2024 Grand National – Who are the main contenders?
How time flies? It seems like it was only yesterday that we were watching favourite Corach Rambler win the biggest spectacle in the racing calendar, the Grand National, and yet here we are again now trying to decide who is likely to claim the 2024 title. 150,000 race goers will be on course, and millions tunes in at home waiting for find out just that.
We can of course start with the obvious, since Lucinda Russell’s Corach Rambler is once again favourite to win the Grand National, and this time at shorter odds of 4-1 in the horse racing betting markets. Last years result was Russell’s second National win, and if she can make it a third she’ll be the first woman to have done so – trailblazer Jenny Pitman had two Grand National wins under her belt. It’s certainly hard to deny Corach Ramlber’s credentials. With an impressive 7 wins from 16 starts – for a horse that cost just £17000 – and placing a very respectable third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it sets the stage for a big performance and justifies the current odds.
A Grand National victory is taken though rather than given away, and that’s as true in 2024 as any year, so we can expect tough opposition. Current second favourite is I Am Maximus at 7-1. The Willie Mullins trained and JP McManus owned horse won the Irish Grand National just last year and had a magnificent performance in Bobbyjo Chase. The trainer-owner pairing pair also have Meetingofthewaters in the mix at 10-1. With it likely to be soft ground at Aintree, that may well factor in too with those known for their stamina having an eye on grinding out a win. Kitty’s Light is also an interesting one at 14-1, and is entered into the Scottish Grand National too. That would be quite some double. Other is the mix include Mahler Mission, Noble Yeats and Vanillier.
As with every year, there’s a lot of unknowns in the run up and even the race itself (jumping 30 fences tends to result in that!) and Lady Luck can also play a central role at times. Having a wager always keeps things interesting though, and so good luck whoever you’re betting on!