Grand National Aintree Racecourse Guide – The Fences
Aintree Course Guide
Fence 1 is 4ft 7in high and 2ft 6in wide. Despite being one of the smallest fences, it has one of the highest fall rates as horses and riders often push themselves too hard trying to take the lead.
Fence 2 is somewhat wider than the first, but the same height.
Westhead is one of the first severe tests on the course. The 5ft high fence is fronted by a 6ft deep trench.
Fence four is a regulation fence at 4ft 10in high.
Fence five is 5ft high and 3ft 6in wide, and is covered in needle-like spruce.
Becher’s Brook looks harmless from the approach side, but the infamous fence hides its peril in a 6ft 9in drop over a stream, followed by a hard left hand turn.
Foinavon Fence is one of the shortest on the course at 4ft 6in high, yet has a reputation as the fence that once halted an entire field allowing rank outsider Foinavon to take the race at 100/1 odds.
Canal Turn is one of the most challenging obstacles on the course. Horses clearing the fence are confronted by a canal that forces them into a 90 degree turn. Riders are forced to jump the fence at an angle to avoid a premature end to their race.
Valentine’s Brook confronts horses that have survived the Canal Turn. The fence is 5ft high, and horses are required to clear a brook on the landing side.
Fence ten is a 5ft high thorn fence.
The Booth is 5ft high and 3ft wide, fronted by a harrowing 6ft ditch on the takeoff side.
Fence 12 is 5ft high, with a ditch on the landing side.
Fence 13 is a regulation fence at 4ft 7in.
Fence 14 is relatively incident-free at 4ft 7in.
The Chair is jumped only on the first lap. The fence stands an incredible 5ft 3in high, and is fronted by a 6ft ditch on the approach side, requiring horses to clear a total distance of 9 feet.
The Water Jump is the lowest fence on the course at 2ft 9in, and requires horses to clear a 6ft water hazard on the landing side. It is only jumped in the first lap.
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree is home of the legendary John Smith’s Grand National and, for three days in April, is the most atmospheric, electrifying sporting venue in the world. Future plans for one of the country’s premier courses include a new grandstand, as well as a redeveloped Parade Ring and Winner’s Enclosure.
No one event involves a nation quite like The John Smith’s Grand National meeting – it is one of the most atmospheric sporting events and venues in the world. Every day of the three-day meeting is a truly momentous occasion
Each day there’s something different. All crowned on the final day by the greatest steeplechase event of them all… The John Smith’s Grand National.
One of the highlights of the British sporting calendar, John Smith’s Grand National Day provides excitement and anticipation in abundance as 40 of jump racing’s equine stars line up for the world’s most famous horse race.
Many of us look back at previous footage of the Grand National and are charmed by the tradition and excitement of Aintree’s famous Winner’s Enclosure. 2006 marked the beginning of a new era, with the opening of a new Parade Ring, incorporating the Winner’s Enclosure for the Grand National. This allowed many more racegoers to witness the thrill of the Grand National winner returning to a hero’s welcome.
Attending The John Smith’s Grand National is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, yet it is something you will want to repeat year after year.
Aintree and Grand National Facts, Trends and Statistics to Help You
The Aintree Racecourse finish, at 494 yards,is one of the longest and toughest in horseracing, forcing weary horses and riders to negotiate a sharp turn before racing for the finishing post.
Bruce Hobbs, aged 17, was the youngest winning jockey in 1938, on Battleship – the smallest horse ever to win. Dick Saunders, aged 48, was the oldest successful rider on Grittar in 1982, his first and only Grand National ride.
No horse has run in the Grand National more times than Manifesto, who competed in eight renewals of the event between 1895 and 1904. Manifesto won the race twice, in 1897 and 1899, and finished third on three occasions
The Chair is the tallest fence on the Grand National course at 5ft 2ins. It has a 6ft ditch on the take-off side
Jenny Pitman is the only woman to have trained a Grand National winner, capturing the race for the first time with Corbiere in 1983. She succeeded for a second time with Royal Athlete in 1995 and finished second with Garrison Savannah in 1991
Becher’s Brook, the sixth fence on the first circuit, was named after Captain Martin Becher. He was unseated from his mount, Conrad, and fell into the ditch when leading in 1839. The obstacle bore his name from that day onwards
The biggest field occurred in 1929 when 66 runners faced the starters – a record number for any horse race ever. The smallest field was in 1883 when just 10 faced the starter
The fence-building programme at Aintree starts approximately a month before the Grand National meeting is run, with spruce sourced and transported from the Lake District. The total annual cost is about £20,000
The least number of horses to complete was two, in 1928: Tipperary Tim and Billy Barton (who remounted). In 2001, when Red Marauder beat Smarty, only four horses completed, two of these being remounted
The greatest number of horses to finish was 23, in 1984 Hallo Dandy, ridden by Neale Doughty, was the winner.
The Grand National is one of the rare major sporting events in which amateurs can and do take on professionals. This applies to both trainers and jockeys
Aintree Grand National Fences
