Four winners and four losers from the Grand National 2024 weights reveal.
The weights for the 2024 Grand National at Aintree were announced yesterday, with King George Chase winner Hewick topping them with 11st 12Ib based off his rating of 169, while Conflated has been given a mark of 166 and a weight of 11st 9Ib.
The weights reveal has frequently left owners and trainers with a mixed reaction over the years, as some are happy with the weight given to their horse, while others recognise their horse has been harshly treated.
With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the key intended runners who are winners and losers from the weights for the world’s greatest jumps race, which will take place on Saturday April 15th, at Aintree.
Hewick
Grand National Weight & Rating: 11st 12lb / 169
Irish horses have won five of the last seven renewals of the race, but even though he won the King George last time out, which was undoubtedly a new personal best, another one will be needed if he’s to shoulder the burden of top-weight to success in the Grand National in April, but his handler John Hanlon seems satisfied.
Hewick (40/1 on Unibet) is a class horse who stays and jumps well and is at the peak of his powers, but, at the same time, is vulnerable to an improver and good ground is key to his participation. His first point of call will be next month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, though, as it seems unfinished business for him in that, given that he fell in it last year when booked for fourth.
Verdict: LOSER
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Noble Yeats
Grand National Weight & Rating: 11st 8lb / 165
He has a record of a win and a fourth in the last two editions of the Grand National and finished a very good staying-on fourth in last year’s Gold Cup.
The handicapper has surprisingly relented for this placed effort in this last year, dropping it 1Ib, with slightly less weight to carry as well.
Despite coming in third in the weights list, I actually think he is well treated on the back of a last-gasp win in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham. He has place claims again, at the very least with the assessor giving him a chance; though, the Stayers’ Hurdle is his first target.
Verdict: WINNER
Corach Rambler
Grand National Weight & Rating: 11st 2lb / 159
The defending champion defied a mark of 146 last year but has yet to add to that in three subsequent starts, and a 13Ib rise to a mark of 159 does seem quite harsh. However, the man who framed the weights did describe him as “a handicapper’s nightmare.”
The 10-year-old (14/1 to win on bet365) will need a new personal best if he’s to become a back-to-back winner by following in the footsteps of Tiger Roll. However, a good run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month should set him up nicely for another tilt at the big race in Liverpool.
Verdict: LOSER
Nassalam
Grand National Weight & Rating: 11st 4lb / 161
After recording a 34-length winner of the Welsh Grand National in the mud at Chepstow in December, Gary Moore could have decided to run Nassalam in the Gold Cup next month but has resisted that temptation.
Instead, he will be kept fresh for a chance to secure a memorable national double when he contests the most famous race at Aintree in April.
Ironically, he will be Gary Moore’s first ever runner in the race as a trainer. The dominance this seven-year-old produced has ultimately seen his mark raised to a mark of 161. That seems extremely stiff, but he will be on a decent weight of 11st 4Ib and will not lack stamina nor be fazed by the unique obstacles that will await him.
Horses who have run well or won a Welsh Grand National tend to run well in this contest, and he is open to a lot more improvement. However, conditions are likely to be quicker and most of his best form has been on a softer surface. It is reported that Gary isn’t happy with his mark, and the fact that he is rated higher than last year’s winner does seem rather odd.
Verdict: LOSER
Minella Indo
Grand National Weight & Rating: 11st 2lb / 159
A really interesting entry for the Grand National is the former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo, who is the favourite to take next month’s Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He has been allocated a weight of 11st 2Ib, along with a BHA mark of 159, which seems handy for a horse who was once rated as high as 175.
He is a seriously good jumper who could really take to the Aintree fences. His stamina would be the only concern, but if he did stay, then there would be no reason why he couldn’t go well. Should Henry let him take his chance, the handicapper has given the 11-year-old a great opportunity next month.
Verdict: WINNER
Mahler Mission
Grand National Weight & Rating: 11st 1lb / 158
John McConnell’s Mahler Mission (14/1 favourite on Sky Bet) has been one of the leading players for the Grand National for a while now. Last seen finishing second in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, in what is mostly top-class handicap form, the demands of Aintree should suit this bold jumper. He likes to race prominently and ticks a lot of boxes.
He was looking likely to beat last season’s Grand National third Gaillard Du Mesnil in last year’s National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham when in the clear before his departure. A mark of 158 and a weight of 11st 1Ib seem lenient for a horse bordering on being a Gold Cup contender. He is definitely a winner in regards to his weight and BHA mark.
Verdict: WINNER
Vanillier
Grand National Weight & Rating: 10st 8lb / 151
Last year’s runner-up has yet to show his best in three starts this term, but Gavin Cromwell will have him in prime condition ahead of his big day at Aintree. This former Grade 1 winner has only been handed a 4Ib higher mark than last year and will be set to carry a nice weight of just 10st 8Ib.
The statistics suggest he has it all to do to go one better than last year, given the last horse to do just that was Red Rum. Still, this has firmly been the target, and he comes alive during the spring, and I’m sure his connections are happy with the outcome of his weight and BHA mark.
Verdict: WINNER
Ain’t That A Shame
Grand National Weight & Rating: 10st 9lb / 152
There was lots to like about Ain’t That A Shame’s resurgence in form in the Thyestes Handicap Chase last time out when scoring by two and a half lengths. That was his second win at the course, but the handicapper hasn’t done him any favours for the Grand National by raising his mark 8Ib, which seems a lot.
Grand National by raising his mark 8Ib, which seems a lot. All of his form has been on deeper ground than he’s likely to get in April, and he has never won going right-handed either. He could only finish 17th in this last year from a 6Ib lower mark, so major improvement will be required if he’s to improve that. His weight
seems fair, but his mark is stiff, and others look better treated.
