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What time and date is the 2026 Grand National?

admin October 14, 2025

The 2026 Aintree Grand National takes place on Saturday the 11th April 2026 at 4pm and will air on ITV1. Millions will be tuning in to watching the race. It’s the main event of a three day racing festival, but the big race itself has such a worldwide reputation that it’s the one what most racing fans will be waiting for. Much like last year, the 2026 race starts at an earlier time than the Grand National has been held in recent years. Other changes in recent years include a reduced field size from 40 to 34 horses and fences softened using foam and rubber toe boards for safety reasons. Be sure to put the time and date down in your calendar!

For the full three day Grand National 2026 Schedule featuring the time and date of every race within the three day event, see below:

🏇 Grand National Festival 2026 — Full Racing Schedule

Opening Day — Thursday 9 April 2026

Gates open: 11:00 am

Time	Race	Distance
1:45 pm	EBC Group Manifesto Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 1, Grade 1)	2 m 4 f
2:20 pm	Boodles Anniversary 4-yo Juvenile Hurdle (Class 1, Grade 1)	2 m 1 f
2:55 pm	Brooklands Golden Miller Chronograph Bowl Steeple Chase (Class 1, Grade 1)	3 m 1 f
3:30 pm	William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Class 1, Grade 1)	2 m 4 f
4:05 pm	Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase (Class 2)	2 m 5 f
4:40 pm	Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 1, Premier Handicap)	2 m
5:15 pm	Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Class 1, Grade 2)	2 m 1 f

Ladies Day — Friday 10 April 2026

Gates open: 10:30 am

Time	Race	Distance
1:45 pm	Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Class 1, Grade 1)	3 m 1 f
2:20 pm	William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Class 1, Premier Handicap)	2 m 4 f
2:55 pm	TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle (Class 1, Grade 1)	2 m ½ f
3:30 pm	Melling Steeple Chase (Class 1, Grade 1)	2 m 4 f
4:05 pm	Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase (Class 1, Premier Handicap)	2 m 5 f
4:40 pm	Oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Class 1, Grade 1)	3 m ½ f
5:15 pm	Hallgarten & Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle (Class 2, Conditional/Amateur Riders)	2 m ½ f

Grand National Day — Saturday 11 April 2026

Gates open: 10:00 am

Time	Race	Distance
1:20 pm	William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle (Class 1, Premier Handicap)	3 m ½ f
1:55 pm	Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Class 1, Grade 1)	2 m 4 f
2:30 pm	William Hill Handicap Steeple Chase (Freebooter Handicap) (Class 1, Premier Handicap)	3 m 1 f
3:05 pm	Ivy Liverpool Hurdle (Class 1, Grade 1)	3 m ½ f
4:00 pm	Randox Grand National Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 1, Premier Handicap)	4 m 2½ f
5:00 pm	Rosconn Group Maghull Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 1, Grade 1)	2 m
5:35 pm	Weatherbys NHStallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 1, Grade 2)	2 m 1 f

Here’s a handy PDF print out of the 2026 Grand National race time and dates.

Years

Grand National Winners 1850 – 1859

admin October 10, 2025

grand national winners 1850 - 1859 The height of the Victorian era.

Lord Palmerston becomes Prime Minister in 1855. A time of much conflict.

The Crimean War (1853 – 1856) saw Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire fight against Russia. The weakening Ottoman Empire saw European powers fighting over influence and territory. Known as the ‘Eastern Question’ Russia wanted to gain control of the Black Sea, while Britain and France feared this would threaten trade routes and global influence. It also had religious underpinnings with disputes between Catholic and Christians, which saw a religious dispute in Jerusalem. Major battles included The Charge of the Light Brigade and the Fall Of Sevastopol. Sadly, of the 750,000 who lost their life, the vast majority died through disease, infection and harsh conditions. Typhus and Cholera swept through armies. Russia lost the war and signed the Treaty of Paris in 1856.

This period saw Florence Nightingale reform nursing and hygiene.

It was the height of the Industrial Revolution. Cities such as Liverpool and Birmingham become industrial powerhouses. This was detailed with the Great Exhibition (1851), held at Crystal Palace, organised by Prince Albert.

A Victorian cultural boom saw Charles Dickens Bleak House and Little Dorrit hit the bookshops. The growth of popular journalism saw the penny press.

Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was published in 1859.

The Aintree Grand National remained as popular as ever although there was criticism regarding horse fatalities.

Let’s take a look at the winners for this decade:

1850 – Abd-El-Kadar 30/1

1851 – Abd-El-Kadar 7/1

1852 – Miss Mowbray 12/1

1853 – Peter Simple 9/1

1854 – Bourton 4/1

1855 – Wanderer 25/1

1856 – Freetrader 25/1

1857 – Emigrant 10/1

1858 – Little Charley 100/6

1859 – Half Caste 7/1

1850: The decade started on a high note with Abd-El-Kadar who was an unconsidered Irish raider who won at odds of 30/1. ‘Little Ab’ was a tiny gelding owned and trained by Joseph Osborne and ridden by Chris Green (who went on to win again with Half Caste, 1859). He was born at Upwell, Norfolk. Abd-El-Kadar was considered by many a fortunate winner, holding on to win by half a length with much drama at the final fence. Fortune favours the brave, and this little horse would prove he was a star when retaining his title the following year with another battling victory to win by a neck. The first dual winner of the National. He would attempt to make it three wins on the trot but pulled-up at the 20^th fence (Becher’s Brook) after running across the wheat field for the second circuit. He would finish 5^th in 1853.

1853: Peter Simple was no stranger to the Grand National after winning in 1849 for Tom Cunningham and owner Finch Mason, Jr. In heavy ground, he won by three lengths at odds of 20/1. There were 3 fatalities in the race leading to much criticism in the press. However, Peter Simple would make history in 1853 when winning for a second time at the age of 15. This is a record unlikely to be beaten. His victory was all the more impressive for not completing the course in the three previous races.

1854: 4/1f Bourton won in a canter by fifteen lengths, ridden by John Tasker, trained by Henry Wadlow in the ownership of William Moseley. Reading the race report, it is quite distressing to hear the lack of compassion some jockeys had for their mounts. Half And Half finished sixth but was ridden lame for most of the second circuit after breaking down. A similar story for the veteran Peter Simple, who was 16, who finished in a very distressed state after breaking down badly. He was ridden by Newmarket-born Charles Boyce, the son of Classic winning jockey Frank.

1857: There is an interesting story behind Emigrant, who was won in a card game from Ben Land. Bookmaker and noted gambler George Hogman, bet heavily on his horse ante post but began to lay it to lose as the race neared as public confidence in the horse faded. However, Hogman made no secret that he thought the horse was a certainty. Trained and ridden by Charles Boyce, who was injured leading up to the big day, kept the ride. When asked for instructions Hogman said: ‘Do what you like.’

Emigrant won the race easily by three lengths at odds of 10/1.

Hogman won £5000. However, if he hadn’t laid much of his potential win with fears of his injured jockey not being at his best, he could have won ten times that sum. Boyce was rewarded with a gift of £1000. In today’s money, that would be worth £150,000.

1859: Half Caste concluded the decade winning at odds of 7/1 for trainer-jockey Chris Green in the silks of Mr Willoughby. The race saw spectators sabotage many of the fences endeavouring to make them less of a test. Some jockeys returned after the race to say their mounts had jumped spectators, so close to the jumps were the crowds! With the conflict of the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny there was concerns it had starved the sport of both good hunters and good hunting men. The field was made up of mostly flat race rejects and horses which had never taken part in a steeplechase. In one of the closest finishes ever, Half Caste won by a short neck.

Questions

Comparing modern favourites with past legendary horses of the race

admin October 6, 2025

The Grand National has long been one of the most exciting and interesting events in horse racing in England. There are lots of people who find it dramatic to watch. With every year in the sport, new favourites are being made, rising to meet the incredibly high expectations of trainers, owners and fans. Compared with old favourites of the past, these newcomers show how the race has changed in terms of how people prepare, their style and the ultimate prestige and reputation of the horse itself.

Past legends of the National

Not many can live up the famous Red Rum. Red Rum is the only horse to win the Grand National three times, including in 1973, 1974 and 1977. He was a household name and a horse racing hero due to his stamina and incredible consistency.

Other greats of years past include Foinavon in 1967 and Aldaniti in 1981, as well as jockey Bob Champion in what is often seen as one of the greatest sporting comebacks ever seen. These wins have become a part of racing folklore and remind the National fans that it is this unpredictability and excitement that make it great to follow.

Modern favourites rising

Today’s contenders face a slightly different challenge. Improvements in fences and racing regulations have been extensive, impacting the speed, performance and position of horses relative to other racehorses. Horses such as Tiger Roll, who won in 2018 and 2019 just as Red Rum did those years before, have become icons for modern times.

Recent winners, such as Noble Yeats in 2022, reflect the emergence of younger and more agile horses that can match wits with seasoned veterans. Aside from modern training and veterinary treatment, the sports and preparation methods used today mean that today’s modern favourites are much better-tuned athletes when compared to previous decades.

Evolution of the race

Throughout the entire history of the National, both the course layout and the conditions on the day of the race have been updated by the organisers. One introduction was Kittie fences, which have minimised the number of falls; in turn, this shifts attention toward how well prepared the horses are, how fast they can sprint during the race and in the final stretch.

These days, the Grand National is even more competitive than it used to be, with lots of well-prepared horses in the field, making it harder to people to be able to determine the favourite. With such a high number of competitive horses, some might consider these modern horses to be even more interesting than the horses of the past.

The cultural significance

Beyond the track, there is a place specially reserved for the Grand National in the British sports culture. It is one of the few races where not everyone attending is a regular follower of horse racing. This is why it was worthy of being honoured by being named a national event. The excitement of the race has endured for decades, and families pass down stories of legendary winners and those who came close.

The Grand National is more than just a race; it’s an experience that brings generations together as they share a common bond.

Resources for fans

To folks who are interested in getting to know the history of the Grand National, lists of the past and present champions are readily available. These records let fans compare the former legends with the current runners, allowing them to see how factors such as stamina, speed and strategic direction have evolved over the years.

Additionally, race fans can look to Betway, which has betting markets that provide an entire wealth of information on favourites and people’s shifting expectations before the races. While such predictions are based on form and opinion, the history of the Grand National teaches us that it is — and will likely remain — one of the most unpredictable races out there.

The role of the fans

The hold of the crowds has always been a part of the ongoing popularity of the race. Thousands of people worldwide have access to internet and television and are passionate about the sport. This loyalty means that the legacies of historical heroes such as the famous Red Rum and modern-day heroes continues to be part of the mythology regarding that event.

Conclusion

The Grand National has undergone huge modifications over the decades. However, it is still essentially the same; a physical challenge which tests stamina, expertise and endurance. However, direct comparison between legends of the past and present day offers provides a clue as to why the race has been a jewel of the horse-racing world.

From the golden age of Red Rum to the modern exploits of Tiger Roll, these heroes are part of an ever-accumulating story that ensures the event will make a lasting impact on the history of horse racing.

Questions

The Breeders’ Cup: Why It Matters to UK Horse Racing Fans

admin October 6, 2025

The Breeders’ Cup lands at the end of the flat season with a simple promise. Two days. Fourteen high-grade tests. Form lines from both sides of the Atlantic, colliding at full speed.

For a UK racing fan, it is not just a late-night watch. It is a chance to benchmark European stock against elite North American opposition and to find edges that domestic cards rarely offer.

Let’s map the races, the track quirks, and the angles that turn this meeting into a clear opportunity.

Two Days That Reset End-of-Season Thinking

The meeting closes the global flat year with a clean scoreboard. Races span Turf and dirt across sprint, Mile, and middle distances, giving a UK bettor or analyst the chance to test every angle built since the spring. European stables tend to target the turf programme because it mirrors home conditions and offers multi-million million pots across the Mile, Turf, and Filly and Mare Turf. Results here settle awards, influence stallion fees, and shape winter markets, so a strong run carries more weight than a soft end-of-season win at home.

Card density makes the difference. Four or five group-level races on one evening create overlapping markets and constant price movement. Liquidity deepens, late money speaks, and discipline pays. Treat it like a festival rather than a standalone card, and the approach sharpens, with clearer reads on pace, draw, and form translation as the night unfolds.

For those following the action closely, markets move fast and margins are tight. Platforms that specialise in international racing odds give a clear view of how confidence shifts before the off. Exploring Breeders’ Cup betting on FanDuel offers live updates on favourites, prices, and trends that reflect how traders view European form against American speed. Understanding that balance sharpens analysis and helps build context before committing to a line.

Turf Tests That Suit European Strengths

UK and Irish yards have dominated the longer turf events for years, and the reasons are structural. Training regimes at home build stamina and finish, which play perfectly into the twelve-furlong Turf and the late surge required in the Mile. The record shows repeat strikes from European barns in these divisions, with multiple winners across decades and regular podium sweeps when the ground rides fair. Even when the meeting sits at a track with a short stretch, the best European closers still figure because they secure position early and use sustained speed rather than a quick burst.

The juvenile turf races also deserve attention. They act as a live audit on Royal Ascot and late summer form. European two-year-olds often arrive battle-hardened from Group company and handle the travel because they are already seasoned at different tracks.

How Form Translates When the Pond is in the Way

Translating European form to American conditions needs more than a straight line through ratings. The run style matters more than usual. Tight turns shorten the usable straight, which penalises one-paced grinders and rewards horses that can corner, travel, and produce in the last three hundred metres. Sectionals from recent trials or preps reveal this. Horses who can post even or negative splits in the final two furlongs are far better suited to these circuits than those who rely on a long runway.

Equipment and rules also shape the picture. Medication policies have tightened, and turf races increasingly mirror European norms, further levelling the field. Travel schedules have shortened in recent years, thanks to well-drilled quarantine routines, and top operations now ship with staff who are familiar with the local barns, gallops, and feed. That cuts variance. The best yards arrive set, and their strike rates reflect that planning.

Track Quirks that Swing Prices and Decide Margins

Every host venue carries its own map. Santa Anita runs fast with firm turf and a turn that arrives sooner than many European runners expect. Keeneland mixes autumn chill with a compact layout and a stretch that demands timing. Del Mar feels even tighter and amplifies pace pressure.

These differences change ideal draws. Low to middle gates over a mile on Turf tend to help, as they reduce the risk of covering extra ground round two turns. Wide trips burn energy and translate to losses of one to two lengths, which is decisive at this level.

Pace is the second lever. American dirt races often set a strong first half, while turf contests can stack up before a sprint. A UK analyst who models likely leaders and maps where European closers will land by the first bend gains a real edge. Watch how jockeys ride the inner to save ground and how often the winner has tracked the rail round both turns.

What UK Fans Gain Beyond the Trophy Shots

As British eyes turn toward winter jumps, the Breeders’ Cup delivers one last rush of precision analysis. It turns November nights into a test of pattern recognition and form translation. Those who tune in with a spreadsheet rather than a pint glass often find clues that shape next season’s early markets. The smart money knows that this is the one weekend when global context and local insight converge, and it pays to stay alert for it.

Years

Grand National Winners 1860 – 1869

admin October 5, 2025

The death of Prince Albert in 1861 saw Queen Victoria dress in black for the rest of her life. Lord Palmerston, a Liberal, was Prime Minister from 1859 until his death in 1865. Campaigns for expanding voting rights would see increased numbers with the passing of the Second Reform Act (1867) under the Conservative rule of Benjamin Disraeli. Many urban working-class men voted for the first time. Cities grew, railways expanded and steel and coal production increased. The American Civil War (1861 – 1865) cut off cotton supplies from southern states hitting Lancashire’s textile industry leading to unemployment and hardship. The British Empire grew steadily in India and Africa, while troops were involved in colonial conflict with the Maori (1860 – 1869). Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859) continued to spark debate. Britain was the hub of innovation. In 1863, London opened the world’s first Underground railway from Paddington to Farringdon. The work of Charles Dickens Great Expectations (1861) was well received both critically and by public alike. Modern sports like football and cricket become more formalized. The Aintree Grand National saw an enthralling decade of winners. It was a place where aristocrats rubbed shoulders with ordinary people.

Let’s take a closer look:

1860 – Anatis 7/2f

1861 – Jealousy 5/1

1862 – The Huntsman 3/1f

1863 – Emblem 4/1

1864 – Emblematic 10/1

1865 – Alcibiade 100/7

1866 – Salamander 40/1

1867 – Cortolvin 16/1

1868 – The Lamb 9/1

1869 – The Colonel 100/7

1860: The 22^nd Grand National took place on the 7^th March. Race goers were expecting a 25-strong field but 6 late non runners caused anger amongst the crowd as the heavily backed favourite, Jealousy, didn’t take part (no doubt the first time ante-post backers heard of the news). Anatis had shown some class finishing 5^th the previous year and was backed to 7/2f. Her jockey Mr Tommy Pickering rode under the pseudonym Mr Thomas who said of his mount: ‘She’s a powerful, tearing mare trained specifically for the National.’ In a battle with The Huntsman, the 10-year-old, trained by H.E.May in the ownership of Christopher Chapel won by half a length.

The Aintree Grand National has a rich history dating back to 1839, but winning mares have been few and far between with only 13 tasting victory. In fact, the most recent mare to win is Nickel Coin (1951). The 19^th century was a time when mare held every chance of winning and the 1860s especially so with 4 mares.

1861: Punters who missed out on Jealousy, would have something to cheer about when the Charles Balchin-trained mare would take on her nemesis, previous year’s winner Anatis, who was backed to favouritism when looking impressive in the paddock. Some feared Jealousy would struggle to get home in the conditions after finishing 11^th and last in 1859. Joseph Kendall rode a fine race to win by two lengths from 33/1 shot, The Dane.

1862: Saw The Huntsman win under the ownership of Viscount de Namur Baron de la Motte, trained by Harry Lamplugh. The gelding, ridden by the trainer, won by four lengths and priced 3/1 favourite. He had finished third in 1859 and runner-up in 1860. The Huntsman would race two days later in the Great North of England Chase at Doncaster, breaking down to be retired to stud.

The race is remembered with sadness for being the only fatality of a jockey when Joseph (Joe) Wynne was crushed when his mount O’Connell fell at the 13^th fence. Tragically, Wynne had been told that his sister had died on the morning of the race and offered the chance to stand down. Making his debut in the race he said: ‘He had come so far to ride the horse.’

Truly tragic.

1863: Emblem proved an easy winner for the 25^th renewal winning by twenty lengths, ridden by George Stevens, trained by Edwin Weever, in the ownership of Lord Coventry. She defeated the previous year’s winner Jealousy, who finished 6^th. Stevens is still credited with being the most winning jockey of the Aintree Grand National with 5 wins (1856, 1863, 1864, 1869, 1870). Lord Coventry would follow up the next year (1864) with Emblematic, a full sister to Emblem, who won at odds of 10/1 by four lengths.

1866: For those punters who love to hear about big-priced winners, that honour for the 1860s was given to Salamander who won well by ten lengths on soft ground and snowy conditions for jockey Alec Goodman, from trainer J Walters, in the silks of Edward Studd.

In summary: This decade was noted for four winning mares (Anatis 1860, Jealousy 1861, Emblem 1863 & Emblematic 1864), the success of George Stevens winning 3 Nationals (Emblem 1863, Emblematic 1864 & The Colonel 1869). Stevens went on to win again in 1870 with The Colonel.

The most noted memory being the fatality of Joe Wynne.

He was just 20 years of age.

The Grand National – the ultimate test for horse and jockey.

The toughest steeplechase in the world.