Britain’s most iconic horse race is just mere days away with thousands expected to turn up to witness the historic event.
This year the biggest jump race in the world has undergone some modifications however, with the number of runners reduced to 34 compared to the traditional 40.
The four mile, two-and-a-half furlong race will get underway at 4pm on Saturday, led by last year’s winner Corach Rambler, with the fortunate winner expected to walk away with a whopping prize amount of £561,300.
Some jockeys riding in this year’s steeplechase epic however will already count themselves as winners because of their love lives away from the blood and thunder of their day jobs.
So who are partners behind the jockeys’ success? Below, Mail Sport takes a look at the WAGs from the Grand National…
The 2024 Grand National will take place at 4pm on Saturday, April 13
Last year’s winner Corach Rambler is among the 34 horse field who will compete in the race
Brendan Powell – Lucy Barry
Stable jockey for Colin Tizzard, Brendan Powell JR is set to ride in this year’s Grand National on complete outsider Eldorado Allen trained by Joe Tizzard.
Powell is currently dating former jockey Lucy Barry. Barry a dual purpose jockey who excelled in both jump and flat racing announced her retirement from the sport back in 2021.
The ex jockey revealed she decided to step away from the sport after suffering eating disorders and mental health problems.
She now works for Melbourne 10 Racing whilst also managing a farm and has also ventured into the world of Bloodstock.
Stable jockey for Colin Tizzard, Brendan Powell JR is currently dating former jockey Lucy Barry
Harry Skelton – Bridget Andrews
Expected to ride for Willie Mullins’ nephew Emmett, Harry Skelton will appear in the 2024 Grand National mounted on Noble Yeats.
Skelton has a traditional jockey love story, finding love within the stables with fellow jump jockey Bridget Andrews.
The jockey power couple got hitched in 2019 and they both enjoy getting away when they have a day off together.
Harry said to us back in 2019: ‘When racing is off and I’ve got a free day, me and Bridget do like to get away. We’ve got two whippets, we like to take them off for a walk, after riding out though.’
Willie Mullins’ nephew Harry Skelton got hitched to fellow jump jockey Bridget Andrews in 2019
Sean Bowen – Harriet Matthews
Welsh jockey Sean Bowen is expected to ride one of the nine runners Irish trainer Gordon Elliott he has entered into the race.
Bowen has been with his girlfriend Harriet Matthews since 2016 and the couple are fond of the odd adventure or two.
The two have have regularly been spotted jet-setting around the globe when Bowen is not riding, with the pair seen on holiday in the likes of Madrid, Kos and Mykonos, while they have also been skiing in France.
Matthews works for Paul Nicholls Racing, meaning this is another all-racing couple and they own a sausage dog called Dottie.
Welsh jockey will be supported this weekend by his girlfriend Harriet Matthews
Matthews poses with the couple’s beloved sausage dog Dottie on holiday
Sean Flanagan – Lauren Carragher
Irish jockey Sean Flanagan will ride one of the stronger contenders for this weekend’s big race.
Flanagan is expected to ride for trainer Gavin Cromwell on last year’s runner-up Vanillier.
Although many of the WAGs previously mentioned stem from a horse background, Sean’s wife Lauren Carragher knew very little about the topic prior to meeting Sean.
Speaking to the Irish Field after the pairs engagement Lauren revealed she knew nothing of racing or equine world but she’s ‘learning the ropes’.
The couple who got married back in 2021, share two children together Lilah and L.J.
Sean Flanagan is married with two children and is a strong contender this weekend
Rachael Blackmore – Brian Hayes
Another horse-tale ending – previous Grand National winner Rachael Blackmore is dating fellow jockey Brian Hayes.
Hayes has rode for top trainers like Emmet Mullins, Willie Mullins and the Bowe family.
Although the term WAG can’t be implied in this instance, it would be a discredit to Blackmore not mention her situation as she is currently one of horse racing’s top jockeys.
Former Grand National winner Rachael Blackmore will be cheered on by her partner and jockey Brian Hayes
Blackmore and Hayes’ relationship is pretty serious with the couple living together since 2021.
Speaking in 2021, Blackmore reflected on her relationship as she said: ‘I live with two other jockeys, Patrick Mullins and Brian Hayes. I am going out with Brian Hayes, so there are three of us here.
‘It is a great house to live in and it is in a really good location in Leighlinbridge. It is close to all the race tracks in Ireland .
‘We don’t talk about racing half as much as people might think, it is just a normal house when we come home.’
Blackmore will ride Henry De Bromhead trained Ain’t That A Shame in the Grand National.
Keith Donoghue – Sarah Dempsey
Irish jockey Keith Donoghue has spoken very candidly about the highs and lows of his riding career.
The Meath native however has been in fine form this year, featuring at Cheltenham and all.
The Irishman will ride Capodanno this weekend for WP Mullins and is expected to be cheered on by his doting partner Sarah Dempsey.
The pair prefer to keep a low profile when it comes to their relationship but they have share various snaps of one another while on vacation together.
For example, they were seen skiing in the French Alps, while last year Donoghue posted a photo of them together on the coast in Villefranche-sur-Mer, which is in the luxurious Cote d’Azur region on the French Riviera.
One of the many couples on this list who like to keep their relationship private, Irish jockey Keith Donoghue is expected to be cheered on by his doting partner Sarah Dempsey on Saturday
Mark Walsh – Katie Young
Mark Walsh and Kate Young are Horse Racing’s star crossed lovers, described as the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ of horse racing.
Walsh is the son of trainer and racing pundit Ted Walsh, whilst Young works as a trainer for Gordon Elliott Racing.
Which is one of the most renowned and successful yards in the sport, in fact the well respected yard has trained two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll.
Walsh will ride 12/1 backed Limerick Lane trained by Gavin Cromwell in this year’s National.
The modern horse day ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Gold Cup winning jockey goes out with Gordon Elliott Racing trainer Kate Young
Paul Townend – Anna Paoletti
Gold Cup winner Paul Townend will ride one of the favourites for this year’s Grand National.
Townend will ride last year’s Irish National winner I Am Maximus, trained by WP Mullins and will be looking to create history this weekend becoming one of the few to complete the double, winning both the Irish and British Grand Nationals.
As the Irishman aims to create hisotry with I Am Maximus this weekend, he will be cheered on by Italian girlfriend Anna Paoletti.
Paul Townend will be cheered on this weekend by his Italian girlfriend Anna Paoletti
Horses are a key part of their relationship, with Paoletti an Equine Sport Therapist after moving to Ireland in 2005 to study in that field.
She is based in Kilkenny, where she lives with Townend and the couple own a small dog.
On the side of her work in equine therapy, Paoletti sells eco-friendly Italian cosmetics via her own online shop.
