The 2023 American Grand National will take place at Far Hills racecourse in New Jersey, USA, this Saturday and even though the race is the other side of the Atlantic, there’s a few familiar Irish horses making the trip over.
When Is The 2023 American Grand National?
🕙Time: 9:32pm (UK), 4:32pm (US)
📅Date: Saturday 21st Oct 2023
🏇Racecourse: Far Hills
💰: Winner: £125,000
📺 TV: Watch via Paddy Power app/site
🎲 Odds: Salvador Ziggy 6/5 | Seddon 11/8 | Snap Decision 7/1 | 12/1 Bar
American Grand National Is A Very Different Race To The Aintree Version
For UK and Irish horse racing fans, this Saturday’s American Grand National might have to be put in front of the trades descriptions panel as it’s a totally different contest to what the marathon events staged at Aintree, Fairyhouse, Ayr and Chepstow (to name just a few National venues) are famous for.
Why? Well, the American version of the Grand National is actually run over hurdles and also over a trip of just 2m5f, which is a massive 1m 5 1/2f shorter than the Aintree National, which is run over a gruelling 4m 2 1/2f distance.
It’s also a race that attracts nowhere near the big fields the UK and Irish Nationals have – with just 8 American National runners this year for the 2023 race.
That said, in it’s defence, the 2023 American Grand National, which is staged a Far Hills racecourse in New Jersey, does have a few similarities to cling to – mainly that the Irish trainers love to target it.
12 months ago, we saw the well-known Hewick raid the US shores to take the American Grand National for Irish trainer John Joseph ‘Shark’ Hanlon and jockey Jordan Gainford (watch below).
Hewick is not the only European winner of the American Grand National in recent years either.
In 2019, a certain Nicky Henderson sent over his Brain Power to win under Nico de Boinville, while in 2018 it was three-time Aintree Grand National winning trainer Gordon Elliott that left with the prize after Jury Duty won for Robbie Power.
Elliott is back for more in 2023.
Salvador Ziggy The 2023 American Grand National Favourite For Gordon Elliott
Gordon Elliott will be looking for his second American Grand National win with Salvador Ziggy – a horse that a lot of racing fans will know from finishing second in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival this year.
Since then, Salvador Ziggy has won summer jumps races at Tramore and Killarney over fences and ran a cracker to be second in the Kerry National at Listowel just last month (watch below).
This 7 year-old is back over hurdles on Saturday, having won four of his 9 starts over the smaller obstacles and regular rider Jack Kennedy is also having a day trip to the US to ride.
You can back Salvador Ziggy with Paddy Power at 6/5 (Non-runner, no bet)
Seddon Another Big Player For Ireland In 2023 American Grand National
The John C McConnell-trained Seddon is another horse UK and Irish punters will know – having won the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival this season.
This 10 year-old also heads over with Salvador Ziggy and if the 2023 American Grand National betting is anything to go by it looks a straight Irish shootout between these two Cheltenham Festival runners.
Seddon was also a winner at the Punchestown Festival after his Plate success and has warmed up for this US raid with runs at Killarney at the end of August and at Galway in September.
Jockey Ben Harvey, who rode him last time and during his Cheltenham win also gets in the place to continue his partnership.
You can back Seddon with Paddy Power at 11/8 (Non-runner, no bet)
Danny Mullins Also Has A Ride In The 2023 American Grand National
Top Irish jockey Danny Mullins likes to make a trip to the American Grand National too – he won the race in 2017 on the US-trained Mr. Hot Stuff and he’ll be hoping to be on fire again as he gets the leg-up on Jimmy P.
He was last seen running a fine second (beaten just a length) in the Grade One Jonathan Sheppard Steeplechase at Saratoga, with Mullins on that day too. He had Merry Maker and Noah And The Ark back in 4th and 8th that day too.
What About The US Challenge In Their Own Race?
Mortlach and Noah And The Ark are now trained in the US, but are other names die-hard UK racing lovers might have heard of. The former used to be trained by Fergal O’Brien, while the last-named has been looked after by Aintree Grand National-winning handler Donald McCain in the past.
The US horse priced the shortest in the betting though is the Jack Fisher runner Snap Decision, who was runner-up in the race in 2021 and won the US Champion Hurdle (no, before you ask – that wasn’t run over fences).
However, he was also a well-beaten 6th (beaten 44 lengths) in the race 12 months ago.
Next best is Scorpion’s Revenge, who is trained by the two-time winner of the American Grand National – US handler Cyril Murphy.
Far Hills Track Expected To Be Soft Going
Checking out the perch at @FarHillsRace! Let’s hope it’s like this tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/LCNu2HuIm9
— Larry Collmus (@larrycollmus) October 20, 2023
2023 American Grand National Runners
See below the full list of 2023 American Grand National runners, with just 8 horses heading to post.
- Scorpion’s Revenge
- Seddon
- Jimmy P
- Snap Decision
- Noah And The Ark
- Salvador Ziggy
- Merry Maker
- Mortlach
How Can I Watch The 2023 American Grand National?
You can watch the 2023 American Grand National via the Paddy Power app or betting site.
2023 American Grand National Betting Odds
See below the latest Paddy Power 2023 Grand National betting odds
- Salvador Ziggy 6/5
- Seddon 11/8
- Snap Decision 8/1
- Scorpion’s Revenge 12/1
- Jimmy P 16/1
- Noah And The Ark 25/1
- Mortlach 50/1
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Note: Odds are subject to change.
Recent American Grand National Winners
- 2022: Hewick
- 2021: The Mean Queen
- 2019: Brain Power
- 2018: Jury Duty
- 2017: Mr Hot Stuff
- 2016: Rawnaq
WATCH: Hewick Winning The 2022 American Grand National
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