Last year's winner Corach Rambler is among the ante-post favourites for the Grand National 2024 after initial entries for the race closed this lunchtime.
We now have a better idea of the final field for the 2024 Grand National, which will be held at Aintree from 17:15 on Saturday 13th April.
Grand National Entries
94 initial entries for the race have been made this lunchtime, featuring last year's winner Corach Rambler alongside fellow ante-post leaders Mahler Mission, Vanillier and Monbeg Genius.
However, the entries do not include last year's third and 2023 National Hunt Chase winner Gaillard Du Mesnil (as short as 12/1 this morning). A record 61 of the 94 entries are trained in Ireland.
The final 34 horses will be confirmed on Thursday 11th April, 48 hours before the race. Today's entries will be followed by BHA confirmation of the weights in two weeks' time (Tuesday 20th).
The maximum number of runners for the Grand National 2024 has been reduced from 40 to 34, marking the first reduction since 1984. Here are the ante-post odds as things stand, followed by more on four of the leading runners.
Betfred
- Huge range of regular promotions
- 24/7 live chat service
- PickYourPunt builder for custom bets
Grand National Odds
| Runner | Best Odds | Worst Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Mahler Mission | 16/1 | 14/1 |
| Vanillier | 16/1 | 14/1 |
| Corach Rambler | 16/1 | 12/1 |
| Monbeg Genius | 20/1 | 14/1 |
| Panda Boy | 22/1 | 18/1 |
Grand National Runners
Mahler Mission – 16/1
John McConnell’s eight-year-old, Mahler Mission, had a productive novice campaign last season, in which he won a Beginners' Chase at Navan before running well to finish second in the Grade 2 Ten Up Chase at the same venue.
He then tackled the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, when he stepped up in trip and was jumping boldly at the head of affairs for much of the race.
However, after appearing as though he had odds-on favourite Gaillard Du Mesnil in serious trouble and looking the likely winner when still travelling powerfully in the lead as he turned into the home straight, miscommunication between rider and horse resulted in him taking a heavy fall at the penultimate fence when five lengths clear at the time of his departure.
Nevertheless, he made a promising start to this season with a runner-up finish behind Olly Murphy’s Thunder Rock in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle. That eye-catching return set him up for a tilt at one of the year’s most prestigious handicaps, the Coral Gold Cup, and he ran another cracker to finish second off a mark of 151.
His handler confirmed a couple of weeks ago that the Grand National is his primary spring target. He initially held an entry in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, but the decision to bypass that race in favour of a trip to Liverpool was the plan. In essence, he ticks a lot of boxes for the race, as he remains a horse open to a good deal of improvement.
Not only that, but he stays and jumps well, and he has the option of having a preparatory run over hurdles to protect his mark of 155. A general 16/1 chance (five places on William Hill) for the Merseyside marathon in April, this Irish raider, who is remarkably consistent and is getting better with each run, must be considered a major player, with the likelihood of him being allotted a handy weight.
Vanillier - 16/1
Gavin Cromwell’s high-class grey, Vanillier, is a popular choice amongst punters for this year’s renewal of the Grand National, and rightfully so after running a remarkable race to finish second last year. All roads lead back to the race for this former Cheltenham Festival winner, who only found Corach Rambler too strong last year.
Despite suffering a setback over the summer, the nine-year-old made a pleasing comeback in the O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase and will strip fitter should he have another prep run or go straight for Aintree’s showpiece in April. He has always been a good horse and last season’s performance in this race confirmed his stamina and ability to navigate his way around the course effectively.
It was a testament to his courage to finish as close as he did, as he was held up and given far too much to do jumping the fourth last fence. However, he found a second wind after the second last fence to finish his race with a power-packed late surge under Sean Flanagan to beat all except Corach Rambler. The ground he made up saw him only beaten by two and three-quarters of a length.
His handler firmly has his sights set on a return trip to Liverpool for this former Grade 1 Albert Bartlett winner at the Cheltenham Festival, and horses who have run well in the race at the first time of asking often come back and run well in it again.
With the experience of the course and distance under his belt and the ability to handle the surroundings, he could easily make the frame again.
Corach Rambler - 16/1
Last year’s Grand National winner Corach Rambler is unsurprisingly among the leading candidates for this year’s version, but first, Lucinda Russell’s stable star is set to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month, and should he acquit himself very well, or even cause a surprise win, then he is likely to become favourite for the Aintree highlight as he bids to defend his title.
Should he achieve this rare feat, he would become only the third horse to win the race multiple times, following the achievements of Red Rum and, more recently, Tiger Roll. This dual Cheltenham Festival winner disappointed on his return in the Edinburgh Chase but ran a lot better to finish third in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, his first run in Grade 1 company, when tentatively handled.
Reportedly in flying form, according to Lucinda Russell, the defending champion is competing in the Gold Cup in order to warm up for his defence bid in April. He won with much more in hand than the two and three quarters of a length indicated last year, and although he will be set to carry a much higher weight coupled with a stiffer mark this time around, he’s entitled to again be competitive.
Monbeg Genius - 20/1
Another leading contender for Britain’s leading chase is this horse, Monbeg Genius, who is trained by Jonjo O’Neill. He has long been touted as a potential winner after finishing a close third, behind Corach Rambler and Fastorslow, in a strong renewal of the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last March.
The winner went on to win Aintree’s big race, while the second is now a leading contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after taking two Grade 1 races since. He ran really well on his return when he finished third in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, but if he is to take his chance in the Grand National, then a prep run would be required.
A stiff test of stamina could be right up his alley, and there’s good reason as to why his popularity for the race is high. However, there’s a possibility he might even run, given the investigation that is currently going on with his owners. Nevertheless, if this unexposed staying chaser is given the all-clear to compete, he will continue to attract support.
