Who Can Stake a Claim on the 2024 Randox Grand National?

by Roy Brindley, 14 February 2024

Irish stables dominate the entry for the 2024 Randox Grand National. The famous race has attracted 94 entries, of which 61 are trained in Ireland. However, a Scottish-trained horse, Corach Rambler, tops the betting. Successful in the 2023 contest, Corach Rambler will bid to become only the second back-to-back Grand National winner in the past 50 years.

Following a review of last year’s race, the 2024 Grand National will feature a reduced field of 34 horses. In 2023, 25 of the 39 runners were Irish-trained. Behind the Scottish winner, Irish horses filled positions second through to seventh. The last British-trained winner of the Grand National was Many Clouds in 2015.

Can Corach Rambler replicate Tiger Roll and Red Rum by winning back-to-back Grand Nationals in April? ©Getty

Noble Yeats, the 2022 Grand National winner (who finished fourth last year), is again entered in the contest. Vanillier, runner-up to Corach Rambler 12 months ago, is also amongst the 94 entries. The Irish-trained duo represent Emmet Mullins and Gavin Cromwell, who have six National entries between them.

However, these numbers are dwarfed by the Irish powerhouse stables of Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins. The former – who guided Silver Birch (2007) and Tiger Roll (2018 and 2019) to National victory – has 26 entries. Mullins hopes to add to his single National triumph – in 2005 with Hedgehunter – via one of his 13 potential 2024 representatives.

Which Rambler Rival Is on a Mission?

Given the Irish entry’s strength and depth, it should come as little surprise that Coral bookmakers quote an Irish 2024 Grand National victory on 2/5 odds. The UK is considered the 7/4 underdog. Although France – twice successful (in 1862 and 1867) – the Czech Republic, and other countries have made occasional attempts on the Grand National, only the UK and Ireland have runners in this year’s race.

Corach Rambler does have a rival for his tag as Grand National favourite. Mahler Mission, trained in Ireland by John McConnell, is currently trading on 14/1. Understanding he is unlikely to run again before the April 13 assignment – according to comments made by his trainer – means his price is unlikely to fluctuate significantly.

Despite winning just once over fences, Grand National betting sites are wary of Mahler Mission as he had last season’s National Hunt Challenge Cup – a Cheltenham Festival favourite – at his mercy when falling at the penultimate obstacle.

He returned to action in November, finishing second in a Carlise Listed contest over an insufficient two-mile four-furlongs. Mahler Mission then produced an excellent second-place effort in Newbury’s Coral Gold Cup. The result was remarkable – given he lost his two front shoes at some point during the race.

What Are the Latest Grand National Odds?

The shortest-priced English-trained runner in the Grand National betting is Monbeg Genius. The second-season chaser, trained by Jonjo O’Neil, went into several notebooks when finishing third in the Ultima Handicap Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival. Corach Rambler won the contest for a second time.

It’s Corach Rambler AGAIN in the Ultima! 👏@lucindavrussell | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/gncoGmSadY

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 14, 2023

Monbeg Genius can be backed on 20/1 to give O’Neil a second National winner following Don’t Push It’s 2010 success. Another trainer who can win a second Grand National is Paul Nicholls. The multiple Champion Trainer has had 78 National runners, giving him a single fourth, third, second and winner, Neptune Collonges, in 2012.

Nicholls’ representative, Threeunderthrufive, the fourth-place finisher in last season’s Scottish Grand National, is 66/1. He would be one of the Grand National’s biggest priced winners. Below is the current betting on the 2024 contest:

• 12/1     Corach Rambler
• 14/1     Mahler Mission
• 16/1     Vanillier
• 20/1     Monbeg Genius
• 20/1     Noble Yeats
• 20/1     Panda Boy
• 25/1     Kitty’s Light
• 25/1     Capodanno
• 28/1     Nassalam
• 33/1     Late Night Pass
• 33/1     Hewick
• 33/1     Minella Indo
• 33/1     Mr Incredible
• 33/1     Delta Work
• 33/1     Aint That A Shame
• 40/1+     Bar

The Grand National’s Key Dates

Entries for the 2024 Randox Grand National closed on February 6; only the horses entered can run, and there can be no late inclusions. Only horses that meet the following criteria can run in the Grand National:

• Must have an official rating of 130 or more (in 2023, entries needed a rating of 125).
• Must be aged seven or older.
• Must have completed three or more steeplechases.
• Must have completed one steeplechase in the current season.
• Must have finished between first and fourth in a steeplechase over two miles, seven-and-a-half furlongs or further.

Five-day declarations take place on the Monday before the race, at which point the field will be whittled down to 50.

The final field of 34 horses – the top 34 in the weights – will be confirmed on Thursday, April 11 (48 hours before the race).

It costs £950 to enter a horse into the National and a further £3,900 if the horse is left in at the two scratchings stages and confirmed five days before the race. The race winner will receive £500,000 – the biggest prize in jumps racing.

The Grand National is the highlight of Aintree’s three-day Grand National Festival, which runs from Thursday, April 11 to Saturday, April 13. In 2024, the big race will start at 4 pm – brought forward from 2023’s 5.15 pm start.

Five Grand National Runners to Consider

Kitty’s Light (25/1). Overcame a 14-race losing streak stretching back almost two years to win the marathon Eider Chase at Newcastle in February 2023. Four weeks later, he landed the Scottish Grand National – a race in which he finished second in 2022 – and in a golden period, Kitty’s Light won Sandown’s bet365 Gold Cup just seven days after his heroics in Ayr.

Landing three of jump racing’s most prestigious staying handicaps has seen Kitty’s Light’s handicap mark rise to 146, but are his winning ways over? Four quick runs before Christmas offered little. But three of these were over hurdles – the Welsh-trained horse has never won over hurdles – and the other start came over an inadequate trip.

Aged just eight, it is difficult to believe Kitty’s Light’s best days are behind him. Twice winning over four miles (or further) shows the Grand National trip will not be a barrier. A sound jumper that thrives in the spring months, he is a fascinating contender.

Hewick (33/1). The exciting winner of this season’s King George, Hewick is a fascinating potential runner. Winner of the American Grand National in 2022, he ran a huge race in the 2023 Gold Cup before taking a crashing fall two fences from home. Nevertheless, he returned to action six weeks later to win a valuable contest at Sandown.

🚀 INCREDIBLE!!!!!

Hewick comes from the clouds in a dramatic finish G1 King George VI Chase to give @jhanlonracing & Gavin Sheehan victory in the @kemptonparkrace feature pic.twitter.com/J0UoJh6Eeu

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 26, 2023

A dour stayer from a small and popular Irish stable, Hewick was a bargain €850 buy and has become something of a people’s champion. He was scratched from the 2023 Grand National, and his next appointment is with the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup. If he runs at Aintree in April, he could become the first dual American and English Grand National winner since Battleship in 1938.

Meetingofthewaters (40/1). Ten hurdle starts yielded just one win and offered little promise. However, following a switch to Willie Mullins at the start of the current jumps season, this seven-year-old comfortably landed a Beginners Chase at Cork in November and the valuable 27-runner Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown during the Christmas Period.

Meetingofthewaters was turned out just eight days later but was hampered, and his rider was unseated at the first fence. He has not been seen in public since but has been given two entries at the Cheltenham Festival. An improving sort, already rated 145, stepped up in trip, he could be a fascinating Grand National contender.

Nassalam (28/1). Nineteen career starts have yielded seven wins and five seconds for this French-bred. His most recent start resulted in a 34-length trouncing of 18 rivals in the Welsh Grand National. It also led to a 16-pound hike in the ratings, putting this horse on a mark of 161, and that led to connections giving him a Gold Cup entry.

Historically, Welsh National winners have a good record in both the Grand National and the Gold Cup. He could be good enough to put forward a bold showing in either or both contests. If the ground comes up soft or heavy at Aintree, Nassalam has to be a threat to all comers.

Le Milos (50/1). Going to post on a sequence of four wins from five starts, including the Coral Gold Cup, Le Milos started just 12/1 in last season’s Grand National. Travelling well for most of the journey, he faltered in the closing stages to finish a disappointing tenth.

The Dan Skelton-trained horse may not have given his true running that day. If forgetting that effort, it is easy to predict we have yet to see the best of this 151-rated chaser. With just one subsequent start – over hurdles in November – it is possible connections are boxing clever with this nine-year-old, and he should not be dismissed.