Heart op boy, 5, from Formby to be honorary Grand National runner

A five-year-old boy who has undergone five open heart surgeries - including the latest in recent weeks - will be this year's honorary runner in the Randox Grand National. Although it is too soon since the procedure for Oliver, from Formby to attend the big race, the Jockey Club and Alder Hey Hospital will stream a private viewing for the boy with his family and their friends in the Liverpool hospital's special cinema. "Oliver is back home now but is still quite vulnerable as he waits for his breast bone to mend," said mum Amelia Christie. She added: "But he is still very excited." An honorary runner has taken a place in the race since 2017 when Randox first sponsored the National, and it sees the runner's name appearing in the racecard alongside the official line-up. The initiative highlights the work of Alder Hey which has a longstanding partnership with Aintree Racecourse stretching back 25 years. Although the little boy - who has a life-limiting congenital heart disease - will not be at the big race, he did attend the Grand National Weights Lunch, an annual event staged at Liverpool's St George's Hall in February, with hundreds of guests. His mother said: "I did a little speech

Apr 11, 2026 → Apr 11, 2026