Open Ditch, Height: 5ft, Width: 5ft 6in
The final fence before the runners enter the home straight is the twelfth on the first lap and 28th on the second overall.
Another five-foot high obstacle, this fence is the third of the open ditches – it features a 5ft 6in wide abyss on the landing side.
After this fence, the field cross the Melling Road and takes the final left-hand turn into the home straight. So, while this obstacle isn’t the most dastardly on the circuit, it’s where the potential winner of the Grand National and their nearest challengers will jockey for position heading into the business end of the race.
Famous Fallers at Fence 12/28
For the most part, you tend to see more horses being pulled up rather than falling at 12/28 as their riders seek to protect them from the tough run in.
The 20/1 shot Arbor Supreme fell at the 28th when well stationed in 2011, while the 8/1 near favourite Youllneverwalkalone was pulled up immediately after the fence on the first circuit by Conor O’Dwyer in 2003.
But, for the most part, this fence has provided few problems for the Grand National field in the past two decades – it acts more of a scene-setter for the edge-of-the-seat excitement to follow in the home stretch.