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The pinnacle of the National Hunt racing season is upon us, with the Grand National taking place at Aintree.
Only three weeks on from the Cheltenham Festival comes another highlight of the British sporting calendar as Liverpool plays host to the world’s most famous steeplechase.
The three-day meeting is headlined by the feature race, which will include 2024 winner I Am Maximus.
Last year’s winner Nick Rockett looked set to attempt to become the first back-to-back winner since Tiger Roll in 2019, but was declared as a non-runner on Thursday morning due to coughing.
Here’s everything you need to know…
When is the Grand National 2026?
The 2026 Grand National meeting runs from Thursday, April 9, to Saturday, April 11, with the Grand National steepchase itself taking place at 4pm BST on the third day.
A new, earlier time for the feature race of the meeting was introduced in 2024, bringing the race forward by 75 minutes, and remains in place for the 2026 edition.
As ever, the famous Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool will host the race.
Nick Rockett won last year’s race
Peter Byrne/PA Wire
How to watch the Grand National 2026?
TV channel: In the UK, the Grand National meeting is being shown live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage starting at 1.30pm on Thursday and Friday and 12.45pm on Saturday.
ITV will broadcast every race bar the final of the day, with subscription channel Racing TV the only place to watch all the action across the three days.
Coverage of the National itself is from 3:15pm on Saturday, with the race getting underway at 4pm.
Live stream: The race will also be available to watch live and for free online via the ITVX app and website.
Live blog: You can follow every race live from Grand National Day at Aintree with Standard Sport’s live blog.
Grand National 2026 weather forecast
The UK has been blessed with sunshine of late, but there is expected to be showers across all three days of the meeting.
Hitting a high of just 12C, expect overcast conditions with occasional sun at Aintree.
Grand National 2026 prize money
The total prize fund for the race is £1 million, the highest amount of money that any race over obstacles is contested for, and it breaks down as follows:
- Winner – £500,000
- Second place – £200,000
- Third place – £100,000
- Fourth place – £65,000
- Fifth place – £40,000
- Sixth place – £30,000
- Seventh place – £20,000
- Eight place – £ 15,000
- Ninth place – £10,000
- Tenth place – £5000
Aintree hosts the three-day meeting
Getty Images
Grand National 2026 latest odds
- I Am Maximus: 6/1
- Grangeclare West: 8/1
- Jagwar: 9/1
- Jonnywho: 9/1
- Panic Attack: 10/1
- Oscars Brother: 12/1
- Iroko: 12/1
- Haiti Couleurs: 14/1
- Captain Cody: 16/1
- Montys Star: 16/1
- Quai De Bourbon: 20/1
- Final Orders: 20/1
- Gorgeous Tom: 20/1
- Perceval Legallois: 25/1
- Jordans: 25/1
- Spanish Harlem: 25/1
- Lecky Watson: 25/1
- Stellar Story: 25/1
- Favori De Champdou: 33/1
- Spillanes Tower: 33/1
- Gerri Colombe: 33/1
- Three Card Brag: 40/1
- High Class Hero: 40/1
- The Real Whacker: 50/1
- Firefox: 50/1
- Answer To Kayf: 50/1
- Banbridge: 50/1
- Champ Kiely: 50/1
- Imperial Saint: 66/1
- Mr Vango: 66/1
- Amirite: 66/1
- Twig: 66/1
- Marble Sands: 100/1
- Pied Piper: 100/1
- Top Of The Bill: 100/1
- Hyland: 100/1
- Beauport: 100/1
- Soul Icon: 150/1
- Aint That A Shame: 150/1
(Odds subject to change.)
13:45: Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)
14:20: William Hill Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
14:55: Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1)
15:30: Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase
16:05: William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)
16:40: Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
17:15: Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2)
13:45: William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
14:20: William Hill Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
14:55: Thatprizeguy Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
15:30:Jcb Melling Chase (Grade 1)
16:05: Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
16:40: Oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
17:15: Debenhams Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys & Amateur Riders)
12:45: Hallgarten & Novum Wines Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
13:20: William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
13:55: Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
14:30: William Hill Handicap Chase (Freebooter) (Premier Handicap)
15:05: Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
16:00: Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
17:00: Weatherbys Nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat (Grade 2)
Follow the Grand National live with Standard Sport!
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