Like the name of the first winner of the Grand National, finding the winner of the world-famous race can be a lottery.
The race is run over a four and a quarter mile distance at which there are very few other races and over a unique racecourse and fences which are only jumped a handful of times a year.
So it helps to know who the experts are when it comes to picking a horse to follow for the one time a year when the nation has a bet., plus which horses to steer clear of, according to recent statistical trends.
Here are some key pointers which could provide a clue to the winner of the Randox-sponsored race.
Most successful owners
Gigginstown House Stud: Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has already been successful three times with Rule The World (2016) and Tiger Roll (2018 and 2019). He will be the first owner to win the race four times and has several possible entered: Coko Beach, Conflated, Delta Work, Farouk d'Alene, Frontal Assault and Run Wild Fred.
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J P McManus: The unmistakable green and gold silks of billionaire J P McManus have been worn to victory twice before and among his candidates are I Am Maximus, Meetingofthewaters, Limerick Lace and Capodanno.
Gordon Elliott: has won the Grand National three times (Getty Images)Most successful trainers
Gordon Elliott: Before his success with the remarkable Tiger Roll, Gordon Elliott had announced himself on the big stage when he triumphed with with Silver Birch in 2007.
A fourth victory would equal the record of Ginger McCain, trainer of the legendary Red Rum. Nine of his 13 entries are guaranteed a run, including Conflated, Delta Work, Galvin, Chemical Energy and Coko Beach.
Lucinda Russell: The Scottish trainer is seeking a third victory following One For Arthur (2017) and Corach Rambler (2023). She is set to saddle Corach Rambler again and if successful she would become the most successful female trainer of all-time in the Grand National.
• Trainers with likely starters seeking a second win are Emmet Mullins, Henry de Bromhead, Willie Mullins, Mouse Morris, Martin Brassil, Venetia Williams.
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Most successful jockey
Derek Fox: The only rider in this year’s race to win the race twice on One For Arthur and Corach Rambler, who will ride again on Saturday.
Other facts and figures
Most common winning age: 9. Vanillier, Noble Yeats, Coko Beach, Stattler are the shortest priced nine-year-olds
Record of favourites: five of the last 24 winners have been favourite or co-favourite
Greys: The race has been run by a grey horse only four times in its history but Coko Beach, Eldorado Allen, Vanillier and Panda Boy are strong contenders.
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Mares: There have been 13 winning mares but none since 1951. There could be three runners this year, Limerick Lace, Galia Des Liteaux, and Malina Girl
Weight: Only five of the last 20 winners have carried more than 11st
Rachael Blackmore: made history on Minella Times in 2021 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Female jockeys: Rachael Blackmore became the first female to ride the winner of the Grand National in 2021 on Minella Times, 34 years after Charlotte Brew was the first of her sex to take part. Blackmore and amateur Gina Andrews (Latenightpass) are set to line up this year.
Amateur jockeys: Sam Waley-Cohen became the 42nd amateur to win the race on Noble Yeats in 2022. Gina Andrews (Latenightpass) and David Maxwell (Ain't That A Shame) take part this year while Patrick Mullins will be another to look out for.
Location: Three Grand National winners have been trained in Scotland, two of them by Lucinda Russell who trains Corach Rambler. Only one winner has been trained in Wales – Kirkland (1905). The Welsh trainers with entries in 2024 are Peter Bowen (Mac Tottie) and Christian Williams (Kitty’s Light).
Runners-up: Vanillier was second in 2023 but the last runner-up to go on and win the Grand National the next year was Red Rum in 1976-1977.
Foxhunters: Latenightpass will bid to become the first winner of the Aintree Foxhunters to win since Gritta who won both in 1981 and 1982.
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