Grand National Grand National Updated on January 11, 2017 The Grand National is held annually at the Aintree racecourse in Liverpool, arguably it is the biggest test of horse and jockey in the world. The grueling four and a half mile course has thirty fences, many measuring more than seven foot. with a field of forty runners the race is one of England's biggest sporting spectacle. Of the forty horses that start the race an average of just 30% will have the stamina to complete the course. On more than one occasion horses have been killed as they tackled the notorious fences. These deaths have led to animal rights campaigners calling for the race to be banned. The Grand National race is watched by over 500 million people worldwide on television, making it more popular than the NFL Super Bowl and Formula 1 car racing. The race is particulaly popular in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and the Far East. 2017 Grand National The schedule is set for the Grand National Horse Race, also known as the National, with the official race date of Saturday 8th April, 2017. The race is an annual event held near Liverpool, England at Aintree Racecourse.

This year's field promises to be as strong and entertaining as ever. The three-day event begins on Thursday, 6th April, 2017, with Opening Day. The first day of the Aintree Festival features the The Aintree Hurdle and the Fox Hunters’ Steeple Chase. Several entertainment events are planned for the kickoff celebration Too. The festivities continue on Friday 7th April with Ladies Day, which is a traditional event that features fashion and style from the female attendants. Various goody bags and prize giveaways for the ladies are part of the plan during this year's festivities. The focus on the ladies is not the only order of the day, of course. Every day of the championship extravaganza is a race day, as the Melling Steeple Chase is the featured race of the day. This has been a highly challenged event in the past few years and should be the same this year. The Grand National Horse Race is finally run on Saturday 8th April and is the culmination of the week's schedule. The championship has a storied past among racehorse professionals and within the British culture.

It is a specialized race industry that is native to the United Kingdom and enjoyed by everyone up to the Royal Family, who are not only big fans, but are horse owners themselves. The Grand National Horse Race is an historic event dating back officially to 1839, though there were predecessors to the first official race, and it has been an iconic representation of United Kingdom sports very similar to its professional golf tournaments. The Aintree Racecourse is one of the most difficult courses in the world and provides an excellent course to test the best of the steeple chase racehorse class. The energy infused by the local city of Liverpool, with a population of over 400,000 and a surrounding urban area of over 800,000, will make this year's championship a major success and well worth attending. Jockeys Jockey Falls During Steeple Chase Jockey A.P. McCoy falls during race Grand National History The Grand National is one of the oldest horse races in the world, it has been run each year since 1836 (Excluding the years during WW1 and WW2) the first winner of the race was a horse called 'The Duke'.

The international appeal of the race has seen a number of foreign breed horses triumph, most notable Irish horses have been the most successful in recent years, in 1938 the American horse 'Battleship' won the race, it should be no surprise to find out Battleship's father was the awesome racehorse 'Man O'War'. It should be noted that French breed horses have the worst record in the race, just one winner in the last one hundred years. The race has also featured in a number of movies, the best known being the 1944 movie 'National Velvet' a fictional account of a young girl disguising herself as a male jockey to get a ride in the race, at that time women jockeys were not allowed to enter the National - the part was played by Liz Taylor, who once quipped that her best leading man was a Horse! Today women jockeys are allowed to enter, the best finish by a woman in the race was in 1994 when Rosemary Henderson came 5th. The English Grand National is considered one of the biggest sporting events in the United Kingdom alongside the F.A.

Cup, The All English Tennis Championship (Wimbledon) and the Ashes Test Series. Because of this status the Grand National has been added to the list of government 'Protected Sport Events' these events must be shown on terrestrial T.V. channels and the broadcast rights cannot be sold domestically to Satellite broadcasters like Sky, Setanta Or Cable Channels. Full List Of Protected Sporting Events In The United Kingdom The Grand National The Derby Olympic Games It's remarkable to think now that the Grand National could have been omitted from the list. In 1973 the Grand National race was in serious trouble, under-investment at Aintree Grand National course meant that crowd numbers had dwindled to an at time low, and the owners of the course where looking to sell it off the land to a local property developer. In 1973 the course was sold to the developer Bill Davies, who promised to keep the race running. The first National under Davies ownership saw admission prices to the Aintree course tripled, many in the press speculated that 1973 would be the last running of the great race. Indeed, without the intervention of English bookmakers 'Ladbrokes' the 1973 race could have been the last.

Ladbrokes started a campaign in that year to keep the race running, eventually Ladbrokes took over the running of the race and improved the course and facilities. It is doubtful if the motives for securing the future of the race where entirely altruistic on the part of Ladbrokes, when you consider a quarter of the U.K. population bet on the Grand National annually. Grand National Legends As you can imagine as race with a history as long as the Grand Nationals has thrown up more than it's fair share of horse racing legends. Featured below are just a few of the amazing horse's who gone down in racing folklore. Red Rum Red Rum or 'Rummy' as he was affectionately known is without doubt or argument the greatest of all Grand National runners. He's historical three wins has never been bettered and even when the handicapper loaded the top weight of twelve stone on Red Rum in the 1974 race he still left the rest of the field trailing in his wake. Along with his historic three wins, Rummie also finish in second place twice in the National, on those occasions the ground on the day did not suit him.

Red Rum's achievements earned him a place as the UK's most loved horse, although Red Rum was actually Irish! His Grand National racing career ended in 1977 (he was entered into the National in '78 and '79 but injury forced him to withdraw) Red Rum continued to enjoy his celebrity status long after his racing career finished, he even appeared on the BBC's Sports Personality Of The Year T.V. show and made personal appearance's at charity events and had the honour of leading out the runners to the parade ground at Aintree on many occasions. In October 1995 Red Rum died at the age of thirty, a bronze statue has been erected at Aintree in his honour, fittingly Rummie is buried at his favourite place... The finishing post at Aintree! Foinavon The exact opposite of Red Rum, Foinavon was the least likey winner in the history of the Grand National. This notoriously laid back horse won the 1967 Grand National after every runner fell! Foinavon was so laid back that during one race he stopped to graze on a fence.

Which may account for the bookmakers quoting him as 100/1 chance on the day of the race! So badly rated was Foinavon that his owner didn't even attend the Grand National and missed out on horse's moment of glory. We all remember the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, and in 1967 Foinaon proved that slow and steady really does win the race! At the start of the race in '67 many of the fancied horses took off at a tremendous pace, leaving the plucky Foinavon well behind the leading pack. After the first few fences 'Popham Down' another unfancied horse unseated his rider and continued to run without the jockey on-board. By fence 23 Popham Down was running wildly ahead of the leading pack, just as the pack attempted to jump the fence Popham ran in front of them causing a huge pile up of horses.

Nearly all the runners fell in the ensuing melee, apart from one horse at the very back of the field, Foinavon who's jockey ( John Buckingham) had the advantage of seeing the pile up a long time before reaching it, Buckingham skillfully pulled Foinavon around the carnage and jumped the fence cleanly, Foinavon and Buckingham then began the long run for the finishing post, even with a huge lead in the race Foinavon was nearly caught in the final furlongs by a horse who had fallen, been remounted and continued to run the course. In the end Foinavon had just enough in the tank to complete the most remarkable victory in the National. In honour of the victory fence 23 was renamed 'Foinavon' You can view the amazing 1967 Grand National below. Foinavons Victory In 67 Devon Loch We move from one of the luckiest Grand National winners of all time (Foinavon) to one of the unluckiest losers 'Devon Loch'.

The 1956 Grand National saw HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother horse Devon Loch entered into the famous race, the Royal Family have been keen supporters of racing in the U.K. and that's why racing is still known today as the sport of Kings. Dick Francis, who went on to become a famous Author was the jockey on-board Devon Loch. Dick and Devon put in a near flawless run that day clearing all the 30 fences cleanly, before headed into the final furlongs well ahead of the nearest second placed horse 'E.S.B' ridden by Dave Dick. As Devon Loch approached the finishing post the horse suddenly and without reason appeared to jump into the air and then collapsed in a heap on the turf! E.S.B. flew past Devon Loch and won the '56 National as jockey Dick Francis tried desperately to get the horse back on track. Many theories have been put forward as to why the horse collapsed in such dramatic fashion, at first it was rumour that Devon Loch had suffered a heart attack. However, the Aintree course vet ruled this out.

Dick Francis maintains to this day that the cause of the collapse was the immense noise made by the crowd in the home straight as it became clear to the punters on course that the Queen Mother was going to get her first National winner! It may seem strange to younger generations but the Queen Mother was a hugely loved and respected by the general public and particularly those who shared her passion for horse racing. You will often hear sports commentators refer to teams or sportsmen 'Doing A Devon Loch' is used as a metaphor used to explain sudden or last minutes failures. The Queen Mother who was at Aintree to witness the events that day reportedly turn to an aid and said "Oh, that's racing". Some years later the Queen Mother met the winning jockey Dave Dick and enquired "What did you think when my horse fell down?" to which Dave Dick replied "I was absolutely delighted, Ma'am," It's goes without saying that he never got a Knighthood! Bob Champion and Aldaniti True sporting legends are usually made, not born. A few greats have been destined for fame since birth though. Bob Champion is one of these natural-born legends, but his courage and dedication are the qualities for which he is most admired.

Champion, born in Yorkshire, England in 1948, was surrounded by riders and hunters from the very beginning. His father was an avid huntsman who took young Bob riding frequently. These early experiences instilled in him the love of horses and riding that would eventually carry him to a Grand National championship. At only 15 years old, Bob Champion won his first horse race. After his initial taste of victory, he continued to race on the National Hunt circuit. His special way with the horses continued to win him races, as well as respect. He also proved to have a special way with women. His tempestuous love affairs were well-known and sometimes amusing to those around him. Champion tried his luck racing in America and continued to enjoy success. His career eventually took him back to Britain, where he had dreams of winning the Grand National. He raced in the Grand National eight times after returning to Britain, always keeping his eyes on the big prize. However, his career and life took a major detour on the way to fulfilling his dreams. In 1979, Bob Champion was diagnosed with testicular cancer. In true Champion fashion, Bob refused to believe that his doctors were correct.

He stubbornly insisted that there was a mistake in the diagnosis. The diagnosis wasn't wrong. Doctors gave Champion a maximum of eight months to live, with only a 40 percent chance of survival. Things looked grim, but he was given a second chance. An extremely aggressive program of chemotherapy, if begun immediately, might just beat the odds. Champion agreed to begin the treatment the very same day. Most people who have been diagnosed with cancer and told that they will most likely die within months would take some time away from work. Not Bob Champion. He returned to training and racing while still in treatment and set his sights on winning the 1980 Grand National. Unfortunately, Champion's treatment had not been easy on his body. A large-scale infection nearly claimed his life and he was forced to put off his Grand National ambitions temporarily. Champion was soon recovering from his various hardships and back in training. In 1981, he rode Aldaniti in the Grand National. The two were a perfect pair: both hard-working, stubborn and recovering from serious health problems. Champion's cancer and Aldaniti's three leg injuries caused almost everyone to speculate that the team wouldn't get near the winner's circle.

The two survivors melded on the Aintree Racecourse that April day in 1981. Their victory is one of the most memorable and emotional moments ever to be recorded in horse racing. Coming in four-and-a-half lengths ahead of the competition, Champion and Aldaniti beat the odds and made history. After his Grand National championship, Bob Champion continued to race and win until 1983. By that time, he had approximately 500 wins to his credit. After leaving racing, he focused his energy on training horses and running the Bob Champion Cancer Trust. The charity has raised millions of pounds for cancer research and Champion continues to raise funds for it to this day. Although Aldaniti died in 1997 and Bob Champion retired from training horses in 1999, they are both legends of the horse racing world. Their legacy is a sense of hope for all those who follow in their paths. They taught us that, even when things look desperate, success is just over the next fence for those who choose to make the jump. How To Spot A National Winner Many people think that it's very difficult to pick a Grand National winner.

After all, the race is four miles long with over 30 fences and has forty horses competing. Surely this race is more about pure luck than jockey skill or horse ability. This is the public perception of the race, in fact the seeming unpredictability nature the race is one of the reason it's so popular with the general public. For many people betting on the Grand National is the only time in the year that they wager money on horse racing. Generally the people who bet on this race do not study racing form, have no knowledge about the quality of the horses running and most will bet on a horse whose name means something to them or they will randomly select a horse using the time honoured method of closing their eyes and sticking a pin the newspaper! People use these methods because the common misconception is that the Grand National is more of a lottery than a horse race. This couldn't be further from the truth! If you take a look at type of horses that actually win the race you start to see a very familiar pattern. Using this pattern of past winners you can discount nearly three quarters of the runners instantly, that's right! Nearly three quarters of the field has absolutely no chance of winning. You might ask how you can discount so many runners instantly?

Well, lets take a look at the record books and see what type of horse's haven't won the Grand National in the last 20 years. French Horses ~ Only one French horse has won the National for 100 years! Mon Mome in 2009 (100/1) American Horses ~ No American winner in the last 20 years! Young Horses ~ No horse younger than 8 has won in the last 20 years! Weight ~ Only 1 winner carrying more than 11 stone in the last 20 years! Odds ~ Only 2 winners lower than 10/1 odds in the last 20 years! So now you know what kind of horses to avoid, lets take a look at the type of horse which have won in the last 20 years. Irish Horses ~ The Irish take few things in life as seriously as horse racing, so look for Irish owned and breed horses, especially those of J.P. McManus.

Long Distance Experience ~ The National is a massively long run for any horse, only look the runners with experience and wins over 3+ miles Watch The Weight ~ Horses carrying around between 10 and 11 stone have the best chance of winning If you apply the above tips to this years runners you will only be left with about 10 horses which fit the bill. If you bet on one of the ten horses each~way, then you will get a return even if it comes in 4th, dramatically increasing you chances of picking a winner.

Grand National 2014: horse-by-horse guide to all 40 runners | Sport | The Guardian Grand National 2014 Grand National 2014: horse-by-horse guide to all 40 runners Tidal Bay, trying to be the oldest winner for 90 years, heads the field for the world's most famous race at Aintree on Saturday Friday 4 April 2014 07.47 EDT First published on Friday 4 April 2014 07.47 EDT Close Tidal Bay A top-class steeplechaser and really likable but he's 13, older than any winner since 1923, and he hasn't won over fences since the end of 2012. Despite that, he's got more weight to carry than any National winner in the 40 years since Red Rum's second victory. He's a smasher but hard to fancy for this. Long Run Beat Denman and Kauto Star to win the Gold Cup but that was three years ago and he's looked regressive.

He probably has the stamina for this but, even with the stuffing taken out of the fences, there is potential for his jumping to let him down here and he has a lot of weight to shoulder. Hunt Ball There are good prizes to be won with Hunt Ball but he probably doesn't have the stamina for this and, even judged on the very best of his achievements, he has a lot of weight to carry. Plus he likes fast ground, which he won't get Triolo D'Alene Looked the right sort when winning the Hennessy in November but no Hennessy winner has ever won the National, largely because they get lumbered with so much weight. Triolo has 11-6 and only one National winner in the past 37 years has carried as much. His stamina is doubtful and he had a hard race just three weeks ago when beaten in the Gold Cup. Rocky Creek Was second to Triolo D'Alene in the Hennessy and weighted to beat him this time. He looks the stouter stayer of the two. You could worry about his lack of experience - he's only had seven runs over fences and his wins over fences have come against small fields.

He'll probably run well but must be vulnerable to something with less weight. Quito De La Roque Was a star novice chaser but that was three years ago and he's been regressive. There's quality in there somewhere and perhaps Aintree will spark something inside him but it really needs to. When talent has been buried for this long, it tends to stay buried. Colbert Station Was well fancied for last year's National, when his inexperience let him down and he unseated Tony McCoy at The Chair. He's not much more experienced now and fell last time out, so you could worry that jumping may be an issue again, plus his recent form has been nowhere near as good as it was last year. But he has the talent if things fall right. Walkon Took well to these fences when second in a different race last April. Has a touch of class about him but stamina is a serious concern because, whenever he's tried three miles or further, the petrol has seemed to run out. Balthazar King Has become a Cheltenham specialist and the suspicion is that he is often helped by the dry, fast going they often get there.

For safety reasons, the ground is never allowed to dry out to the same extent at Aintree and that makes life hard for this frontrunner, who faded from Becher's last year and may well do something similar. Wayward Prince You might give him a squeak on the pick of his form but he has repeatedly failed by wide margins in handicaps and this would be the toughest such race that he's encountered. His stamina for this test can't be relied upon either. Mr Moonshine Was pulled up in last year's Grand National , having got tired from the second Canal Turn and the question is why he should do any better this time with an extra 10lb to carry. His two wins this year were over much shorter trips and in much smaller fields. He has yet to show the kind of stamina or toughness needed for this. Teaforthree He might be perfect for the Grand National if they had to do five miles but, as it is, he's a bit on the ploddy side, as we saw when he was left trailing on the run-in last year. That was still a good run, and he's slightly lower in the weights this time and his form remains good.

Granted a bit of luck, he could be the right horse for this, though his odds are really a bit short, considering he's won nothing for two years. Across The Bay Used to win his races from the front but it's very hard to win a National that way, as he found out when fading into 14th last year. Fascinatingly, a change of tactics seemed to work for him when he was held up and then won at Haydock over Christmas. He has some quality about him, so he could be in the mix if his new conservative tactics help him to see out his marathon. Double Seven He took an age to win over fences but then put together a string of successes last summer, building to the Munster National, in which he beat a horse that then won at the Cheltenham Festival. He's still fairly treated, has some class and probably has the stamina for this, so he has a fine chance. Battle Group He's been a great horse for the spring Festivals, twice running well at Cheltenham and winning three different races at the Grand National meeting over the past three years.

This is another step up and he's a stone higher in the weights than he was last year but he may well be in peak form again for his favourite time of year and he can run well. Buckers Bridge A Grade Two winner over fences, so he has some quality and he ran pretty well last time when third to On His Own, the horse that nearly won the Gold Cup. He was beaten a fair way but was giving the winner 5lb. His stamina probably won't stretch this far and he's run poorly on the two occasions when he's been tried in big fields. Lion Na Bearnai Won the Irish National at 33-1 a couple of years ago, which makes him the right sort of horse for this, though he seemed to be found out on a couple of visits to England for tough handicaps last season. His stable was under a cloud for most of that winter, which is a possible excuse. He's still high in the weights, having won a small race at Fairyhouse in February. Probably just lacks the necessary quality but he's shocked us before. Prince De Beauchene Has been strongly fancied for the past two Nationals until being ruled out days beforehand, both times by stress fractures to his hip.

It looks as though he'll be able to take part this time but the question is how much ability he retains because his recent form has been moderate and he's still high in the weights. Do you really believe this horse is about to return to the level he set two years ago? Monbeg Dude Has won three high-value races of this type, handicap chases over marathon trips, and on a variety of ground. This is tougher again but he is equipped to cope in a way that few of his rivals are. He's almost certainly going to be held up, so he'll need a bit of luck with his run through horses on the second circuit but if he gets that, he should get into the argument. Big Shu It's hard to get a grip on how good this horse is because he's never taken part in a conventional steeplechase, his career has been in hunter chases and cross-country races. But his form in two handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival suggests he belongs in this company and he certainly has the stamina, having won over four miles on heavy under 12st 3lb at Punchestown last year.

Burton Port The concern with him is that he missed last season with a tendon injury and hasn't looked the same horse since. But as soon as the weights were fixed for this race, he ran his most encouraging race for years. His weight has tumbled and he's very fairly treated if that last run wasn't just a flash in the pan but it's four years since he last won a race. Wears a tongue tie for the first time. Our Father Built a big reputation on limited signs of promise but has become a serial disappointment with too many obvious limitations to make him attractive for a test like this, even at a big price. He used to go well when fresh but even that didn't hold up this season, when he was a well beaten favourite in the Hennessy. His jumping let him down last time and I don't think he wants to go this far. Untempting. Mountainous He's next to unbeatable on heavy going, as when he won the Welsh National in December. He won't get that here but he will appreciate the extreme stamina test and there should be some give in the ground. But he is on a career high mark and must be vulnerable to anything with a modicum of pace.

The Rainbow Hunter Supposedly unlucky last year when his jockey is said to have been knocked off at the Canal Turn, though the form book says he hit the fence and it's not clear from the video what happened. But his two best bits of form give him a real chance and he seems to have been helped by a wind operation before his last run. I'm not convinced he has the stamina but he would be dangerous if he did. Vintage Star He was a fair sixth in the Welsh National but his two wins over fences have been modest affairs and his overall form doesn't entitle him to get involved in a race as good as this. His stamina is open to question and his jumping let him down last time when he was a faller at the Cheltenham Festival. Chance Du Roy Has twice run well in shorter races over these fences and you have to like that. He won the Becher Chase here in December and there's a chance he might have the stamina for this on that evidence though I don't think he had much left at the finish. He's been well beaten twice since and I suspect we might have seen the best of him for this season.

Hawkes Point Was only beaten a head in the Welsh National by Mountainous, proving his stamina. But quality is another question and there's a risk he'll be left behind if the ground isn't as saturated as it was in Wales. His only success over fences was a novice chase in which he beat three finishers and he had Ruby Walsh aboard to help him that day. Kruzhlinin Four wins from 12 is a fair strike-rate over fences but his wins have been in smallish fields at Kelso and Carlisle, giving him a lot to prove in this company. When he's been tried in better races, at the Cheltenham Festival or in the Great Yorkshire Chase, he has been found wanting. Pineau De Re A fascinating reclamation project, he lost his form for his old stable in Ireland and was sold last summer to an English trainer with a good reputation for reviving horses. Judged on this horse's two most recent starts, he's done a terrific job and it's easy to see this one running a big race, though he did fall when tried over these fences in December.

Golan Way Has shown some of his old spark for a new trainer after a year off the track but even at his peak, he hasn't looked good enough for this and his stamina is questionable for a quality race at this distance. Twirling Magnet He looked useful winning a novice chase at Cheltenham in October but has been shown up a bit in a couple of good handicaps since then. He probably needs a faster surface than he's going to get but his trainer has a tremendous record with staying chasers. Vesper Bell It's probably a mistake for us all to be ignoring a horse from the stable of Willie Mullins but, even at 100-1, I struggle to find this one tempting. His only success over fences was in a beginners chase when he beat three finishers and he's been comfortably held in better quality races. His jumping has let him down twice in his past three starts, including once over these fences. The Package Hasn't won as many races as he should have done but has lots of ability and is the right kind of horse for this. I think his stamina will hold up but he will need luck in running because he will be held up to make late progress through the field.

He has a chance if everything falls right. Wears cheekpieces for the first time. Raz De Maree Won the Munster National and then the Cork National in autumn 2012 and on that form he'd be interesting but he then missed a year through a supposedly minor injury and his form hasn't been the same since. There may be excuses but he would need a lifetime best to figure in the finish and that seems a lot to ask. Wears a visor for the first time. Rose Of The Moon I like his trainer, who gets horses fit, but this one looks right up against it. He's only had two runs over fences since leaving novice company and he won a small race last time but he struggled round here in the Becher in December and it's not clear that he wants this kind of stamina test. His jumping can be a problem, too. Wears cheekpieces for the first time. Shakalakaboomboom Ran a great race two years ago, when he led over the second-last but then ran out of puff. He'd done too much too soon, attacked the course with too much verve. Had he raced more conservatively, he might have won.

He's 9lb lower this time but the worry is that he missed 21 months with a leg injury and has not looked the same horse since. Even if he was as good as ever, his stamina may give out like the last time. An interesting outsider for each-way purposes. Wears cheekpieces for the first time. Alvarado Won a long-distance handicap at Cheltenham in November, form that gives him half a chance. He often makes mistakes and has even refused a couple of times, which is off-putting, and he might be the kind of horse that peaks each autumn. Not wildly tempting but the trainer and the jockey are the type to win this race. Last Time D'Albain It's more than two years since his only win over fences, over a distance two miles short of this race, at a time when he was rated two stone lower than he is now. You can make some sort of case for him, because he was third in a shorter race over these fences last spring, but I don't think his stamina can hold up. One In A Milan This will be just his seventh start over fences and his only win was in a novice race early last year against two rivals.

Still, he's been third in a Midlands National and fourth in a Welsh National, so he has stamina. He probably lacks the necessary quality, though, and he might get left behind if there isn't much rain in the build-up. Wears a visor for the first time. Swing Bill Has had a couple of stabs at this and not been good enough. Now he's 13 and likely to be slower than ever. Would be a most surprising winner. 8 Things They Don't Tell You About Horse Racing Posted by Anne 3 years ago | Permalink | Comments (364) Whatever the results of this year’s Grand National, there’s one thing that you can bet on with confidence – horses will suffer as a result of the unethical spectacle at Aintree. PETA US has made headlines with its searing undercover investigation into cruel and illegal industry practices among horse trainers in the US. But here in the UK, horses hardly face better odds. Here are a few home truths about horse racing, which make it clear that the Grand National and races like it are a national disgrace: 1. Horses die on the racetrack all the time. 11 horses have died at the Grand National Festival since 2011.

Seven died at Cheltenham this year . Their deaths were traumatic and frightening, a stomach-churning mess of tangled limbs, fractured bones and broken spines. Horse racing | Paolo Camera | CC BY 2.0 2. Jockeys see horses as “replaceable”. Jockey Ruby Walsh caused a scandal with his comment on the death of Our Conor at Cheltenham: “ You can replace a horse “. But his callous remark served only to highlight the widespread attitude within an industry that treats horses as commodities, not as sensitive, sentient animals. 3. Horses are often on drugs. Drugs, both legal and illegal, are as ubiquitous at the racetrack as silly-looking hats are at Ascot. Horses are often drugged to mask their pain and keep them running when they should be resting or receiving treatment. Recently, for example, trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni was banned from racing for eight years after he doped horses with prohibited steroids at one of the world’s leading racing operations. 4. Former race horses are “retired” to the slaughterhouse.

According to Animal Aid, around 1,000 horses from the racing industry are killed in slaughterhouses in Britain every year, to be turned into dog food or horsemeat. Other horses may face horrific live export to Europe. 5. Aintree is one of the most deadly courses in the world. The infamous Becher’s Brook is known as the world’s most dangerous jump and has racked up many fatalities, yet authorities refuse to remove it. Racing 40 skittish horses at a time makes accidents still more likely, while the minor so-called “improvements” to the course are simply token gestures. It’s the very dangerousness of the race that draws in crowds and lines bookies’ pockets – while horses pay with their lives. 6. Horses are made to race when they’re too young. Making horses risk their lives on the racecourse is wrong at any age. But it’s especially heartbreaking to learn that these animals may begin to race when they’re barely more than babies and their bones are not up to the pounding and stress of the track. It’s hardly surprising, then, that injuries, lameness and exhaustion are common afflictions. 7. Horses are whipped to the finish line.

To hurt an animal deliberately is illegal in most other circumstances, but riders at the Grand National are actually required to carry whips – despite the RSPCA’s verdict that “[u]sing whips can cause pain and suffering to the horses” and often makes them run beyond their usual capability, increasing the likelihood of accidents. Frequently, jockeys violate the already watered-down whipping regulations, which dictate how often and where they hit horses. 8. It’s all about the money. Owners of horses in the Grand National often mistake their love of money and glory for a love of the horses, but the facts make it clear what the industry is really worth . People who care about horses are turning their backs on the Grand National and every other race in which horses are being run to death. This cruelty will end only when the public realises that there is no such thing as a “harmless flutter” when it comes to funding the cruel and exploitative horse-racing industry. Please help spread the word about the cruelty of horse racing: BBC News | GRAND NATIONAL | Aintree trivia Red Rum - the only winner of three Nationals The course The race is 4.5 miles long, two circuits of the left-handed track.

The horses face 30 fences, all but two of which (Chair and water) are jumped twice. The tallest fence is The Chair at 5ft 2in. Aintree fences are unusual in that the landing side is usually lower than take-off. The biggest disparity used to be on the inside at Becher's but this, and other fences, have been made safer in recent years by levelling off the ground. After the final fence, the horses face a 494-yard run-in with a kink - The Elbow - half way along. The record time is held by 1990 winner Mr Frisk at 8min 47.8sec. The greatest number of finishers was 23 in 1984; fewest was two in 1928. The horses The race is limited to a maximum of 40 runners. Outsider Choisty "won" a virtual Grand National 2000 run by bookmaker Victor Chandler on 29 March, beating Dark Stranger, Micko's Dream and Star Traveller. He remained a 50-1 chance despite his "victory".

Last year's winner, Bobbyjo, goes again but has 11st 6lbs rather than the minimum 10st he carried 1999. No horse has won consecutive Grand Nationals since the great Red Rum in 1973 and 1974. He also won in 1977 and came second in 1975 and 1976. The record number of appearances is eight, by Manifesto between 1895 and 1904. The horse won in 1897 and 1899, and was third in 1900, 1902 and 1903. His final appearance was at the advanced age of 16, when he completed the course in eighth. Other multiple winners are Abd-El-Kadr (1850-51), Peter Simple (1849, 1853), The Colonel (1869-70), The Lamb (1868, 1871) and Reynoldstown (1935-36).

The winner of the first Grand National, held in 1839, was the 5/1 favourite Lottery, ridden by Jem Mason. The award for the unluckiest horse goes to Devon Loch, who seemed to try to jump a non-existent fence and fell 50 yards from the finish when clear in 1956. Davy Jones was leading at the final fence in 1936 when a broken buckle on his reins caused him to run out. ESB and Reynoldstown were the respective benficiaries of the above mishaps, but the luckiest winner overall must have been Foinavon, a 100-1 shot who was the only horse to negotiate a mass pile-up at the 23rd fence (which now bears his name) and came out with a lead of 100 yards. He hung on to win by 15 lengths. Only two greys have won the National, The Lamb in 1868 and 1871, and Nicolaus Silver in 1961.

The people The leading jockey in the National's early years was Tom Olliver who won in 1842 (Gay Lad), 1843 (Vanguard) and 1853 (Peter Simple). He also finished second three times and third once. Olliver's feat was bettered by his protege, George Stevens, on Freetrader (1856), the sisters Emblem (1863) and Emblematic (1864), and The Colonel (1869 and 1870) for an unrivalled five victories. In modern times, the most successful jockey has been Brian Fletcher, who won in 1968 on Red Alligator, then in 1973 and 1974 on Red Rum. Fred Winter is one of the jockeys to have recorded two victories, in 1957 (Sundew) and 1962 (Kilmore). He is unique, however, in that he also trained two winners - Jay Trump in 1965 and Anglo a year later.

Among trainers in the modern era, Fred Rimell holds sway with four wins - ESB in 1956, Nicolaus Silver in 1961, Gay Trip in 1970 and Rag Trade in 1976. Triple-winning trainers include Vincent O'Brien, Tim Forster, Neville Crump and Ginger McCain. One racing family with a strong connection to the modern National is the Pitman family. Jenny trained winners Corbiere (1983) and Royal Athlete (1995), and also Esha Ness, "winner" of the void 1993 race. Son Mark rode her Garrison Savanah into second in 1991, and her then husband, Richard, was caught close home on Crisp by Red Rum in 1973. Keith Brown and Ken Evans are on no National roll of honour. They were the starter and recall official in 1993, when a false start was not called back. Part of the field continued, part did not. The race was void.

Winning a National is always an emotional moment, but one always singled out is the 1981 victory of Aldaniti, ridden by Bob Champion who had recovered from cancer after a long and debilitating course of chemotherapy. Search BBC News Online Grand National 2016 - Grand National Basics - Grand National 2017 Grand National 2016 - Grand National Basics The Grand National is a National Hunt Handicap Steeplechase which is run at Aintree every April. If you’re new to the Grand National, we’ve set out below the key things you need to know before placing a bet. When is the 2016 Grand National? This year’s Grand National will be run at Aintree (Liverpool) at 5.15pm on Saturday 9th April 2016. What makes the Grand National special? The Grand National is well known for being the toughest test in the horse racing calender. The horses race over a gruelling 4 miles, 2 1/2 furlongs (4m 2f 74yds), over a range of challenging obstacles. It also has a rich and interesting history, dating back to 1839.

For more information about the course and the history of the grand national, see our other guides: How many runners are there? A maximum of 40 horses will be finally selected for the race. Every year hundreds of horses start out as Grand National hopefuls, but only the best make the cut as the field is gradually cut down to the final 40. The number of runners is gradually reduced through a series of “scratchings”.

The key stages, with typical timings and dates for 2016 are: Entries closed = First week of February (2016: 2 February) Weights revealed = 2 weeks after entries close (2016: 16 February) First scratchings deadline = 5-6 weeks prior to race day (2016: 1 March, 126 horses remain) Second scratchings deadline = 2-3 weeks before race day (2016: 22 March, 96 horses remain) Confirmation stage = 5 days before race day (2016: 4 April) Final declaration = 2 days before race day (10am on 7 April) The “scratchings” are the process by which the initial entries in the Grand National are gradually reduced from the full set of entries down to a maximum of 40. How do they choose the horses? To be allowed to run in the Grand National you need to have proven your credentials as a top quality horse. Any horse entering the Grand National must meet the following requirements: Age: horses must be age 7 and upwards.

Form: horses must have run in at least 3 recognised chases and are required to have finished in the top four of a race of 3 miles or more. Handicap: horses must meet a minimum handicap standard. (for those who want the detail, they must be allotted a rating of 120 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at closing may also be entered provided the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s performances would merit a minimum rating of 120.) Even if a horse meets these standards, there are no guarantee that they will make the cut. As highlighted above, an original list of over 100 horses is typically put together before this list is gradually reduced to the final 40 runners. What is a national hunt race? The Grand National is one of the most famous national hunt races in the world. National hunt racing refers to horse racing over jumps; they can be over hurdles, or steeplechases which are over a mix of fences, water jumps and ditches. The Grand National is a steeplechase race. Why is it called a steeplechase?

The origin of racing over fences is uncertain, but it is believed to have begun with fox-hunters racing in Ireland in the 18th century. The first recorded race was in 1752 where a Mr O’Calloghan and Mr Blake bet against each other in a race on horse back from Buttevant Church to the Steeple of St Leger church. It became common for horses to be raced to landmarks such as church steeples and thus the term “Steeplechasing” came into being. What is a handicap race? The Grand National is a handicap race. This means that all the horses carry weights; the aim of handicapping is that the faster horses carry more weight and the slower horses carry less weight. This makes the race as even as possible so that, theoretically at least, all horses have an even chance of winning. Who chooses the weights? The British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) head of handicapping, Phil Smith, chooses the weights. For most purposes, horses will be rated throughout the year based on their performances; the BHA produce official ratings and that rating will determine the weight. However, the Grand National is slightly different.

Given the unique nature of the race, the handicapper may diverge from the official BHA ratings and put more weight on factors such as past performance in longer races or in the Grand National itself. A new formula for handicapping the National was devised in 2001 to “compress” the gaps between horses. Phil Smith, said: "Looking back over the history of the race, we realised that the highly weighted horses had a moderate record, so we thought something needed to be done to try to not overburden the better horses." For more details on handicapping and ratings, see our guide to handicapping: Grand National 2011: runners and riders named for Aintree race - Telegraph Horse Racing Grand National 2011: runners and riders named for Aintree race Last year's winner Don't Push It heads a maximum field of 40 runners in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. 9:30AM BST 08 Apr 2011 The 11 year-old gave multiple champion jockey Tony McCoy an emotional first victory in the world's most famous steeplechase 12 months ago, and bids to repeat the dose under top weight.

Ante-post favourite The Midnight Club strives to provide Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins with his second taste of National glory, with his jockey Ruby Walsh seeking a third success. British champion Paul Nicholls is still winless in the marathon contest but has a strong hand this year, headed by Gold Cup fourth What A Friend, part-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Oscar Time is bidding to give owner Robert Waley-Cohen and jockey Sam Waley-Cohen a huge double following the Gold Cup triumph of Long Run. Backstage, Silver By Nature, Donald McCain's Ballabriggs and Big Fella Thanks are other major contenders, while three horses in the field proper have been removed at the declaration stage. Related Articles Horse painting 'to fetch £20m' 06 Apr 2011 Northern Alliance, Roll Along and Our Monty will not face the starter, meaning Royal Rosa, Skippers Brig and Golden Kite are now guaranteed a run.

Runners and riders guide to 2011 Grand National: DON'T PUSH IT (Jonjo O'Neill) - odds 14/1 Bidding to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to land back-to-back victories but faces a stiff task off top weight. Nevertheless, he loves Aintree and shaped well on his prep run a Cheltenham. TIDAL BAY (Howard Johnson) - 40/1 As quirky as he is talented, it is impossible to predict how he will react to the unique fences and the extreme distance. If he takes to the course then he could be in the shake-up - it's quite a big 'if' though. WHAT A FRIEND (Paul Nicholls) - 12/1 His fourth in the Gold Cup gives him every chance and he is sure to attract plenty of support. Co-owned by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, this smart chaser would be a major player if he rises to the occasion and is 'well in' at the weights.

VIC VENTURI (Dessie Hughes) - 50-1 Unlucky in the race last year when he was hampered at the 20th fence and unseated his rider. Has won the Becher Chase over these obstacles and has been trained for another crack. MAJESTIC CONCORDE (Dermot Weld) - 33/1 A fascinating Irish contender, whose trainer went close with Greasepaint in 1983 and 1984. A winner on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences, he certainly has plenty of class and has been lightly raced over the last couple of years. 8. OR NOIR DE SOMOZA (David Pipe) - 50/1 This purchase from France, where he was a prolific winner, has yet to run in Britain but connections have won the National in the past and are clearly excited by the nine-year-old. Hard to assess, however. DOONEYS GATE (Willie Mullins) - 100/1 May not be the stable's first string, but a decent performer. His form stands up well and he was fourth in the Topham over these fences last April.

BIG FELLA THANKS (Ferdy Murphy) - 18/1 Having his third attempt after finishing sixth and fourth in the last two years for Paul Nicholls and has since changed stables. Sure to have his supporters and he has been trained with just this day in mind. THE TOTHER ONE (Paul Nicholls) - 66/1 Very useful on his day and not that many miles on the clock. However, his jumping could be a big issue here as he does make the odd mistake. BALLABRIGGS (Donald McCain) - 14/1 Has been a big fancy for some time to continue the McCain family's amazing record in this great race. Did not have his first run of the season until January and after two spins over hurdles shaped well when second back over fences at Kelso. THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (Willie Mullins) - 10/1 Went on many people's short list when winning the Bobbyjo Chase, a traditional trial for the National, at Fairyhouse in February. The trainer struck with Hedgehunter in 2005 and this is his number one hope this time round.

NICHE MARKET (Paul Nicholls) - 20/1 The Irish National winner in 2009, he was pulled up here 12 months ago after losing touch when making a bad mistake. He has since been switched from Bob Buckler's stable and his new trainer has been focusing on getting him 100% for the big day. SILVER BY NATURE (Lucinda Russell) - 14/1 No grey has won since Nicolaus Silver 50 years ago but few have arrived on Merseyside with his credentials. Second in the 2009 Welsh National, he put up a terrific performance when scoring at Haydock last month for the second year running. Any rain would help his cause. BACKSTAGE (Gordon Elliott) - 12/1 Quietly fancied last year only to unseat his rider at the 20th fence. Has been given an unorthodox preparation with two runs in point-to-points which he won both. Trainer won with Silver Birch in 2007.

CHIEF DAN GEORGE (Jimmy Moffatt) - 40/1 Missed the cut for the race last year but has safely got in this time. Usually prominent from the start in his races but fell at Cheltenham on his latest outing. CALGARY BAY (Henrietta Knight) - 33/1 Has an interesting profile for a National horse and could run a big race if he takes to the course. The stable is not known for its runners in this, but he is normally a good jumper and should be suited by the galloping nature of Aintree. KILLYGLEN (Stuart Crawford) - 66/1 Although a winner on the Mildmay course as a novice, he has not quite lived up to expectations and has plenty of weight for what he has achieved of late. OSCAR TIME (Martin Lynch) - 12/1 Would be a fairytale triumph for connections of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run. He was bought after finishing second in last year's Irish National with Aintree as the objective. Ran a fine trial last time out and could well deliver.

QUINZ (Philip Hobbs) - 18/1 Has been mixing it in top novice company this season and stepped up to win the ever-competitive Racing Post Chase at Kempton recently. Remains open to huge improvement and is at the right end of the weights. Inexperience the worry. BECAUSEICOULDNTSEE (Noel Glynn) - 25/1 Yet another of a strong Irish contingent. Unexposed yet has shown a good level of form in staying chases, finishing runner-up in the Cheltenham four-miler last year and second to Majestic Concorde on his last start in December. COMPLY OR DIE (David Pipe) - 50/1 The winner in 2008 and runner-up in 2009, age appeared to catch up with him when he was 12th last year and hard to fancy to strike again, although he could get round in his own time. QUOLIBET (Jonjo O'Neill) - 150/1 Has some fair form to his name from his days in France but was pulled up on his British debut in Cheltenham's cross-country event. Not up to a task like this.

GRAND SLAM HERO (Nigel Twiston-Davies) - 100/1 Won last year's Summer Plate at Market Rasen and will have ground to suit, but still difficult to seeing making much impact. STATE OF PLAY (Evan Williams) - 25/1 Was fourth in this a couple of seasons ago and ran similarly well to grab third last year. Those experiences should stand him in good stead and he may pick up minor honours again, but difficult to see him winning. KING FONTAINE (Malcolm Jefferson) - 66/1 Progressive chaser who has won twice at Haydock this season and was not disgraced in finishing fifth in a hot handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Looks the sort to do well in this race if taking to the fences, but this might be a year too soon. IN COMPLIANCE (Dessie Hughes) - 66/1 Has lost a gear or two since since winning a Grade One back in 2006, but has done well to come back from numerous injury problems. A winner at Thurles earlier this season and might go well for a way, but huge question marks over his stamina.

HELLO BUD (Nigel Twiston-Davies) - 33/1 Highly creditable fifth in last year's renewal and has since won the Becher Chase over these giant fences. Looks badly handicapped as a result, however, and no 13-year-old has won this since the 1920s. WEST END ROCKER (Alan King) - 33/1 Enjoying a fine campaign, winning on decent ground at Newbury before ploughing through the mud to win a competitive Classic Chase at Warwick. Ran no sort of race last time but has an each-way squeak if forgiven that and the rain comes in bucket loads. SANTA'S SON (Howard Johnson) - 150/1 A nine-time winner but this a different league to what he has been competing in for most of the season. No chance unless the rest fail to complete. BLUESEA CRACKER (James Motherway) - 25/1 Won a heavy ground Irish Grand National last spring and this has been the plan since. But she was well beaten by the Midnight Club last time and hard to see her reversing that form. Snapped up recently by last year's winning owner JP McManus.

THAT'S RHYTHM (Martin Todhunter) - 150/1 Not a bad sort at his level - but this isn't it. Might improve for this extreme distance, but surely not enough to make his presence felt. SURFACE TO AIR (Chris Bealby) - 66/1 Won three on the spin in 2008 but then spent almost three years on the sidelines. Last of 10 on his belated comeback and it seems injuries have wrecked a promising career. PIRAYA (David Pipe) - 150/1 Arrived from France with a big reputation a while back but has managed just one win and was beaten out of sight in this 12 months ago. Might get round again but will be nearer last than first. CAN'T BUY TIME (Jonjo O'Neill) - 66/1 Has looked the sort to run well in this for a while but he has failed to complete the last two years. Fair effort at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and would have place claims if completing, but that is no given.

CHARACTER BUILDING (John Quinn) - 25/1 Was well fancied 12 months ago but could only finish a never-nearer seventh. Has been largely disappointing since and if he could not do it last year, he surely won't this time. ORNAIS (Paul Nicholls) - 100/1 Has not had much racing over the past few years but showed he retains some sort of ability when second in a Newbury hunter chase last time. This is a different kettle of fish and impossible to fancy. ARBOR SUPREME (Willie Mullins) - 20/1 Parted company with his jockey at halfway last year but recent second to stablemate The Midnight Club, finishing in front of Oscar Time and Vic Venturi, reads well. Definite each-way chance. ROYAL ROSA (Howard Johnson) - 100/1 Was well beaten off when unseating his rider last year, but has since filled the runner-up spot in the Becher. Disappointed since in the Welsh National but a return to these fences might light him up. One of the more appealing 100-1 shots but not getting any younger.

SKIPPERS BRIG (Nicky Richards) - 40/1 Very smart horse who beat fellow National hope Ballabriggs at Kelso recently. Of some interest off a featherweight but quick ground would be a big blow to his chances. GOLDEN KITE (Adrian Maguire) - 80/1 Won a thrilling Munster National in October and a recent spin over hurdles should have him spot-on fitness-wise. Lack of course experience the main concern. Reserves: ALWAYS WAINING (Peter Bowen) Ran away with the Topham 12 months ago and was not disgraced in finishing sixth in the Becher on ground softer than ideal. Has been campaigned over hurdles since to protect his mark and can be given an each-way squeak. FAASEL (David Pipe) Talented but quirky individual, who was second in the Kim Muir for the second year in succession at Cheltenham. Anyone's guess how he'll take to this and he's not betting material. LE BEAU BAI (Richard Lee) Will definitely stay but lacks the pace to threaten on this quicker ground. Pulled up in the Midlands National last time too, so too many negatives to make a case for him.

GILES CROSS (Victor Dartnall) Second in the Welsh National but they are going to go too quick for him on this ground. Grand National Entries RES 1) BISHOPS ROAD (IRE) 8-10-03 Alan Halsall Kerry Lee RES 2) KNOCK HOUSE (IRE) 7-10-03 Tim Radford Mick Channon RES 3) PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) 9-10-02 ISL Recruitment Fergal O'Brien RES 4) MAGGIO (FR) 11-10-02 Douglas Pryde/James Beaumont Patrick Griffin IRE Historically, the allocation of weights for the Grand National marked a pivotal point for the prospects of trainers, jockeys and owners. It has cleared the path to big-race glory or produced a burden too heavy to overcome. Unlike the other most prestigious steeplechase of the year, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Grand National is a handicap race. This means horses carry differing weights according to their previous form.

The idea behind a handicap is to make for a more even race - the handicapper's ultimate (though in practice unfeasible) aim is for all of the horses to pass the winning post in a dead heat. The Grand National is the only race in which the British Horseracing Authorityï¿½s Head of Handicapping Phil Smith can use his discretion to determine the weight each horse will carry and can deviate from the normal handicap ratings. The "best" horse in the race is given the top weight (about 11st 10lb) and the weights allotted to the other horses are set in relation to this. This means if the top-weighted horse drops out, the weights of the other competitors may alter but will not change in relation to each other. Even if a horse is allotted a weight of 8st 12lbs, it must carry 10 stone as this is the required minimum. This means some horses will be carrying possibly a stone more than they should be (known as being out of the handicap) and this disadvantage should suggest they are likely to perform less well than their rivals. Many punters will automatically put a line through horses who are out of the handicap.

However, as the quality of the horses running in the race has improved in recent times, few horses if any are having to run off anything other than their current mark. In allocating a weight to each horse, handicapper Phil Smith must take a variety of factors into account, including form - a horse's recent and previous performances - and the course: the so-called 'Aintree Factor' - does the horse like the track and is he proven over long trips? The final field is determined by each contender's rating, with the highest-weighted horses given preference in a maximum field of 40. Until Many Clouds last year, no horse had won the National carrying more than 11st 7lb since Red Rum's record third victory, under 11st 8lb, in 1977. However, whilst in the 25 runnings between 1984 and 2009 only one winner (Hedgehunter in 2005) carried more than 11st, the win in 2010 of Don't Push It carrying 11st 5lb clearly heralded a change in this trend. Many Clouds shouldered 11st 9lbs.

Indeed, five of the last seven winners have carried at least 11st, and there is a widespread view, gaining popularity, that horses at the top of the handicap are no longer at such a big disadvantage, in part due to a new formula for handicapping the National which was devised in 2001 and has essentially compressed the handicap, decreasing the gap between the top-weighted and lowest-weighted horses and creating a more competitive race. According to Phil Smith: "Looking back over the history of the race, we realised that the highly weighted horses had a moderate record, so we thought something needed to be done to try to not overburden the better horses." Some 15 years ago, the Grand National field was still largely made up of horses out of the handicap and therefore carrying the minimum 10st weight - on the final racecard these could sometimes account for 70% of the field. But, as we've already said, in the past few years, every horse has got into the handicap proper.

In 1999, the lowest-rated horse in the race had an official rating of 110; in the 2011 renewal, the lowest-rated horse, Golden Kite, has a rating of 135. In other words, the quality of the field increased by 25lbs in that 11 year period. Last year's bottom weights had a mark of 139. The result is that the top weighted horses will now have only a few pounds more than most of their rivals and will be giving no more than a stone and a half to any runner - a far cry from a century ago, when Manifesto, the 1897 and 1899 winner, gave 48lb to some horses in the 1900 race. All of this means that shouldering a burden of 11st or more - previously considered insurmountable - is no longer the task it used to be. When Hedgehunter carried 11st 1lb in 2005, he was the first National winner to carry over 11st in 22 years.

But 2009 winner, Mon Mome, carried 11st to win the race in a year in which the top four horses all carried 11st or more, whilst the 2010 winner - Don't Push It - carried 11st 5lb and the runner-up - Black Apalachi - carried 11st 6lb. In a single, idiosyncratic race like the National, there will always be outsiders. But it is likely that Aintree has seen the last of winners such as Bobbyjo who, carrying 10st in 1999 and racing from 14lbs out of the handicap, streaked to victory by 10 lengths. In fact, the recent dramatic increase in the quality of horses taking part means Bobbyjo wouldn't have made the starting line in any of the past 10 runnings.

According to Smith: "Weight is important but it's not the be all and end all, it's just the trainers who think it is." Thus, whilst Red Rum remains the last horse to win the Grand National off top weight (and the first since the 1930s), it may not be long before that achievement is repeated ï¿½ 2013 winner, Neptune Collonges, was the fifth top weight, whilst only former Gold Cup winner Lord Windamere had more weight than Many Clouds last season. As sporting sights go, few can match the sheer excitement of 40 horses thundering towards the first fence at Aintree in the Grand National © Where To Bet Ltd 2004-16 (contact us: wheretobet@hotmail.com)

Question: In the English 'Grand National' what is the maximum number of horses allowed to run?
Answer: 40