Aintree Grand National Festival 2026: Full Race Schedule & Start Times

When is the Grand National 2026? Full Aintree Grand National Festival Schedule, Race Day Start-Times

The Randox Grand National festival opens at Aintree racecourse on Thursday.

More than 150,000 racegoers are expected at the three-day event on Merseyside.

Aintree racecourse, in Sefton, has hosted the festival since 1839, with Red Rum the most successful horse in Grand National history having won the steeplechase race three times.

Here is a guide on how to get to the festival, dress code and the all-important race times for Opening Day, Ladies Day and Grand National Day.

Grand National 2026: Racing schedule and start-times of every race of all 3-days

All Times are Local,  BST

Day 1: Opening Day (Thursday, April 9)

1.45 p.m: The Boodles Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle Race (Class 1, Grade 1)

2.20 p.m: The William Hill Manifesto Novices' Steeple Chase (Class 1, Grade 1)

2.55 p.m: The Aintree Bowl Steeple Chase (Class 1, Grade 1) (GBB Race)

3.30 p.m: The Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Steeple Chase (Class 2)

4.05 p.m: The William Hill Aintree Hurdle Race (Class 1, Grade 1)

4.40 p.m: The Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 1, Prem Handicap)

5.15 p.m: The Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 1, Grade 2).

4.05 p.m BST -- The William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Class 1) (Grade 1) 2m 4f

Day 2: Ladies Day (Friday, April 10)

1.45 p.m: Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 1f

2.20 p.m: William Hill Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

2.55 p.m: Trustatrader Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

3.30 p.m: My Pension Expert Melling Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f

4.05 p.m: Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase 2m 5f

4.40 p.m: Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m ½f

5.15 p.m: Hallgarten and Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle 2m ½f

Day 3: 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 Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race 2m 1f  

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