With the 2026 Cheltenham Festival finished, attention is turning to the Grand National.
The Grand National captures the imagination of both occasional punters and seasoned form studiers. It is a near-190-year-old fixture of the British sporting calendar.
When and Where Is the 2026 Grand National?
The Grand National will be held on Saturday, April 11 at 4 p.m. BST.
The race takes place at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool.
The Course and the Horses
The Grand National is run over 4 miles, 2½ furlongs.
34 horses will race.
Horses will be asked to jump 30 fences (16 on the first lap of the course and 14 on the second).
Some jumps, such as Becher’s Brook and The Chair, have a fearsome reputation.
Alterations to fences including softening of the structure and lowering of the heights have been made with the aim of making them safer for horses and riders.
The Favourites
Last year’s champion Nick Rockett is returning to defend his crown.
2024 champion and last year’s runner-up I Am Maximus is the bookies’ favourite once again.
Race Day Schedule
Here is the schedule for Grand National Day (Saturday, April 11):
- 1.20 p.m: William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle 3m ½f
- 1.55 p.m: Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f
- 2.30 p.m: William Hill Freebooter Handicap Chase 3m 1f
- 3.05 p.m: Liverpool Hurdle 3m ½f
- 4 p.m: Randox Grand National 4m 2½f
- 5 p.m: Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m
- 5.35 p.m: Weatherbys NHStallion.co.uk Standar
Mr Frisk is the holder of the fastest time on record (8 minutes, 47.8 seconds) and the chances of that being broken depends on the firmness of the ground at Aintree come April 11. The winners usually comes home in around 9 minutes, 10 seconds.