Four horses to watch at the 2024 Grand National Festival

As the racing world eagerly anticipates the arrival of the Grand National Festival at Aintree from April 11th to 13th, enthusiasts and punters alike are brimming with excitement at the prospect of witnessing top-class racing action unfold on one of the sport's most iconic stages.

With a thrilling array of races set to captivate audiences, including the Bowl, the Aintree Hurdle, and the Liverpool Hurdle, not to mention the Grand National itself, the spotlight shines brightly on a select group of equine stars poised to leave their mark on this prestigious event.

In this article, we turn our attention to five horses that promise to ignite the hallowed Aintree turf with their talent, tenacity, and potential for glory at the 2024 Grand National Festival. So, read on as we look at everything from seasoned champions to emerging novices.

Corach Rambler – Grand National

Given that the Grand National is the highlight of the festival, it’s the obvious place to start, and the spotlight is on last year’s Corach Rambler.

The Lucinda Russell-trained horse is set to go off as one of the shortest-priced in the history of the race for those looking for a bet on Grand National 2024.

The record is 11/4, but after finishing third in the Grand National, Corach Rambler has been backed into 9/2 and could go off shorter come race day.

Bob Olinger – Aintree Hurdle

The well-liked Bob Olinger rediscovered form this season after a rather torrid time last year, winning a Grade 2 at Navan in November before landing the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham in January.

However, a five-and-a-half-length defeat at the hands of State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown put Henry de Bromhead off taking on the Mullins horse again at the Festival.

The nine-year-old is set to reappear in the Aintree Hurdle on the opening day of the Grand National Festival though, and he’ll be well-supported in the Aintree racing betting odds.

Dysart Enos – Top Novices’ Hurdle

There was a lot of excitement surrounding Dysart Enos ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, as the unbeaten six-year-old looks set for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Many pundits and punters alike were under the impression that she could provide trainer Fergal O’Brien with a maiden Cheltenham Festival success, but an injury devastatingly ruled her out.

The good news is that Dysart Enos, who won a Bumper at last year’s Grand National Festival, is on course to return to Merseyside for the Top Novices’ Hurdle.

Caldwell Potter – Mersey Novices’ Hurdle

With the news that Caldwell Construction was putting their horses on the market, Caldwell Potter suddenly became a very hot commodity.

The six-year-old was expected to go for megabucks, and he did just that — with Sir Alex Ferguson and co. snatching him up for a record-breaking €740,000.

However, the switch from Gordon Elliott to Paul Nicholls was only in February and the British Champion Trainer felt like it wasn’t enough time to acclimatise the horse before Cheltenham.

There is a chance we see him in his new colours for the first time at Aintree, and the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle would be a likely landing spot as Nicholls suggested a two-and-a-half-mile contest.