The JP McManus silks were carried to victory last year

No reserves in the Randox Grand National

Randox Grand National reserves system scrapped

By Sporting Life

Horse Racing

Sun December 04, 2022 · 3y ago

The reserves system for the Randox Grand National is to be discontinued from the 2023 running onwards.

First introduced in 2000, the reserves system allowed up to four reserves to be allocated for the Grand National following the final 48-hour declaration stage. The reserves were utilised if one or more of the original declarations was a non-runner by 1pm on the day before the race, with the reserve taking the racecard position of the relevant non-runner – something which many customers found confusing in feedback received by Aintree Racecourse.

A total of 13 reserves obtained a run in the Randox Grand National over the years, most recently three in 2022.

Explaining why the reserves system will no longer be operated from 2023 onwards, Aintree’s Clerk of the Course, Sulekha Varma, said: “We constantly monitor and review all aspects of the Randox Grand National. The reserves system was introduced with the aim of giving us the best possible chance of ensuring we have a maximum field of 40 runners.

“However, with the Randox Grand National being such a worldwide phenomenon there are associated demands of raceday data supply which are greater now than they were when the system was introduced. The system had to operate by reserves taking the racecard position of the relevant non-runner.

“This had the effect of reserves, which by definition are the lowest-rated horses in the race, appearing further up the handicap in the racecard even though they were carrying the least weight, which made the production of racecards and return of results extremely challenging for a number of outlets. This issue was raised following the running of three reserves in the 2022 race by the BHA, media outlets, international media rights holders and bookmakers.”

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