Grand National
The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse, Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over an official distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs (4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km)), with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million in 2017. An event that is prominent in British culture, the race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.
| Premier Handicap race | |
The Grand National in 2011 | |
| Location | Aintree Racecourse Aintree, Merseyside, England |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 26 February 1839 |
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Randox |
| Website | Grand National |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Seven-years-old and up Rated 125 or more by BHA Previously placed in a recognised chase of 2 miles 7½ furlongs or more |
| Weight | Handicap Maximum: 11 st 10 lb |
| Purse | £1,000,000 (2022) Winner: £500,000 |
| 2024 | ||
| I Am Maximus | Delta Work | Minella Indo |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||
| Corach Rambler | Vanillier | Gaillard Du Mesnil |
| 2022 | ||
| Noble Yeats | Any Second Now | Delta Work |
| 2021 | ||
| Minella Times | Balko Des Flos | Any Second Now |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
| Tiger Roll | Magic Of Light | Rathvinden |
| 2018 | ||
| Tiger Roll | Pleasant Company | Bless The Wings |
| 2017 | ||
| One For Arthur | Cause Of Causes | Saint Are |
| 2016 | ||
| Rule The World | The Last Samuri | Vics Canvas |
| 2015 | ||
| Many Clouds | Saint Are | Monbeg Dude |
| 2014 | ||
| Pineau De Re | Balthazar King | Double Seven |
| 2013 | ||
| Auroras Encore | Cappa Bleu | Teaforthree |
| 2012 | ||
| Neptune Collonges | Sunnyhillboy | Seabass |
| 2011 | ||
| Ballabriggs | Oscar Time | Don't Push It |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
| Don't Push It | Black Apalachi | State of Play |
| 2009 | ||
| Mon Mome | Comply Or Die | My Will |
| 2008 | ||
| Comply Or Die | King Johns Castle | Snowy Morning |
| 2007 | ||
| Silver Birch | Mckelvey | Slim Pickings |
| 2006 | ||
| Numbersixvalverde | Hedgehunter | Clan Royal |
| 2005 | ||
| Hedgehunter | Royal Auclair | Simply Gifted |
| 2004 | ||
| Amberleigh House | Clan Royal | Lord Atterbury |
| 2003 | ||
| Monty's Pass | Supreme Glory | Amberleigh House |
| 2002 | ||
| Bindaree | What's Up Boys | Blowing Wind |
| 2001 | ||
| Red Marauder | Smarty | Blowing Wind |
| 2000–1991 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| Papillon | Mely Moss | Niki Dee |
| 1999 | ||
| Bobbyjo | Blue Charm | Call It A Day |
| 1998 | ||
| Earth Summit | Suny Bay | Samlee |
| 1997 | ||
| Lord Gyllene | Suny Bay | Camelot Knight |
| 1996 | ||
| Rough Quest | Encore Un Peu | Superior Finish |
| 1995 | ||
| Royal Athlete | Party Politics | Over The Deel |
| 1994 | ||
| Miinnehoma | Just So | Moorcroft Boy |
| 1992 | ||
| Party Politics | Romany King | Laura's Beau |
| 1991 | ||
| Seagram | Garrison Savannah | Auntie Dot |
| 1990–1981 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | ||
| Mr Frisk | Durham Edition | Rinus |
| 1989 | ||
| Little Polveir | West Tip | The Thinker |
| 1988 | ||
| Rhyme 'N' Reason | Durham Edition | Monanore |
| 1987 | ||
| Maori Venture | The Tsarevich | Lean Ar Aghaidh |
| 1986 | ||
| West Tip | Young Driver | Classified |
| 1985 | ||
| Last Suspect | Mr Snugfit | Corbiere |
| 1984 | ||
| Hallo Dandy | Greasepaint | Corbiere |
| 1983 | ||
| Corbiere | Greasepaint | Yer Man |
| 1982 | ||
| Grittar | Hard Outlook | Loving Words |
| 1981 | ||
| Aldaniti | Spartan Missile | Royal Mail |
| 1980–1971 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | ||
| Ben Nevis | Rough and Tumble | The Pilgarlic |
| 1979 | ||
| Rubstic | Zongalero | Rough and Tumble |
| 1978 | ||
| Lucius | Sebastian | Drumroan |
| 1977 | ||
| Red Rum | Churchtown Boy | Eyecatcher |
| 1976 | ||
| Rag Trade | Red Rum | Eyecatcher |
| 1975 | ||
| L'Escargot | Red Rum | Spanish Steps |
| 1974 | ||
| Red Rum | L'Escargot | Charles Dickens |
| 1973 | ||
| Red Rum | Crisp | L'Escargot |
| 1972 | ||
| Well to Do | Gay Trip | Black Secret |
| 1971 | ||
| Specify | Black Secret | Astbury |
| 1970–1961 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | ||
| Gay Trip | Vulture | Miss Hunter |
| 1969 | ||
| Highland Wedding | Steel Bridge | Rondetto |
| 1968 | ||
| Red Alligator | Moidore's Token | Different Class |
| 1967 | ||
| Foinavon | Honey End | Red Alligator |
| 1966 | ||
| Anglo | Freddie | Forest Prince |
| 1965 | ||
| Jay Trump | Freddie | Mr Jones |
| 1964 | ||
| Team Spirit | Purple Silk | Peacetown |
| 1963 | ||
| Ayala | Carrickbeg | Hawas Song |
| 1962 | ||
| Kilmore | Wyndburgh | Mr What |
| 1961 | ||
| Nicolaus Silver | Merryman II | O'Malley Point |
| 1960–1951 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | ||
| Merryman II | Badanloch | Clear Profit |
| 1959 | ||
| Oxo | Wyndburgh | Mr What |
| 1958 | ||
| Mr What | Tiberetta | Green Drill |
| 1957 | ||
| Sundew | Wyndburgh | Tiberetta |
| 1956 | ||
| E.S.B. | Gentle Moya | Royal Tan |
| 1955 | ||
| Quare Times | Tudor Line | Carey's Cottage |
| 1954 | ||
| Royal Tan | Tudor Line | Irish Lizard |
| 1953 | ||
| Early Mist | Mont Tremblant | Irish Lizard |
| 1952 | ||
| Teal | Legal Joy | Wot No Sun |
| 1951 | ||
| Nickel Coin | Royal Tan | Derrinstown |
| 1950–1946 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | ||
| Freebooter | Wot No Sun | Acthon Major |
| 1949 | ||
| Russian Hero | Roimond | Royal Mount |
| 1948 | ||
| Sheila's Cottage | First of the Dandies | Cromwell |
| 1947 | ||
| Caughoo | Lough Conn | Kami |
| 1946 | ||
| Lovely Cottage | Jack Finlay | Prince Regent |
The course over which the race is run features much larger fences than those found on conventional National Hunt tracks. Many of these fences, particularly Becher's Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn, have become famous in their own right and, combined with the distance of the event, create what has been called "the ultimate test of horse and rider".
The Grand National has been broadcast live on free-to-air terrestrial television in the United Kingdom since 1960. From then until 2012 it was broadcast by the BBC. Channel 4 broadcast the event between 2013 and 2016: UK broadcasting rights were transferred to ITV from 2017. An estimated 500 to 600 million people watch the Grand National in over 140 countries. The race has also been broadcast on radio since 1927; BBC Radio held exclusive rights until 2013. Talksport acquired radio commentary rights in 2014: Both the BBC and Talksport currently broadcast the race in full.
The most recent running of the race, in 2024, was won by I Am Maximus. Since 2017, the race and accompanying festival have been sponsored by Randox.