GRAND NATIONAL RUNNERS & ODDS 2021
Weight Worries
In the last 10 years just four winners carried more than 11st. None carried top weight.
The 2021 Grand National will be held at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 10th at 5.15pm. Sponsored by Randox Health, it is a UK handicap steeplechase over 4 miles 514 yards with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps.
The prize fund for the Grand National is £1,000,000 which makes it the most valuable jump race in Europe. 600 million people will watch the race in over 140 countries with more than 70,000 in attendance at Aintree on the day.
40 horses and their jockeys will line-up in what is the ultimate test in British horse racing. The Grand National course has much larger fences than normal. The Chair, Valentine’s Brook, Foinavon, Becher’s Brook and the Canal Turn are just some of the famous fences that runners and rider need to navigate in the race.
Which horse will you be cheering on? Check out our full guide to all the Grand National 2021 runners – Click Here
CLOTH CAP
Trainer O’Neill has always had one eye on the Grand National for Cloth Cap. His chances have significantly improved on the back of his win last time out at Newbury in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase. Has been given a good weight but will need quick ground to increase his chances.
NO: 45 | FORM: 4328-31 | AGE: 9 | WEIGHT: 10-05 | JOCKEY: UNKNOWN | TRAINER: J. O’Neill
BURROWS SAINT
Another class runner owned by the Ricci’s, Burrows Saint gave trainer Willie Mullins his first Irish Grand National win in 2019. Took a long break before returning this season, and just qualified for the 2021 Grand National when starting in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on Feb 27th, finishing in second place. The Gold Cup is also on the cards.
NO: 14 | FORM: 31-262 | AGE: 8 | WEIGHT: 10-13 | JOCKEY: UNKNOWN | TRAINER: W. Mullins
SECRET REPRIEVE
A win in the Welsh Grand National in January and Secret Reprieve got himself off to a great start in 2021. Despite only being 7-years-old, trainer Evan Williams said he would seriously consider the Grand National but also has one eye on Cheltenham.
NO: 66 | FORM: 22-F11 | AGE: 7 | WEIGHT: 10-01 | JOCKEY: UNKNOWN | TRAINER: E. Williams
SANTINI
Beaten by only a neck in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, losing to Al Boum Photo, Santini is a great chaser but I doubt he’ll be heading to Aintree for the 2021 Grand National. It could be the gold cup again.
NO: 3 | FORM: 112-25 | AGE: 9 | WEIGHT: 11-10 | JOCKEY: UNKNOWN | TRAINER: N. Henderson
KIMBERLITE CANDY
A very interesting 2021 Grand National prospect. Pulled up in the Irish Grand National 2019 but finished 2nd in the Becher Chase in both 2019 and 2020 so can definitely jump those tricky Aintree fences. Has also won over 3m5f so stamina and distance shouldn’t pose any issues.
NO: 24 | FORM: 5P/21-2 | AGE: 9 | WEIGHT: 10-10 | JOCKEY: UNKNOWN | TRAINER: T. Lacey
ANY SECOND NOW
A Cheltenham winner in the Kim Muir over 3m2f in 2019, this season hasn’t been great with two ninth-place finishes over hurdles and getting pulled up last time out in the Goffs Thyestes at Gowran Park.
NO: 28 | FORM: 31-99P | AGE: 9 | WEIGHT: 10-09 | JOCKEY: UNKNOWN | TRAINER: T. Walsh
PRESENTING PERCY
Moved into the Grand National 2021 betting market when it was announced that the National is a possible aim for the chaser. Won the RSA Chase in 2018 before stepping up to the Gold Cup in 2019 and 2020, though he didn’t place in either. Has since been withdrawn from the Gold Cup 2021 due to recovering from a leg infection.
NO: 4 | FORM: 3F-418 | AGE: 10 | WEIGHT: 11-09 | JOCKEY: UNKNOWN | TRAINER: G. Elliott
BRISTOL DE MAI
An absolute legend of a horse, Bristol De Mai has notched up earnings of more than £800K during his career so far. He has also won or placed in 22 of his 28 chase runs. Even the heavier weight won’t slow him down.
NO: 1 | FORM: 229-12 | AGE: 10 | WEIGHT: 11-10 | JOCKEY: UNKNOWN | TRAINER: N Twiston-Davies
MAGIC OF LIGHT
Nearly spoiled the Tiger Roll party in 2019 but had to settle for second place. The only mare to run in the race, she was also trainer Jessica Harrington’s first entry and a delight for those that had backed her each way at staggering odds of 125/1. Was on back-to-back wins last season and still looks great.
NO: 15 | FORM: 118-412 | AGE: 10 | WEIGHT: 10-13 | JOCKEY: UNKNOWN | TRAINER: J Harrington
LAKE VIEW LAD
Winner of the Many Clouds Chase in December, this could be Lake View Lad’s second shot at the National after he pulled up in 2019. Always popular as one of the few greys to run, can he continue his winning ways in April 2021?
NO: 12 | FORM: 533-15 | AGE: 11 | WEIGHT: 11-00 | JOCKEY: UNKNOWN | TRAINER: N. Alexander
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Ratings Explained
We give each horse a rating based on how closely it matches the past trends and statistics of previous winners
Unlikely to mount a serious challenge.
Could place with a slice of luck.
A strong eachway chance and could even win it.
Odds listed on this page are taken from Paddy Power on 02/03/21. Check the odds with your Bookmaker before placing a bet as fluctuations can occur. Full Terms and Conditions for the promotional bet offers can be found on the respective websites – please read them before signing up.
Race News & Updates
Bookmakers across the UK anticipate that over £250m in bets will be staked on the 2021 Grand National from millions of customers. Only a few of those placing bets will manage to back the winner on the day. Will you be one of them?
Some people will take a punt on a tip from a friend. Others will pick a runner based on the colour of silks worn by the jockey. While more will lump on a horse for no other reason than they like the name of the horse. In fact when Rule The World won in 2016 a significant amount of people who had backed it did so because it was their favourite Take That song!
Being more strategic about your choice of a horse only involves a little extra work. Read the racing news and study the trends and statistics that have emerged over the last ten years and try to determine patterns that will help whittle down your selections.
Only four winners carried more than 11-01 and they were Tiger Roll in 2019 (11-05), Many Clouds in 2015 (11-09), Neptune Colognes in 2012 (11-06) and Don’t Push It in 2010 (11-05).
Seven of the last ten winners were 9, 10 or 11 years old. Tiger Roll in 2018, One For Arthur in 2017 and Many Clouds in 2015 broke that trend as they were all eight years old.
Only two winners went off as the favourite from the last ten Grand Nationals. They were Tiger Roll in 2019 (4/1) and Don’t Push It in 2010 (10/1). It can be argued that racing fans actually backed jockey AP McCoy, more so than the horse! Mon Mome won on 100/1 but he was first since 1967 to do that. In fact the average odds of a winning Grand National horse are around 20/1.
Seven winners had at least four seasonal runs before going on to win the Aintree spectacular. The only three who had less were Ballabriggs in 2011, One For Arthur in 2017 and Tiger Roll in 2019. They had all run three times.
Nine winners had either won or placed in a race longer than 3m in the season they won the Grand National. Only one, Auroras Encore had not won or placed on the run-up to the 2013 National.
None of the last 10 winners unseated their jockey in the season they won the Grand National.
Eight of the last ten winners had not fallen in the season they won the Grand National.
Ideally what you’re looking for is a Grand National 2021 Runner that is carrying 11-00 or less, who is 9, 10 or 11 years old. Generally, when online betting, avoid the favourites and look for those who are priced between 14/1 and 33/1 and who have at least three seasonal runs, with extra consideration for those who have won or placed at 3 miles or more. Tiger Roll was the exception, not the rule.
Or simply tear up the stats and pick a runner because you like its name!
There are sixteen individual fences that need to be jumped in the 2021 Grand National, 14 of them twice as the race is run over two laps of the famous Aintree course.
Fence 6 & 22 – Becher’s Brook
Becher’s Brook is 5 feet high with the landing side between 6 inches and 10 inches lower than the takeoff side and is named after Captain Martin Becher who fell there in the first Grand National and took shelter in the small brook running along the landing side of the fence while the remainder of the field thundered over.
Fence 7 & 23 – Foinavon
Foinavon is 4 feet 6 inches and is one of the smallest fences on the course. It was named in 1984 after the 1967 winner who avoided a mêlée at the fence to go on and win the race at outside odds of 100/1.
Fence 8 & 24 – Canal Turn
The Canal Turn is 5 ft high and is known for it’s difficult 90-degree left turn immediately after landing. Jockey Richard Pitman said of this fence “you can win or lose a Grand National at the Canal Turn, because any length you can gain in the air is more economical than having to gallop it.”
Fence 9 & 25 – Valentine’s
Valentine’s is 5 feet high with a 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) brook and was named after a horse called Valentine who was reputed to have jumped the fence hind legs first in 1840.
Between Fences 12 & 13 – Melling Road
A famous part of the course located between fences 12 and 13 when the runners cross it near to the Anchor Bridge, a popular vantage point since the earliest days of the race.
Fence 15 – The Chair
One of the most difficult fences on the course, The Chair is 5 feet 2 inches high but is preceded by a 6 ft wide ditch and Grand National Runners only jump this once, on the first lap. The fence was originally the location where a distance judge sat in the earliest days of the race. The practise was done away with but the monument where the chair stood is still there.
Fence 16 – Water Jump
The Water Jump is 2 feet 6 inches and is the second fence that runners only jump once during the race. The Water Jump was one of the most popular jumps on the course but over the years, The Chair has overshadowed it in popularity.
Once all the fences have been jumped the runners and riders head for the home straight which is one of the longest in the United Kingdom at 494 yards and one that many potential winners have had victory snatched away!
