5 Concerns About Corach Rambler Winning The Grand National 2024
Update: The below concerns was clearly not without merit. Corach Rambler unstead jockey Derek Fox at the very first fence. I am Maximus was the eventual winner of the Grand National 2024, he was favourite at the off.
The greatest horse race of them all – The Grand National 2024. They used to call it the ‘housewives favourite’ now it’s everyone’s. Saturday 13th April, the bustling crowd at Aintree, Liverpool will be watching and waiting in anticipation.
Could this be another year for Corach Rambler?
This 10-year-old bay gelding has been the buzz horse and presently 11/2 favourite to take the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) ahead of Willie Mullins I am Maximus at 7-1. The race takes place at the earlier time of 4:00 Aintree. With a bumper win prize of £500,000 (total prizes £1,000,000) it’s a race millions across the world will be watching and betting.
Corach Rambler is trained by Lucinda Russell, in the ownership of The Ramblers, who will be on the edge of their seats when The National starts for not only is it the greatest test of horse and jockey it’s going to be one hell of a test with the official ground being Heavy.
How much of a test will this be?
Even Red Rum would have been thinking is this a stride too far.
After animal welfare concerns it is good to see the Grand National field reduced from 40 runners to 34. Just before the final declarations there were 51 entrants so there will be a few disappointed connections but the Sport of Kings needs something good to talk about.
This gruelling 4m 2 1/2f and 30 fences is going to take some getting. In fact, you may see one or two horses (and jockeys) wearing Wellington boots. As the old-boy farmers used to say: ‘Look for a horse with hooves the size of dinner plates’.
Lucinda Russell is no stranger to Grand National winners:
2017 – One For Arthur (8yo) (10-11) Jockey: Derek Fox 14/1
2023 – Corach Rambler (9yo) (10-5) Jockey: Derek Fox 8/1f
The BIG question: ‘Can Corach Rambler make it two wins from two?
Last year saw an imperious victory. Corach Rambler who flew clear of the field and only gave the chasers a glimmer of hope when idling in front. It was a classy effort. Derek Fox had an armchair ride. That day, the official going was described as good-to-soft.
The time pretty standard at (9m 12.06s) 6.62s slow.
But what are the 5 concerns about Corach Rambler winning the 2024 Grand National?
1) The burden of weight. Last year he carried 10-5 and this year will be shouldering 11-5. Is 14lb simply too much for this gelding to handle?
2) Heavy going is a concern at the best of times. In 2023, Corach Rambler ran on going described as good to soft. The race times was pretty much standard compared to recent years. It’s not impossible these testing conditions could see a time nearer 10 minutes (standard 9m 4s). It may be the equivalent of running a couple of extra furlongs. A mighty test.
3) In the last 30-years, there have been just 7 favourites win and no consecutive favourites winning let alone the same horse.
4) Poor record of Gold Cup placed horses running in the Grand National. A total of 16 runs and 1 winner in the past 40-years. That was Rough Quest who won the National in 1996 at odds of 7/1f.
5) Possibly Poor value. Any punter needs a little bit of meat on the bone when betting and odds of 11/2 in these testing conditions with the burden – little if any value.
Personally, I’m looking forward to the Grand National with a smaller field. I’m sure officials will be concerned about the very testing ground which we haven’t seen since Little Polvier (1998) 28/1 & Red Marauder (2001) 33/1.
Sure, those races were run over 4m 4f but I can’t see many of the 34 runners finishing.
It looks a race where a handful will get over the line and one of those may be at giant price.
As the old-boy farmer used to say: ‘Look for the horse with hooves the size of dinner plate’.
Come home safe and sound.