Grand National 2024 reduced to 32 horses as another non-runner confirmed

Venetia Williams' Chambard and the Gordon Elliott-trained Run Wild Fred will not run in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse today after both were declared non-runners this morning.

Williams, who won the Grand National with 100-1 shot Mon Mome in 2009, has taken the 12-year-old out of the race due to him being lame this morning. Now just 32 horses will line up at 4pm this afternoon. Chambard, who won the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree in December, would have been a first ever ride in the race for amateur jockey Lucy Turner.

Turner became the first female jockey to win the Becher Chase and only the sixth ever to triumph in a race over the famous Aintree obstacles. But now she won't get the chance to emulate Rachael Blackmore and become the second woman to win the Grand National with Chambard's defection. Chambard had been a general 66-1 chance at the time of his withdrawal.

READ MORE: Grand National 2024 live results and winners, racecard, times, tips, and final 34 runners

READ MORE: 27 Ladies Day 2024 photos from Aintree as stylish racegoers impress

Then later this morning Elliott's Run Wild Fred – one of eight runners for the three-time Grand National-winning trainer – was also taken out of the race with a similar issue over lameness. Run Wild Fred – a general 50-1 chance before his withdrawal – had finished second in the 2021 Irish Grand National but now won't be part of the the County Meath handler's team bidding to give him a record-equalling fourth victory in the race. The 10-year-old was lame this morning and has also been declared a non-runner.

Meanwhile the going at Aintree is now soft, good to soft in places on the Grand National course after predicted light rain failed to fall overnight.

The Grand National had been heavy, soft in places at the start of the three-day festival, but has now dried out since. The going on the Mildmay and Hurdles courses, which the other six races on Grand National day are run over, has also changed to good to soft, soft in places.

Clerk of the course at Aintree, Sulekha Varna, said: "It was dry overnight and it's good to soft, soft in places on the Mildmay courses and soft, good to soft in place on the National course. The forecast suggests there could be showers around from mid-morning."

Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here