All eyes will be on Aintree for the world’s most famous steeplechase.
The Grand National is anyone’s race and Click Liverpool has you covered with all the important details for this afternoon’s showpiece event.
What time does the race start?
Aintree’s racing starts at 1.45pm (BST) but the National itself is at 5.15pm.
ITV will provide live coverage of all races up to and including the main event.
Who are the runners and riders in the National?
There are 40 horses racing in this year’s National.
Here’s your guide to who’s who. the odds and their backstory:
Bishops Road (66/1) – Trained by Kerry Lee and to be ridden by Jamie Moore, Bishops Road came a creditable Third to Bristol De Mai in the G2 Peter Marsh Chase in his last outing on Janaury 21. Originally Bishops Road was trained in Ireland by Henry de Bromhead and owned by Gigginstown House Stud before he was sold to his current connections in 2015. Bishops Road has won or placed in at 10 of his 20 jump races.
Blaklion (12/1) – Trained by Nigel Twiston Davies and to be ridden by Jamie Fehily. Blaklion is four pounds well in on official ratings after finishing an excellent second, beaten three and a quarter lengths to Vieux Lion Rouge, the pair clear of the other runners, under top-weight, in the G3 Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock Park on February 18. Blaklion has won or placed in 15 of his 21 jump races.
Cause Of Causes (14/1) – Trained by Gordon Elliot and to be ridden owned by Jamie Codd. The J P McManus owned horse became only the fifth horse to win three different chases at the Cheltenham Festival, all of which were ridden by Jamie Codd. Cause of Causes has won or placed in 17 of 38 jump races.
Cocktails At Dawn (40/1) – Trained by Nicky Henderson and to be ridden by Nico De Boinville. Cocktails At Dawn was last seen when pulling up in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month. The horse has not won a race since beating As De Mee by three lengths in a novice chase at Chepstow in October, 2015. Cocktails at dawn has failed to complete the course in four of his last five starts, including when falling over the Grand National fences in last year’s Topham Chase. Cocktails At Dawn has won or placed in 6 of 17 jump races.
Definitely Red (10/1) – Trained by Brian Ellison and to be ridden by Danny Cook. 10lb well in at the weights, the most of any horse in the 2017 Randox Health Grand National, which explains why he has been backed down to favouritism. Interestingly the incorrect spelling of his name is down to it being submitted that way by his point-to-point handler in Ireland, Bryan Marshall, at the time of registration. Definitely Red has won 10 of it’s jump races and placed in a further five.
Doctor Harper (66/1) – Trained by David Pipe and to be ridden by Conor O’Farrell. Doctor Harper is a Lightly-raced horse who was a creditable seventh in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at last month’s Cheltenham Festival on his final start before Aintree. Doctor Harper was pulled up in the G3 Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick in late January but finished an excellent second to Tour Des Champs in a Chelenham handicap chase on January 1. Doctor Harper has won seven of it’s 19 jump races and placed in a further four.
Double Shuffle (33/1) – Trained by Tom George and to be ridden by Adrian Heskin. Double Shuffle is bidding to become the first seven-year-old to win the Randox Health Grand National since Bogskar was successful in 1940. Double Shuffle went down by half a length to winner Pilgrims Bay in G3 BetBright Handicap Chase (3m) at Kempton Park on February 25, 2017. Double Shuffle has won 4 of his jump races and placed in a further four.
Drop Out Joe (33/1) – Trained by Charlie Longsdon and to be ridden by Tom O’Brien. Drop out Joe is bred by a comedian but hasn’t been seen since beating Ballynagour two lengths in the Listed John Smith’s Summer Cup at Uttoxeter on June 26, 2016. Drop Out Joe has won or placed in 11 of 21 jump races.
Gas Line Boy (50/1) – Trained by Ian Williams and to be ridden by Robert Dunne. This is Gas Line Boy’s second attempt at the Grand National course having fell at the first in 2015. The horse warmed up for this race by finishing an excellent fourth behind Vieux Lion Rouge in Haydock’s Grand National Trial at Haydock on 18 February. Gas Line Boy has won or placed in 11 or 25 jump races.#
Goodtoknow (66/1) – Trained by Kerry Lee and to be ridden by Jake Greenall. This horse came second behind One For Arthur in the Grade Three Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick in January. He was the comfortable winner of a 3m 1f handicap chase at Hereford on heavy ground on February 1, beating stable-mate and former dual Welsh Grand National winner Mountainous. However the going could be an issue for Good to know as all five of his wins have come on heavy or soft ground. Goodtoknow has won or placed in 15 or 30 jump races.
Highland Lodge (22/1) – Owned by Patricia Thompson, Highland Lodge has purposely had only one appearance so far this season, going down by a short-head to fellow Randox Health Grand National contender Vieux Lion Rouge in the G3 Betfred Becher Chase over the Grand National fences on December 3. His target has always been the 2017 Randox Health Grand National and he runs well when fresh. Highland Lodge has never fallen or unseated a rider. Highland Lodge has won or placed in 10 of 22 jump races.
Houblon Des Obeaux (40/1) – Trained by Venetia Williams and to be ridden by Charlie Deutsch. This horse has shown just how well he stays when finishing fourth under top-weight in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter last month. He Has run 49 times so far in his career, winning eight races and finishing placed 14 times. His latest victory came in February, 2016 when he landed the Grade Two Denman Chase at Newbury by 28 lengths. Of his 49 jump races, Houblon Des Obeaux has placed or won in 32 of 49.
Just A Par (33/1) – Tained by Paul Nicholls, owned by Richard C Thompson after being purchased on Thursday at the Goffs Uk Sale for th sum of £100,000 and to be ridden by Harry Cobden. Just A Par finished 15th in last year’s Grand National. Just A Par has delivered three victories for his current connections, most notably in the 2015 Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park, and was beaten a short-head in the same prestigious handicap chase a year later by fellow Randox Health Grand National contender The Young Master. Just A Par gas never fallen or unseated, his two non-completions being pulled-ups. Of Just A Par’s 23 jump races he has won or placed in 11.
La Vaticane (100/1) – Trained by Maria David Pipe and to be ridden by Richie McLernon. This horse was pulled up on her latest outing in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, his final run before Aintree. La Vaticane recorded winner five times in France for handler Francois Cottin before joining Pipe in 2015. La Vaticane would be the first mare to win since Nickel Coin in 1951. The last to be placed was Dubacilla, fourth in 1995. Pipe is bidding for a second victory in the Grand National following Comply Or Die’s 2008 victory. Of La Vaticane’s 37 jump races she has won or placed in 17 races.
Le Mercurey (50/1) – Trained by Paul Nicholls and to be ridden by Sean Bowen. Bidding to become the first seven-year-old to win the Grand National since Bogskar in 1940. Le Mercurey is a high-class novice chaser last season and ended that campaign with seven-length victory over Bristol De Mai in the G2 Future Champions Novices’ Chase at Ayr in April, 2016. Of Le Mercurey’s 18 jump races he has won or placed in 12.
Lord Windermere (40/1) – Trained by Jim Culloty and to be ridden by Leighton Aspell. This horse reached the pinnacle of Jump racing when the 20/1 winner of the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup by a short-head in March, 2014. He has however been winless since his Cheltenham Gold Cup success, including when pulled up under top-weight in the 2015 Grand National. Of Lord Windermere’s 24 jump races he was won or placed in 13.
Measureofmydreams (40/1) – Trained by Noel Meade and to be ridden by Donagh Meyler. He was a well-beaten 13th in the Ultima Handicap Chase at this year’s Cheltenham Festival on his latest outing and was pulled up on his first start for Noel Meade, after joining the handler from Willie Mullins, in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January. Of 16 starts, Measureofmydreams has won or placed in 10.
More Of That (12/1) – Trained by Jonjo O’Neill and to be ridden by Barry Geraghty. A staying-on sixth, beaten nine and three-quarter lengths, behind Sizing John in the G1 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup at this year’s Cheltenham Festival on March 17. Won first two starts over fences before finishing third to Blaklion in the G1 RSA Chase at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival. This trainer and owner (JP MacManus) combined to win their first Grand National in 2010 courtesy of Don’t Push It, ridden by A P McCoy. Of 14 jump races he has won or placed in 10.
O’Faolains Boy (66/1) – Trained by Rebecca Curtis and to be ridden by Paul Townend. This horse has been bred in Co Kilkenny by Tom Phelan and his brother Pius, owner of the Kilford Hotel and O’Faolains nightclub in Kilkenny town. Previously proved himself a smart novice hurdler (he finished fourth in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham) and a better novice chaser, when he beat Many Clouds at Ascot and Smad Place in the Grade One RSA Chase at the 2014 Festival. Of 17 jump races O’Faolains Boy has won or placed in 8 races.
One For Arthur (14/1) – Trained by Lucinda Russell and to be ridden by Derek Fox. He is bidding to become only the second Scottish-trained winner of the Randox Health Grand National after Rubstic (1979). One for Arthur was an impressive winner last time out of the G3 Classic Chase over three miles and five furlongs at Warwick on January 14, 2017, scoring by six lengths from Goodtoknow. He has never fallen or unseated his rider. Failed to complete one race when pulled up. Of 18 races he has placed or won in 14 of 18 races.
Perfect Candidate (28/1) – Trained by Fergal O’Brien and to be ridden by Paddy Brennan. Perfect Candidate is to make first appearance over Grand National fences in the Randox Health Grand National. He warmed up for Aintree with a racecourse gallop at Newbury on March 26, 2017. Perfect Candidate boasts a fine record at Cheltenham, winning two handicap chases at the course in 2016 and going down by a nose to Theatre Guide in G3 Unicoin Group Handicap Chase (3m 2f) at The Open in November that year. Of 25 jump races Perfect Candidate has won or placed in 10 races.
Pleasant Company (12/1) – Trained by Willie Mullins and to be ridden by Ruby Walsh. Pleasant Company is a lightly-raced nine-year-old, having made just 13 starts under rules including six chase appearances. He heads to Aintree on the back of a half-length success over Thunder And Roses in G3 Bobbyjo Chase (3m 1f) on heavy ground at Fairyhouse on February 25, 2017. Hedgehunter, also trained by Mullins, captured the same race before winning the Grand National in 2005. Of 13 jump race starts he was won or placed in 8.
Raz De Maree (33/1) – Trained by Gavin Cromwell and to be ridden by Ger Fox. Raz De Maree has three ‘Nationals’ to his credit, having taken the Cork version in 2012 and 2016 plus the Munster edition in 2012. Raz De Maree is not a stranger to the course having ran in the Grand National at Aintree in 2014 for his original trainer, the late Dessie Hughes, finishing a plugging-on eighth behind Pineau De Re, beaten 32 lengths. Raz De Maree would become the first 12-year-old since Amberleigh House (2004) to win the extended four and a quarter-mile contest. Of 36 starts he has won or placed on 18.
Regal Encore (66/1) – Trained by Anthony Honeyball and to be ridden by Robbie Power. Regal Encore has suffered with inconsistency having being pulled-up in a G3 handicap event at Cheltenham in January. He produced a career-best over fences to record a length and three-quarter success in a Listed contest at Ascot on December 17. Of 25 jump race starts Regal Encore has won or placed on 11.
Rogue Angel (22/1) – Trained by Mouse Morris and to be ridden by Bryan Cooper. Finished a creditable fifth in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January, 21 lengths behind the winner Champagne West on his latest start and was previously a well-beaten eighth behind Noble Endeavour in the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas. Rogue Angel was tenth over the Grand National fences this season in the Betfred Becher Chase behind Vieux Lion Rouge on December 3. Would become the first horse since Numbersixvalverde to win both the Irish (2005) and English (2006) Grand Nationals. Of 38 jump races, Rogue Angel has won or placed in 13.
Roi Des Francs (50/1)- Trained by Gordon Elliott and to be ridden by Jack Kennedy. A three-time winner over fences who scored on his latest outing at Down Royal by seven lengths on 17 March. Has run with credit in competitive handicaps this year, finishing 10th in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January and was then fifth in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown in February. This would be the second with for trainer Gordon Elliott after he won the Grand National with Silver Birch in 2007. Of 20 starts he has won or placed on 13.
Saint Are (33/1) – Trained by Tom George and to be ridden by Davy Russell. He has contested three Grand Nationals, with his best effort at Aintree coming when second to Many Clouds in 2015. He finished ninth of the 17 finishers in the 2013 renewal (when trained by Tim Vaughan) and was pulled up before the last fence on testing ground after leading at the start of the second circuit in 2016. Saint Are warmed up for this year’s Randox Health Grand National with a gallant head second in a veterans’ handicap chase at Doncaster on February 22, 2017. Of 41 jump race starts he has won or placed in 17 of 41.
Saphir Du Rheu (20/1) – Trained by Paul Nicholls and to be ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies. He is six pounds well in on official ratings after finishing fifth behind Sizing John in the G1 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival on March 17, 2017. This would be a second with for trainer Paul Nicholls won Grand National with another grey Neptune Collonges in 2012, the first grey to triumph since Nicolaus Silver in 1961. Of 27 jump race starts he was won or placed in 15 of 27.
Shantou Flyer (50/1) – Trained by Rebecca Curtis and to be ridden by Jonathon Moore. He comes into the race on the back of a fine second behind Cue Card in the Grade One Ascot Chase over two miles, five furlongs on February 18. Shantou Flyer had a fine novice season for Bowe over fences, winning four times including the Grade Two Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown. Of 29 jump races Shantou Flyer has won or placed in 16.
Stellar Notion (50/1) – Trained by Henry De Bromhead and to be ridden by David Mullins. Stellar Notion has shown improvement for the switch to his current trainer, producing a career best to finish second behind A Toi Phil in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase by a neck in January 2017. Jockey David Mullins bids to become the first jockey since Leighton Aspell (2014 & 2015) to win back-to-back Grand Nationals. Of 15 jump races he has won or placed in 9.
Tenor Nivernais (50/1) – Trained by Venetia Williams and to be ridden by Aidan Coleman. Tenor Nivernais recorded at least one victory in every season he has raced and continued that record in good style when romping home by a distance in a Listed Handicap Chase at Ascot on 18 February. His latest victory was his first at three miles and has been campaigned at shorter for the majority of his career. Of 37 jump race starts he has placed or won in 17.
The Last Samuri (14/1) – Trained by Kim Bailey and to be ridden by David Bass. He has rated 12 pounds higher in the handicap than when beaten six lengths into second by Rule The World in the 2016 Grand National. Carries top-weight of 11st 10lb this time. Runner-up to Definitly Red (beaten 14 lengths) when chasing back-to-back wins in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster on March 4, 2017. Of 18 jump races he has won or placed in 15.
The Young Master (18/1) – Trained by Neil Mulholland and to be ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen. The Young Master’s finest hour to date came in G3 bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park in April, 2016, when he stayed on gamely to beat fellow Randox Health Grand National contender Just A Par by a short-head. Due to be ridden by top amateur Sam Waley-Cohen, who has won six races over the Grand National fences and was runner-up on Oscar Time in the 2011 Grand National. Of 26 jump races he has won or placed 11.
Thunder And Roses (25/1) – Trained by Mouse Morris and to be ridden by Mark Enright. He has had a busy campaign this term for new trainer and was sixth on his latest outing in the Leinster National at Naas on March 12. A creditable half-length second to Pleasant Company in the G3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February, having also finished runner-up in a chase at the same track earlier that month. He Bids to give trainer and owner back-to-back successes in the Grand National following Rule The World’s victory under David Mullins last year. Of 30 starts he has won or placed in 17.
Ucello Conti (16/1) – Trained by Gordon Elliot and to be ridden by Daryl Jacob. This horse is a model of consistency in big handicap chases since joining Gordon Elliott, including when sixth in last year’s renewal of the Randox Health Grand National off the same mark of 149, but has yet to win a race for the Irish trainer. Half-brother to multiple G1-winning chaser Silviniaco Conti. Of 30 starts he has won or placed in 16.
Vicente (20/1) – Trained by Paul Nicholls and to be ridden by Brain Hughes. Vicente stayed on strongly to win the 2016 Scottish Grand National at Ayr off a pound higher mark. He was bought privately by three-time Grand National-winning owner Trevor Hemmings in March after finishing ninth in the G3 Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock Park on February 18, 2017. Of 22 jump race starts he has won or placed in 12.
Vieux Lion Rouge (12/1) – Trained by David Pipe and to be ridden by Tom Scudamore. Now officially six pounds well-in for the Randox Health Grand National after defeating Blaklion by three and a quarter lengths in the G3 Betfred Grand National Trial Handicap at Haydock Park on February 18, 2017. Stayed on strongly to beat fellow Randox Health Grand National contender Highland Lodge by a short-head in the G3 Betfred Becher Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree on December 3, 2016. Of 21 jump races he has won or placed in 14.
Wonderful Charm (28/1) – Trained by Paul Nicholls and to be ridden by either Katie Walsh or Nick Schofield. He has been successful in hunter chases at Musseburgh and Haydock Park this season. He went down by a neck when staying-on second to stablemate Pacha Du Polder in St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase when second favourite at the Cheltenham Festival last time out on March 17. Of 27 jump races he has placed or won in 17.
Wounded Warrior (40/1) – Trained by Noel Meade and to be ridden by Sean Flanagan. He produced a disappointing effort last time out when pulled-up in the G3 At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on February 25. A smart novice chaser, he finished third to Don Poli, beaten seven and a half-lengths in the G1 RSA Chase at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival, before chasing home Valseur Lido in the G1 Growise Champion Novice Chase at the 2015 Punchestown Festival. Of 19 starts he has won or placed on 11.