Complete Guide to Fences in the Grand National

Aintree Racecourse features three courses: the Mildmay course, the hurdles course, and the famous Grand National course.

The Grand National course is only used for a select few races each year, including the world-famous Grand National itself.

The Grand National is run over a distance of 4 miles and 2 1⁄2 furlongs, covering two laps of this iconic track.

While the course is mostly flat, it’s a true test of stamina, with 34 Grand National runners and riders often racing at a strong pace from start to finish.

But what really sets this race apart is the jumping. There are 30 unique fences in the Grand National, many of which are unlike anything seen in regular jump racing.

These fences challenge both horse and jockey, demanding bravery, balance, and excellent jumping technique.

In this course guide, we’ll take you through all the the Grand National fences, including legendary obstacles like Becher’s Brook, The Chair, and Canal Turn—each with its own history and unique challenges.

Grand National Fences Guide

Fence 1 & 17

The first fence is covered in birch and is 4 feet 6 inches (1.37 m) high. The first can often claim victims with the jockeys racing to get a good position at the first and sometimes the horses failing to settle.

To reduce the mad rush to the first fence, the powers that be commissioned the 1st fence to be moved closer to the flag fall in 2024.

Thus stopping the rush to get over the first.

Fence 2 & 18

Near enough the same distance from the ground as the first and seventeenth at 4 feet 7 inches (1.40 m) but 9 inches wider at 3ft 6in.

A plain fence which will be jumped twice.

Fence 3 & 19

The first open ditch of the contest. At 4 feet 10 inches (1.47 m) with a 6-foot (1.83 m) ditch on the approach it is the highest of the first three fences at the Grand National.

Fence 4 & 20

A fence which can be tricky and has seen spills and thrills over the years. It was reduced in height by two inches in 2012, with its landing area smoothed out ahead of the 2013 renewal.

A horse death occurred at the 20th  back in 2011, which prompted the fence to be bypassed for the first time in its history.

Fence 5 & 21

A spruce-dressed fence which is 5 foot high and 3 foot 6 inches wide. Levelling was carried out of the landing side 12 years ago.

The next fence on the course is undoubtedly the most famous one on the Grand National course.

Fence 6 & 22 – Bechers Brook

With a height of five feet (1.52 m) and a landing side some half a foot shorter than the take-off side, the fence is, without doubt, the most thrilling and famous in the racing world. 

The fence is named after an old amateur jockey, Captain Martin Becher, who hit the turf in the very first running of the unique contest.

It makes for spectacular viewing and can often catch a horse and jockey out with the extended drop on the landing side.

Fence 7 & 23 – Foinavon

An ordinary, plain fence carries the name of the 1967 100/1 winner Foinavon, who avoided the carnage during the 7th fence following a mass pile-up.

It is the smallest fence on the course at 4 foot 6 inches (1.37 m) wide but comes up after the biggest drop fence of Bechers Brook, which may be why it sometimes catches horses out.

Fence 8 & 24 – The Canal Turn

With a height of five feet (1.52 m) the fence is most noteworthy for its sharp 90-degree left-hand turn immediately after landing.

The fence offers the jockey a chance to position his or her horse to take the fence out wide to navigate the turn on landing.

The race is named after the canal that faces the horses as they land. Interestingly, before the First World War, it wasn’t rare for participants to mistakenly continue straight and end up in the canal.

Fence 9 & 25 – Valentines Brook

At 5-foot (1.52 m) high with a 5 foot 6 inch (1.68 m) brook, it is the third of the four most renowned Grand National fences jumped on this course.

Valentines Brook takes its name from a certain horse whose name was Valentine, who took part in the 1840 renewal. And was famous for jumping the fence in a very unique way.

Fence 10 & 26

A plain fence which is 5 feet (1.52 m) high and leads the horses alongside the canal on their right-hand side towards two ditches.

Fence 11 & 27

Onto the eleventh, which is an open ditch whose height has been tinkered with over the past few years and now stands at 4 feet 10 inches (1.47 m) with a 6 feet (1.83 m) ditch on the take-off side. 

Fence 12 & 28

Larger than the previous fence, this ditch stands at 5 feet (1.52 m) with a 5 feet 6-inch (1.68 m) ditch on the landing side.

Following this fence, the field then continues onto the next jump and, in doing so, crosses the famous Melling Road.

Fence 13 & 29

This fence is where the finish begins to heat up as it is the penultimate fence of the race on the final circuit.

The fence is 4 feet 7 inch (1.40 m) tall and is another plain fence. Its landing side was levelled out before the 2013 renewal.

Fence 14 & 30

At 4 feet 7 inch (1.40 m), the 30th fence is where the runners will jump the final fence before heading towards the famous elbow and the long run in where many close finishes have been fought out over the years where famously Crisp was collared by Red Rum in 1973.

At the 14th, the field continues to race towards The Chair and The Water Jump.

Grand National Fences Jumped Only Once

Fence 15 – The Chair

One of the most popular fences at the Grand National for spectators and punters. At a height of 5 feet 2 inches (1.57m), preceded by a 6 foot (1.83 m) wide ditch this fence has a rather dark reputation surrounding it.

In 1862, Joe Wynne became the only ever human fatality at the Grand National when he fell from his horse at this fence.

Fence 16 – Water Jump

This 2-foot 9 inch (0.76 m) is also one of the most popular fences in the Grand National, providing a great jumping spectacle in front of the packed grandstand.

This fence completes the first lap of the track.

After the Final Grand National Fence

On the second and final lap, after the 30th fence, the runners travel to the right, avoiding a second jump over fences 15 and 16, The Chair and the Water Jump, as they race down towards the finishing line to decide the 2025 Grand National winner.

FAQ On Fences In The Grand National