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Daily Mirror

Sport

Melissa Jones

Virtual Grand National 2020: Runners, riders, odds, betting and ITV start time

Aintree Racecourse may be unusually empty this week as coronavirus lockdown continues, but racing fans will get the chance to bet on the day.

Computer systems are poised for the 2020 Virtual Grand National on Saturday, when the real big race was due to be held.

Instead of 40 horses and jockeys lining up at the starting tape, they will compete in computerised form on ITV at 5.15pm.

The virtual version, which takes in all sorts of variables, has been a good indicator to the real result each year since it began in 2017.

There will also be a special Race of Champions, with featuring multiple winners Red Rum and Tiger Roll alongside 38 others.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2020 Virtual Grand National:

The runners and riders

The race will feature the 40 horses and riders who were most likely to run in the Aintree spectacular.

It will answer the key question in racing; could Tiger Roll have won the 2020 race and entered the history books as a three-time back-to-back winner?

Red Rum is the only horse to win as many renewals, in 1973, 1974 and 1977. He finished runner-up in the two intervening years.

This is the list of virtual runners and riders taking part on Saturday, with the 'weight' they are carrying and their betting odds:

Runner Number	Name	Jockey	Odds	Weight
1	Tiger Roll	Davy Russell	5	11-10
2	Bristol De Mai	Daryl Jacob	20	11-8
3	Aso	Charlie Deutsch	66	11-2
4	Elegant Escape	Jonjo O’Neill Jr.	20	11-2
5	Anibale Fly	Barry Geraghty	20	11-2
6	Top Ville Ben	Tom Dowson	45	11-2
7	Beware The Bear	Jerry McGrath	33	11-0
8	Peregrine Run	Kevin Sexton	66	10-13
9	Jett	Sam Waley-Cohen	50	10-13
10	Alpha Des Obeaux	Richard Johnson	25	10-13
11	Total Recall	Paul Townend	40	10-13
12	The Storyteller	Keith Donoghue	40	10-12
13	Magic Of Light	Robbie Power	18	10-12
14	Talkischeap	Tom Cannon	25	10-11
15	Yala Enki	Bryony Frost	28	10-11
16	Ballyoptic	Sam Twiston-Davies	25	10-11
17	Burrows Saint	Rachael Blackmore	12	10-10
18	Definitly Red	Brian Hughes	14	10-10
19	Sub Lieutenant	JJ Slevin	33	10-9
20	Ok Corral	Derek O’Connor	25	10-9
21	Tout Est Permis	Sean Flanagan	80	10-9
22	Vintage Clouds	Danny Cook	33	10-8
23	Crievehill	Tom Bellamy	66	10-8
24	Lake View Lad	Henry Brooke	50	10-8
25	Jury Duty	Mark Enright	40	10-8
26	Pleasant Company	David Mullins	28	10-7
27	Acapella Bourgeois	Danny Mullins	33	10-6
28	Shattered Love	Lisa O'Neill	66	10-6
29	Any Second Now	Mark Walsh	10	10-6
30	Potters Corner	Jack Tudor	18	10-6
31	Dounikos	Luke Dempsey	50	10-5
32	Kildisart	Nico de Boinville	50	10-5
33	Death Duty	Gavin Brouder	50	10-5
34	Ramses De Teillee	Tom Scudamore	66	10-5
35	Valtor	James Bowen	66	10-4
36	Saint Xavier	David Maxwell	66	10-4
37	Warriors Tale	Harry Cobden	80	10-4
38	Double Shuffle	Jonathan Burke	100	10-4
39	Kimberlite Candy	Richie McLernon	16	10-4
40	Walk In The Mill	James Best	16	10-4

How is the race run?

Runners and riders race over the 30 fences they would take in the real Grand National.

The animation is created by Inspired Entertainment.

For more than 15 years, the company has been recreating the action and settings of some of the world’s most famous sporting events.

Their virtual sports are popular worldwide, appealing to a wide variety of players through more than 40,000 retail channels and 100+ websites in 35 countries.

Saturday's race will use the latest CGI technology and algorithms to produce a result based on data, including the runners’ form and going preferences.

Is it on TV?

The race will be broadcast at 5.15pm on ITV.

Richard Pitman, who nearly won the 1973 Grand National on Crisp, joins Nick Luck and guests for The Virtual Grand National TV special.

What are the odds and can I place a bet?

Yes- and bookmakers will be donating profits to the NHS Charities Group.

Discussions took place between major firms via the Betting and Gaming Council.

Rupert Adams, William Hill spokesman, said: “We like to think that the public will get right behind it and hope that the industry can raise a very substantial sum of money.

"A large number of people choose their Grand National bet by using names and colours, which you can clearly still do.”

Is it estimated the race could raise £1 million.

William Hill, BetVictor, Unibet and Sport Nation were the firms offering prices as of April 2.

The odds for each horse are due to remain the same before the race.

Is the virtual race a good indicator for the real thing?

“In 2017, Cause of Causes won the Virtual Grand National and came a close second in the real race hours later,” said Steve Rogers, Chief Commercial Officer for Virtual Sports at Inspired.

Tiger Roll ridden by jockey Davy Russell (centre) on the way to winning the 2019 Randox Health Grand National (PA)

"The 2018 result was breathtaking as Tiger Roll won both in almost identical circumstances and the computer chose three of the top five finishers, including the Tiger, in 2019.”