Grand National Fences

When it comes to fences in horse racing, nothing can beat the Grand National fences. They are more severe, bigger, and more sophisticated. That’s why these fences define whether your horse will win or get turned down with an injury. So, if you are a horse betting enthusiast, it’s super important to follow the race and make wiser bets. 

In this piece, we will cover everything about the Grand National fences. So, before you make a call, read this article completely.

Grand National Fences In A Nutshell

The Grand National course has sixteen different fences. On the first circuit alone, two fences are jumped: the Chair and the Water Jump. That adds up to 30 jumping efforts across the full 4 miles and 514 yards.

Here is some of the most important Grand National fences information you need to know:

Every year, 150 tonnes of spruce are carried from the Lake District to Aintree, and it takes the ground staff team around three weeks to construct all 16 fences in time for the Grand National Festival.

How Tall Are the Grand National Fences?

The dimensions of the Grand National fences are 2 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 2 inches. The majority of course fences are between 4 and 5 feet in height. That is higher than the minimum 4 feet 6 inches needed for a typical steeplechase fence in the United Kingdom.

However, height is not the complete picture. What really distinguishes the Grand National fences are drops on the landing side, wide ditches on the take-off side, and a mandatory steep bend at one fence.

How Do They Differ From Other Jump Fences?

If we look at the fences at Cheltenham, Newbury, and Sandown, we see that they use conventional birch for construction. They are uniform and broadly standard. When a horse encounters one slightly incorrectly, it frequently bounces back.

On the other hand, the Grand National fences at Aintree are built from Norway spruce or Sitka. They are bigger. The drops are larger. Errors have more serious repercussions. A competent jumper at Cheltenham is not always a safe jumper at Aintree. The requirements for the two courses differ greatly.

Grand National Fence Names

Of the sixteen Great National fences, eight have official names. To identify the other fences, we generally use the fence numbers. Here is the whole fence-by-fence guidance.

Fences 1 and 17: Plain Fence 

We can call it one of the smallest fences on the course. But don’t misjudge it in terms of risk factor. This one is one of the most dangerous. Here, the 34-horse field is closely packed. The most chaotic early events are caused by jockeys vying for position and horses encountering it at speed in traffic. In every way, the first obstacle is getting over fence one safely.

Fences 3 and 19: Westhead

Named after Steve Westhead, who built fences at Aintree throughout the 1960s and 1970s, these fences have a typical height of around 5 ft. The course’s first open ditch is this one. Horses must cross a 6-foot trench on the takeoff side of the ditch in order to get to the fence. It’s the first actual leaping technique test.

Fences 4 and 20: Plain Fence

This is a standard fence without a drop or ditch. Here, horses are getting used to their gait. Compared to the opening, falls are less frequent. This has a height of 4 feet 10 inches. 

Fence 7 and 23: Foinavon

One of the course’s smallest and most infamous fences. This one is named in honor of the 100/1 Grand National winner of 1967. Here on the second lap, a horse without a rider built a disastrous pile-up. Nearly the whole field was snapped down, fell, or refused. The only horse that remained untouched was Foinavon, who was well behind. He leaped it neatly and won. That’s why his name is etched into the fence as a constant reminder that anything is possible at the Grand National.

Fence 8 and 24: Canal Turn

Canal Turn is noted for its steep 90-degree left bend right after the jump. Horses must swiftly alter course while keeping their balance and speed after landing. Because of this, it’s one of the most technically difficult fences, and when big groups of runners approach at once, it frequently causes congestion.

Fences 10–14 and 26–30: The Country Fences

These fences cover up the lengthy run home and the second portion of the back straight. Each of them is not as widely recognized. However, that’s where disparities in race occur. Tired horses make mistakes here by the second circuit. Many races are lost, especially at Fences 28 and 29.

Fence 14 and 30: The Final Fence

One of the lowest fences on the course. However, tired horses make their final errors here, frequently when they can already see the winning post.

Fence 15: The Chair

Most people agree that the Chair is the race’s most terrifying hurdle. With a broad ditch on the takeoff side and a height of around 5 feet 2 inches, it requires accurate leaping and solid balance. Horses must approach confidently and accurately.

Fence 16: The Water Jump

The lowest fence on the course by far. Jumped once only. Horses must stretch 12 ft 6 in to clear the water on the landing side. It appears normal after the intense demands of The Chair. However, despite its vastness, tired horses drag their hind legs here more frequently.

The Four Hardest Grand National Fences

Becher’s Brook

Becher’s Brook is the most iconic fence in racing. It bears the name of Captain Martin Becher, a rider who was unseated here in 1839 during the inaugural Grand National. On the landing side, Becher was tossed into the brook. He crouched in the water as the entire field jumped over him. He was unhurt. Since then, his name has been on the fence.

It is not the highest fence on the course at 4 feet 10 inches. The drop on the landing side poses a risk. Horses take off far higher than they land. When they land, the earth underneath them slips away.

The drop was lowered by four to five inches following the deaths of two horses here in 2011. Even so, a horse may crumple upon landing if it meets Becher’s slightly incorrectly. It’s too steep, too much weight forward.

Skilled jockeys put their horses toward the middle of the fence, where there is a little less of a drop. This bit of course information might mean the difference between striking the ground and clearing it cleanly.

Canal Turn

The Grand National’s most technically challenging fence is the Canal Turn. It is five feet tall. The fence is named after the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which runs beside this portion of the course. Horses must execute a nearly 90-degree left turn upon landing, which is the true challenge. Not a run-out. No progressive bend. You lose many lengths if you jump it straight. You run the risk of hurting yourself and other runners if you jump incorrectly.

The question is how to tackle this fence? Smart jockeys take a different approach. They move off slightly to the right, allowing their momentum to carry them into the left turn with ease. However, the first-time riders may struggle a bit with this fence. 

Valentine’s Brook

The Canal Turn is followed right after by Valentine’s Brook. Horses seldom have time to recover. The landing side is lined with the creek. At 5 ft high with a 5 ft 6 in water to clear, it demands that horses jump both neatly and wide.

There is controversy over the name’s origin. According to one version, Valentine was a horse that participated in the 1840 Grand National. Another claims that on St. Valentine’s Day, a horse practiced over it. In any case, this fence has eliminated a lot of popular runners, many of whom are still rebalancing when they encounter the Canal Turn.

The Chair

The Chair is no doubt the Grand National’s hardest fence. It is the course’s highest obstacle. A five-foot-wide open ditch is located on the takeoff side. The ground gently rises on the landing side. A horse has to stretch 11 feet in total to clear it neatly.

The 19th century is when the name came into the picture. Race judges sat in a chair beside this fence during heats to assess whether horses reached it in time. That’s why the fences were named after the judge’s chair.

Old Grand National Fences and Why They Changed

Do you think the current fences of the Grand National are too risky? In that case, you will get shivers watching the 19th-century Grand National fences. They are way more risky. The original 1839 race came up with a complete brick wall. After only five years, it was taken down. However, fences continued to be built on stiff timber frames coated with birch until the majority of the 20th century. While they definitely made the games exciting, the margin of error was too narrow. A slight mistake caused big repercussions. 

The Grand National in 1989 was the major turning point. At Becher’s Brook, two horses succumbed. On the landing side, the creek was filled up. The drop was reduced. The slope was flattened. Traditionalists opposed. In reality, the modifications prevented the race from being ruined while saving horses.

That’s not where things stopped. The drop was lowered by an additional 4 to 5 inches following another death at Becher’s in 2011. All over the course, foam cushioning was put on the fence tops. Errors got a little more tolerated.

There’s more. The most extensive reform had been carried out prior to 2013. Twelve of the sixteen fences had their stiff timber frames replaced with flexible plastic birch. Instead of meeting the shock with rigidity, this material yields. Every fence kept its spruce topping. The difficulties’ character continued to exist. However, the safety profile was changed.

Screening was also introduced at the Canal Turn from 2012. Horses evolved to be able to see the sharp left turn before they even took off. It led to pile-ups, hesitancy, and rejections. Horses were able to approach the fences more organically since the screening obscured the view.

The outcomes are rather evident. Since 2000, the number of falls in each race has dramatically decreased. Between 2012 and 2019, no horse perished in the Grand National. The difference between challenge and risk has significantly decreased, although the fences are still the hardest in British racing.

What Type of Horse Performs Best on the Grand National Fences?

The horse you are looking at may be the best jumper in normal events. But when it comes to the Grand National, things are different. It’s an event where even the most skilled jumpers fumble at navigating the fences. That’s why we say this course demands a certain profile.

Clean and Economical Jumping

Over thirty obstacles show high jumpers use energy they cannot afford to waste. The top National horses leap accurately, quickly, and low. In the last mile, every effort that is wasted damages them. Of the past 10 Grand National winners, nine of them have not lost during their winning season.

The capacity to change course while in flight

Becher demands a horse to withstand a sharp drop. The Canal Turn asks a horse to change its angle mid-jump. Mechanical jumpers that greet every fence the same way suffer here. Horses that are able to read and react well are athletic.

You need prior knowledge of the fences

This is the most essential insight for punters. Horses that have previously competed over the National fences, whether at a previous Grand National or the December meeting, finish the race at a far greater pace. The likelihood of not finishing is doubled for first-time visitors over the Grand National fences. Experience in a course is not an advantage. It’s decisive.

Physical scope

The Grand National fences reward large, athletic builds. Horses have to stretch out over big obstacles. The scope these fences require is sometimes too much for small, tight-framed models that work well at speed tracks.

A calm temperament

The Grand National is noisy, crowded, and unpredictable. A 34-horse field, abrupt noise, and loose horses all challenge composure. Horses with experience and composure negotiate the mayhem. Horses that are nervous or easily unsettled rarely do.

How Fences Impact the Race and Why Horses Refuse?

Grand National’s fences do more than just keep horses out. They shift the entire race. Falls are the most evident outcome. Nearby runners may be brought down by a falling horse, particularly in the crowded early stages. Chain reactions can be set off by first-fence occurrences on a crowded field.

When a horse jumps cleanly yet lands in a way that tosses the jockey, this is known as an unseated rider. This occurs most frequently at Becher’s Brook, where the abrupt plunge may unseat even seasoned riders by shifting the horse’s center of gravity.

The most undervalued type of endurance is pull-ups. A jockey pulls up a horse that is fatigued, wounded, or no longer leaping safely. When the toll of the first circuit becomes noticeable, the majority of pull-ups occur on the second circuit, which is located between fences 20 and 25. It is always the proper call.

Refusals are rare, but they do happen. When leaping seems impossible due to fear, exhaustion, or physical discomfort, a horse declines. At the Canal curve, where a big fence and a sharp curve can overwhelm novice horses, refusals are particularly frequent. The post-2012 screening at this fence was introduced particularly to decrease them.

Stay Tuned for Our Grand National Tips

Knowing about the Grand National fences puts you ahead of most punters before a single horse has been announced. It assists you in determining which trial runs to trust, which runners are capable of handling Aintree, and why popular horses may falter when the fences wear them out.

But don’t stop here. Before Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 4 p.m., our team will cover complete fence analysis, runner profiles, form breakdowns, and the finest deals from authorized UK bookmakers. So, make sure to keep an eye on our website to make the most out of this Grand National season. 

Frequently Asked Question 

Q1) How many fences are in the Grand National?

Ans: The course has sixteen distinct fences. Two, The Chair and The Water Jump, are only jumped once on the first round. The other fourteen jumped twice. This results in 30 leaping attempts throughout the course of the entire 4 miles and 514 yards.

Q2) Why were the fences at Grand National changed?

Ans: Every modification was made for horse welfare. In 1989, two horses succumbed at Becher’s Creek. The drop decreased, and the creek was filled up. After another tragedy in 2011, the decrease was cut further. Twelve of the sixteen fences had their stiff timber frames replaced with flexible plastic birch in 2013 to make them more impact-resistant.

Q3) What are the Grand National fence names?

Ans: Westhead (3), Becher’s Brook (6), Foinavon (7), Canal Turn (8), Valentine’s Brook (9), The Booth (11), The Chair (15), and The Water Jump (16) are the official names of eight fences. Only numbers are used to identify the remaining fences.

Q4) Why do certain horses reject Grand National fences?

Ans: Refusals occur when a horse refuses to leap due to fear, fatigue, or physical discomfort. They are particularly prevalent during the Canal Turn, when novice horses get uneasy because of the abrupt left turn. 

Q5) What is the hardest fence in the Grand National?

The Chair is the hardest at 5 ft 2 in, with a 5 ft open ditch on the takeoff side. On the other hand, Becher’s Brook is the most notorious, with its tremendous plunge on landing.