Grand National LIVE: Winner, results and reaction from dramatic race at Aintree
The biggest race in the British horse racing calendar concluded the three-day festival at Aintree
I Am Maximus won the 2024 Grand National at Aintree in a topsy-turvy race where a winner couldn’t be called until the final straight. The 2023 champion Corach Rambler unseated jockey Derek Fox at the first fence which opened up the field for the rest of the riders.
Glengouly set the early pace fighting for the front with Foxy Jacks as the experienced jockeys looked to position themselves in the middle of the pack. Kitty’s Light moved up to third with Latenightpass and Galia Des Liteaux making charges towards the front of the field.
Rachael Blackmore’s Minella Indo and Jack Kennedy’s Delta Work - both 28/1- battled for the lead as Paul Townend and I Am Maximus kicked on.
Blackmore leapt the last slightly ahead but didn’t have the staying power, as I Am Maximus swept past and stormed to the finish line to win with ease – handing trainer Willie Mullins his second Grand National victory after Hedgehunter in 2005.
Follow along with our blog below for all the reaction from Aintree:
CRUZ CONTROL wins the William Hill Handicap Chase!
What a race! Cruz Control lead the entire way around the race and had enough legs to make it through to the line. He leapt ahead of Forward Plan and kicked on ahead of Sam Brown who powered through to make it into second.
2.30pm - William Hill Handicap Chase
Heading to the last fence Cruz Control and Forward Plan jostle with each other for the lead, The King of Ryhope is nowhere to be seen but Sam Brown is coming through.
2.30pm - William Hill Handicap Chase
Cruz Control seems to be in a good rhythm on the second circuit as he continues to set the pace. The King of Ryhope is trying to nudge forward on the inside but looks a bit wedged in.
Three fences to jump.
2.30pm - William Hill Handicap Chase
Kilbeg King and Crebilly are riding next to each other in the middle of the closely bunched field with The King of Ryhope right at the back of the rest.
Cruz Control takes another fence and races past the grandstand.
2.30pm - William Hill Handicap Chase
Cruz Control has the lead ahead of Demnat with Sam Brown out on the outside and Twig dropped nicely into fourth. Theleapt over an open ditch with 13 fences left to go.
2.30pm - William Hill Handicap Chase
Twig and Cruz Control leap over the first fence in the lead as a group of three horses including Crebilly bundle up behind them.
2.30pm - William Hill Handicap Chase
And they’re off! The King Of Ryhope has been trained specifically with this race in mind but it’s a strong field to contend with with Crebilly, Forward Plan and Kilbeg King all fancied.
2.30pm - William Hill Handicap Chase
All 13 horses line up for the next race of the day with The King Of Ryhope, a Dan and Harry Skelton horse, the favourite are the minute.
Crebilly is close to him in the odds though so this should be a close run affair.
Grand National LIVE
Trainer of Latenightpass Tom Ellis, spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live saying:“I walked the track this morning and I couldn’t believe how much it’s dried off. I was pretty nervous but it’s a pleasant surprise this morning.
“From the outside, it looks more remarkable than it is in reality. We’ve been runnning a yard over the last eight years.
“We’re very used to having horses and getting them ready for big races. This is my first professional runner. It’s nothing out of the ordinary to be honest.”
Grand National LIVE
Trainer Gordon Elliott has seven horses in the Grand National and says he is happy with their pre-race performances.
“The horses have been running very well all week, I couldn’t be more happy. Delta Work and Coco Beach are probably the pick of them. Galvin is flying.
“If the ground was good, I would have really fancied Chemical Energy and Galvin. You never know.”
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