullins
Jockey: Sean Bowen
Second to Delta Work at Cheltenham in the Cross Country Chase; will need decent ground to be seen at his best.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Davy Russell
Ran well in the Savills and the Irish Gold Cup; needs significant improvement for his first try beyond 3m1f.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
Improved horse who finished third in the Welsh National; isn’t the most fluent of jumpers which is a concern around here.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Aidan Coleman
Arrives with the scope for further improvement for a powerful yard, same owner/trainer combination won the Irish National last week.
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Danny Mullins
Looked a winner in this race two from home last year but finished tired. Can hit the frame but probably won’t win.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Keith Donoghue
Bolted up over the conventional fences here over 3m1f last April; out of form since but should stay this far. Interesting contender.
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball
Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Very consistent form at about 3m; took very well to these fences in November and looks a very interesting runner.
Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe
Came back from a break to win the Thyestes Chase over 3m1f; a lesser show one month later but has a lot of class and does stay.
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Michael O’Sullivan
Won over 3m4f when last seen so he has to be high on the shortlist despite a career-high mark.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Harry Cobden
Weakened late on in the 2022 National and won’t find this any easier at the weights despite being in form.
Trainer: Martin Brassil
Jockey: JJ Slevin
Third in the 2022 Irish National and finished with a wet sail to win the 3m6f National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. Player.
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
Consistent enough profile over trips ranging from 2m6f to 3m; still needs more and likely to fall short in this company.
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Luke Dempsey
Won the big 3m2f contest at Newbury; stamina still to prove but yard very bullish about his chances.
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Harry Skelton
Beaten 75 lengths in last year’s National; out of form lately and looks set to play no major part in the race again.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Adrian Heskin
Repeat of his second in the 3m6f Welsh National gives him every chance; hit or miss but big player if on a going day.
Trainer: Joe Tizzard
Jockey: Brendan Powell
Only had two runs for new stable; latest was a step back in the right direction but he looks out of his depth.
Trainer: John Hanlon
Jockey: Jody McGarvey
Not much experience over marathon trips but was third in a Grand Steeplechase de Paris over 3m6f. Very much on the shortlist.
Trainer: Patrick Griffin
Jockey: Felix de Giles
Failed to deliver in three handicaps over 3m4f and 3m5f so stamina isn’t assured and looks one to avoid.
Trainer: Noel Meade
Jockey: Kieren Buckley
Stays 3m but is usually much more effective over a lot shorter so it’s hard to imagine him staying this far.
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Shane Fitzgerald
Won eight of his last nine races over fences, albeit in small fields; classy sort and has a chance if he stays.
Trainer: Donald McCain
Jockey: Theo Gillard
Should love the stamina test but his jumping is his nemesis. Chance with a clear round but comes with risks attached.
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Jockey: Sean Flanagan
Sixth in the 2022 Irish National and he stays 3m5f; caught the eye in recent times and looks very nicely handicapped.
Trainer: Thomas Gibney
Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
Progressive in Ireland; should stay this far and looks potentially thrown in off this sort of mark.
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
Came from well off the pace to win 3m1f handicap at Cheltenham twice; due to go up 10lb after this race so has a favourite’s chance. Needs to avoid trouble.
Trainer: Lucinda Russell
Jockey: Derek Fox
Third in the 2021 Irish National; jumping has let him down of late and he will need to improve significantly to figure.
Trainer: Ciaran Murphy
Jockey: Simon Torrens
Lightly raced seven-year-old, but he has major flaws and could act up at the start; too short in the betting for all he is a player if he jumps off on terms.
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Brian Hayes
Solid third at Cheltenham in the National Hunt Chase but hit a wall in the dying strides so stamina isn’t assured.
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Gallant servant to connections but he looks out of his depth in this and should find at least a few too good.
Trainer: Venetia Williams
Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
Lost out by a nose in a 3m2f race on soft ground over these fences in December 2021; tailed off when last seen and has it all to prove now.
Trainer: Sandy Thomson
Jockey: Ryan Mania
Handicapper has taken no chances; should stay beyond 3m but unproven over marathon trips and readily passed over.
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Peter Carberry
Third in the Cork National over 3m4f on heavy ground; major backward steps in his two races since but could run a big race at a huge price.
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Jack Foley
Up with the pace until two out in the 4m Eider at Newcastle when last seen but faded out of things late. Should stay this far on a sharp flat track and has a chance.
Trainer: Tim Vaughan
Jockey: Alan Johns
Showed a lot of determination to win valuable 3m handicaps at Ascot and Kempton. Low weight here and looks a stayer in the making.
Trainer: Sam Thomas
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Very hit or miss; ran well at Cheltenham but Mr Incredible finished the race off better and has stamina to prove.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Jack Tudor
Ran over these fences three times; stamina doubts and looks to have limited appeal in this field.
Trainer: Peter Bowen
Jockey: Ben Jones
Unseated four out when back paddling in this race last year, looks set to play no part in the finish.
Trainer: Henry Daly
Jockey: Hugh Nugent
3lb out of handicap; did well over 3m6f Cheltenham cross-country; needs the ground to dry out significantly here.
Trainer: Martin Keighley
Jockey: Adam Wedge
6lb out of handicap; no form beyond 3m1f and only had one run at 3m4f; 150-1, well beaten at Cheltenham and a no hoper here.
Trainer: Paul Gilligan
Jockey: Phillip Enright