Grand National 2023 Runners and Weights

The release of the weights for each year’s Grand National is eagerly and anxiously anticipated with every renewal.

With the handicap race being run over such a distance of 4 miles 2½ furlongs, weight allocation has the power to make or break a horse’s chances.

This guide will discuss the significance of the Grand National weights and their effect on the race’s runners, in addition to providing the weights assigned to all current entrants.

Introduction to Grand National Runners 2023

The Grand National is a handicap race, which means that horses are given weights depending on their ability; the best horses will have to carry the highest weight, whereas the least talented or experienced horses will carry the least.

The aim of the handicapper, whose job it is to determine how much each horse will carry, is to have all the horses in the race cross the line at the same time. Of course that sort of result hardly ever happens, but the handicapping system is a way to make the race as fair and competitive as possible.

What is the Significance of Runners Weight in the Grand National?

As the Grand National is such a long race, horses deemed to have lesser ability and – therefore – carry a lesser weight can sometimes have their chances increased as top weight can become a real burden over a race of this distance.

What separates the Grand National from other ordinary handicaps is that the weights are released so far ahead of time. This means that, for example, a horse who is not considered to be in with much of a chance and is, therefore, given a light weight in the National could feasibly run well throughout March and improve significantly beyond the handicapper’s original judgement.

This year Corach Rambler is a prime example of this having been assigned 10st 5lbs for the National prior to winning the Ultima Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival.

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Understanding the Runners Weight in Grand National 2023

Here we explain the different factors that directly affect the horse’s allotted weight, the relevance of the allocation and their weight by jockey.

How are Grand National weights determined?

A variety of factors are taken into account by the handicapper when deciding the weights. They will consider each horse’s age, recent form, previous performances and their perceived ability around the Aintree track.

With the Grand National being over such a great distance, relatively few horses will start the race with proven staying ability over the trip, so it is the handicapper’s job to work out how they might fare.

Why is a Runner’s Weight Important in the Grand National?

A favourable handicap can be a huge factor in the likelihood of Grand National success for a horse. A trip of 4 miles and 2½ furlongs is a long way to go, with stiff fences to negotiate along the way, so one could argue that the less weight the better in these conditions.

Generally speaking, the most proven stayers and able jumpers will be weighted the most highly and have to put in a perfect performance to get in front towards the finish. Lower weight carried by the more inexperienced and less talented runners could, conceivably, allow for a couple of mistakes and allow the horse to power home with more ease.

No winner of the Grand National in the last 20 years has carried more than 11st 9lbs, which suggests that being given top weight is a deciding factor in losing the race. 12 of these winners from the last two decades carried less than 11st.

Factors that Affect Runners Weight in the Grand National

The weight given to a horse in the Grand National depends mostly on their form from the current season and their proven, or unproven, ability around Aintree’s track over the distance and fences.

Noble Yeats, for example, won the Grand National last year, thus is very well proven around Aintree and can stay the distance and jump well. He has also been performing well in his races this season. He has, therefore, been given nearly top weight with 11st 11lbs.

On the other hand, Back On The Lash has been assigned just 9st 13lbs, having never run at Aintree before and being untried over a trip like this.

Grand National 2023 Runners List by Jockey Weight

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Grand National Runners 2023 FAQs

How many runners in the Grand National 2023?

There is a maximum field size of 40 runners in the Grand National.

What are the non-runners in the Grand National 2023?

Currently Venetia Williams’ Quick Wave and Willie Mullins’ Captain Kangaroo are the only non-runners, but more will surface as the Aintree Festival approaches.

When are the Grand National runners confirmed?

The declarations are made and final runners announced on Thursday the 13th of April.

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