The 2020 Grand National was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic but the 2021 edition is all set to take centre-stage on 10 April
The Grand National is Europe’s most valuable horse jump race with £1million up for grabs as part of the prize fund.
However, the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 event will take place at the Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, and this will be the 173rd running of the show-piece event.
This will also be the first time the event will be held behind closed doors, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last year, a special CGI race in 2020 which featured the 40 horses that could have participated. Potters Corner, the winner of the 2019 Welsh Grand National, came first in that CGI race.
Another similar race was created which featured horses that had won the Grand National over the years, and record breaker Red Rum got first place in that as can be seen in the infographic below.
A guide to the 2021 Grand National
The race has always been held at the same ground, the first time in 1893. The race distance is 4 miles and 514 yards and the horses have to jump 30 fences in total over the course.
There are some qualifications required for the current crop of horses. Horses need to be seven years or above and have a rating of 120 or greater by the British Horseracing Authority. The horses also need to have raced in a recognised chase of three miles or greater.
Almost 600million watch the Grand National in over 140 countries, and it is also covered on radio by some outlets.
The 2021 Grand National is expected to be another great race but the 2019 and 2018 winner, Tiger Roll, will not feature in the competition.
Tiger Roll was withdrawn by the Gigginstown Horse Stud due to an excessive weight allocation. This opens the door for a new champion and Cloth Cap has been named as the favourite leading into the race.
Tiger Roll could have created history by winning the 2021 Grand National. Only Red Rum has won this race thrice and that was achieved in 1973, 1974 and 1977.
The record for most wins by a leading jockey is held by George Stevens, and he won the race five times in his career.
He rode four horses and his wins came in 1856, 1863, 1864, 1869 and 1870. Gigginstown Horse Stud is also tied with three others in terms of having the most wins from one owner.
Apart from Tiger Roll, Rule the World won the Grand National from the Gigginstown Horse Stud in 2016.
Some celebrities have also had entries in this jump race with Sir Alex Ferguson, Gregory Peck and Freddie Starr all sending horses to the event.
Starr’s horse, Miinnehoma, won the race in 1994, and it will be interesting to see who can break Tiger Roll’s streak in the 2021 edition.
