Corach Rambler won the 2023 Grand National at Aintree backing up its status as the 8/1 favourite.
Mister Coffey and Coko Beach led early on and throughout most of the thrilling race. But chaotic scenes early on saw a number of fallers, including Lifetime Ambition, who was taken out by a loose horse at fence 9.
However, Corach Rambler, ridden by Derek Fox and trained by Lucinda Russell took the lead from Mister Coffey over the final fence and kicked for home to record a memorable win.
The race had been delayed after protestors breached the Aintree racecourse fence and got on to the course. The Grand National attracted criticism from animal rights protestors in the build-up, with three arrests made in connection with potential co-ordinated disruption activities at Aintree, which became nine following the pre-race disruption
A look at all 40 runners: No. 5 - Gaillard Du Mesnil
Form: 3-2131 / Official Rating: 155 / Weight: 11st / Age: 7 / Jockey: P Townend / Trainer: Willie Mullins
Not a fast horse, but that doesn’t matter in the Grand National. However, this Willie Mullins runner does have plenty of stamina to make up for his lack of pace.
Stayed on well to take the NH Plate at the Cheltenham Festival last time out over 3m6f and was also third in the 2022 Irish Grand National.
Therefore, we know he stays well and from his 9 career chase starts is yet to finish out of the first three (2 wins). First run in the race, so the ability to handle the fences taken on trust, but a sound jumper.
The negatives would be his age (7), while he’s another recent Festival winner – and they don’t have the best record of following up in the National.
Became the first 7 year-old National winner since 1940 when winning 12 months ago and has returned this season in great shape.
Won the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree back in December and was a fine staying-on fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time out.
The return to the longer trip is a big plus and at 8 years-old has time and age on his side. We know the fences suit, so another big chance in a race that this stamina-happy horse loves.
Downside for his backers is that he’s rated a massive 19lbs higher this year. The last horse to win the National with 11st-11lbs or more was Red Rum in 1974.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:13
A look at all 40 runners: No. 3 - Corach Rambler
Form: U1-541 / Official Rating: 146 / Weight: 10st 5lbs / Age: 9 / Jockey: D R Fox / Trainer: Lucinda Russell
Landed back-to-back Ultima Handicap Chases at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Nice racing weight of just 10st 5lbs and also from the 2017 Grand National-winning yard of Lucinda Russell.
Perfect age profile at 9 and, despite this being his first run in the race and over these fences, heads here lightly-raced with just 9 chase runs and 4 wins.
Looks set to be one of the Grand National favourites and easy to see why – one negative is that only 3 horses that won at the Cheltenham Festival that same season have won since 1961.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:10
A look at all 40 runners: No. 2 - Delta Work
Form: 3-1361 / Official Rating: 159 / Weight: 11st 4lbs / Age: 10 / Jockey: K M Donoghue / Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Third in the Grand National and is back for more on a pound lower rating. Last seen better than ever when winning the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival – beating his stablemate Galvin by 2½ lengths.
Carried 11-9 in this race last year, so the handicapper has given him a chance here with 11-4 and 5lbs less in actual weight to carry this time.
Does need to make up 22 lengths though, which is what distance this Gordon Elliott runner was behind Noble Yeats. Still a worthy contender though and we know he loves this style of fences.
If successful would be giving his trainer his fourth win in the race.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:07
A look at all 40 runners: No. 1 - Ain’t That A Shame
Form: 20-241 / Official Rating: 146 / Weight: 10st 5lbs / Age: 9 / Jockey: Rachael Blackmore / Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
Hails from the 2021 Grand National-winning yard of Henry De Bromhead and likely to sneak into the race as one of the bottom weights.
Very lightly-raced for a 9 year-old – just 10 career runs – but was in winning form the last time when taking a Beginners Chase at Gowran Park in March.
Has close form with The Big Dog too, when a close second to that horse in the Muster National last year.
First run in the race and if taking to the fences would have a chance off a featherweight. But is another that might want the ground soft, and his lack of experience isn’t ideal.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 11:04
How to watch the Grand National
The 2023 Grand National Festival will be held at Aintree near Liverpool from Thursday 13 April to Saturday 15 April. The Grand National itself is due to start at 5.15pm BST on Saturday, and is the penultimate race on the schedule.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the Grand National Festival live on ITV, with extensive coverage across the three days of racing. Coverage of the Grand National begins at 4.30pm BST on Saturday 15 April, with registered users able to watch online via ITVX.
Eva’s Oskar (T: Tim Vaughan; J: Alan Johns) - 40/1
Lifetime Ambition (T: Mrs John Harrington; J: Sean O’Keeffe) - 50/1
Minella Trump (T: Donald McCain; J: Theo Gillard) - 50/1
Dunboyne (T: Gordon Elliott; J: Jack Tudor) - 50/1
Fortescue (T: Henry Daly; J: Hugh Nugent) - 66/1
Carefully Selected (T: Willie Mullins; J: Michael O’Sullivan) - 66/1
Gabbys Cross (T: Henry De Bromhead; J: Peter Carberry) - 66/1
Cloudy Glen (T: Venetia Williams; J: Charlie Deutsch) - 66/1
Sam Brown (T: Anthony Honeyball; J: Jonathan Burke) - 66/1
Recite A Prayer (T: Willie Mullins; J: Jack Foley) - 80/1
Hill Sixteen (T: Sandy Thomson; J: Ryan Mania) - 80/1
Darasso (T: J P O’Brien; J: Luke Dempsey) - 100/1
Diol Ker (T: Noel Meade; J: Kieren Buckley) - 100/1
A Wave Of The Sea (T: Joseph O’Brien; J: Shane Fitzgerald) - 100/1
Cape Gentleman (T: John Joseph Hanlon; J: Jody McGarvey) - 100/1
Francky Du Berlais (T: Peter Bowen; J: Ben Jones) - 100/1
Mike Jones15 April 2023 10:53
What happened in last year’s Grand National?
Talk about incredible sporting stories and this one should be up there.
Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen enjoyed a fairytale finale to his career as he steered Noble Yeats to victory in the Randox Grand National at Aintree.
The 39-year-old announced his intention to retire two days before the race, nominating Emmet Mullins’s charge as his farewell ride in the world’s most famous steeplechase.
Sent off at 50-1, few would have expected Noble Yeats to strike in the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile showpiece – but he ran a magnificent race as he fended off the 15-2 favourite Any Second Now for a famous National success.
Coming to the last they were the only pair in contention and under a strong drive, Noble Yeats kept finding more to prevail in the colours of Waley-Cohen’s father, Robert. Delta Work (10-1) was third with Santini (33-1) in fourth.
Last year’s winner Rachael Blackmore fell early on, riding Minella Times
Mike Jones15 April 2023 10:45
Grand National 2023
Today’s race will be the 175th edition of Britain’s most famous horse race and is set to get going around 5.15pm this afternoon.
40 runners have been selected to tackle the four and a bit mile course with plenty of variation in the betting. There are favourites who recently performed strongly at Cheltenham such as Corach Rambler and Gaillard Du Mesnil as well as Delta Work who runs for trainer Gordon Elliott.
Rachael Blackmore - the first female jockey to win the Grand National - will draw interest atop Ain’t That A Shame and Noble Yeats is hoping to win again after his victory last year.
Dan Skelton’s Le Milos may both worth a look at whilst the recently un-retired Davy Russell rides Galvin, another Cheltenham favourite.
This is a strong field and there’s a feel about this race that maybe one of the more outside chances will pull off a victory today.
Mike Jones15 April 2023 10:37
Grand National 2023: Full list of runners and odds
The most famous event in British racing returns in 2023 with the Grand National set to be held for the 175th time at Aintree on Saturday.
Noble Yeats took victory in 2022, becoming the first seven-year-old horse to win in more than 80 years and he is hoping to join an elite group of back-to-back National winners
40 runners are ready to tackle the four-and-a-bit mile course, with a trio of favourites heading the betting.
Here are the runners and current odds for the 2023 Grand National:
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