The 2024 Randox Grand National was a true classic of this great race with 21 out of 32 starters finishing. This does beg the question of is the Grand National now too easy? Furthermore, is it as much of a test as it was in the past? Very happy to say that all horses and jockeys came home safe.
Full standings of this years race below.
1st - I Am Maximus - 7/1 Joint Favourite
Ran in the midfield, jumped steadily around the first circuit.
Made a mistake at the 15th (The Chair).
Pushed to close leaders at penultimate fence.
Boxed in by the leaders and a lose horse. Found the race winning gap and soon lead after the elbow.
Ridden out in final furlong. Ran on readily, clearly the best.
2nd - Delta Work - 28/1
Ran midfield, making an error at the 1st, ran through the 8th.
Made ground after the 2nd Canal turn.
Pressed leaders over the last, headed for 2nd in the run in, Found some more and rallied to get 2nd close the line, No match for winner.
Vet stated the gelding struck his right hind leg.
3rd - Minella Indo - 28/1
Ran behind leaders jumping well
Made ground at 24th fence, leading over the last.
Lost first inside final furlong when weakening and lost 2nd close to home.
4th - Galvin - 40/1
Ran Midfield, Made some ground at 3rd fence from home, looked strong 2 from the finish.
Going 4th inside final 200 yards. Kept on strongly to the line.
5th - Kitty's Light - 12/1
Ran in the midfield, jumped very well.
Starting making ground after 2nd Foinavon fence, going 3rd over 3 from home.
Pressing leaders over the final fence, Soon ridden and lost 3rd soon after.
Kitty made everyone proud, that was or Betsy.
6th - Ain't That A Shame - 40/1
Raced in the rear, good jumping throughout.
Gained ground mid way through last circuit, stayed and ran on well.
Great spin around for amateur jockey Mr David Maxwell.
7th - Meetingofthewaters - 11/1
Raced well in the midfield, clean jumping.
Made headway penultimate jump while disputing 4th.
Weakened bad finishing 7th.
8th - Galia Des Liteaux - 28/1
Ran midfield throughout, Made a mistake at the 8th when stumbling on landing.
Made steady ground at 12th, even led over 4 from the line.
Lost 1st over 2nd to last jump, weakening slowly up the run-in.
9th - Roi Mage - 66/1
Held up out the back, slight mistake over 13th.
Tracking leaders when mistake at 27th fence, soon losing positions and lost touch with leaders 2 from the line.
10th - Limerick Lace - 7/1 Joint Favourite
Ran in rear, Badly hampered at 1st Canal Turn when making ground.
Mistake at 27th soon losing positions. Then ran on again through a few beaten horses.
No impression up the run-in.
11th - Coko Beach - 28/1
Ran Rear to midfield throughout, made contact with leaders over 24th (2nd Canal Turn).
Got hampered 3 from the finish, never got a clear run.
Started making ground after jumping 3 out, soon weakened run-in.
12th - Latenightpass - 50/1
Ran at the front throughout, almost leading over the 14th.
Pressed leaders over the 25th (2nd Valentine's).
Lead the National over penultimate fence, soon headed and weakened up the run-in.
13th - The Goffer - 50/1
Ran in midfield, steadily around until making ground from 3 out, on the tails of the leaders from 2 out, Soon weakening before the last.
14th - Vanillier - 14/1
Ran midfield all the way, Never made an impression throughout.
Weakened 2 out when never seeming competitive.
15th - Eklat De Rire - 100/1
Raced in the rear when making a mistake at the 12th fence.
Hit and stumbled bad at the 19th, Never threatened weakening from 2 out.
16th - Capodanno - 28/1
Ran midfield throughout, made mistake and stumbled at the 2nd fence.
Ran through and hit the 22nd fence (2nd Becher's), weakened soon after.
17th - Panda Boy - 11/1
Ran in the midfield, Dropped to the back when not fluent at the 5th.
No room when hampered at the 20th, bad mistake at 25th (2nd Valentine's).
Weakened well out from the finish.
Jockey said gelding was never travelling.
18th - Nassalam - 50/1
At the front at the start, always at the front throughout.
Made mistake when pecking on landing at 19th, soon losing places and dropped to rear after 23rd ( 2nd Foinavon).
19th - Noble Yeats - 12/1
Never travelling well, started midfield but soon dropped to the back.
Soon struggling after 25th ( 2nd Valentine's). Never made an impact.
Jockey said gelding was never travelling.
20th - Eldorado Allen - 66/1
Always prominent, pressed leaders throughout when leading 24th (2nd Canal turn).
Leading when headed 4 from the line, Weakening quickly then soon tailed off.
21th - Adamantly Chosen - 33/1
Ran in the midfield, when falling to rear 7th fence. Started making ground from 11th fence.
Made mistake at the Chair (15th Fence), soon lost positions.
Last to finish. Vet said gelding bled through the nose.
PU - Chemical Energy - 50/1
Raced in rear, made slight ground when making a mistake 2th fence.
Soon weakening then pulled up before 2 out.
PU - Farouk d'Alene - 100/1
Raced at the front, mistake at 12th fence, hampered at 22nd.
Weakened after 2nd Foinavon (23rd fence) Soon tailed off and pulled up.
PU - Foxy Jacks - 33/1
Raced behind leaders, hit 13th fence, leading at the 17th, headed soon after over 19th.
Made a mistake at 20th, weakening at 24th and soon pulled up.
PU - Janidil - 125/1
Held up out the back, Slightly hampered over the 1st fence.
Very tired jump over the last, soon pulled up.
PU - Mac Tottie - 80/1
Always looked on the back foot, never travelling.
Vet said gelding was lame on his right-fore leg.
PU - Minella Crooner - 125/1
Raced prominently, clean round of jumping.
Weakened after the 2nd Canal Turn (24th Fence) soon tailed off and pulled up.
PU - Stattler - 40/1
Never travelling when always behind, soon pulled before 9th fence.
Jockey said gelding made a breathing sound.
Willie Mullins has now won the famous Grand National twice the first time with Hurricane Fly in 2005 and now I Am Maximus in 2024. It was also an Irish 1-2-3-4. Mullins now goes to the top of the British trainers' title, if he could win this years title he would be only the second Irish trainer to do so after Vincent O'Brien, who secured the prize 70 years ago.
The £500,000 for winning this years race helps Mullins lead British rivals Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls with only two weeks to go.
1st - Willie Mullins - 19 Wins - 64 placed - 124 Runs - £2,874,693
2nd - Dan Skelton - 111 Wins - 360 Placed - 725 Runs - £ 2,812,084
3rd - Paul Nicholls - 120 Wins - 235 Placed - 503 Runs - £2,735, 107
Mullins stated "I would love to win the British championship, it would be something different. this man has conquered it all can he win the British trainers title.
He followed up to say that I Am Maximus would be targeted at next years Cheltenham Gold Cup.
This years Grand National was the first run under new rules. The standing start did not have to much effect on the race but I believe the fences being made smaller and a lot weaker have caused the race to be less testing meaning that the best horse doesn't necessarily win because the race isn't as demanding on the horse as it used to be. The changes caused No fallers and no deaths but what makes this different to any other national hosted around the United Kingdom and Ireland, is there much difference between the Midlands National and the Grand National. I personally think the Grand National has been blunted by pressure from the public and some groups who don't understand the ins and outs of racing, have the higher ups in horse racing succumb to the pressure of certain organisations. Check out HorsePWR.co.uk for more information on horses welfare inside racing.
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