Grand National organisers cut the £1m race from 40 to 34 runners as part of a major revamp after deaths and protests at Aintree

• The revamped changes have been described as ‘necessary’ as the race evolves
• The Jockey Club have spent six months talking to all parties, including RSPCA 
• PETER SCUDAMORE: These changes will make the iconic race SAFER 

The Jockey Club have taken the dramatic decision to cut the Randox Grand National field size by 15 per cent to safeguard the Aintree spectacular’s future.

Next April, the world’s most famous race will see a maximum of 34 runners go to post instead of 40. The Jockey Club, who run Aintree, believe it is imperative to make the move now and say they have taken the decision in the interest of the health and safety of all human and equine participants.

It is one of multiple changes – which The Jockey Club insist are not the result of track protests in this year’s race by animal rights activists – that have been made to the £1million contest, changes that Nevin Truesdale, the Jockey Club’s Chief Executive, is adamant were ‘necessary’. These include:

• The first fence being moved 60 yards closer to the start line;
• The field being required to begin from a standing start;
• The ‘off’ being brought forward from its current 5.15pm time to a slot earlier in the day;
• An expert panel will scrutinise the jumping capabilities of all entries.  

The Jockey Club has decided to reduce the Grand National from 40 runners to 34 from 2024

By removing six of the runners, the Jockey Club believes the race will be less claustrophobic

Jockey Club officials have spent six months talking with many parties, including the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare, and analysing data from all Grand Nationals over the last decade. Special focus was attached to the most recent one, which was won by the 8/1 favourite Corach Rambler.

Hill Sixteen, an 80/1 outside trained in Scotland by Sandy Thomson, suffered a fatal fall at the first fence after the Grand National was delayed 14 minutes due to Animal Rising protestors storming onto the course and attempting to glue themselves to an obstacle.

Thomson was incensed and blamed the protestors for being responsible for the fate that befell Hill Sixteen. The gelding became the fourth horse in the last three Grand Nationals to lose its life during the race, ramping up scrutiny on the event. Some critics would wish to see it banned completely.

Horse welfare is paramount at Aintree and The Jockey Club say they are determined to take every precaution to eliminate the potential for repeats in the future.

By taking six runners out of the fray, they believe there will be more space for jockeys and horses to manoeuvre and the approach to all obstacles will be a little less claustrophobic – not least on what used to be a charge to the first.

Five horses failed to get beyond the first fence in April and, as such, Aintree recognised action needed to be taken: by shortening the run to it by 60 yards, the pace will theoretically be slower and prevent over-enthusiastic runners building up a head of steam.

Arguably the move which might cause most controversy within the sport is that horses which have made jumping errors in half or more of their last eight races may be barred from the National by an expert panel which scrutinises the suitability entries.

The 2023 race’s start time was delayed 14 minutes due to the course’s infiltration by protestors

Corach Rambler and jockey Derek Fox celebrate after winning this year’s race at Aintree

In a statement, Truesdale, Chief Executive of The Jockey Club, said the changes to the Grand National are part of the organisation’s ‘relentless focus on welfare’; he added: ‘This is the most iconic race in the world and one which transcends our sport.

‘It is part of the fabric of British sporting life alongside the likes of Wimbledon, the FA Cup and the Open golf and is loved and watched by millions of people all over the world every year.

‘For many it is also their introduction to horseracing and I believe that a competitive, fair and safe Randox Grand National is one of the best ways of ensuring the sport continues to thrive for generations to come and remains an important part of Britain’s culture and economy.

‘That means our sport needs to recognise when action needs to be taken to evolve because the safety and care of horses and jockeys will always be our number one priority. We are underlining our relentless focus on welfare and our commitment to powering the future of British racing.’

The changes were welcomed by dual Grand National winning jockey turned ITV pundit Ruby Walsh, who said: ‘The world is ever-changing. The Grand National and, indeed, horseracing – like any other sport – has to be prepared to change. Risk can’t be removed but you have to try and minimise it.’

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