Grand National: what you need to know
The Grand National is the highlight of the Aintree Festival, taking place on Saturday after a week of top-class racing, including key contests like the Manifesto Novices' Chase earlier in the festival and the Aintree Hurdle in the build-up.
First run in 1839, the Grand National features up to 40 horses aged seven or older, with jockeys required to have proven experience.
As a handicap race, weights are assigned to keep the competition fair.
Known for its famous and challenging fences, such as Becher's Brook, the race tests both stamina and jumping ability, making it one of the most thrilling and iconic events in horse racing.
The full race card: don’t miss a moment!
The Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse takes place over three action-packed days, with multiple races scheduled each afternoon.
Day-by-day overview:
Day | Overview |
Day 1 | Competitive opening races, headlined by the Manifesto Novices' Chase |
Day 2 | High-quality contests, including the Aintree Hurdle |
Day 3 | Grand National Day, building up to the feature race in the late afternoon |
Tip: Each day offers different betting opportunities across a variety of races.
Famous names in Grand National history
Some of the most memorable horses in racing history have competed in the Grand National:
Red Rum
Wins: 1973, 1974, 1977
Second place: twice
Also won the Scottish Grand National in 1974
Never fell in 100 races
Mr Frisk
Set the fastest winning time in 1990
Record: 8 minutes 47.80 seconds
Lottery
First-ever Grand National winner
Winning time: 14 minutes 53 seconds
Tiger Roll
Back-to-back Grand National winner
First to achieve this since Red Rum
Also won five races at the Cheltenham Festival
Festival facts
The course features 16 fences, jumped twice (30 jumps in total)
Becher's Brook is one of the most famous and challenging fences
Around 75,000 cups of tea and coffee are consumed during the festival
The race attracts around 600 million viewers across 140 countries
In 2021, Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National
Around 150 tonnes of spruce are used each year to build the fences
Note: The combination of distance, fences, and race conditions makes the Grand National one of the most demanding races in the world.