Grand National Trainers – Who to follow
How are you selecting your best 2024 Aintree Grand National bet, and which Grand National trainers should you look out for? We look at five leading Grand National trainers heading up the betting before Saturday 13th April 2024.
Grand National – Who to bet on?
Many people ask which is the best horse to bet for the Grand National, so let’s take a look at who to bet on at the Grand National in terms of trainers.
Having a trainer that has already won the Grand National can be a big plus – they know what it takes to get a horse ready to run in the world’s greatest steeplechase and how to get a horse to peak at the right time.
Trainers – Who to bet for Grand National 2024?
Who to bet on in the Grand National? That’s the big question!
With three victories so far, Gordon Elliott is one of the biggest favourites on the Grand National betting scene. The first time he won was in 2007 with a horse named Silver Birch at odds of 33/1. Elliott won again in 2018 and 2019, as Tiger Roll became the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win the prestigious race in successive years.
Nigel Twiston-Davies is another popular option given he has two wins and a lot of experience under his belt, while Willie Mullins is also worth consideration when deciding who to bet on Grand National 2024. Another name worth mentioning is five times British jump racing champion trainer Nicky Henderson, although a Grand National victory has proven elusive so far.
Whoever you choose, you should bear the following points in mind:
- Make sure to check the odds online betting sites are offering before deciding who to back for the Grand National, as there can be significant variation.
- When deciding who to bet on for Grand National 2024, the trainers aren’t the only important factor. Don’t forget to check out which are best horses to bet in Grand National 2024, too!
Gordon Elliott
- Grand National Wins: 3 – 2007, 2018 & 2019
The Gordon Elliott yard is a powerhouse stable that has a fine record in the Grand National. Their first win in the race came in 2007 with a horse called Silver Birch. This 10-year-old landed the race with 10st 6lbs and had jockey Robbie Power doing the steering.
The yard had to wait 11 years for their next winner – but that came in 2018 with Tiger Roll. Owned by the powerful Gigginstown House Stud, this 8-year-old held on by just a head at the line to reward his backers and also gave jockey – Davy Russell – his first win in the race. Tiger Roll then also followed-up in 2019 to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back to back Grand Nationals. In the process, he gave Gordon Elliott his third success in the race.
Elliott is a veteran of Grand National Trainers, also trained the third in the race in 2018 – Bless The Wings – plus Ucello Conti, who was a close-up seventh until unseating it’s rider four fences from home. In 2022, the Gordon Elliott yard had 7 of the 40 Grand National runners in the race, with Delta Work performing best in 3rd place. We can expect another strong hand from the County Meath-based Irish trainer in 2024.
Gordon Elliott’s 2024 Grand National runners are expected to include:
- Delta Work
- Coko Beach
- Gerri Colombe
- Galvin
- Chemical Energy
- Gevrey
Willie Mullins
- Grand National Wins: 1 – 2005
Hedgehunter, in 2005, has provided Willie Mullins with his sole Grand National winner to date, but he’s another of the big yards that is sure to be well represented in 2023. His Pleasant Company finished runner-up in 2018, and Mullins did have the third in the 2019 race too as Ruby Walsh teamed-up with his old pal to steer home Rathvinden to land the bronze medal.
Willie Mullins’ 2024 Grand National runners are expected to include:
- Gaillard Du Mesnil
- I Am Maximus
- Carefully Selected
- Capodanno
- Mr Incredible
Nigel Twiston-Davies
- Grand National Wins: 2 – 1998 & 2002
With wins in 1998 and 2002, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has one of the best Grand National records in recent times. His Blaklion was a leading player in 2018 but was brought down at the first fence. His 9-year-old was fourth in the 2017 race though and does have a fine record over these fences, having also won the Becher Chase here in December 2017. In 2022 Twiston-Davies had Good Boy Bobby in the race, but he failed to make it round the famous Aintree course.
Henry de Bromhead
- Grand National Wins: 1 – 2021
The De Bromhead name has been long associated with horse racing, with Henry taking over from father Harry in 2000. He won his first Grade One race as a trainer in 2008, and was added to the list of winning Grand National trainers in 2021, when Rachael Blackmore rode Minella Times to a famous victory. Henry de Bromhead enjoyed an impressive Cheltenham Festival in 2022, taking his tally there to 18 winners, but at this stage it’s hard to know if he’ll have any runners in Grand National 2024. If he does, be sure to give them a second glance.
Henry de Bromhead’s 2024 Grand National runners are expected to include:
- Ain’t That A Shame
- Gabby’s Cross
Nicky Henderson
- Grand National Wins: None
The five-time champion trainer is yet to add the Grand National to his haul of big race winners, but he’s sure to have some live chances of putting that right in 2021. His first runner in the Grand National came in 1979 with a horse called Zongalero, which ironically is still the best he’s done in the contest after the horse was runner-up by just one and a half lengths that year.
Some leading horses to run under his name in the race have been Long Run, Triolo D’Alene and Hunt Ball, who all ran in the 2014 renewal. In 2021, Henderson had Ok Corral in the race, and the three-time champion jumps trainer will love to add a Grand National win to this CV before he retires.
Nicky Henderson’s 2024 Grand National runners are expected to include:
- Mister Coffey
Tony McCoy, JP McManus & Nicky Henderson by RacingKel is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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