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ITV Racing will aim to fill the void left after the cancellation of the Grand National with a computer-simulated running of the race.
The Virtual Grand National will broadcast live at 5pm next Saturday, the day the race was scheduled to be run.
Using the latest CGI technology, the TV special will feature the 40 horses and riders who were most likely to run in the Aintree spectacular. It hopes to answer the key question in racing – could Tiger Roll have won the 2020 race and entered the history books as a three-times back-to-back winner?
Executive producer Rob McLoughlin said: “It’s very sad not to have the real race, but Inspired’s virtual race is fascinating and fun and has proven since 2017 to be incredibly accurate.
“It is brave to preview the most unpredictable race of all, but also great fun.
“In these difficult times we want the public to simply enjoy the race that sadly never was and think about what might have been.”
There will also be a race of champions, featuring dual winners Red Rum and Tiger Roll.
“It is the dream race, the one everyone will want to see, the legend and the competitor head-to-head and it can only happen as part of this ITV special,” said Richard Pitman, who went agonisingly close to winning the National on Crisp in 1973 when caught close home by Red Rum.
“Both (Red Rum and Tiger Roll) were trained for the Flat, both are small and both have found a natural home over the Aintree jumps, so to see them compete with 38 other famous legends over the real course and famous fences will be magnificent.”
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1/27 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Nico de Boinville celebrates following victory in the the Supreme Novices' Hurdle aboard Shishkin.
PA
2/27 Arkle Challenge Trophy
Put The Kettle On ridden by Aidan Coleman celebrates winning the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy.
PA
3/27 Ultima Handicap Chase
Brendan Powell aboard The Conditional celebrates winning the Ultima Handicap Chase.
PA
4/27 Champion Hurdle
Epatante ridden by Barry Geraghty won the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on day one at Cheltenham.
Getty
5/27 Mares' Hurdle
Honeysuckle (right) took the Mares' Hurdle in a thrilling victory to upset Benie Des Dieux.
Getty Images
6/27 Novices' Handicap Chase
Imperial Aura on the way to victory with David Bass in the Novices' Handicap Chase.
PA
7/27 National Hunt Chase
Jamie Codd celebrates victory in the National Hunt Challenge Cup after riding Ravenhill to victory.
PA
8/27 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
Envoi Allen ridden by jockey Davy Russell on their way to winning the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
PA
9/27 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase
Champ ridden by jockey Barry Geraghty (left) on their way to wining the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase
PA
10/27 Queen Mother Champion Chase
Politologue ridden by Harry Skelton on the way to winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham
Getty
11/27 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Jockey Barry Geraghty with Dame De Compagnie after winning the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
PA
12/27 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Easysland clears the last to beat Tiger Roll to victory in the Cross Country Steeple Chase.
PA Images
13/27 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Aramax (C) ridden by Mark Walsh on the way to winning the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Getty Images
14/27 Champion Bumper
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper
PA Images
15/27 Marsh Novices' Chase
Davy Russell (left) rides clear of Melon to win the Marsh Novices' Chase.
Getty Images
16/27 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
Sire Du Berlais ridden by Barry Geraghty celebrates winning the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
PA
17/27 Ryanair Chase
Paul Townend riding Min (pink) clear the last to win The Ryanair Chase
Getty Images
18/27 Stayers' Hurdle
Jockey Adam Wedge wins the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle with Lisnagar Oscar
PA
19/27 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
Simply The Betts ridden by jockey Gavin Sheehan celebrates winning the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
PA
20/27 Mares' Novices' Hurdle
Concertista ridden by Daryl Jacob on his way to winning the the Daylesford Mares' Novices' Hurdle
PA
21/27 Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Milan Native ridden by R James clears the water jump during the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase
Getty Images
22/27 JCB Triumph Hurdle
Burning Victory (far side) ridden by Paul Townend coming home to win the JCB Triumph Hurdle
PA Images via Reuters Connect
23/27 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
Jockey Barry Geraghty (1st-L) rides Saint Roi to win the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race
AFP via Getty Images
24/27 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates on Monkfish after winning the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
PA
25/27 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Al Boum Photo crosses the line to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
PA Images via Reuters
26/27 St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
Jockey Maxine O'Sullivan celebrates with the trophy after It Came To Pass won the St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
PA
27/27 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Jockey Davy Russell wins the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase with Chosen Mate
PA
1/27 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Nico de Boinville celebrates following victory in the the Supreme Novices' Hurdle aboard Shishkin.
PA
2/27 Arkle Challenge Trophy
Put The Kettle On ridden by Aidan Coleman celebrates winning the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy.
PA
3/27 Ultima Handicap Chase
Brendan Powell aboard The Conditional celebrates winning the Ultima Handicap Chase.
PA
4/27 Champion Hurdle
Epatante ridden by Barry Geraghty won the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on day one at Cheltenham.
Getty
5/27 Mares' Hurdle
Honeysuckle (right) took the Mares' Hurdle in a thrilling victory to upset Benie Des Dieux.
Getty Images
6/27 Novices' Handicap Chase
Imperial Aura on the way to victory with David Bass in the Novices' Handicap Chase.
PA
7/27 National Hunt Chase
Jamie Codd celebrates victory in the National Hunt Challenge Cup after riding Ravenhill to victory.
PA
8/27 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
Envoi Allen ridden by jockey Davy Russell on their way to winning the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
PA
9/27 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase
Champ ridden by jockey Barry Geraghty (left) on their way to wining the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase
PA
10/27 Queen Mother Champion Chase
Politologue ridden by Harry Skelton on the way to winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham
Getty
11/27 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Jockey Barry Geraghty with Dame De Compagnie after winning the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
PA
12/27 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Easysland clears the last to beat Tiger Roll to victory in the Cross Country Steeple Chase.
PA Images
13/27 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Aramax (C) ridden by Mark Walsh on the way to winning the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Getty Images
14/27 Champion Bumper
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper
PA Images
15/27 Marsh Novices' Chase
Davy Russell (left) rides clear of Melon to win the Marsh Novices' Chase.
Getty Images
16/27 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
Sire Du Berlais ridden by Barry Geraghty celebrates winning the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
PA
17/27 Ryanair Chase
Paul Townend riding Min (pink) clear the last to win The Ryanair Chase
Getty Images
18/27 Stayers' Hurdle
Jockey Adam Wedge wins the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle with Lisnagar Oscar
PA
19/27 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
Simply The Betts ridden by jockey Gavin Sheehan celebrates winning the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase
PA
20/27 Mares' Novices' Hurdle
Concertista ridden by Daryl Jacob on his way to winning the the Daylesford Mares' Novices' Hurdle
PA
21/27 Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Milan Native ridden by R James clears the water jump during the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase
Getty Images
22/27 JCB Triumph Hurdle
Burning Victory (far side) ridden by Paul Townend coming home to win the JCB Triumph Hurdle
PA Images via Reuters Connect
23/27 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
Jockey Barry Geraghty (1st-L) rides Saint Roi to win the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race
AFP via Getty Images
24/27 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates on Monkfish after winning the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
PA
25/27 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Al Boum Photo crosses the line to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
PA Images via Reuters
26/27 St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
Jockey Maxine O'Sullivan celebrates with the trophy after It Came To Pass won the St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
PA
27/27 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Jockey Davy Russell wins the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase with Chosen Mate
PA
Pitman joins Nick Luck and guests for The Virtual Grand National TV special, with the animation created by Inspired Entertainment.
“In 2017, Cause Of Causes won the Virtual Grand National and came a close second in the real race hours later,” said Steve Rogers, chief commercial officer for Virtual Sports at Inspired.
“The 2018 result was breathtaking as Tiger Roll won both in almost identical circumstances and the computer chose three of the top five finishers, including Tiger Roll, in 2019.
“My team have been working round the clock to make this year even more realistic than ever, and we can’t wait to screen the Red Rum versus Tiger Roll match. It’s terrific TV.”
PA