2019 Grand National: runners, tips, how to pick a winner, early betting odds, start time, TV

2019 Randox Health Grand National

• When: Saturday 6 April 
• Where: Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool 
• Race start time: 5.15pm (UK time) 
• Distance: steeplechase over 4 miles 514 yards 
• Number of fences: 30 
• Number of horses: 40 maximum (plus four in reserve) 
• TV channel: live on ITV 
• Official website: thejockeyclub.co.uk

Forty horses will compete for a £1m prize pot and a place in racing history at the 172nd Grand National.

This year’s race at Aintree will be held on Saturday 6 April and it starts at 5.15pm. Held over a course featuring 30 daunting fences, the National “seeps into the consciousness of Britain and Ireland like no other horse race”, says The Daily Telegraph.

The 40 runners won’t be confirmed until Thursday 4 April, but last year’s winner Tiger Roll is the early bookies’ favourite.

GrandNational.fans reports: “No horse has won back-to-back Nationals since the mighty Red Rum in 1974. However, after a stunning display at the Cheltenham Festival, Tiger Roll could do the almost impossible in 2019 and win it again.”

Rathvinden, Anibale Fly, Vintage Clouds and Lake View Lad are also among the early favourites for the Aintree showpiece.

Here we look at the 2019 race guide, early betting odds, the key fences, past controversies and how to pick a winner.

Early betting odds

Ante Post odds according to Oddschecker. The Daily Telegraph says: “Ante Post simply means any time before the field is finalised. Bear in mind that if you have an Ante Post bet and your horse is subsequently withdrawn you are not eligible to get your money back.”

A full list of runners, riders and odds will be published on Thursday.

• Tiger Roll: 4/1 
• Rathvinden: 11/1 
• Vintage Clouds: 14/1 
• Anibale Fly: 14/1 
• Lake View Lad: 18/1 
• Pleasant Company: 20/1 
• Rock The Kasbah: 20/1 
• Joe Farrell: 22/1 
• Mall Dini: 22/1 
• Pairofbrowneyes: 25/1  

2019 Grand National guide

Where and when is the 2019 Grand National?

It’s at Aintree racecourse in Liverpool on Saturday 6 April. The race starts at 5.15pm.

Which TV channel can I watch it on?

ITV will be showing live coverage of the race and festival.

Who won in 2018?

Last year’s winner was Gordon Elliott’s Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell and priced at 10/1. Tiger Roll is one of the favourites for the 2019 race. 

Why is the Grand National so popular?

It’s the longest race of the year and one of the most daunting. Forty horses will tackle 30 jumps over four miles (two and a half furlongs).

When was the first Grand National?

It’s thought the first Grand National took place at Aintree in 1839, when it was won by a horse named Lottery. Since then, the race has become an institution, with incidents such as the false start in 1993 and the bomb scare of 1997 making national headlines.

The key fences

Becher’s Brook, which is lower on the landing side than the take-off side, is named after jockey Captain Martin Becher, who fell there in 1939 and crawled into the brook to escape injury. The tallest fence is The Chair, which is more than five feet high.

Past controversy at the National

Part of the fascination of the race is the danger, but there have been serious concerns about the safety of runners and riders in recent years. In 2012, the closest-ever finish to the race was overshadowed by the death of two horses, prompting more efforts to make the course safer. Many still protest against the race and the risks it poses to the competitors. Others argue that making the course less challenging encourages jockeys to take more risks.

When is the final field revealed?

The 40 horses for the 2019 Grand National will be confirmed on Thursday 4 April.

How many people will bet in the UK?

According to The Daily Telegraph it is estimated that a quarter of the UK adult population will place a bet on the day of the race.

Early tips from the racing pundits

Tony Kelshaw, Bwin Sports: Vintage Clouds

“Sue Smith’s nine-year-old carries the famous yellow, green and white colours of owner Trevor Hemmings, who has won this race with Hedgehunter, Ballabriggs and Many Clouds. Appears to handle any going conditions, was a good third in last year’s Scottish Grand National and is a past scorer over regulation fences at this course, so ticks plenty of boxes if handling these unique obstacles.”

Laurie Brannan, Daily Mail: Tiger Roll

“Last year’s winner was outstanding at Cheltenham and is the one to beat.”

Chris Wright, Liverpool Echo: General Principle

“Won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse 12 months ago and looks to have the right attributes to try and bid for a Grand National double. A good third to stable-mate and fellow National hopeful Dounikos in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown but pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival last time. Has potential to run very well.”

How to pick the Grand National winner

When the Grand National was first run at Aintree in 1839 it was won by a horse called Lottery, which seems fitting for a race that sees 40 horses tackle a four-mile course featuring 30 obstacles.

Despite or perhaps because of the randomness, the National has become a betting institution. Seasoned punters are joined by the once-a-year brigade at their local betting shop.

A quarter of UK adults have a flutter on the race so what should the intelligent punter consider when looking to pick a winner?

Age of the horse

History tells us that nine is the peak age for a Grand National winner. Although the race has been won by horses aged from five to 15, a quarter of all winners have been nine years old. Choosing a horse between the ages of eight and 11 therefore makes sense. 

“It’s no surprise that horses that aren’t too old or young do better in the race,” says the Daily Telegraph. “Stamina and jumping ability are essential for the Grand National. While younger horses tend to have more speed than stamina, older horses are often past their prime needed to pass the National’s many hurdles.”

Weight of the horse

The Grand National is a handicap steeplechase, with faster horses given extra weight to try and make the race more even. 

“The simple fact is that very few horses have managed to win carrying big weights,” says the Grand National Guide website. History shows that horses carrying more than 11st 6lb rarely prosper. 

But it’s not always the killer consideration, says Sporting Life: “A concerted effort has been made to improve the quality of the runners contesting the Grand National and that has resulted in the weights being compressed. As a result, lightly weighted horses are no longer the dominant force of old and five winners have carried 11-0 or higher.”

Stamina and experience

This ties in with the question of age and weight, as only the toughest horses will make the grade. “The Grand National is a gruelling race, and we’ve always maintained that only horses experienced at running over three miles or more can be expected to be in with a shout,” says Grand National Guide. Sporting Life agrees. “Siding with a runner that has proven form over an extreme trip is key,” it says.

Form and odds

These factors should be key, but only one in six Grand Nationals are won by the favourite (although even the favourite usually starts with longer odds than 6-1). The epic nature of the race also tends to make form less important.

Name

Horses beginning with the letter R have the best record in the race, notes the Telegraph, which goes on to point out that the National has been won five times by horses called ‘Red’. But don’t be lured in by family connections, warns the paper. “Just a quarter of winners have had a human name.”

Colour

If there’s no stand-out name to help you choose, then the jockey’s silks might help. “Pink seems to be a favourite with the ladies, but if you look at the stats, it’s not necessarily the wisest choice,” advises Camilla Swift of The Spectator. “Green, yellow, or a combination of the two are the most successful colours.”

Betfair’s top tips

According to Betfair’s Nic Doggett there are “certain trends to consider” when picking a National winner.

Doggett writes: “Finding the winner of the Grand National provides a sense of satisfaction like no other race, and most people can remember the first time – or maybe even the only time – they solved the 40-runner conundrum that is the Aintree extravaganza.”

Punters should look at the following trends:

• Age – look to horses between eight and 10 
• Recent runners – tend to fare well 
• Chasing experience – this is a must 
• An Aintree outing is a plus 
• Try to find a winner at 3 miles or more 
• Big weight is no barrier to success