The Grand National: Your guide to horse racing's most famous steeplechase as the four-mile, two and a half furlong course boasts an exhausting 30 fences

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The Grand National is known as the People's Race, drawing national attention in a way that perhaps no other horse race is able to do.

Every year, millions of people gather at Aintree, around their TVs, phones, tablets and any other device they can stream from to watch the most famous steeple chase.

And with that comes the desire from many to place a bet on a horse, whether that be a favourite or an outsider, to add to their experience.

Not everyone who decides to take a punt on this race will know too much about the track.

But fear not as Mail Sport breaks down everything you need to know about the Grand National. 

The length of the race is four miles, two furlongs and 74 yards, there is a total of 16 fences, 14 of which are jumped twice during the nine minute long race

A number of changes have been made to this year's race to improve equine welfare and safety

What kind of race is the Grand National?

There are a number of different categories when it comes to horse races, ranging from flat races, to steeplechases.

The Grand National is an example of the latter, where horses have to complete a series of obstacles while trying to outrunn their opponents.

It is a course that has made life difficult for even the most elite competitors in the past.

 Grand National fences and course

The Grand National takes place at Aintree Racecourse and is run on the first or second Saturday in April.

The race itself spans 4 miles, two-and-a-half furlongs and 74 yards, making it the longest horse race in Britain even though it used to be around one and a half furlongs longer.

The decision to shorten the race slightly was done to move the start line away from the grandstands in order to help prevent false starts and make the first jump safer as jockeys and horses would reach it slower.

The run-in - the distance from the last fence to the finish line - is 494 yards, again the longest of it's type in Britain.

There is also a slight bend in the course just before the line known as the elbow due to the shape.

30 fences stand between the jockeys, horses and glory. 16 on the first circuit and 14 on the second with every fence jumped twice bart the 15th and 16th.

Another key difference between this steeplechase and the others more regularly seen is that the fences are made of spruce.  

Modifications have been made to them in recent years to make them more forgiving in an effort to reduce the number of fallers. 

What are the most famous fences?

The Chair is famous for it's ditch before the jump making it such a tricky obstacle

Becher's Brook is known as the most famous steeplechase fence in the world

The Water Jump may be the smallest fence but avoiding the water on the landing is key to maintaining rhythm

Becher's Brook - Fence six and 22

This is the most famous steeplechase fence in the world and has become synonymous with the most famous race.

Perhaps most interestingly, a horse called Conrad fell at this particular fence at the first Grand National all the way back in 1839.

Foinavon - Fence seven and 23

Standing at just four feet and six inches, this is one of the smallest jumps at the Grand National.

It is taken immediately after Belcher's Brook and earned it's name after a pile up in 1967, where a horse named Foinavon was so far back that it managed to avoid the carnage to clear the fence safely and go on to win.

Canal Turn - Fence eight and 24

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs alongside Aintree Racecourse and the closes it gets is at fence eight.

Due to the left-hand turn immediately following the landing it must be jumped on the inside to negotiate the change in direction.

Valentine's Brook - Fence nine and 25

This is the first of the four fences that sit on the side of the track that sees the horses running back towards the finish of the race.

Originally named Second Brook, it was renamed in 1840 after a horse called Valentine cleared the obstacle hind legs first.

The Chair - Fence 15

The first of two fences that is only jumped on the first circuit of the race. It is located close to the grandstand and finish.

It earned it's name due it's placement where the judge would sit in a small chair by the side of the obstacle in order to have a clear view of the finish.

Famous for it's ditch beforehand, it is one of the toughest challenges at the Grand National.

Water Jump - Fence 16

The Water Jump is the smallest fence on the course standing at two feet and six inches, but it's challenges exist outside of the height.

As the name would suggest, the horses have to clear the water immediately after the fence.