Aintree announced more changes to the Grand National’s make-up with the maximum field now set to be 34 runners, some fences being reduced in size and the start time to revert to earlier in the afternoon on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Paddy Power horse racing ambassador Ruby Walsh, a two-time winner of the race, welcomed the move.
Ruby Walsh:
What we are seeing is the evolution of the Grand National. There’s been lots of changes made to the best known steeplechase in racing – even going back to the 1970’s.
It was a different race then when half the field were out classed or planned to hack around the first circuit. You had no problem with those runners and there was little congestion.
The Grand National I rode Papillon to win in 2000 was a lot different to the one I rode Hedgehunter to win in 2005 and it was different again by 2013.
The National has kept evolving and the authorities have tried to make it safer over time. They’ve levelled the landing area after the fences and it has encouraged jockeys to fan out across the track as with 40 runners you get a lot of congestion and everyone is looking to go on the inside to save energy by taking the shortest route.
There used to be a big drop on the inside at Beechers Brook so the runners spread out right across the track. So you had lots of room. You don’t have that room these days – there’s no drop anymore.
As big as Aintree racecourse is, it’s such a competitive race and the jockeys are trying to do their best so they all end up on the inside to save energy by going the shortest route around.
By reducing the number of runners to 34 from 40, it should give everyone more room and help them avoid that congestion.
The standing start will create more space early in the race to the first fence. You now can’t line up with a horse in front of you. When Papillon won the Grand National it was from a standing start, it was also a standing start when Hedgehunter won it. You just have to find your own bit of room and take your chance when you get to the start.
Who’ll line up on the inside or outside? Well, if there’s 20 runners boxed in on the inside, you’d be stupid not to move around to the outside to make a bit of room for yourself.
With the way the race has evolved, 40 runners was just too many. One of the biggest issues is congestion and reducing the race to 34 runners is definitely a welcome move.
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