Plain Fence, Height: 4ft 7in, Width: 3ft
The field has crossed the Melling Road and entered the final straight of the Grand National. On their first lap, they are now met with four fences in quick succession, while on the second circuit just two more obstacles – and a torturous run-in – separate them from glory.
The first of those fences is the 4ft 7in high, 3ft wide thirteenth (first lap) and 29th (second). Those dimensions suggest this obstacle is one of the more straightforward on the Aintree circuit – especially since 2013, when the landing side was flattened and smoothed out.
However, with tiring legs on the second circuit, it still poses enough of a challenge to have a say in who will triumph in the Grand National and who will have glory snatched from them so late in the piece.
Famous Fallers at Fence 13/29
Generally speaking, this thirteenth and 29th fence is not as prolific as others on the Grand National circuit for causing horses to fall or unseat their rider.
But it was here, famously, in 1994 that a mini pile-up saw five horses fall out of contention – including two of the market fancies in Double Silk and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Master Oats.
Katie Walsh, who for a long time held the highest finish for a female jockey in the Grand National following her third on Seabass in 2012, was unseated here on board Ballycasey in 2016.
Incredibly, there has barely been a faller at this fence in the past two decades – although Aidan Coleman, on board Grand Slam Hero, did hit the deck here back in 2011.