The biggest horse race on the UK calendar, the Grand National, is quickly approaching, and the starting runners have been announced. Those who want to wager on the Grand National examine every horse in detail in the lead-up to the race, examining their statistics in addition to a variety of other aspects.
When we discuss the Grand National, many factors are important. One such factor is how much weight each horse carries in this race and how this can effect their performance during the race. In this article we’ll investigate into why carrying varying amounts of weight might influence outcomes as well as provide information regarding all runners participating within 2024 Grand National. BetVictor has the latest Grand National odds and also offers horse racing tips for the Grand National on this page, too!
How Does The Weight of a Horse Impact The Race?
The jockey’s weight contributes to the overall load on the horse. In handicap races, additional weights may be placed in the saddle to keep the competition fair, allowing each horse a chance to win. Handicappers aim to assign appropriate weights to the horses, giving them an equal opportunity to succeed. However, with numerous talented horses in the race, achieving a truly level playing field is challenging, as the strongest competitors often emerge victorious.
As many people would expect, horses with less weight on them typically run faster. The weight can also impact a variety of other areas in the race, such as:
- The stamina of the horse
- How well it finishes
- The top speed it can reach
- How well the horse jumps each fence
With that being said, some horses are used to running with set weights, so checking their previous races can be a worthwhile endeavour.
Handicap and Weights List
This 2024 iteration of the Grand National will see a reduced number of runners, with 34 horses starting the race. Here are the contenders, including their weights and current ratings:
| Horse | Weight | Official Rating (OR) |
| Corach Rambler | 11-5 | 159 |
| I Am Maximum | 11-5 | 159 |
| Vanillier | 10-11 | 151 |
| Panda Boy | 10-6 | 146 |
| Meetingofthewaters | 10-7 | 147 |
| Kitty’s Light | 10-6 | 146 |
| Mahler Mission | 11-4 | 158 |
| Noble Yeats | 11-11 | 165 |
| Minella Indo | 11-5 | 159 |
| Galvin | 11-1 | 155 |
| Mr Incredible | 10-10 | 150 |
| Capodanno | 11-7 | 161 |
| Latenightpass | 10-9 | 149 |
| Chemical Energy | 10-8 | 148 |
| Limerick Lace | 10-7 | 147 |
| Delta Work | 11-3 | 157 |
| Adamantly Chosen | 10-8 | 148 |
| Where It All Began | 9-9 | 135 |
| Nassalam | 11-7 | 161 |
| Coko Beach | 11-7 | 161 |
| Stattler | 11-4 | 158 |
| Conflated | 11-12 | 166 |
| Galia Des Liteaux | 10-6 | 146 |
| Foxy Jacks | 11-3 | 157 |
| Ain’t That A Shame | 10-12 | 152 |
| The Goffer | 10-7 | 147 |
| Roi Mage | 10-7 | 147 |
| Glengouly | 10-6 | 146 |
| Malina Girl | 10-5 | 145 |
| Shakem Up’arry | 10-3 | 143 |
| Ontheropes | 10-3 | 143 |
| Annual Invictus | 10-2 | 142 |
| Angels Dawn | 10-2 | 142 |
| Amirite | 10-2 | 142 |
| Famous Bridge | 9-13 | 139 |
| Minella Crooner | 10-9 | 149 |
| Desertmore House | 10-4 | 144 |
| Janidil | 11-5 | 159 |
| Classic Getaway | 11-3 | 157 |
| Eldorado Allen | 10-13 | 153 |
| Mac Tottie | 10-8 | 148 |
| Eklat De Rire | 10-6 | 146 |
| Chambard | 10-6 | 146 |
| Empire Steel | 10-5 | 145 |
| Fantastic Lady | 10-4 | 144 |
| Tullybeg | 10-0 | 140 |
| Iron Bridge | 10-0 | 140 |
| Frontal Assault | 9-12 | 138 |
| Good Boy Bobby | 9-11 | 137 |
| Fury Road | 10-12 | 152 |
| Bronn | 10-11 | 151 |
| Kinondo Kwetu | 10-4 | 144 |
| Fakir D’alene | 10-3 | 143 |
| Tommie Beau | 9-10 | 136 |
| Farouk D’alene | 11-0 | 154 |
| Run Wild Fred | 10-9 | 149 |
| Cepage | 10-0 | 140 |
| Full Back | 9-4 | 130 |
The official ratings of each horse are updated on a regular basis by the BHA (British Horseracing Association). It’s a statistic commonly used by handicappers to work out a fair weight for the horse to carry. The higher the rating, the higher the handicap, or weight the horse will have during the race.
Of course, a higher rating also shows that the horse has a higher ability. Ratings can range anywhere from 0 to 170 for horses that participate in National Hunt meetings, such as the Grand National.
Grand National Betting Tips
In addition to the weight, BetVictor has closely evaluated many other factors of each horse running in the Grand National 2024. Armed with this information, our top three horses to watch are:
1. Corach Rambler to Win
It’s perhaps no surprise that the favourite for the Grand National appears to be the best horse in the race. Corach Rambler had absolutely no issues when winning this event last year, comfortably beating Vanillier, who finished in second.
If everything falls into place for Corach Rambler, such as Good to Soft going on the day, Lucinda Russell will be very confident in her horse on the day.
2. I Am Maximus to Win
After just turning 8 on the 27th of March 2024, many have said that I Am Maximus lacks the experience required to romp home in the Grand National. In our opinion, this isn’t accurate at all, with younger horses being hugely successful at Aintree in the past.
I Am Maximus ticks a lot of the right boxes for the biggest race of the year. He’s trained by the infamous Willie Mullins, has had recent success across a selection of class 1 races, and won the Irish Grand National in 2023. The Aintree Grand National is longer in distance, however, I Am Maximus has proven that he has the staying power to contend with Corach Ramble and the rest of the field!
3. Shakem Up’Arry Each-Way
For those who enjoy an each-way bet on the Grand National, Shakem Up’Arry might be worth a closer look. This horse is likely to attract a lot of attention in the 2024 Grand National, mainly because he is owned by Harry Redknapp.
The recent form of Shakem Up’Arry is truly impressive, winning 2 of his 2 races in 2024 so far. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that these victories have come over 2m 4f 127y races. The Grand National is much longer, so the stamina of Shakem Up’Arry will certainly be tested over 4m 2f 74y.
Bet on the 2024 Grand National with BetVictor
Looking for Grand National betting options? BetVictor has got you covered. We have extensive coverage of the 2024 Aintree Grand National, including tips and other information regarding the runners. Naturally, we also have a variety of horse racing odds for all runners in the race!
