2024 Grand National review

The 2024 Grand National was subject to some radical changes which were implemented to increase safety to horse and jockey. The main change was the reduction of the maximum field size from forty to thirty-four. Additional changes to fence sizes and a reduced run to the first fence were also implemented.

The reduced field was cut even further by two late non-runners so only thirty-two horses lined up at 4pm on the 13th April for the 2024 Grand National. 

The run-up to the race saw a sustained gamble on the Gavin Cromwell trained Limerick Lace who was backed into 7/1 joint-favourite at the off. The other joint-favourite was also owned by JP McManus, I Am Maximus for the Willie Mullins stable. 2023 winner Corach Rambler was also well supported at 15/2 and the market also spoke favourably of Mr Incredible, also from the Willie Mullins yard, and last season’s Scottish National winner, Kitty’s Light.

The big race got underway without any of the disruptions experienced last year and the field still seemed to be going very fast as they approached the first fence. Outsider Glengouly won the race to be first over the initial obstacle where there was big shock as last year’s winner Corach Rambler stumbled and unseated rider Derek Fox.

The early pace of the race was made by Minella Crooner, Nassalam, Foxy Jacks and Glengouly and there were no further fallers in the run-up to Becher’s Brook over which Glengouly was the clear leader. The remaining runners all made it safely over the world’s most famous fence where Stattler was the last of the field over Becher’s.

Two fences later was one of the most difficult fences on the AIntree course: The Canal Turn. At this fence leader Glengouly made a bad mistake but managed to retain the lead. Joint-favourite Limerick Lace was very badly hampered at this fence and did well to stay on her feet. 

The field remained largely unchanged at the fifteenth fence, the imposing The Chair. Glengouly continued to hold the lead but two horses unseated their rider here; Mr Incredible and Mahler Mission.

As the remaining field set out on their second circuit, the field was extremely well packed as they jumped the seventeenth fence. Latenightpass and Foxy Jacks were challenging Gelngouly for the lead at this fence but Latenightpass pecked on landing. At the next fence, Glengouly had finally surrendered the lead to Foxy Jacks but that horse made a bad mistake at the next fence and Glengouly had the lead once again.

Approaching Becher’s Brook for the second time, the grey Eldorado Allen and Latenightpass were up near the front of the field together with Minella Indo, Kitty’s Light, Minella Crooner and the mare, Galia Des Liteaux. For the first time, the commentator mentioned I Am Maximus as going well just behind the leaders but the former Irish Grand National winner made a mistake here which seemed to check his momentum. Also, 2022 winner Noble Yeats made a worse mistake at Becher’s and the former winner did not appear to be enjoying the National experience this time around.

The remaining field negotiated the Canal Turn safely although Farouk d’Alene was now detached at the back of the field after being hampered at Becher’s.

The final open-ditch which is the fourth-last fence and here Glengouly had started to drop back through the field and unseated his rider at this fence. The lead was now with Eldorado Allen from Latenightpass, Minella Indo and Galia Des Liteaux. Just behind those leaders was Roi Mage but that horse made a bad mistake at this fence.

The Dan Skelton trained Galia Des Liteaux swept to the lead approaching the next fence where Minella Indo and Rachael Blackmore appeared to be travelling very easily. 

There were as many as twenty horses still with a chance as the field approached the second last which must surely reflect how the Grand National has changed as usually by that stage of the race there are just a handful left with chances. 

Latenightpass, ridden by Amateur Rider Gina Andrews, just led over that fence from an under-pressure Galia Des Liteaux and Kitty’s Light. Right behind were Minella Indo and Delta Work and slightly further back were I Am Maximus, Galvin and Meetingofthewaters.

A wave of four horses jumped the last together with perhaps the strong travelling Minella Indo just touching down in front. After the last Minella Indo and Delta Work kicked on, closely followed by Kitty’s Light and I Am Maximus. At the elbow, Minella Indo had the lead but I Am Maximus was gaining ground all the time and half way up the run in I Am Maximus started to pull clear. Paul Townend and his partner I Am Maximus then streaked clear for a resounding seven-and-a-half length victory and in doing so provided trainer Willie Mullins with his second Grand National victory some nineteen years after his first winner, Hedgehunter, in 2005.

The winner was owned by JP McManus who was winning the race for the third time after Don’t Push It in 2010 and Minella Times in 2021.

The Gordon Elliott trained Delta Work ran another commendable race to finish runner-up. The eleven-year-old gelding had also finished third in 2022.

Another eleven-year-old, Minella Indo, finished third a further half-length behind Delta Work and another Gordon Elliott trained horse, Galvin, finished well to take fourth. The admirable Kitty’s Light ran well to take fifth for Christian Williams and the cavalier Amateur Rider David Maxwell had a great spin round on a horse he owns; Ain’t That A Shame.

Twenty-one of the thirty-two starters completed the course where there were no fallers but four horses unseated their jockeys. 

The level of completions seems to indicate that the implementation of more pre-race safety measures has been successful on that score but it has, undoubtedly, changed the make-up of the race. It was a strange sight to see so many horses in contention at the business end of the race and the current changes are likely to mean there will be less luck involved in  winning the Grand national and we are likely to see more higher-rated horses taking part in future renewals.

I Am Maximus was a comfortable and worthy winner of the 2024 Grand National. Can he win the race again in 2025?

Placing	Horse	Age	Weight	Trainer	Jockey	Starting Price
1st	I Am Maximus	8	11-06	Willie Mullins	Paul Townend	7/1jf
2nd	Delta Work	11	11-04	Gordon Elliott	Jack Kennedy	28/1
3rd	Minella Indo	11	11-06	Henry De Bromhead	Rachael Blackmore	28/1
4th	Galvin	10	11-02	Gordon Elliott	Sam Ewing	40/1
5th	Kitty's Light	8	10-07	Christian Williams	Jack Tudor	12/1
6th	Ain't That A Shame	10	10-13	Henry De Bromhead	David Maxwell	40/1
7th	Meetingofthewaters	7	10-08	Willie Mullins	Danny Mullins	11/1
8th	Galia Des Liteaux	8	10-07	Dan Skelton	Harry Skelton	28/1
9th	Roi Mage	12	10-08	Patrick Griffin	James Reveley	66/1
10th	Limerick Lace	7	10-08	Gavin Cromwell	Mark Walsh	7/1jf
11th	Coko Beach	9	11-08	Gordon Elliott	Jordan Gainford	28/1
12th	Latenightpass	11	10-10	Tom Ellis	Gina Andrews	50/1
13th	The Goffer	7	10-08	Gordon Elliott	Sean Bowen	50/1
14th	Vanillier	9	10-12	Gavin Cromwell	Sean Flanagan	14/1
15th	Eklat De Rire	10	10-07	Henry De Bromhead	Darragh O'Keeffe	100/1
16th	Capodanno	8	11-08	Willie Mullins	Keith Donoghue	28/1
17th	Panda Boy	8	10-07	Martin Brassil	J J Slevin	11/1
18th	Nassalam	7	11-08	Gary Moore	Caolin Quinn	50/1
19th	Noble Yeats	9	11-12	Emmet Mullins	Harry Cobden	12/1
20th	Eldorado Allen	10	11-00	Joe Tizzard	Brendan Powell	66/1
21st	Adamantly Chosen	7	10-09	Willie Mullins	Sean O'Keeffe	33/1
Did Not Complete
Pulled Up	Mac Tottie	11	10-09	Peter Bowen	James Bowen	80/1
Pulled Up	Janidil	10	11-06	Willie Mullins	Jody McGarvey	125/1
Pulled Up	Foxy Jacks	10	11-04	Mouse Morris	Gavin Brouder	33/1
Pulled Up	Stattler	9	11-05	Willie Mullins	Patrick Mullins	40/1
Pulled Up	Farouk d'Alene	9	11-01	Gordon Elliott	Donagh Meyler	100/1
Pulled Up	Chemical Energy	8	10-09	Gordon Elliott	Danny Gilligan	50/1
Pulled Up	Minella Crooner	8	10-10	Gordon Elliott	Kevin Sexton	125/1
Unseated Rider	Corach Rambler	10	11-06	Lucinda Russell	Derek Fox	15/2
Unseated Rider	Mahler Mission	8	11-05	John McConnell	Ben Harvey	18/1
Unseated Rider	Mr Incredible	8	10-11	Willie Mullins	Brian Hayes	10/1
Unseated Rider	Glengouly	8	10-07	Willie Mullins	Michael O'Sullivan	100/1