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Irish horses dominate Aintree Grand National entries

3 minute read

Irish horses made up 61 of the 94 entries made at midday this afternoon for the Aintree Grand National, with the famous steeplechase also set to have a new earlier start time of 4pm this year.

Aintree Grand National Race. Picture: RacingandSports

A total of 94 horses were entered for the 176th running of the world's greatest steeplechase on Saturday 13th April at today's noon deadline.

Ante-post market leaders Noble Yeats and Corach Rambler were both present among the 94 entries with the latter looking to go back-to-back following last year's success.

Troytown winner and Beecher Chase runner-up Coko Beach is one of 26 horses entered by Gordon Elliott with the likes of Conflated and Samcro also featuring.

Willie Mullins is responsible for 13 of the entries on the back of his Grade 1 clean sweep at the Dublin Racing Festival. Recent Cotswold Chase scorer Capodanno and Irish National hero I Am Maximus are both present, but Gaillard Du Mesnil was a notable absentee from the 96-horse list.

Panda Boy, many peoples fancy following a pleasing fourth-place finish at Leopardstown on Sunday, is also present alongside Mahler Mission, who filled the runner-up spot in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in December.

Last year's one-two Corach Rambler and Vanillier both head the ante-post betting at 14/1, with the Jonjo O'Neill-trained eight-year-old also the same price to enter the Aintree history books in April.

Last season's edition was forced to be run fifteen minutes later than its intended off time of 5.15 due to animal rights protestors and following an annual review of the contest, a number of changes were made in October.

Those changes included reducing the maximum number of runners from 40 to 34, moving the first fence nearer the start of the race and introducing a standing start.

But The Jockey Club explained at the time that while it had been agreed that bringing the start time forward would help assist in ensuring the safest ground conditions, discussions would need to take place to agree the specifics before a new start time could be agreed.

Explaining the decision, Sulekha Varma, The Jockey Club's North West Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Aintree, said: "We leave no stone unturned in providing world-class standards of welfare for our participants and undertake a review after every Randox Grand National.

"These reviews look at a wide range of factors and the learnings from the process drives a number of changes, large and small, annually. In October we announced that one of the changes being made from 2024 would involve bringing forward the start time of the race, which has been 5.15pm since 2016.

"This was a decision we took after a number of participants and other racing stakeholders raised concerns about the long build-up to the race throughout the day and heightened tension as a result. These were not issues which had been identified as a problem when the race was previously staged at 3.45pm and 4.15pm.

"Bringing forward the start time of the Randox Grand National by 75 minutes to 4pm will also help us to maintain optimal jumping ground, as warm or breezy conditions can dry out the racing surface.

"We would like to thank both our broadcast partner ITV and the British Horseracing Authority for their assistance in helping to bring about this change to a race which remains a British institution, loved and watched by millions of people all over the world every year."

The full list of entries for the 2024 Randox Grand National can be found below, with the weights allotted for each horse announced on Tuesday 20th February.

Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

4m 2f 74y. For 7YO+. Total Prize Fund £1,000,000.

Aintree, 4.00pm, Saturday 13th April

Adamantly Chosen (IRE) 7 Watch This Space Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland

Ain't That A Shame (IRE) 10 Robcour Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Amirite (IRE) 8 Patrick Hale Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Angels Dawn (IRE) 9 Mr Alfred Sweetnam S. Curling Ireland

Annual Invictus (IRE) 9 Mr Thomas Michael Smith Chris Gordon

Ashtown Lad (IRE) 10 Darren & Annaley Yates Dan Skelton

Ash Tree Meadow (FR) 8 Alymer Stud Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland

Asterion Forlonge (FR) 10 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland

Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 11 Pioneer Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland

Bronn (IRE) 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland

Busselton (FR) 7 Mr Michael Hilary Burke Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland

Capodanno (FR) 8 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

Celebre d'Allen (FR) 12 Mr Allan Stennett Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Cepage (FR) 12 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams

Chambard (FR) 12 David & Carol Shaw Venetia Williams

Chemical Energy (IRE) 8 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Classic Getaway (IRE) 8 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

Coko Beach (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Conflated (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Corach Rambler (IRE) 10 The Ramblers Lucinda Russell

Delta Work (FR) 11 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Desertmore House (IRE) 9 O. B. P. Carroll/Anthony Vaughan Martin Brassil Ireland

Diol Ker (FR) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Dunboyne (IRE) 9 S. P. O'Connor Gordon Elliott Ireland

Dusart (IRE) 9 BARTLETT & CARTHY Nicky Henderson

Eklat de Rire (FR) 10 Mr P. Davies Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Eldorado Allen (FR) 10 J P Romans & Terry Warner Joe Tizzard

Embittered (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Empire Steel (IRE) 10 Alan Wight Sandy Thomson

Fakiera (FR) 9 Mrs Martina Griffin Eoin Griffin Ireland

Fakir d'Alene (FR) 9 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Fakir d'Oudairies (FR) 9 Mr John P. McManus Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland

Famous Bridge (IRE) 8 Hemmings Racing Nicky Richards

Fantastic Lady (FR) 9 Mr E. R. Hanbury Nicky Henderson

Farouk d'Alene (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Favori de Champdou (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 10 The Minions Jim Boyle

Foxy Jacks (IRE) 10 Ms Rachel Carthy M. F. Morris Ireland

Frontal Assault (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Full Back (FR) 9 Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore

Fury Road (IRE) 10 Sierra Pacific & Pioneer Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland

Galia des Liteaux (FR) 8 Mr Michael Ariss Dan Skelton

Galvin (IRE) 10 Mr R. A. Bartlett Gordon Elliott Ireland

Gevrey (FR) 8 Denis Gallagher Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland

Glengouly (FR) 8 Roaringwater Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland

Good Boy Bobby (IRE) 11 Dash Grange Stud Nigel Twiston-Davies

Hewick (IRE) 9 Mr T. J. McDonald John Joseph Hanlon Ireland

Highland Hunter (IRE) 11 Nic Brereton and Lindsey Brennan Fergal O'Brien

I Am Maximus (FR) 8 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

Iron Bridge (IRE) 8 Hemmings Racing Jonjo O'Neill

Its On The Line (IRE) 7 C. C. R. Racing Syndicate Emmet Mullins Ireland

James du Berlais (FR) 8 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland

Janidil (FR) 10 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland

Kinondo Kwetu 8 Gunalt Partnership Sam England

Kitty's Light 8 R J Bedford & All Stars Sports Racing Christian Williams

Latenightpass 11 Mrs P. A. Ellis Dan Skelton

Le Milos 9 The Jolly Good Partnership Dan Skelton

Letsbeclearaboutit (IRE) 9 Alymer Stud Ltd Gavin Cromwell Ireland

Limerick Lace (IRE) 7 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell Ireland

Longhouse Poet (IRE) 10 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil Ireland

Macs Charm (IRE) 9 Macs Charm Syndicate Colm A. Murphy Ireland

Mac Tottie 11 Steve & Jackie Fleetham Peter Bowen

Mahler Mission (IRE) 8 Colm Herron & Rockview Racing Syndicate John McConnell Ireland

Malina Girl (IRE) 7 Mrs J. M. Russell Gavin Cromwell Ireland

Meetingofthewaters (IRE) 7 Mr P. Byrne W. P. Mullins Ireland

Minella Crooner (IRE) 8 KTDA Racing/Nick Courtney/Cillian Moran Gordon Elliott Ireland

Minella Indo (IRE) 11 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Ireland

Minella Trump (IRE) 10 Mr T. G. Leslie Donald McCain

Mister Coffey (FR) 9 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson

Monbeg Genius (IRE) 8 Barrowman Racing Limited Jonjo O'Neill

Moroder (IRE) 10 Mrs Ann Leftley Seamus Mullins

Mr Incredible (IRE) 8 Paul Byrne & J. Carthy W. P. Mullins Ireland

Nassalam (FR) 7 John and Yvonne Stone Gary Moore

Noble Yeats (IRE) 9 Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Emmet Mullins Ireland

Ontheropes (IRE) 10 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

Panda Boy (IRE) 8 Old Pals Partnership Martin Brassil Ireland

Placenet (FR) 7 Prof C Tisdall & G Thompson David Pipe

Revels Hill (IRE) 9 Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates-Revels Hil Harry Fry

Riaan (IRE) 7 Philip J. Reynolds Gordon Elliott Ireland

Roi Mage (FR) 12 Pryde/Van Der Hoeven/McGladery/Beaumont Patrick Griffin Ireland

Royal Thief (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Run Wild Fred (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Sail Away (FR) 8 Mr and Mrs J. D. Cotton Dan Skelton

Salvador Ziggy (IRE) 8 William Hurley/Mrs Aisling Hurley Gordon Elliott Ireland

Samcro (IRE) 12 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Shakem Up'arry (IRE) 10 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling

So des Flos (FR) 7 Mr David Lestrange Gordon Elliott Ireland

Stattler (IRE) 9 Mr R. A. Bartlett W. P. Mullins Ireland

The Goffer (IRE) 7 Mr Allan Snow Gordon Elliott Ireland

Threeunderthrufive (IRE) 9 McNeill Family Paul Nicholls

Tommie Beau (IRE) 9 Simon & Christine Prout Seamus Mullins

Tullybeg (IRE) 9 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland

Vanillier (FR) 9 Mrs H. M. Keaveney Gavin Cromwell Ireland

Where It All Began (IRE) 8 Patrick & Scott Bryceland,McNeill Family Gordon Elliott Ireland