THE Grand National is the most famous horse race in the world. But since the inaugural contest in 1839 – won by Lottery –  just 17 female jockeys have been given the chance to negotiate the iconic Aintree fences. In a new animated video, Betway ambassador Katie Walsh – who boasts the best finish for …[Read More]

TIGER ROLL heads the 106 entries for the Randox Grand National on April 10 but he is not a certain starter. His owner Michael O’Leary has indicated that he could instead run in the Irish National – especially if he is given too much weight to carry by the Aintree handicapper Martin Greenwood. The weights …[Read More]

by Andy Bell TIGER ROLL has been left generally unchanged at 5/1 to land his third successive Grand National after finishing fifth on his seasonal reappearance over hurdles at Navan, looking in need of his first run back It’s the Cheltenham Festival up next for Gordon Elliott’s tiny ten-year-old, who will be bidding to equal …[Read More]

SOME jockeys are destined never to win the Grand National. Jonjo O’Neill enjoyed rotten luck. John Francome never won it. Neither did Peter Scudamore. It took AP McCoy an age to gain his one and only success. Richard Johnson has been trying for 21 years and is still looking for the holy grail of a …[Read More]

by ANNIE DALE EVEN if you’re not a fan of racing, there’s no doubt that you have heard of the Grand National. It’s one of the most prestigious and iconic races in the racing calendar and thousands of people flock to Aintree Racecourse each year to witness the greatest race in the calendar. Racehorses become …[Read More]

by ANNIE DALE It’s quite a well-known fact that Ireland tends to dominate at the Grand National – whether that’s through Irish-bred horses (who have won 15 of the last 28 races), or Irish-trained horses (six wins from the last 13 years). However, in the history of the Grand National, five winners have been bred …[Read More]

THEY say if at first you don’t succeed then try again. And that’s the case with Vintage Clouds in the 2019 Randox Health Grand National. The horse agonisingly missed out on a place in last year’s race when he was 41st in the list of runners. Only 40 can run. But this year he is …[Read More]

by ANNIE DALE IT’S been almost 60 years since a mare won the Grand National, but there a few of the fairer sex with the world’s most famous steeplechase at Aintree on their agenda in 2019. Toughness and stamina are attributes which certainly aren’t confined to male racehorses, so here are four mares who could line …[Read More]

by ANNIE DALE It is estimated that about £250 million exchanged hands last year in bets on the Grand National. Given the hype surrounding the 2019 festival, it is expected that punters will invest even more in their “line of business”. The event kicks off on Thursday April 4 through to the Ladies Day on …[Read More]

WITH the Cheltenham Festival over, attention now turns to the Randox Health Grand National on April 6. The next scratchings stage for the great race is this Wednesday when the current entry list of 100 will be whittled down. The final 2019 Grand National runners will be confirmed on Thursday April 4 but until then …[Read More]