Grand National 2024: A Runner-By-Runner Guide To All 34 Horses

The 2024 Grand National is here and this year we have a reduced field of 34 runners to pick from. In this article, HorseRacing.net Editor Billy Grimshaw guides you through each of the 34 runners to give you some help in deciding which horses to back.

1. Noble Yeats - 25/1 - 11st 12lb - Age 9

A 50/1 shock winner of this race in 2022 when just a seven year old, NOBLE YEATS ran well to finish in the placings when attempting to defend his title in 2023. He was top weight for the 2023 renewal and has just one pound less to carry this time around, meaning it is tough to imagine there is not a younger and better handicapped horse in here that will beat him.

Nevertheless, Mullins is a wizard at target training and despite a campaign over hurdles, Noble Yeats has proven he adores Aintree and this specific race. Were he to win again it would be a phenomenal performance, but surely there are a couple in here who have either improved past him or just have an easier time at the weights.

Perhaps he will hit the frame again but backing him to win is a stretch, albeit he will excel on the likely soft / heavy ground.

2. Nassalam - 33/1 - 11st 8lb - Age 7

Throughout the jumps season, there have been few better performances than NASSALAM'S demolition of the Welsh National back in December on heavy ground at Chepstow. The race was all about one horse and on heavy ground, there is no doubt this is a high class chaser.

The trouble is, because of how impressively Gary Moore's seven year old won he has been whacked by the handicapper. 11st7 for a Grand National, for a horse who has flopped over the fences in the past and is still a baby in chasing terms, will be tough.

The weather looks set to fall right for him and with biblical rain, even with the poor record for those high in the weights when it becomes a soft ground Grand National, expect Nassalam to continue to shorten.

3. Coko Beach - 18/1 - 11st 8lb - Age 9

Sure to be popular with those once a year bettors who love to back a dashing grey COKO BEACH has won the Becher here before so on that evidence could well be being overlooked. However, he was battered on his sole attempt at this race in 2022 and his 11st7 weight to carry all but rules out him having much chance.

He will give his supporters something to cheer on as he likes to get on with things and could well be the leader come halfway, but with this weight and this distance his stamina looks almost certain to give out once again. 

4. Capodanno - 20/1 - 11st 8lb - Age 8

It's yet another Willie Mullins potential runner in green and gold next, with CAPODANNO a potentially interesting runner. He did not complete the race last season when running as a seven year old, and watching it back it was alarming to see how many errors he made. Nevertheless, he seems much better this season and after a respectable fourth in the Ryanair - a race in which he had no chance with such a short distance - he could be coming here cherry ripe.

Mullins has often pondered the inconsistency of this lad but that could be a thing of the past now, and with the experience of last year under his belt perhaps he will be better equipped this time around. If his jumping is tidied up, he should have no problem staying.

The main issue is the big weight he will be forced to carry, with just the magnificent Many Clouds in 2015 carrying a weight heavier than Capodanno's here to glory in the last 20 years.

5. I Am Maximus - 8/1 - 11st 6lb - Age 8

Willie Mullins has not trained the winner of the Grand National since 2005, which is a bit of an anomaly in comparison to his record in nearly every other jumps race in Britain and Ireland, but he looks to have a fantastic chance of claiming the title once more with the JP owned I AM MAXIMUS. 

He is having his first go over the unique test that is Aintree's National fences, and for backers they must assume he will relish the test. He jumped to second favourite when beating former antepost favourite and last year's second placed horse Vanillier easily in the BobbyJo Chase at Fairyhouse, but all his best performances have come there while the runner-up was not given a hard time.

Mullins is of course the master trainer of his generation and if money comes late for I Am Maximus, it is worth noting due to his owner, however he has plenty to prove for a horse at single digits in a Grand National.

6. Minella Indo - 18/1 - 11st 6lb - Age 11

After being backed into strong favouritism for the Cross Country at this year's Cheltenham Festival, the 2021 Gold Cup winner MINELLA INDO had to watch on helplessly as the rain continued to fall at Prestbury Park and the race was abandoned.

It was a cruel blow for the team, who will have fancied their chances, but could be a blessing in disguise as he now attempts the Grand National for the first time a fresh horse. 11st5 will not make things easy, but this is a horse we know has the class on his day and if he takes to the test Aintree has to offer, he can be in the shake up for minor honours.

His best days are almost certainly behind him, but with Rachael Blackmore potentially in the saddle we could see some money arrive for this popular veteran chaser and there's nothing to say he cannot get involved.

7. Corach Rambler - 8/1 - 11st 6lb - Age 10

Last year’s defending champion CORACH RAMBLER is the favourite to go back to back in the 2024 edition of the Grand National after a fantastic third placed finish in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

A dual Cheltenham Festival winner in the Ultima Handicap Chase, Lucinda Russell’s charge looked to be incredibly well weighted in the 2023 renewal and this proved to be the case as he powered away from the field around the iconic final Aintree bend and stayed on well to hand his trainer and jockey a second National after One For Arthur won in 2017.

This year he will be carrying a huge 13lbs more, but on his Gold Cup run he is still 3lbs ‘well in’ and although obviously this season he faces a tougher task, it could be argued he has once again improved and it’ll be a brave bettor to take him on. The weight with this potential heavy ground is a big negative on trends.

8. Janidil - 100/1 - 11st 6lb - Age 10

Willie Mullins and JP again here, although JANIDIL may well end up a non-runner one suspects. He has chased home the top class Allaho a few times in his career, but those days seem long gone and he has been hopeless this season. 

The handicapper has also given him no respite and if he does take part, it is long odds against he completes the course. One of the easiest in the field to discount.

9. Stattler - 50/1 - 11st 5lb - Age 9

Another Mullins contender is STATTLER, who is another who falls into the category of feeling like he has been around forever yet is still somehow only in single digits. Ownership mate Galvin and Stattler were both unlikely runners according to their owner Ronnie Bartlett as he insists both want good ground, but both remain in and he is no forlorn hope.

It is bizarre that Bartlett was so keen to pull in particular this horse out of the race as his best ever run on RPRs has come when the ground was officially described as heavy. He doesn't win much, but is a dour stayer and if he takes to these fences he could give those who support him each-way someone to shout home up the run in as he will be passing beaten horses providing he makes it that far in the race.

10. Mahler Mission - 12/1 - 11st 5lb - Age 8

MAHLER MISSION has had a very unorthodox preparation coming into the Grand National, with John McConnell keeping his horse off the track since December when he ran a good race for second in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

Horses without a run in that long of a time do not have a good record in this race and while he may well give his backers plenty to get excited about as he attempts to make all in the world's most iconic steeplechase, the suspicion is he is one of the more harshly handicapped horses in here.

It would be a herculean effort for one who has had this kind of prep to win with this weight burden, but he is not to be discounted and his trainer has been as bullish as can be in the build up about his chances.

11. Delta Work - 22/1 - 11st 4lb - Age 11

An admirable horse who - somewhat unfortunately - will always be remembered for denying Tiger Roll his perfect farewell in the Cross Country of 2022, DELTA WORK heads back to Aintree for another crack at the National at the ripe old age of 11.

Much like Galvin, he is down to an attractive mark here, but conversely to Stattler, his supporters will be doing a rain dance as Delta Work loves the mud.

At his age there are surely some fresher legs who will beat him, however he looked in contention when falling at the 21st last year and there is no reason he cannot finish in the money once more as he did in 2022 when third to Noble Yeats.

12. Foxy Jacks - 40/1 - 11st 4lb - Age 10

Another veteran to the party, this one coming the unconventional route to Aintree in the form of Cross Country races, FOXY JACKS ran a career best to win the Cross Country handicap in November at Cheltenham.

Who knows how he'd have done in the main race were it not to have been abandoned at the Festival, but it is a huge ask for Mouse Morris's charge to step up into proper company like this at the age of ten off this mark and be competitive. His jumping is an asset, but that's about it.

13. Galvin - 40/1 - 11st 2lb - Age 10

The British handicapper could be left a bit red faced taking Gordon Elliott's GALVIN down 11lbs from the mark in which he ran off in this race last season. Admittedly, Galvin did depart at the first last time here - which hardly instils confidence - but it was an unfortunate rather than clumsy mishap and he has hardly regressed this season.

He looks an unlikely runner when his owner sounded lukewarm on sending him to run on very soft conditions, and as much as they will undoubtedly be against him he is very well weighted on his best form and cannot be entirely dismissed, for all that he hasn't been a top level horse for a few seasons now since his heyday contesting Gold Cups.

14. Farouk D'alene - 100/1 - 11st 1lb - Age 9

An unreliable sort who has been running over hurdles more recently than fences. One of the clutch of Gigginstown runners who look to have a job on their hands to get competitive, however on his very best form he is talented and Gordon Elliott could've had this in mind for a while with him.

11st is certainly not an insurmountable weight for him to carry if on a going day, however these days it is nigh on impossible to know which version of FAROUK D'ALENE will turn up. Others are preferred.

15. Eldorado Allen - 100/1 - 11st - Age 10

It would be amazing if ELDORADO ALLEN were to be competitive in here at this stage of his career. He has never really looked the type who wants a marathon test even in his pomp, and judging off his last couple of runs he is a long way away from his prime.

He did run well enough for third in the Coral Gold Cup last December, but even that seemed to stretch his stamina and he is one of the easiest confirmed runners to discount when attempting to make a selection in the 2024 Grand National.

16. Ain't That A Shame - 50/1 - 10st 13lb - Age 10

Heavily backed for the race last year with Rachael Blackmore in the plate, AIN'T THAT A SHAME disappointed somewhat in finishing well down the field. He is a year older this year and although he won the Thyestes in tremendous style back in January doubts persist over his suitability for this test.

After being bought by much maligned amateur rider David Maxwell for a token ride in the race this season, he looks a longshot. Henry De Bromhead's charge is undoubtedly classy enough on his day, however trading Blackmore for Maxwell is a downgrade in anyone's book and if he gets closer than they managed last season one suspects the team will be quite pleased.

17. Vanillier - 12/1 - 10st 12lb - Age 9

When the Grand National weights for 2024 were released, one horse stuck out like a sore thumb and it was Gavin Cromwell's VANILLIER. He ran a phenomenal race to finish second in this contest in 2023, and the more you watch back the finish the closer he gets to the winner.

Plenty gave his ride that day criticism due to his jockey positioning him so far back in the field that he could not possibly get to Corach Rambler once he got away, however with a bit more of a prominent position this time around and with a big weight swing with the winner in his favour, Vanillier should be a real threat.

He has just five pounds more to carry this season - as we've already mentioned, Corach Rambler has thirteen - and this former Albert Bartlett winner will definitely relish the test. I Am Maximus did beat him fair and square last time out, however that was not enough of a staying test and was on a track where the winner is deadly. Vanillier will have more of a 'home game' in the Grand National and he looks one of the more likely winners.

18. Mr Incredible - 12/1 - 10st 11lb - Age 8

Another Mullins runner with strong claims, MR INCREDIBLE actually ran in the race last year and was fancied by plenty. He was unfortunate to bow out of the race at the Canal Turn when his jockey's saddle slipped and he departed, but prior to this he had looked to be one of the best moving horses throughout the race.

Mr Incredible was a lunatic when trained with Henry De Bromhead, refusing to race on numerous occasions, but Willie Mullins has found the key to him. He is once again fairly treated by the handicapped it seems off less than 11 stone and with improvement potentially still to come, the recent money has not been surprising.

His prep over this kind of distance at Uttoxeter - on heavy ground - proved he had the stamina for this contest so with more luck in running this time around it would be no surprise to see Mr Incredible on the premises as the race draws to its conclusion. Massive contender and the money coming as the rain falls is no surprise.

19. Run Wild Fred - 66/1 - 10st 10lb - Age 10 - NON RUNNER

Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown combine once more with RUN WILD FRED and he looks to have a huge mountain to climb. Back in his heyday he was sent off 8/1 for the 2022 renewal of this race, but since falling that day he has been on the downgrade.

He is yet to complete in three starts thus far this season and the logical guess is he will once again not be competitive here in the hardest race he'll run in all season. It'd be a big shock were he to bounce back to his best and be in the mix.

20. Latenightpass - 40/1 - 10st 10lb - Age 11

Champion point to point trainer Tom Ellis has given some bullish updates about the rude health he thinks his veteran LATENIGHTPASS is in, however surely this is a bridge too far.

He won plenty of races for Dan Skelton but has looked on the downgrade of late and although his mark looks lenient enough, if there are not some horses in here who are younger and fresher who go past then it will be a major surprise.

He did win the Hunters Chase at this track two years ago, but this is a darn sight tougher than that.

21. Minella Crooner - 80/1 - 10st 10lb - Age 8

There really isn't much to get excited about with MINELLA CROONER if you pull him in the 2024 Grand National sweepstake. Once a promising novice hurdler, he has never quite kicked on over fences and this season he has looked a bit of a lost cause.

He was last seen pulling up in the Ultima when a 33/1 longshot and that has been the story of his life when travelling over to England. He is still only eight so could find some improvement, but Gordon Elliott has made him dance every dance and the improvement seemed to stop a long time ago. Many others preferred.

22 Adamantly Chosen - 50/1 - 10st 9lb - Age 7

Yet another from Cloustton, ADAMANTLY CHOSEN put in a career best last time out when battering Roi Mage and others last time out over just more than 3m at Down Royal. This showed his ability and being ridden prominently clearly suits this seven year old.

This will be an altogether different test, however if he can get into a good rhythm he could well start to relish what is ahead of him and with his lightly raced profile he does not look one to totally discount.

23. Mac Tottie - 50/1 - 10st 9lb - Age 11

No horse in this line up loves Aintree more than MAC TOTTIE. He is guaranteed a run for Peter Bowen in here and although his last two runs have been poor, they can almost have a line put through them as we know this lad saves his best for this place and these fences.

He has won twice at Aintree and fell with every chance the other time, and while being 11 he will have younger legs all around him  when he gets to his favourite track he is always on song. Again it's tough to see him winning, particularly as his stamina must be in doubt, but he should give backers plenty to cheer on.

The worry, however, is that he may go for the Topham on Ladies Day rather than take his spot here.

24. Chemical Energy - 50/1 - 10st 9lb - Age 8

CHEMICAL ENERGY has flattered to deceive on plenty of occasions for Gordon Elliott, with money coming for him plenty of time before he has either disappointed or just not been good enough. He is one of those horses that it feels like has been around forever, yet is somehow still only eight.

33/1 looks on the skinny side from what we've seen from him thus far, however the team are adamant he is a good horse and were desperate to keep him when his owners sold up. Perhaps he is just the type who Aintree will spark into life for a trainer with a great record in the race.

25. Limerick Lace - 11/1 - 10st 8lb - Age 7

Not since 1951 has a mare tasted Grand National glory and although LIMERICK LACE is bred to stay longer than the mother in law, it will be a mighty effort if the Mares' Chase winner of 2024 backs up with Grand National success here at the age of just seven.

Gavin Cromwell's star won well at Cheltenham but that was over two and a half miles, so this step up way past four miles could test her past the limit at her age. Nevertheless, the trainer has been bullish and Mark Walsh looks set to ride, which has seen her price crash somewhat. He is JP's first choice of jockey so that indicates this is JP's best chance, although Paul Townend may also run in green and gold on I Am Maximus.

26. Meetingofthewaters - 12/1 - 10st 8lb - Age 7

It would be no surprise to see MEETINGOFTHEWATERS surpass stable and ownership mate I Am Maximus into one of the market leaders as the race draws closer. The Mullins seven year old is arguably the most progressive horse in here and has bundles of upside, particularly on the back of his victory over Panda Boy earlier in the season in the Paddy Power Chase.

He finished best of the Irish in the Ultima at Cheltenham - a race in which Ireland notoriously do poorly in - and on that run he is very well handicapped indeed for this contest. JP bought him with this race in mind and while his stamina is as yet unproven over these extreme trips, he looks every inch a stayer.

It is hard to make a case against him at the weights and on his profile, with the only real concern being the fact he has never run over these fences before and his age. If he does not go close this year, expect to see him back competing for years to come in the Grand National.

27. The Goffer - 66/1 - 10st 8lb - Age 7

Well fancied by a lot of people for the Ultima in 2024, a race in which he did well for third in 2023, THE GOFFER plugged on for minor money in this year's renewal in what was undoubtedly a worse performance than most expected.

He has been beaten with ease whenever tried at these longer trips and is incredibly hard to fancy. He is more likely to pull up than win, one suspects.

28. Roi Mage - 50/1 - 10st 8lb - Age 12

The grand old stager of the party at twelve, ROI MAGE ran a screamer to finish seventh in the race last season and proved he enjoys the test Aintree and the Grand National has to offer.

There is of course always a worry one at this age can hit the downgrade rapidly, however there have been no signs of that of yet and he should once again have place prospects albeit there is next to no chance he busts the trends and wins.

29. Glengouly - 66/1 - 10st 7lb - Age 8

On GLENGOULY'S excellent run in the Thyestes, he would be in with a decent shot here. Another of the Willie Mullins battalion, he has looked one who is eager to have a go in a marathon race such as this one.

He does, however, have a patch profile and there was no real reason for his flop in the Plate at Cheltenham last time out. There are some at a similar price or bigger who are much easier to avoid than Glengouly, however with the Thyestes being the furthest he has gone this may be a rude awakening to marathon races.

30. Galia Des Liteaux - 28/1 - 10st 7lb - Age 8

After a coming of age Cheltenham for Dan and Harry Skelton, with four winners, it would be some story were they to win the Grand National in 2024 as well. GALIA DES LITEAUX - like Limerick Lace - will also have to defy history if she is to become the first mare in over 70 years to win the National, but she does at least look a certain stayer.

She is known to relish soft ground, and with Harry Skelton probably riding and the jockey having finally learned the art of restraint, she could well outrun her odds if she runs as she did when second in the Classic Chase at Warwick rather than repeating her no show at Exeter last time out.

The heavy ground expected is great news for this Skelton mare and she is being steadily supported for glory - in what would be a huge win in her trainer's championship push - so if you are keen to back her perhaps do it as soon as you can.

31. Panda Boy - 11/1 - 10st 7lb - Age 8

Martin Brassil has shown remarkable restraint with PANDA BOY, swerving the Cheltenham Festival due to the soft going and instead prepping his main chance for this race at home. He is very lightly raced for one who is heading to a Grand National, but that has undoubtedly been the plan and his prep run over hurdles back in February certainly was eye-catching.

Off just 10st6 the horse could have plenty in hand and while he was just seven when trying to win the Irish Grand National last season, when he had every chance before a mistake two out saw him weaken into fifth, he acquitted himself well and could be one who improves massively for this marathon test.

The worry for backers who are on at bigger prices antepost will be the ground. His trainer has confirmed he much prefers good ground, so if the rain arrives at Aintree and the National is run on soft or heavy, he could be a suspect stayer.

32. Eklat De Rire - 100/1 - 10st 7lb - Age 10

It is strange this horse is the same price as Mac Tottie above, because there is nothing in his profile that makes anyone think he will relish a test like this. He is very lightly raced for his age and has clearly been hard to train, but even allowing for this every time we've seen EKLAT DE RIRE on the track of late he has looked like he hates the game.

One must go back to 2021 for his last win, and since then he has only run six times. He was nibbled at in the market before the off of the Ultima last month, indicating someone somewhere retains the faith in his ability, however he was pulled up after briefly hitting the front before his effort petered out tamely He is one of the easiest to strike off the shortlist in a race like this.

33. Chambard - 66/1 - 10st 7lb - Age 12 - NON RUNNER

Another grizzled veteran in the race is twelve year old CHAMBARD for Venetia Williams, who bounced right back to form to run away with the Becher Chase of this season earlier in the campaign.

He is majorly talented, as is proven by that win and a past success at the Cheltenham Festival, but seems to decide for himself whether he fancies trying his best or not. At his age, we can afford him that luxury but it is tough to trust him with any cash considering he has major blowout potential, even with this light weight on his back.

34. Kittys Light - 12/1 - 10st 7lb - Age 8

A proven stayer over marathon trips, plenty have latched onto KITTYS LIGHT for the 2024 Grand National as they believe canny trainer Christian Williams has been working back from this date at Aintree all season.

Still only eight, Kittys Light is an experienced and decorated stayer who comes alive when the trip is three and a half miles and beyond. All his runs this season have been over three miles or shorter, and while he has run like a drain there is a suspicion this has been the plan from his trainer to shave as much weight as possible off his mark in time for the big day.

The recent market support has seen him slashed into being one of the market leaders, and if the race develops into a real slog then we can be sure Kittys Light will relish the challenge. Whether he is value at his current price remains to be seen, but kudos to those who are on at much bigger odds!