The world's most famous steeplechase is nearly upon us. With less than 48 hours until the 2024 renewal of the Grand National gets underway, it's time to look at the weights.
Before we get started, let's first address why horse racing weights are important. For those who don't know, the Grand National is a handicap race, which means that each runner holds an official rating, which in theory pertains to ability.
Based on their ratings, horses are assigned different weights, with the best rated horses carrying the most weights, thus levelling the playing field, at least that's the idea.
Of course, a handicapping system presents the opportunity for a level of manipulation, whereby trainers and connections can try to get their horses to run off generous weights thanks to ratings that don't reflect true ability, courtesy of below-par runs, but that's all part of the fun.
Grand National Weights 2024
Here are the weights for the Grand National 2024:
11 st, 12lbs
11 st, 8lbs
11 st, 6lbs
11 st, 5lbs
11 st, 4lbs
11 st, 2 lbs
11 st, 1 lbs
11 st
10 st, 13lbs
10 st, 12lbs
10 st, 11lbs
10 st, 10lbs
10 st, 9lbs
10 st, 8lbs
Roi Mage
10 st, 7lbs
Weight of Grand National winners for the last 10 years
Let's take a look at the weight carried by the last 10 winners of the Grand National:
2023: Corach Rambler (10st 5lbs)
2022: Noble Yeats (10st 10lbs)
2021: Minella Times (10st 3lbs)
2019: Tiger Roll (11st 5lbs)
2018: Tiger Roll (10st 13lbs)
2017: One For Arthur (10st 11lbs)
2016: Rule The World (10st 7lbs)
2015: Many Clouds (11st 9lbs)
2014: Pineau Du Re (10st 6lbs)
2013: Auroras Encore (10st 3lbs)
As the table above shows, in recent times, horses with less weight or their back have thrived, which probably isn't too surprising. I mean, you try running over four miles carrying over 11st, which is something that only two of the last 10 Grand National winners have done.
How does the Grand National weight handicap work?
A few months before the race, the Grand National weights are released by the handicapper.
The weights are determined by several factors, such as past performances, what sort of races a horse has been running in, form in recent times, past form, form in the race, form in similar races, how a horse has performed over certain distances. There are all manner of things considered before the handicapper decides on the weights.
In recent times, we've seen cases of horses being 'well in' at the weights. If a horse is considered 'well in' by any number of lbs, this essentially means that since the weights for the race were determined, the horse has gone on to deliver improved showings and now holds an official handicap rating that is better than the rating given for the Grand National.
In other words, they are now deemed a better animal than their Grand National weight would suggest.
FAQ about Grand National weight
Has a 100/1 horse ever won the Grand National?
There have been a few occasions on which a 100/1 horse has won the Grand National. As recently as 2009, Mon Mome won the race when priced at 100/1, while back in 1967, Foinavon, who now has a fence named after him, also won the race at 100/1.
What is the minimum weight in the Grand National?
The minimum weight that any horse can carry in the Grand National is 10st, 2lbs.
Why do horses carry different weights?
As touched on above, horse carry different weights due to the handicapping system, which in theory, is designed to level the playing field and ensure that the best horses don't always win.
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