The Grand National

The Grand National

The Grand National, sponsored by John Smith’s, is arguably the most famous horse race in the world and is held annually at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool, usually in the first week of April.

It is the biggest betting event of the British horse racing year and is one of the most popular TV sporting events, attracting an audience in excess of 10 million in Britain and many millions more around the globe.

The Grand National is a Grade 3 jumps handicap for horses aged six years or older, run over the marathon distance of four and a half miles, making it the longest horse race in Britain. Runners must complete two circuits of the National course at Aintree, with its distinctive spruce-covered fences, with 30 fences to be jumped. The maximum number of runners is 40.

The 2010 Grand National Winner : Don't Push It 

Grand National Fences

There are 16 fences on the Grand National circuit and all are jumped twice during the race, with the exception of the Chair (the 15th) and the water jump (16th), which are jumped only once at the end of the first circuit.

The most famous fence is Becher’s Brook, which is the sixth and the 22nd fence in the National. The fence took its name from Captain Martin Becher, who after falling at the fence in the first race of 1939, took refuge in the ditch on the landing side, which then contained water. Becher’s Brook is 4’10’’ on the takeoff side and up to 6’4’’ on the landing side. The sheer drop is the main challenge presented by this fence and the drop is steeper towards the inside; those brave enough to jump it on the inside save ground on the bend that follows.

The tallest fence on the takeoff side is The Chair, which is in front of the grandstand and is 5’2’’ with a large ditch before the fence on the takeoff side.

Other famous fences are Foinavon (the seventh and 23rd in the National), the Canal Turn (the eighth and 24th) and Valentine’s Brook (the ninth and 25th).

Latest Horse Racing News