The vast majority of races held at Aintree are run over the Mildmay course, which features normal hurdle and chase tracks. The Grand National is a triangular-shaped course, just over 2m2f long.

I Am Maximus won the 2024 Grand National ... and Aintree have put a lot of work into it. “As the race evolved and moved forward, the riders were pushed towards the middle of the course.

It will be a factor with certain horses, but it definitely does not apply universally. The Grand National aside, Irish trainers don’t target Aintree with anything like the numbers or quality they do ...