Aintree Grand National: What are the key trends to follow? Flat racing has returned to Britain but National Hunt action isn't done with just yet. The Grand National takes place at Aintree in April and the £1,000,000 event is at the top of every trainer's wishlist. Probably the most famous race in the world, the horses that come out on top earn a place in the history books and it'll be fascinating to see whose turn it is this year. Finding the winner is no easy task but the recent trends can give you a helping hand and start narrowing down your shortlist. Here are some of the key recent stats from the last decade, which could be worth bearing in mind. Weight Only three horses have managed to successfully carry 11st or more to victory in the last decade and that's not surprising. Jumping those big fences at speed and over a distance of an extended 4m2f is no mean feat and lighter weights are therefore an advantage. However, significant changes have been made to the fences in the last couple of years, potentially making the race easier. This has enabled the last two winners to carry 11st 8lb and 11st 6lb respectively and top weight I Am Maximus, Grangeclare West, Iroko and Haiti Couleurs will all be carrying plenty of penalty on their backs. Those who think the trend will change may seek out the likes of Jagwar, Johnnywho, Oscars Brother and Panic Attack, who are all likely to carry less than 11st. Irish dominance The pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 Grand National, so we only have nine renewals to consider in the last decade. Seven of those nine winners were trained in Ireland and only Lucinda Russell has been able to fight back against the Irish dominance. Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have won four of the last seven between them, with Elliott's Tiger Roll winning twice in 2018 and 2019, while I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett have come out on top in the last two years, also for Mullins. That potentially doesn't bode well for Jagwar, Iroko, Haiti Couleurs and Johnnywho, but a much-improved performance from Britain at the Cheltenham Festival suggests there's a possibility of a resurgence this time around. Age trends Veterans don't have the best record in recent years, as the last winner aged 10 or above was Pineau De Re back in 2014. We've had one seven-year-old winner in the last decade but the other eight were all eight or nine. I Am Maximus heads the market and stablemate Grangeclare West is also prominent in the betting, but both are 10-year-olds and could have their work cut out. Oscars Brother and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Monty's Star fit the age bracket.
