The Grand National, the most anticipated race on the British calendar, is back. 40 runners tackle the daunting obstacles of the 30-fence Grand National Aintree over four miles, 2½ furlongs, on the world’s most famous obstacle course.
It is estimated that more than 500 million people across 140 countries watch Aintree’s three-day Grand National festival each year, and the 2023 edition will be no different.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s race.
When is the 2023 Grand National?
The Grand National is the world’s most famous steeplechase, and the highlight of the three-day Aintree Festival which will take place this year from Thursday, April 13th to Saturday, April 15th. On Saturday, April 13, the main event, the Grand National itself, will take place on Saturday evening. .
What time does the race start?
The runners will post for 5.15pm, the traditional tea time slot. The National itself is the sixth of seven races at Aintree that day. At just under four and a half miles it is easily the longest race of the entire three day meeting.
Where is the 2023 Grand National?
The meeting is held at Aintree Racecourse, six miles outside Liverpool. The race has been hosted at Aintree since the first edition, in 1839.
How can I watch the race? What TV channel is it on?
The Festival usually welcomes more than 150,000 racing fans. There is live TV coverage on ITV and Racing TV.
How does the narrowing system work?
As a handicap race, the Grand National offers less-fancied horses the opportunity to compete on a more even playing field. The handicap formula, determined by the British Horseracing Authority, means that the lower-rated horses are carrying a few pounds less weight than the higher-rated competitors.
The minimum weight a horse is allowed to carry is 10st (including the jockey). The top-laden horse is carrying 11 10 oz., and the rest of the hinder weights work out of this top weight. In 2015 Many Clouds won the 11th 9oz, the heaviest recent handicap ever. Last year’s winner, Noble Yeats, carried 10st 10 oz. The last horse to win the top weight was Red Rum in 1973, when he finished 12th.
What is the weather forecast?
Far into the future, the weather cannot be predicted accurately. But given the race’s mid-April date, it’s a fair bet that the weather in North West England will be changeable. Last year, course officials chose to water the course the evening before the race, after a short dry spell. Amid scattered light showers, the race itself was held in fine overhead conditions and the pace was also going smoothly.
Are Grand National tickets available?
Tickets for certain areas of Aintree on Saturday are already sold out but, from the second week of January, tickets are still available, ranging from £40 for a child’s ticket in the ‘Féile Zone’ (£80 for adults). to £178 on the roof of the Queen Mother. Hospitality tickets are also available, from £405 to £1,095. Parking is £30 extra. All tickets are available on the racecourse’s official website: www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
Which horses are running in the 2022 Grand National?
The 40 second place line has not yet been confirmed. We will publish the long list of potential runners, usually announced in mid-February, and the 40 official entries, as well as our sweepstakes device, when these details are confirmed closer to the race.
How are horses selected for the Grand National?
Only a certain number of horses meet the criteria for being allowed to race at the Grand National. Among the qualifications they must:
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you have an Official Rating (OR) of 125 or more
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be 7 years of age or older
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they have completed three or more spells
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They have completed one scrimmage in the current season
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who finished between 1st and 4th in a race over 2 miles 7½ lengths or longer
What’s the latest Grand National news?
The most significant news so far is the abolition of the reserve system, which has been in place since 2000. Under this system, up to four horses could be added to the start list of the race if runners fell from the original list of 40 .entrants before 1pm on the Friday before the race.
However, according to officials at Aintree, the public was confused by this system and so, in the case of this year’s Grand National, if a runner drops out he will not be replaced. In 2022 three reserves (Commodore, School Boy Hours and Romain De Senam) came to the starting line.
Aintree clerk of the course Sulekha Varma said: “The reserve system was introduced to give us the best chance of ensuring we have a maximum field of 40 runners.
“However, with the Randox Grand National being such a global phenomenon there are associated demands on the provision of race day data which are greater now than when the system was introduced. The system had to work with reserves assuming the race card position of the relevant non-runner.
“This had the effect that reserves, who are by definition the lowest rated horses in the race, were higher in the handicap in the racecard even though they carried the least weight, which made it over be challenging to produce race cards and return results. for some shops.”
What are the latest picks for Grand National winners?
Betting on a horse to win a race before you even know the horse will in the race is obviously highly speculative. However, bookies are already taking bets, with most of the long-distance punters putting their money on last year’s winner, Noble Yeats, who retired in 2022 at 50-1. Your current five favorites are:
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Noble Yeats 8/1
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poet Longhouse 14/1
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One Second Now 14/1
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Rambler Corach 16/1
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Capodanno 25/1
Margins correct as of January 11 and subject to change.
What are some of the famous fences at the course?
Aintree fences are not as dangerous as they once were. However, they are still the most notorious obstacles in the business.
Brook Becher: The sixth and 22nd fence in the race may not be the biggest, but its difficulty comes from the fact that the landing side is 10 inches lower than the takeoff side. Named after Captain Martin Becher, a jockey who fell at this stage in the first running of the race in 1839 and hid in the Brook to avoid injury.
Brook Valentine: It was named after a horse that allegedly jumped it back in 1840. More likely, the horse spun around in mid-air to create the optical illusion of landing hind feet first.
The Chairman: The tallest fence on the course now stands at five feet two inches.
Tunes: One of the smaller fences is named after the 100/1 shot who avoided a disastrous pile-up here in 1967 and went on to win.
Canal Turn: As the name suggests, horses must make a sharp left turn after jumping this five-foot hurdle. Another Aintree myth is that horses that were used and refused to turn ended up in the Liverpool and Leeds canal.
This article has been updated with the latest information for the 2023 Grand National.