Liverpool always shines on Grand National week, more than at any other time in the year. The most famous horse race in the world sees all eyes on Aintree racecourse for the 3 day Grand National meeting. While the Cheltenham Festival may be the pinnacle of horse racing over jumps, the Grand National is still the favourite of so many.
FAQ’s
When is the 2023 Grand National?
The 2023 Grand National is on Saturday 15th April.
What time is the 2023 Grand National?
5.15pm is the start time for the race.
How many runners are there in the 2023 Grand National?
The Grand National contains 40 horses.
Where can I find Grand National Tips?
We have a full runner by runner preview for the race below as well as expert tips for the 2023 Grand National. All 40 participants given a ranking out of 5 stars.
Runner by runner guide
1 – Any Second Now
Third in the race in 2021, he went one place better last year when runner-up to Noble Yeats. He recently won the Webster Cup at Navan, the same race he landed as his final prep for the 2021 renewal. His entire campaign will have been built around this race. Top-weight makes it tough but warrants plenty of respect. ****
2 – Noble Yeats
The 2022 winner returns from a mark 19 pounds higher than the one he scored off. He is clearly an improved performer this year, winning the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase at this venue in December. Fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time out when doing all his best work late, the return to this stamina test should suit for all that he needs more. ****
3 – Galvin
Failed to make up into a Grade 1 chaser but stamina has always looked his strong suit. The winner of the 2021 National Hunt Chase, he bounced back to form in the Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival. That came on ground softer than he would like but it was a hard race only a month ago, He goes well fresh so it’s possible that will have taken plenty out of him. ***
4 – Fury Road
Runner-up to Ahoy Senor in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at this meeting last year. He has enough Grade 1 form over three miles to suggest a mark of 159 might be workable back in a handicap but his stamina is not assured beyond that distance. ***
5 – The Big Dog
In the form of his life this season, winning the Munster National and Troytown. Third in the Welsh National, he was still in with a chance when coming down two out in the Irish Gold Cup. Shaped like he was coming to the end of his stamina at Chepstow so this further step up in trip is a slight concern. ***
6 – Capodanno
Seen in action just once since last April, he arrives fresher than most. The seven-year-old was a Grade 1 winning chaser as a novice but Noble Yeats last year was the first winner from that age group to land this since 1940! Stamina to prove and needs to jump better than is often the case with him. **
7 – Delta Work
Third in this last year after a win in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He is back after a win in that same race again this time around. A pound lower than 2022, he is clearly on a workable enough mark to hit the frame and connections have been providing positive reports. ****
8 – Sam Brown
Bolted up in the handicap chase before the National last year, he is twelve pounds higher now. Shaped well on his seasonal debut when only four lengths behind Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby. Looks worth a try at this trip and will enjoy any further rain but this mark is tough ***
9 – Lifetime Ambition
Runner-up to Capodanno in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival last April, he was 14 lengths behind Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan at the same track in the autumn. Chased home The Big Dog in the Troytown at Navan so he has plenty of form that gives him a squeak if his stamina holds out. ***
10 – Carefully Selected
Showed that he retains plenty of ability this season, winning the Thyestes at Gowran in January. Not disgraced in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last time out but a mark of 156 looks on the high side for the 11yo. **
11 – Coko Beach
Ran well for a long way in this race last year before fading into 8th. A winner over three and a half miles last time out, he is entitled to be stronger this year as an 8yo but a mark five pounds higher is going to prove to be a difficult one for him to defy. ***
12 – Longhouse Poet
Tanked though this contest last year, looking all over the winner two fences out before his stamina ebbed away late on. He ended up finishing 6th, arriving off the same mark once more. Trainer Martin Brassil won this race with Numbersixvalverde in 2006 and has another solid contender here. ****
13 – Gaillard Du Mesnil
Stamina is very much his strong suit. Third in the Irish National last season, he was arguably fortunate to win the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but he was still staying on when his main rival fell. He’s only a pound higher than his Irish National third so warrants plenty of each way respect. *****
14 – Darasso
Six pounds higher than when runner-up to Hewick in the Galway Plate last year, he has been a bit short of that level since. Yet to win over further than 2m6f, he doesn’t look the most likely stayer in the field and is much more exposed than some. *
15 – Le Milos
Deeply progressive since sent chasing, 30 pounds higher than his opening handicap mark. Stays 3m2f for all that he was picked up over a slightly shorter trip than that last time out. It’s likely that he was not 100% there given this has been his main target but his stamina is still a niggling concern. ***
16 – Escaria Ten
Stopped very quickly in the straight in this last year, fading into ninth. He had travelled well for a long way before his stamina gave out. Only a pound lower this time around and arrives in far lesser form so makes limited appeal. **
17 – The Big Breakaway
Runner-up in the Welsh National just after Christmas, he never looked like getting involved in the Ultima last time. That fundamentally is the story of his career, the winner of only one of his 11 starts over fences and throwing in the odd stinker. Capable enough of hitting the frame on a going day but hard to be confident in. ***
18 – Cape Gentleman
Yet to win beyond two and a half miles, the majority of his best form has come when racing the opposite way round. To add to those concerns, he is yet to suggest that a mark of 149 is within his winning range, especially in a race as competitive as this. *
19 – Roi Mage
Veteran has plenty of experience over fences in France which gives hope he will cope with this unique test. He has not had many chances over marathon trips but was third in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris over 3m6f in 2019 when doing his best work late. Interesting outsider. ****
20 – Diol Ker
Has some smart form over three miles in some deep handicaps in the past. When tried beyond that distance, he is yet to show the same level of ability which raises a serious concern here. A mark as high as he has ever run from in a handicap further dents confidence. **
21 – A Wave Of The Sea
A winner of the same handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival in both 2021 and 2022 but that is only over 2m1f. Third in that contest this season, he is a further three pounds higher here in a race where his stamina will be stretched a long way from home. *
22 – Minella Trump
Won nine times in ten starts from May 2021 to June 2022, the best of his form all coming in the summer months. Beaten a long way on his prep for this but that was over hurdles and will only have been to blow away the cobwebs. Stays three miles on a speed track but plenty to prove over this far. *
23 – Vanillier
Dour stayer has not gone on from his Albert Bartlett win in 2021 as connections would have hoped. Third in the National Hunt Chase last season, he ran arguably his best race over fences last time out in the Bobbyjo Chase. Not always the neatest jumper but no shock if he goes well. ***
24 – Velvet Elvis
Sixth in the Irish National last season, his stamina ebbing away late on. He ran well behind Any Second Now at Navan last time over a much shorter trip. Four pounds higher than his Irish National bid looks harsh, especially coupled with his suspect stamina. **
25 – Ain’t That A Shame
Runner-up in the Munster National before a close fourth in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, he dropped back to 2m4f when winning at Gowran last time out. Unexposed for his age but there is nothing in his pedigree of form that suggests he wants this far. **
26 – Corach Rambler
Became just the fourth dual winner of the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival last month to confirm his position towards the head of the market for this. Winning that after the National weights were released means he can run off the same handicap mark here. Shapes as if he’ll stay a longer trip but hold up tactics are harder to pull off around here. ****
27 – Enjoy D’Allen
Struggling badly for form this year, he is without a win since January 2021, a run of 12 straight defeats. Made it only as far as the first in this last season when sent off at 20/1. He’s a couple of pounds lower this time around but it would take a leap of faith to support him. *
28 – Mr Incredible
Twice placed in big handicaps this season, the Classic Chase at Warwick and the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival. He has his quirks and made a mistake at a bad time last time out but he has the natural talent to be a contender ***
29 – Mister Coffey
Not always the neatest jumper and has a nasty habit of finding at least one too good. His stamina looked to give out late on in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival and with this being another half a mile on top, there has to be a serious doubt about him getting home. **
30 – Cloudy Glen
A smart winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy at the end of 2021, he has been seen just four times since. Pulled up in the Ultima last time out, he had previously shown the ability remains when third at Haydock. No shock if he outruns his price so no forlorn hope for those backing extra places. ***
31 – Hill Sixteen
Went agonisingly close in the Becher Chase over these fences in December 2021, a nose behind Snow Leopardess who was sent off just 10/1 to follow up in this race last year. Not so good in the Becher Chase this season and is now sporting cheekpieces for the first time. ***
32 – Gabbys Cross
Winner of the Blazers at the Galway Festival last year, he has shaped as if three miles is insufficient for him in two of his last three starts. This is a deeper handicap and a dramatic step up in trip, however, which will be a very different test for him. **
33 – Recite A Prayer
Solid performer over three miles, he shaped well enough over three and a half in the Cork National. Never showed when tried over these fences in the Becher Chase in December so hard to see him playing role here. **
34 – Eva’s Oskar
Done well since given more of a stamina test, fourth in the Eider at Newcastle when last in action. He was given an attacking ride that day, not quite lasting home over the four miles. Prominent is a good place to be here so could give a bold sight for a long way. ***
35 – Our Power
Fifth in the Ultima last season, he has been seen only twice this campaign, winning at Ascot and Kempton. Both of those were over three miles, showing career-best form. That looks to be his best trip and six of his eight wins have come the other way around. ***
36 – Dunboyne
Touched off in the Thyestes in January, he ran well up eight pounds in the Kim Muir. He is another two pounds higher again now, with connections swapping his usual cheekpieces for blinkers. That recent form would give him an outside squeak but he refused to race at Punchestown in November so it will be interesting to see if he takes to this. **
37 – Francky Du Berlais
Refused at the last in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when tired. He was in third at the time and was fourth in the Topham over these fences at this meeting last year. Place claims on his best best but others make more appeal as likely winners. ***
38 – Fortescue
Unseated four from home in this race last year, out of contention at the time. He has lacked consistency this season, arriving off the same mark as 12 months ago. Has long looked the right type for this sort of race but will need to better his 2022 effort by some margin to figure. **
39 – Back On The Lash
Twice a winner over the cross country fences at Cheltenham so this course should hold no fears. The ground went against him at the Festival so connections will be hoping there is not too much rain. His prominent racing style is a positive so could give a bold sight if conditions are suitable. ***
40 – Born By The Sea
Six pounds out of the handicap, he is more of a summer horse. His best runs have come at Listowel and Galway over trips a long way short of this. Would be a shock of epic proportions if he were to get anywhere close in this. *
Conclusion
Gaillard Du Mesnil @ 14/1 E/W
Dour stayer should relish this test. Not entirely straightforward but his stamina is a massive asset.
Roi Mage @ 50/1 E/W
Not many chances over similar trips but plenty of experience jumping quirky fences in France. Looks overpriced.