Grand National Trial

The Haydock Park Grand National Trial is a Grade 3 handicap over three and a half miles in February.

The race has been run under various titles and has been regarded as a significant trial for Aintree since Red Rum won here in 1975.

Other notable winners include Cool Ground (1992), Party Politics (1993) and Master Oats (1994).

Find out more about the Haydock Park Grand National Trial:

Grand National Trial

Race Overview – The Haydock Park Grand National Trail

Horses five years old and older may enter the Grand National Trial, a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase.

Twenty-two fences must be jumped during the race, which is raced at Haydock Park over a distance of around 3 miles and 4 and a half furlongs (3 miles, 4 furlongs, and 97 yards, or 5,721 metres).

The Grand National Trial will take place on Saturday 18th February 2023. This race is a major race in February.

Grand National Trial 2023 Odds

The Grand National Trial odds are listed below:

The odds for this race have not yet been released.

Grand National Trial Tips

The Grand National Trial tips are below:

2 points to win for TBC at odds of TBC
1 point each way for TBC at odds of TBC

Many Grand National Trial horses will race in more races throughout the years. Stay updated on the horses and place ante-post bets if you want to wager on them.

If you are looking for more racing tips for events taking place at Aintree Racecourse then check out our Aintree racing tips page.

Grand National Trial Previous Winners

1948Gallery1011-03M PrendergastW Bissill
1949Freebooter811-11Tim MolonyBobby Renton
1951Cardinal Error711–12R CurranJ Wight
1953Witty810-09G SlackW Hall
1955Goosander711-04A ThompsonNeville Crump
1956Sundew1011-10Fred WinterF Hudson
1957Goosander911-08H EastNeville Crump
1958Giles Farnaby1209-07P MaddenT Lord
1960Highland Dandy810-03R LangleyG Owen
1901Uncle Isaac810-05C Scott[a]T Scott
1962Solfen1012-00Toss TaaffeW O'Grady (Ir)
1964Reproduction1109-07Stan MellorG Owen
1966The Ringer710–11Paddy BroderickArthur Stephenson
1967Bassnet810–12David NicholsonA Kilpatrick
1969Game Purston1110-01Ken WhiteMatt McCourt
1970French Excuse810-01Ken WhiteFred Rimell
1971The Otter1010-01T M JonesR Dening
1972Rouge Autumn810–13Ken WhiteFred Rimell
1973Highland Seal1010-00R DennardR Dening
1975Red Rum1012-00Brian FletcherGinger McCain
1976Forest King710-07D MunroK Hogg
1977Andy Pandy810–13John BurkeFred Rimell
1978Tregarron1110-07Jonjo O'NeillKen Oliver
1980Narvik710-00Colin HawkinsNeville Crump
1983Ashley House910-01Robert EarnshawMichael Dickinson
1991Twin Oaks1111-00Neale DoughtyGordon W. Richards
1992Cool Ground1011-03Adrian MaguireToby Balding
1993Party Politics911-07Carl LlewellynNick Gaselee
1994Master Oats [b]810-02Norman WilliamsonKim Bailey
1995Nuaffe1011-00Sean O'DonovanPat Fahy
1996Lo Stregone1010-00Charlie SwanTom Tate
1997Suny Bay810-08Jamie OsborneCharlie Brooks
1998Dom Samourai710-00Chris MaudeMartin Pipe
1999Young Kenny810-00Brendan PowellPeter Beaumont
2000The Last Fling1011–01Seamus DurackSue Smith
2001Frantic Tan910-04Carl LlewellynNigel Twiston-Davies
2003Shotgun Willy911–12Ruby WalshPaul Nicholls
2004Jurancon II710-06Joey ElliotMartin Pipe
2005Forest Gunner1110-10Peter BuchananRichard Ford
2006Ossmoses910-00Richard McGrathDon Forster
2007Heltornic710-00Tom ScudamoreMichael Scudamore
2008Miko de Beauchene811–12Andrew ThorntonRobert & Sally Alner
2009Rambling Minster1111-00James ReveleyKeith Reveley
2010Silver by Nature810–11Peter BuchananLucinda Russell
2011Silver by Nature911–12Peter BuchananLucinda Russell
2012Giles Cross1010-5Denis O'ReganVictor Dartnall
2013Well Refreshed910-03Joshua MooreGary Moore
2014Rigadin De Beauchene910-05Robbie DunneVenetia Williams
2015Lie Forrit1111-06Peter BuchananLucinda Russell
2016Bishops Road811-07Richard JohnsonKerry Lee
2017Vieux Lion Rouge811-06Tom ScudamoreDavid Pipe
2018Yala Enki810-11Charlie DeutschVenetia Williams
2019Robinsfirth1011-04Sean BowenColin Tizzard
2020Smooth Stepper1110-00Harry BannisterAlex Hales
2021Lord Du Mesnil811-06Paul O'BrienRichard Hobson
2022Bristol De Mai[c]1111-12Sam Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-Davies
2023Quick Wave1011-08Henry BannisterVenetia Williams

Grand National Trial Previous Result

Famous Haydock Park Grand National Trial Winners

The race was first run in 1947 and was later run as the Greenall Whitley Gold Cup. It did not adopt the title of Grand National Trial until 1996.

Red Rum is of course a Grand National legend. He won this race under 12 stone in 1975 having already won the Aintree marathon in 1973 and 1974. He gained his record third victory in 1977.

The race produced a trio of top-class winners from 1992 to 1994. Cool Ground (1992) and Master Oats (1994) both went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for Toby Balding and Adrian Maguire.

Master Oats won this race with only 10st 2lbs on his back but improved rapidly to become the leading chaser in Britain and Ireland, also landing the Cheltenham feature.

Party Politics had won the Grand National in 1992 and won here in 1993. He started favourite for the void National that year but returned to Aintree to finish runner-up in 1995.

Other notable winners of the Grand National Trial include Suny Bay (1997), Miko De Beauchene (2008), Silver By Nature (2010, 2011) and Bristol De Mai (2022).

Key form races for Haydock Park Grand National Trial

The key form race for the Grand National Trial has been the Welsh Grand National. Three of the last twelve winners ran in that race last time out.

Only four of the twelve winners had been successful on their most recent outing.

The race has not provided any clues to the outcome at Aintree in recent seasons.

Four of the last twelve winners ran at Aintree but none of them reached the frame.

In fact, there is an argument to suggest that this race can damage a horse’s prospects at Aintree. It can be quite a gruelling contest and none of the last twelve winners were even placed next time out.

Haydock Park Grand National Trial Betting Trends

Only two favourites have won this race in the past twelve seasons; Giles Cross (2012) and Well Refreshed (2013). Bristol De Mai (2022) was awarded the race after finishing second as the 11-2 second favourite.

Smooth Stepper (2020) was the longest-priced winner in recent years at 33-1.

Rigadin De Beauchene (2014) won at 16-1 while Silver By Nature (2011) returned at 10-1.

There is no real age bias in this race with horses winning from 8 to 11.

The last seven-year-old to win was Heltornic in 2007.

Haydock Park Grand National Trial – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Neville Crump and Fred Rimell both trained the winner of this race on three occasions.

Lucinda Russell joined the illustrious company with her three more recent victories; Silver By Nature (2010, 2011) and Lie Forrit (2015).

Peter Buchanan was in the saddle for all three races, equalling the record of Ken White (1969, 1970 and 1972).

Betting on the Haydock Park Grand National Trial

The Haydock Park Grand National Trial usually attracts a big field and the winner can be difficult to find.

In terms of a trial for Aintree, it may be that this is too gruelling a contest and it seems to take its toll on the winner.

Facts about the Grand National Trial

  • The Grand National Trial is a National Hunt Steeplechase in the United Kingdom for five-year-old and above horses.
  • The race is run over a distance of around 3 miles and 5 furlongs (5,906 metres), and during its running, there are 22 fences to be jumped.
  • The race is scheduled to take place each year in February at Haydock Park Racecourse.

Summary of the Grand National Trial

Thank you for reading our Grand National Trial page.

We have looked at facts and stats about the race, so you can make an informed decision before placing a bet or just wanting to enjoy the race.

Related February Horse Racing Posts

Here are all of February’s horse racing related posts:

Resources

As the Founder of British Racecourses, I have a life-long passion for horse racing and have loved the sport as long as I can remember. I am also a keen racehorse owner and have worked in the gambling industry for several years. I set up British Racecourses with the desire to share my passion for racing with other like-minded people.