Grand National weights and entries
With the 2025 Grand National currently a year away, weights for the runners have not yet been confirmed. These weights will be confirmed in early 2025, around February. For now, have a look at the weights of the horses who ran in 2024, which saw I Am Maximus win the Grand National.
Grand National weights 2024
In the table below, we’ve listed the weights for every horse that entered in the 2024 Grand National and what their odds were ahead of the race. The weights can help you whittle down the Aintree field while you probe for the winner. You can view them in weight order below or check our Grand National runners list to see them listed by current odds if you prefer.
| Grand National horses | Grand National weights | 2024 Grand National odds |
|---|---|---|
| Noble Yeats | 11st 12lbs | 25/1 |
| Capodanno | 11st 8lbs | 50/1 |
| Coko Beach | 11st 8lbs | 33/1 |
| Nassalam | 11st 8lbs | 33/1 |
| Corach Rambler | 11st 6lbs | 7/1F |
| I Am Maximus | 11st 6lbs | 8/1 |
| Minella Indo | 11st 6lbs | 20/1 |
| Janidil | 11st 6lbs | 125/1 |
| Mahler Mission | 11st 5lbs | 16/1 |
| Stattler | 11st 5lbs | 50/1 |
| Foxy Jacks | 11st 4lbs | 66/1 |
| Delta Work | 11st 4lbs | 20/1 |
| Galvin | 11st 2lbs | 35/1 |
| Farouk d’Alene | 11st 1lbs | 100/1 |
| Eldorado Allen | 11st | 100/1 |
| Ain’t That A Shame | 10st 13lbs | 66/1 |
| Vanillier | 10st 12lbs | 11/1 |
| Mr Incredible | 10st 11lbs | 12/1 |
| Latenightpass | 10st 10lbs | 40/1 |
| Run Wild Fred | 10st 10lbs | 100/1 |
| Minella Crooner | 10st 10lbs | 100/1 |
| Adamantly Chosen | 10st 9lbs | 66/1 |
| Mac Tottie | 10st 9lbs | 50/1 |
| Chemical Energy | 10st 9lbs | 50/1 |
| Limerick Lace | 10st 8lbs | 14/1 |
| Meetingofthewaters | 10st 8lbs | 11/1 |
| The Goffer | 10st 8lbs | 66/1 |
| Roi Mage | 10st 8lbs | 66/1 |
| Glengouly | 10st 7lbs | 80/1 |
| Galia Des Liteaux | 10st 7lbs | 28/1 |
| Panda Boy | 10st 7lbs | 12/1 |
| Eklat De Rire | 10st 7lbs | 100/1 |
| Kitty’s Light | 10st 7lbs | 14/1 |
*Odds are subject to change and are correct as of 10am on 12th April 2024.
Find form & odds for Grand National 2024 favourites
The Grand National betting markets are a lot more active once the weights are announced, with punters now knowing what their fancies will have to carry in order to win the Aintree Grand National.
With the horses still allowed to run after the Grand National weights are announced, this can work both ways. Some horses will run well in the build-up to the Grand National and would normally rise up the handicap (more weight), while others might underperform and would in a normal race drop in the handicap (less weight).
How are Grand National weights determined?
When allocating the weight of each of the Grand National entries, the handicapper must take a variety of factors into account.
- Past Performance: The Grand National handicapper will assess each horse’s past performance in races, taking into account factors such as wins, placings, and consistency.
- Class of Race: The class of race in which the horse has been competing is important. Horses that have performed well in higher-class races, including at the Cheltenham Festival, may be assigned higher Grand National weights.
- Recent Form: A horse’s form in recent races is also considered. Horses that have shown good recent form may receive higher Grand National weights.
- Distance: The distance of the race being handicapped is taken into account. Some potential Grand National entries may perform better over longer distances, so their Grand National weights may be adjusted accordingly.
- Track Conditions: The handicapper considers the prevailing track conditions, such as ground firmness or softness, as this can affect a horse’s performance. So a horse that falters badly in very heavy conditions may have their efforts judged more sympathetically.
In smaller races, where there are a number of apprentice jockeys, their horse’s weights can be reduced, but this isn’t a factor heading into the Grand National.
The various factors above all combine to make up a horse’s Grand National handicap. The top-rated Grand National entries will be allocated the top-weight 11-10, with the other Grand National runners in the race will be allocated their weight off this top-rated horse.
Weight of previous Grand National winners
Until Many Clouds, no horse carrying more than 11st 7lb had won since Red Rum‘s 1977 third victory, (11st 8lb). However, in the 25 runnings of the Grand National between 1984 and 2009 only one winner (Hedgehunter, 2005) carried more than 11st. The win Don’t Push It in 2010 with 11st 5lb on board heralded a slight change in this trend, with five winners since 2010 carrying 11st or more.
Here are the more recent weights of previous Grand National winners, ordered by weight.
- 11-09 Many Clouds (2015)
- 11-06 Neptunes Collonges (2012)
- 11-06 I Am Maximus (2024)
- 11-05 Tiger Roll (2019)
- 11-05 Don’t Push It (2010)
- 11-00 Ballabriggs (2011)
- 10-13 Tiger Roll (2018)
- 10-11 One For Arthur (2017)
- 10-10 Noble Yeats (2022)
- 10-07 Rule The World (2016)
- 10-06 Pineau De Re (2014)
- 10-05 Corach Rambler (2023)
- 10-03 Auroras Encore (2013)
- 10-03 Minella Times (2021)
Grand National handicap history
Historically, the allocation of weights for the Grand National was crucial for the prospects of trainers, jockeys and owners. The Grand National Handicap has cleared the path to big-race glory or produced a burden too heavy to overcome.
Unlike some other prestigious steeplechases of the year, the Grand National is a handicap race. This means horses carry differing weights according to their previous form. The idea behind the Grand National handicap is to make for a more even race.
The handicapper’s ultimate (though unfeasible) aim is for all horses to pass the winning post in a dead heat – but, of course, this would never happen with 34 horses running and many tricky fences to jump.
The Grand National is the only race where the British Horseracing Authority’s Head of Handicapping, Dominic Gardiner-Hill, can use his discretion to determine the weights. He can personally select what each horse will carry and can deviate from the normal handicap ratings.
The horse considered a top weight comes to about 11st 10lb and the weights allotted to the other horses are set in relation to this.
Grand National Handicap compressing
We’ve seen Tiger Roll win with 11st 5lbs in 2019 and Many Clouds shouldering 11st 9lbs to victory in 2015 – the biggest winning weight since Red Rum in 1974.
In the past, carrying 11st or more has been considered impossible until Hedgehunter carried 11st 1lb for the first time in 22 years. But 2009 winner, Mon Mome, carried 11st to win the race in a year in which the top four horses all carried 11st or more, whilst the 2010 winner – Don’t Push It – carried 11st 5lb and the runner-up – Black Apalachi – carried 11st 6lb.
Looking back and considering the increase in the quality of the horses in modern times, it’s likely that Bobbyjo would not have made the starting line in any of the past 10 runnings. In 1999, the winner was carrying 10st in 1999 and racing from 14lbs out of the handicap.
Thus, whilst Red Rum remains the last horse to win the Grand National Handicap off top weight (and the first since the 1930s), it may not be long before that achievement is repeated – 2013 winner, Neptune Collonges, was the fifth top-weight, whilst only former Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere had more weight than Many Clouds.
Photo by Rept0n1x is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
As sporting sights go, few can match the sheer excitement of 40 horses thundering towards the first fence at Aintree in the Grand National.
Grand National weights and entries 2025 FAQ
Find more relevant information when it comes to weights and entries in the Grand National in our FAQs below.
What are the weights in the Grand National?
Each of the Grand National entries will be allocated a weight to carry based on factors including their past form. The top weight is always set at 11st 10lbs, with the lesser horses having to carry as little as 10st 2lbs. You can find a comprehensive list of the weights on grandnational.org.uk
How do weights work in Grand National?
The Grand National is a handicap race. This means each Grand National entry will be allocated a weight depending on its ability. The top weight will have to carry 11 stones 11 pounds. Historically, horses have struggled to win the Grand National whilst carrying in excess of 11 stones, so the Grand National weights announcement has a big impact on the Grand National betting odds.
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