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
