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The Grand National is the most important and most famous chase race in the world. Fast approaching, the event kicks off at 5:15pm on Saturday, April 10th.
All owners, trainers, jockeys and punters want to win the Grand National. The most hyped race on the calendar, the National at Aintree will be watched by more than 600 million worldwide.
This year, the likes of Cloth Cap, Kimberlite Candy and Minella Times are among the favourites looking to add their name to the greats, while the back-to-back 2018 and 2019 winner, Tiger Roll, has been withdrawn and won’t run.
The Grand National Winners 2021 Race
Cloth Cap, Minella Times and Burrows Saint are among our favourites for this year. With 106 horses officially entered, these are the top 27 for the 2021 Grand National 2021.
| MINELLA TIMES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Form: 20-122 / Official Rating: 146 / Weight: 10st 3lb / Age: 8 / Jockey: Rachael Blackmore / Trainer: H De Bromhead | |||
 | Winner at the Grand National 2021 | SP: 11/2 | |
| BALKO DES FLOS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Form: -4764U / Official Rating: 152 / Weight: 10st 9lbs / Age: 10 / Jockey: A Coleman / Trainer: H De Bromhead | |||
 | Finished in position #2 | SP: 100/1 | |
| ANY SECOND NOW | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Form: 31-99P / Official Rating: 153 / Weight: 10st 10lbs / Age: 9 / Jockey: M P Walsh / Trainer: Ted Walsh | |||
 | Finished in position #3 | SP: 15/2 | |
| BURROWS SAINT | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Form: 531-26 / Official Rating: 156 / Weight: 10st 13lbs / Age: 8 / Jockey: Mr P W Mullins / Trainer: Willie Mullins | |||
 | Finished in position #4 | SP: 9/1 | |
| FARCLAS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Form: 1-5342 / Official Rating: 146 / Weight: 10st 3lbs / Age: 7 / Jockey: Jack Kennedy / Trainer: Mrs D Foster | |||
 | Finished in position #5 | SP: 16/1 | |
Who are the rest of the runners that finished the Grand National 2021?
- Blaklion, H Skelton: SP 50/1
- Discorama J. Harrington: SP 16/1
- Jett Mrs J Harrington: SP 80/1
- Cabaret Queen W Mullins: SP 80/1
- Shattered Love Mrs D Foster: SP 33/1
- Alpha Des Obeaux Mrs D Foster: SP 80/1
- Hogan’s Height Jamie Snowden: SP 100/1
- Acapella Bourgeois W P Mullins: SP 20/1
- Sub Lieutenant Georgie Howell: SP 50/1
- Class Conti W P Mullins: SP 66/1
Grand National Favourites 2021
The definite ante-post favourite is Cloth Cap, while previous favourite Tiger Roll has been assigned heavier weight and pulled out from the race. Below are the runners currently heading the ante-post market for the 2021 Grand National. When the final field is known on April 8th, the Randox Health Grand National runners 2021 will be whittled down to 40.
| Grand National Favourites | Trainer | |
|---|---|---|
| Cloth Cap | Jonjo O’Neill | |
| Burrows Saint | Willie Mullins | |
| Kimberlite Candy | Tom Lacey | |
| Any Second Now | T. M. Walsh | |
| Minella Times | H De Bromhead | |
| Potters Corner | Christian Williams | |
| Bristol De Mai | N Twiston-Davies | |
| Farclas | Mrs D Foster | |
| Le Breuil | Ben Pauling | |
| Magic of Light | Jessica Harrington | |
| Lord Du Mesnil | Richard Hobson | |
| Milan Native | Gordon Elliott | |
Grand National Runners 2021 Odds
Here are the favourites that will compete at Aintree Racecourse in a month’s time. Currently, Cloth Cap and Burrows Saint are definite market movers and public favourites.
How to Pick a Winner at the Grand National
Form of runners is a key factor, along with several other things. Backing the winner of the Grand National doesn’t need to be all about luck.
Understanding some of the fundamental things required of a Grand National horse will steer you on the right path. These are some of the crucial things to keep in mind when trying to pick the winner of the Grand National at Aintree in 2021:
- Track form – Aintree’s fences are special, so those proven there are preferred
- Form – not many National winners are in bad form leading up to the race
- Stamina – those having won over at least 3 miles, preferably further, do best
- Odds – most National winners range from 10/1 to 33/1
- Jockeys and trainers – it’s mostly about the horse, but check the stats on the riders and handlers
- Ratings and weight – those at the very bottom tend not to be good enough, while those at the very top often struggle under the burden of their weight
- Starting position – there are no stalls for the National, but getting a good position lining up at the tape can be crucial
Form
Grand National form can be crucial, i.e. those who have finished well in previous Nationals sometimes come back to run well once again. However, good form doesn’t always mean having finished prominently in this race.
Look out for horses which have won over 3 miles and more, preferably in Class 2 or Listed races as a minimum. While trainers can prepare them well, their recent form is important too. Horses having run well in big races this season go right to the top of the list.
Weight
Weight is important in the Grand National given that the horses have to run over 4¼ miles and tackle 30 fences on the way round. Too little often suggests the horse may not possess the class, while too much is simply a burden.
Those rated from around 140 to 155 should be carrying just the right amount of weight. A horse carrying from around 10st 6lbs up to about 11st 6lbs would be in the right ballpark.
Check the form of each horse, and see whether or not they have managed to carry this sort of weight successfully over three miles and further.
Age
Seven-year-olds can enter, while some of the top contenders in 2021 are aged 10 or 11. The real sweet spot however is 8-9.
Chasers of this calibre aged around 8 or 9 and having had eight or more chase races, with their best results in staying races, often have the right profile for the Grand National.
Experience is crucial here, though you don’t want your selection to be over the hill either. If you can find an 8 or 9-year-old with strong form and a good weight, you’re halfway there.
Key Grand National Stats: What to Expect
By virtue of it being a handicap as well as a 40-runner race, the Grand National is as tough as it comes. The main conditions of the race are:
- Grade 3 handicap
- Total purse is £750,000 with the winner taking £375,000
- Prize money when crowds are allowed: £1,000,000 (£500,000 to the winner)
- Race distance: four miles, two-and-a-half furlongs
- Fences: 30
- Initial entries: end of January
- Weights: announced in February, now published
- Final declarations: in by 10AM, Thursday 8th April
Previous Grand National Winners
As we have seen with the two-time winner Tiger Roll, it’s worth checking past winners in order to make an informed decision of possible winners in the future.
- 2021 – Minella Times
- 2019 – Tiger Roll
- 2018 – Tiger Roll
- 2017 – One For Arthur
- 2016 – Rule The World
- 2015 – Many Clouds
- 2014 – Pineau De Re
- 2013 – Auroras Encore
- 2012 – Neptune Collonges
- 2011 – Ballabriggs
- 2010 – Don’t Push It
Grand National Runners FAQ
Are there any non-runners in the Grand National?
The last moment to declare any non runners will be at 10 am the morning of the race. There will be four runners in reserves which any of them can take place in case of one from the original 40 not being able to race.
Who are the favourites for the Grand National 2021?
Cloth Cap from Jonjo O’Neill’s yard is this year’s favourite with average odds 12/1. The second well-backed runner for Aintree is Tom Lacey’s trained Kimberlite Candy.
Is Tiger Roll running in 2021?
No, owner Gigginstown took a decision to remove Tiger Roll from the race after a fairly harsher weight allocation earlier in February for the 11-year-old.
