The big winners from the 2024 Grand National meeting

The 2024 Grand National Festival certainly didn’t disappoint, as three days of exhilarating action at Aintree thrilled punters and cost the bookmakers a fortune.

The favourite in the betting prevailed in 11 of the 21 races, including in the Grand National itself and eight of the meeting’s 11 Grade 1 fixtures.

That said, let’s look at some of the biggest winners from the festival and assess how they came about landing some of the biggest prize purses of the week.

Bowl Chase – Gerri Colombe

The first day of the Grand National Festival opens with four Grade 1s in succession, and while the Manifesto Novices’ Chase and the Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle command respect, the Bowl and the Aintree Hurdle are the highlights of the card.

The first of those two top-level contests went in favour of Gerri Colombe. The Gordon Elliott-trained horse, who was second to Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup, fought off Ahoy Senor to win by half-a-length in a heart-racing finish to land the £140,608 prize purse.

Aintree Hurdle – Impaire Et Passe

Moving onto the other big race on day one of the Grand National Festival, the Aintree Hurdle market was led by the exciting Impaire Et Passe and Bob Olinger, and the two-mile, four-furlong contest lived up to its billing.

Impaire Et Passe led approaching the finish but drifted across Bob Olinger and Langer Dan and was running out of steam toward the finish as the chasing duo closed in. The Willie Mullins-trained horse ultimately held on by a nose from Bob Olinger and a shorthead from Langer Dan.

A lengthy steward’s inquiry was held to decide whether Impaire Et Passe had hindered his rivals, but the result remained unaltered.

Melling Chase – Jonbon

Day two, or Ladies’ Day as it’s affectionately known at Aintree, is headlined by the Melling Chase, and Jonbon justified favouritism when winning the lucrative two-mile, four-furlong Grade 1 for veteran trainer Nicky Henderson.

The Seven Barrows handler had a Cheltenham Festival to forget after an infection broke out in his yard and he failed to have a winner for the first time since 2008. But his horses made up for it at Aintree and Jonbon was a notable winner when keeping on for the £143,231 top prize.

Grand National – I Am Maximus

After being crowned the Leading Owner again at the Cheltenham Festival in March, it was another hugely successful meeting for esteemed owner JP McManus, as he had one winner on the opening day and three on day two before winning a third Grand National.

I Am Maximus set off as the 7/1 joint-favourite alongside fellow McManus-owned horse Limerick Lace, who finished 10th, and romped to a seven-and-a-half-length victory over 11-year-olds Delta Work and Minella Indo after overtaking the veterans in the closing stages.

The eight-year-old’s win marked the first Grand National success for Paul Townend, while I Am Maximus also broke Mullins’ 19-year-old duck following his maiden victory with Hedgehunter in 2005.

Other Grade 1 winners:
Manifesto Novices’ Chase – Il Etait Temps
Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle – Sir Gino
Mildmay Novices’ Chase – Inothewayurthinkin
Top Novices’ Hurdle – Mystical Power
Sefton Novices’ Hurdle – Dancing City
Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Brighterdaysahead
Liverpool Hurdle – Strong Leader
Maghull Novices’ Chase – Found A Fifty