For a few years, the Virtual Grand National (VGN) became a regular part of the Aintree build-up. Blending advanced animations and graphics with real race data, each year it attempted to provide a convincing simulation of what the real race might look like. This was the case until 2022, but the VGN has not been seen since. As well as telling the full story of the virtual race, we also look at how likely it is to make a reappearance in 2026.
What Was the Virtual Grand National?
The Virtual Grand National was a computer-simulated version of the Grand National, created using sophisticated race-modelling software and hand-crafted Ultra High-Definition computer-generated animations. Rather than being a simple random generator, the simulation incorporated a wide range of real-world variables, including:
- Each horse’s historical performance
- Weather conditions and going
- Official handicap data
- Recent form and past Grand National trends
Inspired Entertainment, creators of the VGN, also recreated the famous Aintree course so that each virtual horse would take on every turn and fence that the marathon steeplechase actually supplies.
The result was a full 40-runner race, complete with fallers, dramatic finishes and realistic race commentary, broadcast on ITV the night before the real Grand National.
The Early Years: 2017–2019
The first-ever Virtual Grand National aired in 2017 as an ITV special on the eve of the Grand National. It made a positive impression too, as Cause of Causes won the virtual race before finishing second in the real event. Even more striking was the fact that the simulation correctly predicted six of the real-life top 10 finishers. Even professional tipsters would struggle to enjoy such a record in this famously unpredictable race.
After an impressive debut, the VGN returned in 2018 and 2019, although it was not a huge sporting spectacle by any means, merely a small part of the larger Grand National build-up. Indeed, in 2018, only a small number of bookies, such as BoyleSports, Coral and Ladbrokes, offered to stream the event live. All of this changed in 2020, however, as the VGN was thrust into the spotlight.
2020: When the Virtual Grand National Took Over
The 2020 Virtual Grand National marked a dramatic shift in the event’s importance. With the real Grand National cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, ITV chose to broadcast the Virtual Grand National on ITV1, elevating it from a side feature to a headline event. For a simulated event, the viewing figures were extraordinary. Around 4.8 million viewers across the UK tuned in to watch the action, which was approximately 30% of the entire TV audience at the time. For context, around 750,000 people watched the VGN the previous year.
Part of what made the event so popular was that bookies far and wide were offering odds on the race, just as though it was the real thing. The only difference from normal was that stakes were capped at £10 to win, or £10 each way. A combination of the virtual nature of the race and the betting limits saw a reduction in betting spend, but the figure still hit tens of millions.
Virtual Grand National 2020 Result
| Position | Horse | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Potters Corner | 18/1 |
| 2nd | Walk In The Mill | 16/1 |
| 3rd | Any Second Now | 10/1 |
| 4th | Tiger Roll | 5/1 |
| 5th | Burrows Saint | 12/1 |
All bookmaker profits from the race were donated to charity. This resulted in more than £2.6 million being raised for NHS Charities Together. An additional £300,000 went to Irish health charities courtesy of profits made from bets placed in Ireland. This charitable element, combined with big viewing figures and absence of technical hitches, meant the 2020 Virtual Grand National was a major success by all accounts.
2021: Back to a Supporting Role
With live racing restored in 2021, the Virtual Grand National returned to a more familiar position in the schedule. It was broadcast on ITV4 on the day before the race (then repeated on ITV1 the next day), to act as a preview rather than be a genuine alternative to the real thing. The 2020 edition captured the imagination of the public when it was the only race, but it can never compete with the proper blood, sweat and tears event. Still, the 2021 virtual edition did enjoy a fair amount of media coverage.
Virtual vs Actual Results in 2021
| VGN Position | Horse | Actual Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Cloth Cap | Pulled Up |
| 2nd | Kimberlite Candy | Pulled Up |
| 3rd | Any Second Now | 3rd |
| 4th | Burrows Saint | 4th |
| 5th | Minella Times | 1st |
Although the virtual winner did not translate to real-world success, the simulation still placed three of the actual top five, reinforcing its analytical credibility.
2022: Still Running, Less Noticeable
The Virtual Grand National returned in 2022, airing on ITV4 on Friday, 8th April. By this stage, it was attracting far less attention. With packed Grand National coverage elsewhere and no longer carrying novelty value, it passed largely without mainstream discussion. It still did a respectable job at predicting the real event, though, correctly picking the second- and third-placed finishers.
| VGN Position | Horse | Actual Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Snow Leopardess | Pulled Up |
| 2nd | Any Second Now | 2nd |
| 3rd | Delta Works | 3rd |
| 4th | Minella Times | Fell |
| 5th | Mighty Thunder | Pulled Up |
The End of the Virtual Grand National
With interest in the VGN dropping even further by 2022, it did not even feature in 2023. Such a realistic simulation of a race does not come cheaply, and without sufficient interest, it does not make much sense to continue it. Due to this, we have not seen an official Virtual Grand National since 2022. What appears to have filled the gap is supercomputer predictions, which often simulate the race many times and give a percentage success chance for each runner based on this.
Will the Virtual Grand National Return in 2026?
At present, there is no confirmation that the Virtual Grand National will return in 2026, nor is there any real expectation that it will. Virtual horse racing, which accepts real money bets, is still widely available across bookmakers, but this is the closest thing you will find at the moment.
Ultimately, there is not just a huge amount of appetite for a simulated event any more. Inspired Entertainment provided a quality virtual race that produced fairly accurate results for six years, but its time has come and gone. The drop in the event’s interest and media coverage by 2022 has made it unworthy to craft such a realistic animation of Aintree’s biggest race. While there is always a chance it could re-emerge at some point, don’t hold your breath.
