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As one of the biggest horse races of the year, not just in Britain but globally, edges closer, we take a look at the main Grand National favourites.
Of the more fancied horses in the early betting, which are worth betting on ahead of the 2024 Grand National? Let’s take a look.
Which horses are the main Grand National 2024 favourites?
With the big race now hours l away, below are the current Grand National favourites, displayed in ascending order according to current odds.
| Horse | Odds (current best price) | Implied Winning Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Corach Rambler |
15/2 |
11.8% |
| I Am Maximus |
17/2 |
10.8% |
| Vanillier |
11/1 |
8.3% |
| Meetingofthewaters |
11/1 |
8.3% |
| Limerick Lace |
12/1 |
7.7% |
| Panda Boy |
12/1 |
7.7% |
| Kitty’s Light |
12/1 |
7.7% |
| Mr Incredible |
12/1 |
7.7% |
| Mahler Mission |
16/1 |
5.9% |
| Minella Indo |
20/1 |
4.8% |
A close look at the Grand National 2024 favourites
Let’s take a look at the first 10 Grand National favourites in a little more detail:
Corach Rambler (trained by Lucinda Russell)
Age: 8
Weight: 11 st, 6 lbs
Grand National form: Won the race in 2023
A super horse, who has proven his worth time and time again in big handicap races. Won at the Cheltenham Festival in both 2022 and 2023, before proving that he was very much well weighted when winning the Grand National by a wide margin last year.
Now higher in the weights, which makes his task tougher, but he ran a very good race in the Gold Cup last time out and probably won’t be too far away if getting all the way round.
I Am Maximus (trained by Willie Mullins)
Age: 8
Weight: 11 st, 6 lbs
Grand National form: Having first run in the race
A less exposed chaser than several in here, I Am Maximus is considered by the early market to be Willie Mullins’ best chance of a winner in the 2024 Grand National.
The eight-year-old impressed when winning beyond three miles (on very soft ground) at Fairyhouse last time out, beating the 2023 Grand National runner-up Vanillier by 14 lengths. Has a clear shout on that form.
Vanillier (trained by Gavin Cromwell)
Age: 9
Weight: 10 st, 12 lbs
Grand National form: Finished second in 2023
Second in this race a year ago, Gavin Cromwell’s primary hope hasn’t been in amazing form this season, but his second behind I Am Maximus last time out was an improvement, so he may be hitting form at the right time. Must be respected after his effort in this race last year.
Meetingofthewaters (trained by Willie Mullins)
Age: 7
Weight: 10 st, 8 lbs
Grand National form: Having first run in the race
Another from the Willie Mullins yard who looks as though he should be suited to this sort of ultra-stability test. He won the prestigious Paddy Power Chase in December, while his third in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival last month was another cracking effort. Horses that have run well in that race have done well in the national in recent years, so he’s not to be ignored.
Limerick Lace (trained by Gavin Cromwell)
Age: 7
Weight:10 st, 8 lbs
Grand National form: Having first run in the race
Seven-year-old who has impressed this season. Won a Listed chase at Doncaster with plenty in hand back in December, while he took a sizable step forward to win the Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham in March. On that evidence, she could be ‘well in’ at the weights here. Bidding to be the first mare to win the race since 1951.
Panda Boy (trained by Martin Brassil)
Age: 8
Weight: 10 st, 7 lbs
Grand National form: Having first run in the race
Leading hope for a trainer who won this race back in 2006, Panda Boy has run some fine races over real stamina-sapping trips. His fifth in the Irish Grand National last season warrants lots of respect. Handles soft ground and looked in fine shape when finishing second (of 27) behind Meetingofthewaters at Leopardstown in December.
Kitty’s Light (trained by Christian Williams)
Age: 8
Weight: 10 st, 7 lbs
Grand National form: Having first run in the race
Another horse who ran well in the Ultima, Kitty’s Light cannot be overlooked, and if the early betting is anything to go by, he hasn’t been. The eight-year-old has no shortage of form in big staying handicaps, winning the Scottish Grand National last season, before going on to land another big prize at Sandown. Ran very well in the Ultima (7th) last time out and should run a big race here from low in the weights (if staying up).
Mr Incredible (trained by Willie Mullins)
Age: 8
Weight: 10 st 11 lbs
Grand National form: Unseated rider in 2023
Unseated in this race a year ago, but I wouldn’t discount him on that basis. Trained by Mullins, which is never a bad thing, while his only run in the last 336 days saw him finish second in the Midlands Grand National a month ago. Clear player on that form.
Mahler Mission (trained by John McConnell)
Age: 8
Weight: 11st, 5 lbs
Grand National form: Having first run in the race
Was clear and seemingly going great guns when falling two out in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at Cheltenham in 2023, while he’s performed well in two runs this season. Has been kept for this since finishing second in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in December. One of the more likeable types higher up the weights.
Minella Indo (trained by Henry De Bromhead)
Age: 11
Weight: 11 st, 6 lbs
Grand National form: Having first run in the race
Trained and ridden by the same duo that landed the 2021 Grand National, Minella Indo came into the race following a string of good efforts over long staying trips. Won the Gold Cup, which takes some doing, back in 2021, and even though the 11-year-old may not still be quite the same animal three years on, he’s not one to completely write off.
How often do favourites win the Grand National?
So, the question is this: how often do favourites win the Grand National? Well, the horse going off as the out-and-out favourite has won the Grand National twice in the last four years, with Tiger Roll winning as a 4/1 favourite back in 2019 and Corach Rambler winning as an 8/1 favourite last year.
However, overall, favourites don’t fare all that well. Since 2000, the race has been run 22 times, and only five winning favourites have emerged. There have been a few other winners who were close to the head of the market, but there have also been plenty of outsiders who have won the Grand National, both recently and throughout the years, so don’t be scared of something with a big price tag.
Grand National Predictions: Best favourites to bet on
- Meetingofthewaters – 12/1 (each-way)
- Panda Boy – 12/1 (each-way)
- Kitty’s Light – 12/1 (each-way)
Meetingofthewaters looks very well weighted given his run in the Ultima last time out, and horses who’ve performed well in that race have done well here in recent years.
As for Panda Boy, he has some all-important form over marathon trips, which could prove to be invaluable, while he’s tended to do most of his best work in the spring, so he should be spot on for this.
I’m finding it hard to look beyond Kitty’s Light, too. This runner is getting weight pretty much all round, and I like that. He’s another with rock-solid form in races of this nature. His Scottish Grand National win sits well with me, while the fact that he ran well in the Ultima last time after 77 days off, carrying more weight than he will here, just cannot be ignored.
Grand National Favourites FAQ
Who is the favourite for the Grand National 2024?
At the time of writing, Corach Rambler is the favourite for the 2024 Grand National at best odds of 15/2.
Does the favourite often win the Grand National?
As mentioned above, favourites do sometimes win the Grand National, especially in recent times, with two of the last four favourites winning. However, plenty of outsiders have also won this race.
