American Grand National Runners 2024 Include A Former Derby Favourite and Cheltenham Festival Winner

The American Grand National runners for 2024 are out and UK and Irish horse racing fans will see some familiar names on the entries list – including a former Epsom Derby favourite and a past Cheltenham Festival winner.

Former Epsom Derby Favourite High Definition One Of The American Grand National Runners

Back in 2022, last season’s King George VI Chase hero Hewick raided the US shores to scoop the American Grand National – which, incidentally, is a race that is very different from its namesake in England.

Unlike the Aintree Grand National, which has a gruelling 4m 2 1/2f distance and some of the toughest fences in jumps racing – the US version is run over fixed-brushed hurdles and over a trip of just 2m5f.

However, despite this, it’s still nice to see American jump racing latching onto the Grand National and in recent years with a first prize of £118,000 it’s been targeted by some ex and current Irish runners and jockeys.

Including Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville, who teamed up to win the race in 2019 on Brian Power.

This theme has continued into 2024 as one of the American Grand National runners heading to Far Hills racecourse in New Jersey is a former Epsom Derby favourite – High Definition.

High Definition Won The 2020 Group One Beresford Stakes

Okay, this ex Aidan O’Brien runner didn’t make it to Epsom back in 2021 in the end.

But after a promising third in the Dante Stakes at York (watch below) and winning the Beresford Stakes as a 2 year-old, had topped the Derby market with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK for a while.

The horse unfortunately failed to build on that good York run – finishing 10th in the St Leger at Doncaster in 2021 – and didn’t win a race when trained on at the age of 4.

High Definition was then sent to Aidan’s son Joseph to run over hurdles – winning on his sticks debut at Leopardstown on Boxing Day 2022 – but this victory remains his last heading to Far Hills.

On a plus, the horse is still only aged 6 and having been sold to the Leslie F Young team in the US made a promising start to his Stateside career with a second at Percy Warner Park in May.

Jockey Jamie Bargary, who some will remember riding a lot of the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard, rode the last day and keeps the mount in Saturday’s American Grand National.

American Grand National 2023: When Is The Far Hills Race?

Staged at the Far Hills race meeting, the American Grand National is a race run over a trip of 2m 5f – over 14 fixed hurdles, while the $300,000 contest is a Grade 1 event for 4+ year-olds.

📅Date: Saturday, October 19th, 2024 (8:42pm UK Time)
🏇Racetrack: Far Hills race meeting, New Jersey
💰 Purse: $300,000 (Winner £118,110)
📺 TV: FOX Sports

Cheltenham Winner Galvin The Headline Name Heading To The American Grand National 2024

Top Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has supported the American Grand National in the past – winning the race in 2018 with Jury Service, and he’s returning – this time with one of his most famous horses – Galvin.

Galvin, who has raced 30 times in the UK and Ireland, is also a former Cheltenham Festival winner when landing the 2021 NH Chase and more recently ran a cracking fourth in the Aintree Grand National in 2024 – beaten only 8 1/2 lengths behind the winner I Am Maximus (watch below).

Now aged 10, Galvin also has a fair hurdles record – winning 50% of his six starts over the smaller obstacles and top Irish jockey Jack Kennedy is jetting over to Far Hills to ride him.

He’s sure to be one of the leading fancies with the best betting sites in the UK, despite not running since being seen at Aintree last April.

Last Year’s American Grand National Winner Noah And The Ark Back For More

Another 2024 American Grand National runner will be last year’s winner – Noah And The Ark, who led home Merry Maker (also runs) by five lengths 12 months ago.

The Todd McKenna-trained hurdler is now aged 10, but will be another popular pick with regular rider Harrison Beswick, who is another horse racing fans will know from his time in riding in the UK.

Sebastopol Another Familiar Name For UK Jumps Fans

Yet another familiar equine face is the former Tom Lacy-trained Sebastopol.

This eight time winner in the UK now plies his trade in the US for trainer Jack Fisher and with this yard having won the American Grand National twice before (2017 & 2008), then he’s in good hands.

Sebastopol was also a horse that fell three times when racing in England so will need to make sure his jumping is spot on at Far Hills.

But comes here off the back of a promising fourth at Percy Warner Park. Beaten only 2 /3/4 lengths behind another American Grand National 2024 runner – Snap Decision.

In total, there will be nine horses lining up at Far Hills racecourse on Saturday 19th October. With the race set to go off at 8:42pm (UK Time), which is 3:42pm in New Jersey.

US Grand National Runners 2024 In Full

See here the final nine American Grand National runners and jockeys.

Trends and Stats For American Grand National

American Grand National Past Winners

WATCH: Hewick Winning The 2022 American Grand National For Ireland