The Grand National is a £1million handicap chase over a unique set of fences which are covered in spruce. Every year 40 runners compete in the race over four miles and two and a half furlongs at Aintree Racecourse. The race is run over two full circuits of the course, with competitors facing 30 testing fences.
Because the race is a handicap, horses carry different weights according to their previous form. The idea behind the Grand National handicap is to make for a more even race. The best horse carries a maximum weight of 11st 10lb, and the weights given to the other horses are set in relation to this.
Last year’s hugely popular Tiger Roll landed a famous victory to add to his three Cheltenham Festival wins in a dramatic finish, just clinging on at the line to hold off the fast-finishing Pleasant Company. Tiger Roll has since added a remarkable fourth Cheltenham Festival win to his CV and is set to go off a short-priced favourite as he bids to become the first horse since the legendary Red Rum in 1974 to record back-to-back victories in the Grand National.
Here is a rundown of all of the runners in the 2019 Randox Health Grand National.
1. Anibale Fly – 14/1
Regular Grade 1 runner and likely to be popular with punters after his Gold Cup second last time. Fourth in last year’s Grand National despite nearly being brought down at the first. Stays the trip and could go close for his shrewd connections.
2. Valtor – 50/1
Ex-French-trained stayer who shocked everyone when bolting up on his first run for Nicky Henderson at Ascot in December, for which he was raised 12lb in the handicap. This race has been the target for a long time.
3. Tiger Roll – 9/2 Fav
What a horse this little fellow is. Following victory in the Cross-Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season, he won the Grand National in a thrilling finish. Has had the same preparation this time around and looked better than ever. Will be a short price but is by far the likeliest winner.
4. Outlander – 100/1
Another good Grade 1 performer in his time but age seems to be catching up with him. Not the greatest jumper, so that has to be a concern, and isn’t certain to stay the trip. Easily beaten by Rathvinden in February and will struggle to turn the form around.
5. Don Poli – 100/1
No doubts over stamina. He has been called a few names in his time but was crying out for a race like this when with Willie Mullins in 2016. Suffered an injury and had plenty of time off, which seems to have had an effect on him, and he may struggle to go the pace.
9. Go Conquer – 50/1
Despite being a ten-year-old, Go Conquer remains pretty unexposed after 22 runs and could be open to improvement over this trip. Jumping is his best asset, and he is one of the more likely to complete, but he may lack the ability to win.
10. Mala Beach – 80/1
Has a lot to find to win a Grand National and rarely goes through a race without making a mistake, which is far from ideal here. Trip shouldn’t be a problem, though, and he is far from the worst horse in this field.
13. Minella Rocco – 40/1
Cheltenham specialist but you are never quite sure what you are going to get with him, even at his favourite track. Has the class to win a Grand National but his inconsistency is the concern. You wouldn’t want to be on many other horses if he is challenging at the last, however, and it’s not inconceivable he could go close.
14. Lake View Lad – 18/1
Unlike many in this race, Lake View Lad is still improving and rates an interesting challenger from the North. Trained by Nick Alexander, the nine-year-old carried top weight to finish third at Cheltenham when last seen, will relish the trip and jumps well. Owner Trevor Hemmings loves this race.
15. Pleasant Company – 20/1
Lightly raced veteran who has had this race as his main target for each of the last three seasons. A stout jumper who is likely to complete, Pleasant Company has finished ninth and second in the last two runnings and will run his race again for powerful connections.
16. Ballyoptic – 50/1
Jumping is a problem but Ballyoptic certainly has the ability to feature if producing a run close to his best. Fell in the Becher Chase last year on his only start over the National fences but ran well to finish sixth in the Welsh Grand National since. Has to be a worry about him getting round.
17. Dounikos – 40/1
Seems to run a screamer or a shocker, nothing in between. Finished fourth in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase last February before being pulled up on three subsequent starts. Wasn’t at his best early this season but stayed on well to win last time and may be underestimated.
18. Rathvinden – 11/1
A major player. Number one hope for Willie Mullins after his seriously impressive reappearance victory in the Bobbyjo Chase. Stamina is assured – he won the four-miler at Cheltenham last year – and is a prolific winner. Jumping isn’t as fluent as others but he is very well handicapped.
19. One For Arthur – 33/1
Successful in this race when beating Cause Of Causes in 2017 but had an injury that forced him to miss all of last season and has unseated in two starts this campaign. Serious question marks about his chance after his preparation but loves the National fences.
21. Rock The Kasbah – 20/1
Suited by decent ground and will relish this stamina test. Won a handicap chase at Cheltenham in November before putting in a below-par run when last seen. Given a break since December but may lack the required class.
22. Warriors Tale – 66/1
Another horse to have this race as his main target this year, Warriors Tale was pulled up in the National last year when sent off at 33-1 and although he should jump more fluently than most, his stamina barely stretches four miles and can be dismissed on that basis.
23. Regal Encore – 80/1
Likely to be falling out the back of the TV in the early stages such is his racing style. Regal Encore is pretty sure to stay – finished eighth in this race in 2017 – but might be better suited by smaller fields. Had a nice prep run in February, however, and there are worse 66-1 shots.
24. Magic Of Light – 80/1
Improving mare over trips up to 3m this season but has had a hard campaign with six races between November and March, so although she is fit, you would have to think all those runs will have taken something out of her. Jumping is a concern.
25. A Toi Phil – 80/1
Formerly a good novice chaser, but wouldn’t beat most of this field in a normal 3m contest. Reverted to hurdles the last twice, finishing well to take fourth at Punchestown in February to qualify for the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham, where he finished a highly creditable fifth. Not that well treated over fences but does jump well.
26. Jury Duty – 25/1
Slow-developing type who had a fantastic 2017-18 campaign and was sent off a warm order for the four-miler at the Cheltenham Festival, where he unseated two out when beaten. Stamina looks assured and arrives in cracking form after back-to-back wins. Player.
27. Noble Endeavor – 50/1
Has had plenty of breaks in between his races in recent seasons but has generally been campaigned in marathon contests and proved he handled the fences when finishing ninth in the Becher earlier this season. Not the easiest to win with.
28. Sandymount Duke – 100/1
Really talented hurdler early in his career but hasn’t quite transferred that form to fences. Disappointing the last twice over hurdles, however, including when jumping erratically last time out behind Scarpeta. Needs to put in a huge career-best to win.
29. Monbeg Notorious – 80/1
Unexposed eight-year-old but seems to have his own ideas about the game and is often subject to an early reminder in his races. Extreme distances are his forte and he would be a player on a going day, but you won’t know that until he jumps the first.
30. Ramses De Teillee – 33/1
Improved through the ranks with a number of good performances on heavy ground and a wind operation over the summer seems to have improved him further. Good second in the Welsh National on his penultimate outing and went close in a trial for this race when last seen. Real player for a resurgent yard.
31. Tea For Two – 80/1
Brilliant horse for Nick Williams and Lizzie Kelly over the years and achieved a peak rating of 164, so looks well handicapped if retaining his ability off 149. Has run in snatches at times this season, though, and although he travelled well in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, it’s not wise to back a horse who unseated on his last run.
32. Mall Dini – 22/1
If you don’t know much about trainer Pat Kelly, he is a shrewd man. It would be typical of him to produce a horse like Mall Dini, who hasn’t really built on his Pertemps Final victory in 2016, to win the Grand National. On recent form you would write him off, but that would be foolish given his connections.
34. Step Back – 25/1
Former point-to-pointer who didn’t run under rules until 2017, but flew up the ratings after a couple of impressive staying victories at Fakenham and Sandown in April last year. Will appreciate the likely decent ground at Aintree but isn’t particularly well handicapped.
35. Ultragold – 80/1
Colin Tizzard always targets Ultragold at this meeting and he has landed the Topham Chase – also run over these fences – for the last two seasons. Jumping is his main asset and you certainly would expect him to put in a few prestigious leaps, but stamina is a major worry.
37. Pairofbrowneyes – 25/1
Dark horse who seems to be well handicapped off his mark of 146. Looked set to be a key player in the staying division at the start of the season but ran two deplorable races in December and January before having a break. He resumed with an emphatic five-length success at Naas in March. Don’t overlook him.
38. Blow By Blow – 100/1
It’s all or nothing with this horse. He doesn’t like racing by himself and although he is a front-runner, he needs a horse alongside him otherwise he loses focus. Ground may have been too soft recently. Has ability but is 100-1 for a reason.
39. Up For Review – 40/1
Prominent racer who has a tendency to jump left at some of his fences. Career-best effort came when fourth in a Grade 1 novice chase last season but hasn’t done much since and although he ran all right at Cheltenham, he has never gone beyond 3m1f.
40. Singlefarmpayment – 66/1
Tom George’s runner has his followers due to the way he travels through his races, but he is so often the bridesmaid that he has become a cliff horse for many. Will be out the back early and look to come through the field, so could find a few fallers in his way. Can’t see him winning but he may give you a run for your money.
41. Vieux Lion Rouge – 66/1
Aintree regular who loves the Grand National fences and has completed all six times he has run on this course, including when winning the Becher Chase in 2016. Beaten a long way by Tiger Roll in last year’s National and it’s hard to see the form reversed. Pulled up the last twice but the yard is in better form now.
42. Valseur Lido – 100/1
Eighth in this race last year but practically walked over the line and he hasn’t been as good since. Well beaten by Rathvinden two starts ago before a below-par performance at Cheltenham. Would need to recapture old form to have a chance but stamina a serious doubt.
44. Vintage Clouds – 14/1
Another Trevor Hemmings-owned runner who fell twice in his novice chasing season in 2017 but jumps much better now. Stamina is assured, so if he is challenging as they jump the last you would expect him to go close. Ran a really nice race at Cheltenham on his first start since wind surgery and should be spot on. Contender.
For all of the latest information on the runners, riders and odds please visit https://www.racingpost.com/results/