Welcome to coverage of the 2020 Virtual Grand National!
With Britain on lockdown amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the real-life Grand National was indeed cancelled.
That has meant that back-to-back winner Tiger Roll is unable to attempt to match Red Rum’s achievement of three successive victories in the world’s most famous horse race.
However, running in its place, and still offering Gordon Elliott’s ace a place in history, is the Virtual Grand National, a computer-simulated version of Aintree’s world-famous steeplechase, designed by Inspired Entertainment.
Using computer-generated imagery (CGI), the entire course layout and National fences have been recreated as accurately as possible.
The simulation itself is made up of mathematical algorithms pertaining to the horses’ age, weight and past performances, while factors such as weather conditions, fallers, unseated riders and collapsing fences are all included also.
Last year the virtual Grand National was won by Rathvinden – who actually finished third – and in 2018 Tiger Roll did the real-life/virtual double. In recent times it has been remarkably accurate.
So who wins today? The event will be shown on ITV at 5:15pm.
Follow all the build up, and the action as it happens, right here.
