Grand National 2023 LIVE RESULTS: Runners and riders CONFIRMED, Templegate's tips, free bets, odds for Aintree
THE biggest race in the world is almost upon us - and this year's Grand National looks like being an absolute stormer.
But before that we have two full days of top-quality action from Aintree.
With Cheltenham disappearing behind us, all the top trainers are firing up their big guns again in the hunt for glory and riches.
Sun Racing will be with you every step of the way with the biggest and best live blog - and don't forget to check out our free bet offers and Templegate's tips.
Follow ALL of the latest updates below...
Magic Mullins
Willie Mullins has been hoovering up in recent weeks and the Irish maestro has excellent chances today with Bronn in the Mildmay and Haut En Couleurs, a big fancy in the Topham.
Fantastik chance
William Hill have sent over their movers for today's racing and two horses have halved in price. . .
William Hill spokesperson, Lee Phelps, said: “Business has been strong already ahead of day two at Aintree, with the most notable market mover being French Dynamite in the Melling Chase.
“Mouse Morris’ charge is 15/2 from 10/1 for the 2m4f contest, while in the Topham, the one punters are latching onto is Fantastikas, who is 14/1 from 28/1.”
1.45 Gerri Colombe: 10/11 > 8/11
2.20 Fennor Cross: 11/1 > 8/1
2.55 Hullnback: 10/1 > 7/1 & No Looking Back: 12/1 > 15/2
3.30 French Dynamite: 10/1 > 15/2
4.05 Fantastikas: 28/1 > 14/1
4.40 Hurricane Bay: 33/1 > 14/1
Gotta be Gerri
Gerri Colombe was touched off at the Cheltenham Festival by The Real Whacker but Matt Chapman is firmly in his camp today.
He said: "Gordon Elliott is the trainer and I expect Gerri to be too good. Go Davy!"
Blackmore to up the Anti
Rachael Blackmore rode a winner yesterday and is sweet on the chances of Upping The Anti in the Topham later today.
"He has the right profile for the race, he is still on an upward curve, and hopefully he can get a little bit of luck in-running," said the 2021 Grand National-winning jockey.
Aintree Mania?
Ryan Mania's only winner at Aintree from 50 attempts was his 2013 Grand National success on Auroras Encore. Cooper's Cross has an outside chance for him in the Topham.
19th-time lucky?
Davy Russell's last winner in Britain came way back in October - he's 0-18 since his race riding return and has the big responsibility of odds-on shot Gerri Colombe in the opening Mildmay Novices' Chase.
Hen do
He had two winners yesterday - will Nicky Henderson have another today in the shape of promising mare Luccia?
Written in the stars?
Escaria Ten, currently a 66/1 outsider in the Grand National, was handed a huge boost of Aintree glory as star signs Cancer and Taurus are the most successful in the race since 1981, matching jockey AP Heskin’s Taurus zodiac.
According to new research by Grand National Betting, a jockey with the star sign Cancer or Taurus has won the prestigious Aintree race on six occasions each, more than any other zodiac.
AP Heskin’s 22nd April birthday makes him a Taurus and means he has history and the stars on his side on Saturday when he lines up in the Grand National on Escaria Ten.
Other horses that are fortunate enough to be paired with a Cancer or Taurus include the 13/2 favourite Corach Rambler, who is partnered by Taurus Derek Fox.
20/1 shot Galvin will be ridden by Davy Russell, Cancer, while Rachael Blackmore and 20/1 Ain’t That a Shame are also handed a boost.
Dunboyne and Darasso are 50/1 to win the race and could be attractive to punters that follow the stars due to their Taurus and Cancer jockey booking, Jack Tudor (Dunboyne) and LP Dempsey (Darasso).
Ground update
The going on Ladies Day at the Randox Grand National Festival is Good To Soft on all three courses following between 4mm and 5mm of overnight watering throughout.
It’s a damp and grey morning at Aintree, but much less windy than on the opening day. The forecast for the day is for sunny periods, with the chance of a passing shower (0-2mm).
There are three non-runners:
2.20pm William Hill Handicap Hurdle
7 Benson (Self certificate, lame)
2.55pm Poundland Top Novices’ Hurdle
2 Colonel Harry (Going)
4.05pm Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase
22 Quel Destin (Self certificate, lame)
Redknapp's horse backed off the boards
There has been a huge market move for Harry Redknapp's Back On The Lash in the Grand National.
He was 66-1 but is as short as 25-1 in places now after sneaking in near the bottom of the weights.
Market movers
Paddy Power's traders have been on and let us know who's shortening this morning...
2.20 Fennor Cross 15-2 fr 9
2.55 No Looking Back 15-2 fr 8
3.30 Fakir D’Oudaries 7-4 fr 15-8
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Punters seem to think that Fakir D’Oudaries’s bid for history by becoming the first horse to scoop the Marsh Chase three times will be successful.
"It’s amazing the way that he seems to thrive at Aintree in the spring and Joseph’s horses ran well on the opening day with a win for Banbridge as well as a third."
4.05 Al Dancer 8 fr 9
4.40 Stay Away Fay 9-2 fr 5
5.15 Parramount 7 fr 8
Last year's winner on who he likes this year
Sam Waley-Cohen's unforgettable 50-1 win on Noble Yeats in last year's National will live long in the memory.
But he has revealed who he thinks has a good chance of seeing off his horse of a lifetime 12 months on.
Sam told Grosvenor Sport: "I think Delta Work looks like a really interesting runner. He ran really well last year and has obviously shown himself to be in very similar form, so you can imagine he would be really competitive.
"One of the great things about the race is that there are so many good horses in it, it is about who raises their game on the day. It remains as open and competitive as it ever has done."
£100million to be staked on Grand National
Paddy Power reveals that up to 15,000 bets per minute will be staked with them by punters across the UK and Ireland in the hour leading up to this Saturday evening’s Aintree Grand National.
The Irish betting firm are bracing themselves to take 9,000 bets per minute on this weekend’s Grand National on the morning of the race - peaking at 15,000 bets during the 60 minutes before the off.
The bookie estimates a total of approximately £250million will be wagered with bookmakers' industry wide across the three-day Aintree Racing Festival with an estimated £100m punted on the Grand National alone.
Trade secret
Sun Racing tells you the incredible story of the punter who makes money on every Grand National - without backing the winner.
Step inside the world of Betfair trader Peter Webb and read his amazing story.
Going the extra Mil
Le Milos is the horse that best fits the trends for Saturday’s Grand National, according to Sporting Index.
The spread betting firm predict the winner will carry 10st 12lbs as well as being an eight-year-old, and the Dan Skelton-trained runner, who can be backed at 14/1, is closest matched of the 40-strong field to those forecasts.
Le Milos is expected to win by 5½ lengths, while less than half of the runners – just 17 of the 40-strong field – will complete the course.
The firm also predict a peak audience of 7.25 million will tune into ITV’s coverage of the Grand National at 5:15pm on Saturday afternoon, down slightly on last year’s 7.5 million that watched the race.
Neville Burdock, Head of Sportsbook at Sporting Index, said: “The Grand National is one of those rare sporting events that captures the attention of the nation, and we expect just over 7 million people to watch the race on ITV alone, but we can’t see last year’s figure of 7.5 million being bettered.
“According to our predictions the winner is likely to carry around 10st 12lb and be aged eight, which fits the profile of Dan Skelton’s Le Milos, who is expected to stretch over five lengths clear of his rivals at the line.
“As always, cases can be made for many of the 40 runners, but we expect only 17 to complete the four-and-a-quarter-mile course.”
Clean sweep
Don't forget that now is the perfect time to download your free Sun Racing Grand National sweepstake kit.
The biggest, best and most accurate kit - complete with organiser's checklist - is back for 2023.
Download the Grand National sweepstake kit and get your colleagues or mates to take part before the big race at 5.15pm on Saturday.
Going update
So we're looking at good to soft for the second day of the Aintree Grand National Festival.
The big race of the day is the 2m4f Grade 1 Marsh Chase (aka the Melling).
That will be run at 3.30 and the 2-1 fav is Fakir D'oudaries for Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien.
But the most eye-catching race of the day will be the Topham at 4.05.
A whopping 29 runners will battle it out over 2m5f and a whopping 18 of the National fences.
The Skeltons have the favourite there in the shape of 8-1 Ashtown Lad.
Plot job?
Chappers has also picked one out in the lucky last who, he thinks, could still be well-handicapped despite being put up a stone for his last win.
GAOTH CHUIL (5.15) might still be well-handicapped despite being 15lb higher here than when scoring at Leopardstown last time.
His previous ninth at the same track was also a decent effort and I expect a huge run for Ted Walsh and Shane O’Callaghan who takes off a useful 7lb. Have a few quid on each-way.
CHATTY CHAPPERS
Sun Racing columnist Matt Chapman has gone through his fancies on day two.
He's all over the heavily-backed Gerri Colombe in the first race of the day.
Can Gordon Elliott's star get revenge for that gut-wrenching runner-up finish at Cheltenham?
Meanwhile, in the helter-skelter Topham, he goes for Willie Mullins' Burrows Saint.
Chappers says...
The old boy was once fourth in a Grand National where the trip just found him out in the closing stages.
He ran pretty well behind Longhouse Poet at Down Royal last time and should have an each-way chance.
Morning all!
Who's ready for Ladies Day at Aintree?
It promises to be a cracker - let's just hope the forecast rain stays away.
Going update and latest news to follow...
Grand National latest odds
Here are the current favourites to claim the BIG win on Saturday evening:
6-1 Corach Rambler
8-1 Noble Yeats
9-1 Delta Work
11-1 Any Second Now
12-1 Gaillard Du Mesnil
12-1 Mr Incredible
14-1 Le Milos
14-1 Longhouse Poet
Hen Party
Constitution Hill and Shishkin made sure Aintree’s opening day turned into an almighty Hen party.
Nicky Henderson landed the big two races in the space of 35 magical minutes and puffed out his cheeks to admit: “It’s been a good day.”
First up was Shishkin, who blew away any doubts about staying three miles, by scorching clear from Ahoy Senor to lift the Aintree Bowl.
Henderson reckons he could have the perfect candidate for Kempton’s King George on Boxing Day — and potentially a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner of the future.
Then came Constitution Hill, the superstar who took his record to a perfect seven from seven in the Aintree Hurdle without breaking sweat.
Owner Michael Buckley and Henderson will now discuss whether to send their brilliant hurdler over fences.
Templegate tips
GERRI COLOMBE (1.45 Aintree, treble)
He was in front inches past the post when second in the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival.
He powered up the hill and Davy Russell takes the ride today and is sure to have him a bit closer to the pace.
He won two Grade 1s at Limerick and Sandown earlier this season and has more to come.
Templegate tips
FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES (3.30 Aintree, nb)
He has won the past two runnings of this race and can land the hat-trick.
He wasn’t at his best behind Shishkin at Ascot last time but had earlier taken a Thurles Grade 2 without breaking sweat.
He loves this track and can show his best form.
Templegate tips
AL DANCER (4.05 Aintree, nap)
He loved these National fences when winning the Grand Sefton over course and distance last time out.
He jumped well there and trainer Sam Thomas has given him a break since.
That’s a wise move as the 10-year-old is best when fresh and he has the benefit of Charlie Deutsch in the saddle who has a strong record in chases.
