Grand National 2021 runners likely to form the field are listed above with the final line up being confirmed in April 2021.

The entries into the race are all allotted running weights during February each year. Then on the Thursday of the Grand National, at 10am, the top 40 runners in the weights which haven't been withdrawn are confirmed.

At this point 4 reserves are also confirmed in case there are any late withdrawn runners. Then on the Friday at 10am the final 40 national runners are declared. If there are any withdrawals after this point then less than 40 horses will run, the reserves are no longer able to substitute non runners after this point.

Grand National Guide will of course keep you updated at every step, we will have the runners updated here as soon as possible after each stage. So the final list of grand national runners is decided based on

Entries (Close end of January)

Weights (Revealed mid February)

Declarations (End of Feb, mid March & Grand National week)

Non runners

Final Confirmation (April 8th with reserves, Friday 9th 1pm final runners)

Grand National Entries

Each year there are normally several hundred grand national entries which are whittled down to the final 40 runners on race day. A horse will be able to be entered in the grand national if it meets the minimum entry criteria.

The race is open to horses aged 7 and older with a handicap of 120 or higher. All entries must also have finished in the first four in a chase of 3 miles or longer. These are stats from last years entries

105 Initial Entries in January 2020

45 Irish Entries

18 Entries trained by Gordon Elliott

10 Entries trained by Willie Mullins

2 Previous Winners Entered - Tiger Roll & One For Arthur

Grand National Weights

During February each year these entries are then allotted running weights for the Grand National. These are based on ratings which the official handicapper gives each of the horses entered.

Each horse already has an official rating for use in handicaps but the official handicapper will adjust this where they think necessary to produce a rating just for the Grand National.

Typically the handicapper will reduce the rating of the very top runners to compress the handicap, that really means narrow the weight differences between the runners.

Because the Grand National is run over such a long distance, longer than other races during the season, each pound of weight theoretically has more impact. This is part the reason why the horses a the top of the handicap often run off ratings lower than their normal weights.

Also this is an opportunity for the handicapper to have a specific opinion on each of the runners to try to make the race a true handicap - the theory being that each horse should carry the same chance once the weight is taken into account.

Grand National Declarations

The initial entry date is at the end of January and then there are further stages through to the race day when runners need to be confirmed at declaration stages which are sometimes called forfeit stages. At each stage a runners connections may need to pay a further entry fee to confirm their runner.

Once the final grand national declarations have been made we will have the confirmed runners and riders listed here. Use this list of grand national horses to pick your bet for the 2021 Grand National.

Grand National Non Runners

The last declaration stage takes place at 10am on the Thursday before the race at which point the top 40 runners in the weights are left in along with four reserves.

These reserves can then become runners if any of the top 40 horses are withdrawn prior to 1pm on the Friday. If there are no non runners during this period then the 40 stand their ground and are the final runners.

Since the reserve runners were introduced in 2000, a total of 10 reserves have run in the Grand National.

2018 - 3 reserves brought in but 2 ran

2010 - 1 reserve

2008 - 1 reserve

2005 - 1 reserve

2004 - 2 reserves

2003 - 1 reserve

2001 - 1 reserve

If horses withdraw and become non runners after this point then the field will start with less than 40 runners. We will be updating this list of grand national horses regularly in the run up to the race so that we keep on top of the likely runners during the year and then from the Friday before the race we will confirm the final list of runners.

Horses become non runners for a number of reasons. Some horses prefer certain ground conditions and if these aren't in place the horses connections may decide not to run their horse.

Horses may have injuries or illnesses of course or connections may not have been able to get them to the required fitness in time. Some horses are entered in a number of races and the choice of where they will run is made at a later date.

The Irish Grand National for example is run during early April too and horses cannot run in both races as they are too close together.

Confirmed Grand National Runners

The maximum grand national field is 40 runners and riders and the full number of horses are likely to start the 2020 Grand National unless there are any late withdrawals.

As well as the 40 runners being confirmed on the Thursday before Grand National day, reserves are also listed at this stage which can take the place of any horses which are withdrawn over night.

If the reserves aren't required to race then the list of 40 runners are confirmed and any later non runners aren't replaced. Since 2000 there have been 40 runners in the final grand national line up apart from on four occasions.

If reserves do come in then they will take the numbers of the horses they replace but will be listed ats the bottom of the racecard. Interesting stats about Grand National Runners;