From Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 April, Liverpool’s Aintree Racecourse will play host to one of the biggest sporting events in the world: the Grand National Festival. The 3-day meeting is the highlight of the National Hunt racing calendar and features the most valuable jump race in Europe.
Each of the days features thrilling racing along with some incredible entertainment and live music. The first day is Opening Day with 4 x Grade 1 races with tickets starting from GBP £32. Friday is Ladies Day – also featuring the Topham Chase – and although the Jockey Club has dropped its dress code, this is the day to be seen in your most glamourous and spectacular outfits. Grab your stylish tickets from £53! The feature race of the meeting is of course the Grand National, run on Saturday at 17:15 when up to 40 horses run a distance of 4 miles and 2½ furlongs (6.907 km) jumping 30 fences over 2 laps of the course. The most affordable tickets on Saturday are £42.
The Grand National itself was first run in 1839 and many great and notable racing names have a rich history with the race. The most recognisable is Red Rum, a horse who achieved the so-far unmatched feat of winning 3 Grand Nationals (in 1973, 1974, and 1977). Perhaps his finest victory was in 1973 when he caught Crisp who was 15 lengths clear at the last fence.
In 2022, racegoers and racing fans were treated to a fairy tale ending when Sam Waley-Cohen – who earlier that week had announced he would retire after the meeting – became the first amateur jockey to win the Grand National on 50/1 Noble Yeats.
Who are the contenders for this year? Although without Waley-Cohen on his back, Noble Yeats is set to run the big race again. After another successful Cheltenham Festival last month, Rachael Blackmore – the first and only female jockey to win the National – will be hoping for further victories this week. The Irish trainers once again look to dominate with the majority of the entries being trained across the Irish Sea, and Willie Mullins will certainly be hoping to capitalise on those odds.
You can purchase your last-minute tickets for the Grand National now!
