With this year’s Aintree Grand National cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Virtual Grand National has galloped to the rescue to replace it.

This computer-version of the famous race is produced by Carm Productions and is created using advanced computer graphics and sophisticated algorithms to predict the outcome based on data about the runners.

The Virtual Grand National has been run each year since 2017 alongside the real thing and has a consistently good record of predicting the winners. This year’s virtual race features Aintree legends Red Rum and Tiger Roll against the other competitors.

Carm executive producer Rob McLoughlin grew up in Maghull, near Aintree. This is a project close to his heart.  “We use the latest CGI technology and algorithms and were ready to go ahead as a forerunner to the big race, but now we want to cheer the nation up and ask the computer if history could have been made.”

The Virtual Grand National will be broadcast by ITV at 5.00pm on April 4, 2020. More details and how to watch the race, visit the ITV website here.