The 2018 Randox Grand National will take place at the famous Aintree racecourse on April 14th.
The race, which captures the hearts and minds of the British public, gives bookmaker’s their busiest day of their year. Unsurprising as one Briton in four will place a bet on the race and the four-mile-two-furlong marathon will be viewed by 600 million people world-wide.
A maximum of 40 horses and jockeys will line-up to contest the steeplechase featuring famed fences such as Becher’s Brook, Valentine’s and The Chair. Over 70,000 racegoers will be on-course to watch the thrills and spills live.
Last season One For Arthur bucked a trend of five consecutive 25/1+ winners when scoring at an SP of 14/1; he was the fifth favourite. Only two of the last 20 Grand National winners have gone off at a single-figure price (Comply Or Die in 2008 and Hedgehunter in 2005 – both 7/1).
Scotland 2 – Ireland 25
One For Arthur was the first Scottish trained winner since Rubstick scored in 1979. These are the only two winners to hail from Scotland in the races’ history which dates back to 1836.
Irish-trained runners have a far better record. They have won the race 25 times in total but Bobbyjo’s 1999 victory was a first success for the Emerald Isle in 24 years. Since then there have been four Irish-trained winners: Papillon (2000), Hedgehunter (2005), Silverbirch (2007) and Rule The World (2016).
When trying to pinpoint a winner the value of a horses’ age does throw out mixed signals. 2015 victor, Many Clouds, was the first 8-year-old to win the race since Bindaree in 2002 but last season’s winner was also aged 8. Seven of the last 20 winners have been 9-year-olds. You can safely ignore 12-year-old with only one (Amberleigh House in 2004) winning since 1995. And you have to go back to 1923 to find the last 13-year-old winner.
Previous Grand National Winners:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | One For Arthur | Derek Fox | 14/1 |
| 2016 | Rule The World | David Mullins | 33/1 |
| 2015 | Many Clouds | Leighton Aspell | 25/1 |
| 2014 | Pineau De Re | Leighton Aspell | 25/1 |
| 2013 | Auroras Encore | Ryan Mania | 66/1 |
| 2012 | Neptunes Collonges | Daryl Jaco | 33/1 |
| 2011 | Ballabriggs | Jason Maguire | 14/1 |
| 2010 | Don’t Push It | Tony McCoy | 10/1 |
| 2009 | Mon Mome | Liam Tredwell | 100/1 |
| 2008 | Comply or Die | Timmy Murphy | 7/1 |
| 2007 | Silver Birch | Robbie Power | 33/1 |
| 2006 | Numbersixvalverde | Niall Madden | 11/1 |
| 2005 | Hedgehunter | Ruby Walsh | 7/1 |
Grand National Video: One For Arthur wins the 2017 race
Ladies and Gentlemen
Prior to 2015 nine of the last ten horses ridden by women jockeys, a sequence which began with Rosemary Henderson in 1994, completed the course.
Neither Katie Walsh or Nina Carberry got round in 2016 but Katie Walsh, the only women rider to take part in 2017, completed again last season. However, we are still awaiting our first Grand National winner ridden by a female jockey.
22 individual jockeys have won the race during the past 24 years with Leighton Aspell being an exception (he piloted Pineau De Re to victory in 2014 and followed-up in 2015 aboard Many Clouds) while Ruby Walsh was successful twice (on Papillon in 2000 and Hedgehunter in 2005).
You can place a bet on the Grand National anytime from now right up until post time. Our betting partners offer cash drop offers for new customers and these free bets can be used on the 2018 Grand National.
What a story if Nina can win it in 2018 after having a baby this year