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One of the best way of gaining first hand knowledge and equine information relating to flat or national hunt trainers, owners and their hopes for horses and the racing season is though via horse racing stable tours. These limited number of private vip, and public one on one or group tour experiences see leading racing trainers guide you through a tour of the gallops, schooling grounds, equine pool, watch jockey’s put horses through their paces and gain insights into stable training and preparation for the big race. You’ll also get to see the science behind how all of this fits together in the yard.

The cost of vip stable tours can vary, but they are informative both from a race goer point or view and also the perfect gift for someone who loves and follows horse racing. Several top uk horse trainers offer stable tours, and it’s quite an experience to see the nurturing ground and yard of winners of the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival races. These one off, behind the scenes looks at training yards are not to be missed experiences and a day to remember.

The following trainers offer horse racing trainer stable tours:

Kim Bailey
Micky Hammond
Alan King
Jonjo O’Neill
David Pipe
Charlie Longsdon
Ben Pauling

as well as several others via syndicate group perks for instance (Mark Johnston, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and the like)

Knowledge is power as they say, stable tours certainly are a valuable part of this puzzle, bringing the behind the scenes and working processes of turning a horse into a winner all very much into the real world.

Saturday, 13^th April, 2024.

4PM Aintree, Liverpool.

The Greatest Steeplechase in the World.

The question on the lips of every horse racing fan: ‘Will Corach Rambler win the 2024 Grand National?

Lucinda Russell’s bay gelding, a son of Jeremy, out of a mare called Heart N Hope, showed just that when trouncing his rivals in last year’s race. Aintree has seen its share of gallant winners but there was a real sparkle about that performance. Derek Fox must have been counting his percentage of the mighty £561,300 winnings.

With a £1,000,000 total prize fund there’s plenty to go round.

The Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap). Racing over 4m 2 1/2f, 30 fences and a total prize pot of £1M. No wonder the biggest names in racing: owners, trainers and jockeys are battling for triumph. A bustling crowd heading to the course to watch history in the making.

Corach Rambler, racing in the familiar silks of The Ramblers, tried their luck at Cheltenham when their 10-year-old finished third in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1). Although beaten 13-lengths, the £67,354.17 added to a healthy total prize earnings of £776,459. To be placed in the Gold Cup could be viewed as a positive for a second National victory.

However, the record of Gold Cup placed horses heading to the Grand National isn’t as sparkling as it might seem. In fact, from 16 runners there has been just one winner in the last 40-years – Rough Quest (1996).

How will Corach Rambler cope with the going? Heavy! No hiding place.

Also, he has to shoulder an extra 14lb with a weight of 11-5 (compared to last year’s victory at 10-5).

With animal welfare concerns, the maximum size of the race has been adjusted to 34 from 40 which should make for a better and safer race.

At the time of writing, Corach Rambler is priced 11/2 favourite with bookmakers. There seems little value in betting at those odds. However, we will only know the answer to that question come the finishing line.

In many ways, this year’s Grand National is a turning point. The traditional time has been moved to 4PM. The number of runner reduced and an added emphasis on animal welfare is a positive. The idea is reducing the speed of horses may seem ironic with this race taking place in testing conditions. A few races of old have seen a small number finish. Mud splattered jockeys. Who can forget Red Marauder winning by a distance on heavy ground at odds of 33/1. A field of 40 horses and only four finished each a distance apart.

Corach Rambler has stiff opposition from a number of fancied horses including those owned by J P McManus. I Am Maximus & Meetingofthewaters, trained by Willie Mullins, are priced at single-figure odds and sure to have their supporters. In fact, Mullins heads to Aintree with a strong hand considering Mr Incredible is a 12/1 shot.

Derek Fox will be pleased that the delaying of a potential whip ban means he is free to ride Corach Rambler. Saturday will see a good battle of 34 horses looking to make the headlines. If he wins two on the bounce, then next year’s race will be something to savour.

The Grand National is one of the most popular races in the world. The gambling industry and horse racing world have seen much turmoil over the last few years and perhaps this race will be a turning point for better times to come.

Update: I am Maximus is the winner of the Grand National 2024. The jockey of his main rival Corach Rambler  (Derek Fox) was unseated at the first fence.

Only a Gladiator could name a horse I Am Maximus.

Hardly surprising this 8-year-old bay gelding is owned by JP McManus. Reputed billionaire businessman and fearless professional gambler. Any horse racing fan worth their salt knows that earlier statement was said tongue in cheek because this horse was formerly owned by Claudio Michael Grech until the 22^nd March 2023. However, I still think the name is fitting for the Irishman who is synonymous with high-profile horses.

They don’t come any bigger than the Grand National 2024.

Those familiar green and yellow silks with white cap.

I feel like running onto the course on the Saturday 13^th April [4:00 Aintree] and shouting: ‘I am Maximus’ then quickly disappearing into the crowd to place a bet. If I see McManus with a wad of cash…

It’s a similar story for these connections. Willie Mullins is the a consummate professional bringing unbounded fear to English bookmakers. The Luck of the Irish. Are you kidding. They need no luck.

Just ask the Cheltenham Crowd!

Ask the bookmaker.

You always have to respect an Irish radar.

For a pot worth £1000,000 there are plenty.

I Am Maximus has been in good form. This son of Authorized is lightly raced with just 14 starts but a consistent sort with 5 wins. In fact, he’s never been out of the first four. This horse, formerly with Nicky Henderson, is untested over this extended trip of 4m 2 1/2f, having won at 3m 5f at Fairyhouse (IRE) on the 10^th April 2023 to take the Irish Grand National Chase. He’s been prepared well, winning on the 24^th February on testing ground (soft/heavy).

J P McManus had to wait for his first Grand National victory back in 2010. Don’t Push It (10/1JF) made it a day to remember for him and Tony McCoy. That was with trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

McManus struck again in 2021 with Minella Times. Another groundbreaking day with Rachael Blackmore prevailing for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

A special moment in time.

It has been a good few years since Willie Mullins tasted victory in the greatest steeplechase of them all. Readers will remember the noble Hedgehunter (2005) for the Closutton, Bagenalstown, Carlow handler. The utter joy of owner Trevor Hemmings.

However, there may be some competition for the number one slot at this year’s Grand National as Willie Mullins and J P McManus come with numbers. They have 4 horses in the last 51 entrant with a maximum field of 34 (from 40 due to animal welfare concerns).

Meetingofthewaters, a 7-year-old son of Court Cave is fancied to go well at odds of 9/1.

Capodanno (40/1) and Janidil (100/1) may also make the line-up.

McManus has Limerick Lace trained by Gavin Cromwell who is presently 20/1.

It will be interesting to see if the going remains heavy. However, rain or shine J P McManus will be heading to Aintree, Liverpool.

He has a strong hand.

It will be no easy feat to cover this 4m 2 1/2f on testing going. If it is battle of attrition I can’t see many of the 34 runners finishing. However, it would be no surprise to see J P McManus with a smile on his face come the finishing line.

Good luck to all.

Come home safe.

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.