Ready for three days of heart-racing action at Aintree? The Grand National takes centre stage this April and we’ve got you front row for the whole festival.
The Grand National Festival promises incredible feats of grit and determination from the outset, with 21 races scheduled to take place throughout this prestigious event.
Opening day sets the stage perfectly with several Grade 1 races to look forward to, starting with the 13:45 Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle and concluding with the 17:15 Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
The full Opening Day schedule on 9th April is:
Aintree Festival Day 2 brings fashion and culture to the forefront for Ladies’ Day, as the elegance travels from the terraces to the track with a jam-packed programme.
The full Ladies’ Day schedule on 10th April is:
The grand finale of the Aintree Festival is headlined by the historic Grand National race, hailed by many to be the world’s greatest steeplechase.
The full Grand National Day schedule on 11th April is:
All start times are subject to change
Explore our Grand National betting odds for all of our latest prices ahead of one of the biggest events in the horse racing calendar.
The Grand National Festival is held annually at the historic Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside, taking place Thursday 9th April to Saturday 11th April 2026.
Modern-day Aintree is quite different from its early days but the excitement surrounding the event has only increased over time.
When the Grand National was first run in the 1830s, horses had to jump over a stone wall, cross a stretch of cultivated land and finish over two hurdles to secure victory.
Today Aintree features two distinct courses, each presenting competitors with unique challenges:
The Grand National Course is considered the most challenging to complete successfully due to the numerous notorious obstacles along the way, such as Valentine's Brook, Canal Turn and Becher's Brook.
Thousands of horses have competed for the ultimate prize at Aintree – including Lottery and jockey Jem Mason, who won the first official Grand National race in 1839.
Since then, over 80 horses have claimed victory, with some recording multiple wins throughout their careers.
Many competitors have secured two victories in the Grand National, including Abd-El-Kader, Reynoldstown and, more recently, Tiger Roll.
However, the most successful horse in the competition's history is the legendary Red Rum, who won three times in 1973, 1974 and 1977.
Here are the last 10 Grand National winners and their jockeys:
More than 80 horses hold entries for the 2026 Grand National but not all of them will compete on the day for a chance at racing immortality.
The maximum field allowed is 34 runners and the confirmed list of entrants will be announced 48 hours before the race. Check our betting markets in the lead-up to the race for the final entry list.
Betting on the Grand National at BetMGM offers a wide variety of options, ensuring you have plenty of choices on race day and in the lead-up to the main event.
Here are some popular types of Grand National bets:
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