The 2024 Grand National (officially known as the Randox 2024 Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 176th annual running of the Grand Nationalhorse race. It took place on Saturday 13 April 2024, at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England.[1] The event was sponsored by Randox Health. Changes from previous races were the reduction of horses from 40 to 34[2][3] and an earlier start time of 4pm, compared to 5.15pm in 2023.[4] It was won by bookies' favourite I Am Maximus, who was trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend.[5][6]
Race card
Two horses, Run Wild Fred and Chambard, were withdrawn on the morning of the race after being found lame, reducing the field to 32 runners, the smallest field since the 1999 Grand National which also had 32 runners.
A total of 21 out of 32 horses finished the race, leaving 11 non-finishers. Seven horses were pulled up, and four were due to unseated riders.[8] While concerns were expressed for Mac Tottie, who was treated by veterinarians at the scene, all the horses returned safely. However, over the course of the meeting there were two equine fatalities.[9]
"Minella Indo and Delta Work are the leaders from Kitty's Light in third, Latenightpass, then towards the inside I Am Maximus, Galvin comes next as they race towards the Elbow, Minella Indo, the loose horse forcing them to the left hand side and causing problems, Minella Indo has the lead from Delta Work, in third place and ridden along is I Am Maximus, who's now out after the leader, I Am Maximus for Paul Townend, goes past Minella Indo, Delta Work, Galvin and Kitty's Light, but up towards the line, it is I Am Maximus, who leads home the gladiators, for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins."
ITV lead commentator Richard Hoiles describes the climax of the race.[10]
The ITV coverage was presented by Ed Chamberlin. Analysis was provided by former jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald, and Ruby Walsh. Reports were provided by Alice Plunkett, Adele Mulrennan, Luke Harvey, Rishi Persad and Matt Chapman, and betting updates were provided by Brian Gleeson. Oli Bell covered viewers' comments on social media, and the commentary team was Mark Johnson, Stewart Machin and Richard Hoiles, who called the finish for the seventh time. Following the race, Bell and Walsh guided viewers on a fence-by-fence re-run of the race.[12]
