Grand National 2023 LIVE: Results, reaction and latest updates after dramatic day at Aintree

Aintree is a huge race course. It’s a large space to cover for the Merseyside police and the security staff.

The distruptions are happening over on the far side of the course near Foinavon and the Canal Turn. Some of the locals outside of the course are helping the police to stop the protestors from getting onto the course.

Sam Thomas, trainer of Our Power, says that the disruption isn’t ideal but shouldn’t affect the horse too much.

The Grand National 2023 has been delayed after animal rights protestors breached the steel fence surrounding the Aintree racecourse.

“We have an indefinite delay,” confirmed ITV presenter Ed Chamberlin. “Protestors have got on to the racecourse.”

The jockeys have been held in the weighing room and face an indefinite wait before the race can begin.

All the trainers who are being interviewed by ITV say that the protestor’s action will have upset the horses who now have to move back to the pre-parade.

They were all set to head onto the course but are now starting to get restless.

Jockey Davy Russell spoke earlier about his chances to win the Grand National again as he rides Galvin’s today:

“He’s a good horse. To be honest at the start of the year I would have said he was kind of coming to the end of his enthusiasm. I don’t know how he does it but [trainer] Gordon [Elliott] has reinvigorated him. He has it all back.

“The most enjoyable ride I had at Cheltenham this year was Galvin. He travelled everywhere, jumped fantastic.

“He is not a big horse, he is really quite small, so fits the criteria as we have a lot of weight to carry. It will be tough going, but he does like good ground, and with the ground drying out that will help him.”

A couple of protestors managed to get through the fence at Foinavon. The police were quick onto the scene but the start of the race has been delayed.

There aren’t many protestors who got through or over the fence and those that did are being dealt with by the police.

The police presence has been increased ahead of the Grand National race. Security at Aintree has been busy all day as they’re kept out organised animal welfare protestors who are hoping to disrupt the big race.

There are a couple of rumours coming through that there may be a delay to the start of the race. We’ll keep you updated on that.

The Grand National is something of a national betting event in the UK, with bookies anticipating that over £250m worth of bets being placed by Brits on the race this weekend.

The Aintree showpiece sees everyone from hardcore gamblers to once-a-year bettors having a flutter but who should you opt to put your money on? The favourites seem so tempting but does it pay to back those horses at shorter odds?

We’ve produced a betting guide with all 40 horses rated, a tips column and a handy list of all the runners and their odds to help you decide but what can we learn from history?

The likes of the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Ain’t That A Shame, two-time Cheltenham winner Corach Rambler and defending champion Noble Yeats are towards the top of the betting for the 2023 renewal but how have previous much-fancied mares fared?

Here’s all the facts and stats you need to know about the odds of Grand National-winning horses:

Can Rachael Blackmore earn a second Grand National win this afternoon?

She’s riding Ain’t That A Shame and trainer Henry de Bromhead says: “Whether he is good enough we will find out, but we are looking forward to it.

“He was unlucky to be beaten in a couple of big handicaps earlier in the year. He has a good profile and has the mighty Rachael [Blackmore] on board so we will see.”

Midnight River gives Harry Skelton his second win of the day! Will he go on to win the Grand National on Le Milos?

The Grand National winner usually completes the course in about nine minutes with he 30 jumps include Becher’s Brook and The Chair.

There is a total prize fund is £1m, with the winning team collecting more than £500,000 and it is a handicap steeplechase with runners allocated weights according to their ratings.

The race is open to horses aged seven and upwards who meet specific criteria.