New Earlier Start Time for Randox Grand National Announced by The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club announces today that the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse will have a new earlier start time of 4pm from this year.
Confirmation of the new time comes as a total of 94 horses were entered for the 176th running of the world’s greatest steeplechase on Saturday 13th April at today’s noon deadline.
The switch from 5.15pm is one of several changes to the £1 million showpiece first announced nearly four months ago as part of an ongoing focus on equine welfare.
Most of the changes, which include reducing the maximum number of runners from 40 to 34, moving the first fence nearer the start of the race and introducing a standing start, were announced in full in October last year.
But The Jockey Club explained at the time that while it had been agreed that bringing the start time forward would help assist in ensuring the safest ground conditions, discussions would need to take place to agree the specifics before a new start time could be agreed.
Explaining the decision, Sulekha Varma, The Jockey Club’s North West Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Aintree, said: “We leave no stone unturned in providing world-class standards of welfare for our participants and undertake a review after every Randox Grand National.
“These reviews look at a wide range of factors and the learnings from the process drives a number of changes, large and small, annually. In October we announced that one of the changes being made from 2024 would involve bringing forward the start time of the race, which has been 5.15pm since 2016.
“This was a decision we took after a number of participants and other racing stakeholders raised concerns about the long build-up to the race throughout the day and heightened tension as a result. These were not issues which had been identified as a problem when the race was previously staged at 3.45pm and 4.15pm.
“Bringing forward the start time of the Randox Grand National by 75 minutes to 4pm will also help us to maintain optimal jumping ground, as warm or breezy conditions can dry out the racing surface.
“We would like to thank both our broadcast partner ITV and the British Horseracing Authority for their assistance in helping to bring about this change to a race which remains a British institution, loved and watched by millions of people all over the world every year.”
The full list of entries for the 2024 Randox Grand National can be found below, with the weights allotted for each horse announced on Tuesday 20th February.
Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
4m 2f 74y. For 7YO+. Total Prize Fund £1,000,000.
Aintree, 4.00pm, Saturday 13th April
Adamantly Chosen (IRE) 7 Watch This Space Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland
Ain't That A Shame (IRE) 10 Robcour Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Amirite (IRE) 8 Patrick Hale Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Angels Dawn (IRE) 9 Mr Alfred Sweetnam S. Curling Ireland
Annual Invictus (IRE) 9 Mr Thomas Michael Smith Chris Gordon
Ashtown Lad (IRE) 10 Darren & Annaley Yates Dan Skelton
Ash Tree Meadow (FR) 8 Alymer Stud Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland
Asterion Forlonge (FR) 10 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins Ireland
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 11 Pioneer Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland
Bronn (IRE) 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Busselton (FR) 7 Mr Michael Hilary Burke Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland
Capodanno (FR) 8 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland
Celebre d'Allen (FR) 12 Mr Allan Stennett Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
Cepage (FR) 12 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams
Chambard (FR) 12 David & Carol Shaw Venetia Williams
Chemical Energy (IRE) 8 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Classic Getaway (IRE) 8 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
Coko Beach (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Conflated (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Corach Rambler (IRE) 10 The Ramblers Lucinda Russell
Delta Work (FR) 11 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Desertmore House (IRE) 9 O. B. P. Carroll/Anthony Vaughan Martin Brassil Ireland
Diol Ker (FR) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Dunboyne (IRE) 9 S. P. O'Connor Gordon Elliott Ireland
Dusart (IRE) 9 BARTLETT & CARTHY Nicky Henderson
Eklat de Rire (FR) 10 Mr P. Davies Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Eldorado Allen (FR) 10 J P Romans & Terry Warner Joe Tizzard
Embittered (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Empire Steel (IRE) 10 Alan Wight Sandy Thomson
Fakiera (FR) 9 Mrs Martina Griffin Eoin Griffin Ireland
Fakir d'Alene (FR) 9 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Fakir d'Oudairies (FR) 9 Mr John P. McManus Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland
Famous Bridge (IRE) 8 Hemmings Racing Nicky Richards
Fantastic Lady (FR) 9 Mr E. R. Hanbury Nicky Henderson
Farouk d'Alene (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Favori de Champdou (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 10 The Minions Jim Boyle
Foxy Jacks (IRE) 10 Ms Rachel Carthy M. F. Morris Ireland
Frontal Assault (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Full Back (FR) 9 Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore
Fury Road (IRE) 10 Sierra Pacific & Pioneer Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland
Galia des Liteaux (FR) 8 Mr Michael Ariss Dan Skelton
Galvin (IRE) 10 Mr R. A. Bartlett Gordon Elliott Ireland
Gevrey (FR) 8 Denis Gallagher Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland
Glengouly (FR) 8 Roaringwater Syndicate W. P. Mullins Ireland
Good Boy Bobby (IRE) 11 Dash Grange Stud Nigel Twiston-Davies
Hewick (IRE) 9 Mr T. J. McDonald John Joseph Hanlon Ireland
Highland Hunter (IRE) 11 Nic Brereton and Lindsey Brennan Fergal O'Brien
I Am Maximus (FR) 8 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland
Iron Bridge (IRE) 8 Hemmings Racing Jonjo O'Neill
Its On The Line (IRE) 7 C. C. R. Racing Syndicate Emmet Mullins Ireland
James du Berlais (FR) 8 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
Janidil (FR) 10 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland
Kinondo Kwetu 8 Gunalt Partnership Sam England
Kitty's Light 8 R J Bedford & All Stars Sports Racing Christian Williams
Latenightpass 11 Mrs P. A. Ellis Dan Skelton
Le Milos 9 The Jolly Good Partnership Dan Skelton
Letsbeclearaboutit (IRE) 9 Alymer Stud Ltd Gavin Cromwell Ireland
Limerick Lace (IRE) 7 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell Ireland
Longhouse Poet (IRE) 10 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil Ireland
Macs Charm (IRE) 9 Macs Charm Syndicate Colm A. Murphy Ireland
Mac Tottie 11 Steve & Jackie Fleetham Peter Bowen
Mahler Mission (IRE) 8 Colm Herron & Rockview Racing Syndicate John McConnell Ireland
Malina Girl (IRE) 7 Mrs J. M. Russell Gavin Cromwell Ireland
Meetingofthewaters (IRE) 7 Mr P. Byrne W. P. Mullins Ireland
Minella Crooner (IRE) 8 KTDA Racing/Nick Courtney/Cillian Moran Gordon Elliott Ireland
Minella Indo (IRE) 11 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Minella Trump (IRE) 10 Mr T. G. Leslie Donald McCain
Mister Coffey (FR) 9 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson
Monbeg Genius (IRE) 8 Barrowman Racing Limited Jonjo O'Neill
Moroder (IRE) 10 Mrs Ann Leftley Seamus Mullins
Mr Incredible (IRE) 8 Paul Byrne & J. Carthy W. P. Mullins Ireland
Nassalam (FR) 7 John and Yvonne Stone Gary Moore
Noble Yeats (IRE) 9 Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Emmet Mullins Ireland
Ontheropes (IRE) 10 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland
Panda Boy (IRE) 8 Old Pals Partnership Martin Brassil Ireland
Placenet (FR) 7 Prof C Tisdall & G Thompson David Pipe
Revels Hill (IRE) 9 Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates-Revels Hil Harry Fry
Riaan (IRE) 7 Philip J. Reynolds Gordon Elliott Ireland
Roi Mage (FR) 12 Pryde/Van Der Hoeven/McGladery/Beaumont Patrick Griffin Ireland
Royal Thief (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Run Wild Fred (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Sail Away (FR) 8 Mr and Mrs J. D. Cotton Dan Skelton
Salvador Ziggy (IRE) 8 William Hurley/Mrs Aisling Hurley Gordon Elliott Ireland
Samcro (IRE) 12 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Shakem Up'arry (IRE) 10 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling
So des Flos (FR) 7 Mr David Lestrange Gordon Elliott Ireland
Stattler (IRE) 9 Mr R. A. Bartlett W. P. Mullins Ireland
The Goffer (IRE) 7 Mr Allan Snow Gordon Elliott Ireland
Threeunderthrufive (IRE) 9 McNeill Family Paul Nicholls
Tommie Beau (IRE) 9 Simon & Christine Prout Seamus Mullins
Tullybeg (IRE) 9 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Vanillier (FR) 9 Mrs H. M. Keaveney Gavin Cromwell Ireland
Where It All Began (IRE) 8 Patrick & Scott Bryceland,McNeill Family Gordon Elliott Ireland
94 entries
61 Irish-trained