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Grand National Opening Day (Thursday): Races, Runners & Racecard

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The time has come for the ultimate National Hunt event of the British horse racing calendar to take centrestage. The Grand National Festival takes place otrever the course of three days in the beginning of April each year. Its first day typically falls on a Thursday and is often referred to as the Grand National Opening Day.

As the first day of the Festival, it sets the tone for the entire event and includes the Aintree Hurdle as its headline race. In this article you will find detailed information on what to expect on the first day of the Grand National, what races it hosts, and what its race cards have in store for horse racing enthusiasts. 

 

Grand National Opening Day (Thursday) Overview

Grand National Thursday will take place on 9 April 2026 at the Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside, near Liverpool. It will host 7 out of the total of 21 races of the event. Out of these, 4 races are classified as Grade 1: Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, Manifesto Novices’ Chase, Aintree Bowl, and Aintree Hurdle.

The main schedule of the Opening Day is as follows:

  • Date: Thursday, 9 April
  • Gate opening: 11:00 am
  • First race: 1:45 pm
  • Headline race: 4:05 pm
  • Last race: 5:15 pm

 

Grand National Thursday Races Schedule

The daily race card for the Opening Day of the Grand National Festival 2026 is as follows:

Thursday, 9 April

Going: Mildmay Course Hurdle: good (good to soft in places), Chase: good (good to soft in places); National Course Chase: good to soft (good in places)

Time Race Distance  Conditions 
1:45 pm THE BOODLES ANNIVERSARY 4-Y-O JUVENILE HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) Two miles about one furlong 

(2m 209yds)

 4YO £110,000.00
2:20 pm THE WILLIAM HILL MANIFESTO NOVICES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) Two miles about four furlongs 

(2m 3f 200yds)

 5YO+ £120,000.00
2:55 pm THE AINTREE BOWL STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) Three miles about one furlong 

(3m 210yds)

 5YO+ £250,000.00
3:30 pm THE RANDOX FOXHUNTERS’ OPEN HUNTERS’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2)  (CL 2) Two miles about five furlongs 

(2m 5f 19yds)

 6YO+ £50,000.00
4:05 pm THE WILLIAM HILL AINTREE HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) Two miles about four furlongs 

(2m 4f)

 4YO+ £250,000.00
4:40 pm THE CLOSE BROTHERS RED RUM HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) About two miles 

(1m 7f 176yds)

 5YO+ £100,000.00
5:15 pm THE GOFFS NICKEL COIN MARES’ STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE (CLASS 1)(Grade 2) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) Two miles about one furlong 

(2m 209yds)

 4-6YO £50,000.00

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Grand National Opening Day Racecards & Runners

While the Grand National Thursday racecard showing the schedule of the race is published well in advance of the fixture, the final list of participants is announced much later.

Below you will find Grand National Thursday runners for every race of the Opening Day, along with the names of their jockeys and trainers. 

 

Race 1: Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 1:45 pm
  • Distance: about 2 miles and 1 furlong (2 miles and 209 yards, or 3,410 metres)
  • Course: 9 hurdles
  • Horses: 4 years old

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

  1. Ammes (age 4, jockey Sean Bowen, trainer James Owen)
  2. Aqua Bleu (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Warren Greatrex)
  3. Indian River (age 4, jockey Danny McMenamin, trainer Adrian Paul Keatley)
  4. Lord (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Donald McCain Jr)
  5. Lord Byron (age 4, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Faye Bramley)
  6. Maestro Conti (age 4, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
  7. Minella Study (age 4, jockey Ryan Mania, trainer Adam Nicol)
  8. The Mighty Celt (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  9. Winston Junior (age 4,  jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Faye Bramley)
  10. Wolf Rayet (age 4, jockey Robert Dunne, trainer Samuel Drinkwater)
  11. Majolique (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  12. Mange Tout (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  13. Manlaga (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  14. Selma De Vary (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)

 

Race 2: Manifesto Novices’ Chase – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 2:20 pm
  • Distance: about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (2 miles, 3 furlongs and 200 yards, or 4,005 metres)
  • Course: 16 fences
  • Horses: five years or older

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

  1. Be Aware (age 7, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
  2. Blueking d’Oroux (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Paul Nicholls)
  3. Gold Dancer (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  4. Jacob’s Ladder (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  5. Jax Junior (age 7, jockey Tom Cannon, trainer Lucy Wadham)
  6. King Of Kingsfield (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  7. Koktail Divin (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  8. Lulamba (age 5, jockey Nico de Boinville, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  9. Mambonumberfive (age 5, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
  10. Miami Magic (age 7, jockey Charlie Hammond, trainer Stuart Edmunds)
  11. Mighty Bandit (age 6, jockey James Bowen, trainer Warren Greatrex)
  12. No Questions Asked (age 8, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
  13. Salvator Mundi (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  14. Sixmilebridge (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Fergal O’Brien)
  15. Kala Conti (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)

 

Race 3: Aintree Bowl – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 2:55 pm
  • Distance: about 3 miles and 1 furlong (3 miles and 210 yards, or 5,020 metres)
  • Course: 19 fences
  • Horses: five years or older

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

  1. Banbridge (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
  2. Croke Park (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  3. Gerri Colombe (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  4. Grey Dawning (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  5. Impaire Et Passe (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  6. Jango Baie (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  7. Jonbon (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  8. Myretown (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore)
  9. Pic d’Orhy (age 11, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Paul Nicholls)
  10. Protektorat (age 11, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  11. Spillane’s Tower (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer James Joseph Mangan)

 

Race 4: Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 3:30 pm
  • Distance: about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (2 miles, 5 furlongs and 19 yards, or 4,242 metres)
  • Course: 18 fences 
  • Horses: six years or older

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

  1. A Jet Of Our Own (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicola Sheppard)
  2. A Moments Madness (age 7, jockey Albi Tufnell, trainer Fergal O’Brien)
  3. Barton Snow (age 9, jockey Henry Crow, trainer John O’Shea)
  4. Bellaney Lord (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer William Easterby)
  5. Densworth (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer James Cookson)
  6. Empire De Maulde (age 12, jockey Harry Brown, trainer Robert Varnham)
  7. Enqarde (age 12, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Mrs David Plunkett)
  8. Fairly Famous (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gina Andrews)
  9. Famous Clermont (age 11, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Chris Barber)
  10. Fan De Blues (age 11, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Miss Nikki Henton)
  11. Gaboriot (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
  12. Golden Son (age 8, jockey Olive Nicholls, trainer Paul Nicholls)
  13. Gracchus De Balme (age 10, jockey P A King, trainer John O’Shea)
  14. Great Notions (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Fiona Needham)
  15. Its On The Line (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Emmet Mullins)
  16. Java Point (age 11, jockey Paddy Barlow, trainer Lemos Souza)
  17. Joker De Mai (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Clive Boultbee-Brooks)
  18. Lets Go Champ (age 11, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Margaret Mullins)
  19. Music Drive (age 9, jockey Ellie Callwood, trainer Kelly Morgan)
  20. Paul Marvel (age 9, jockey Lucy Brown, trainer John O’Shea)
  21. Snipe (age 9, jockey Sean O’Connor, trainer Dan Skelton)
  22. Take All (age 11, jockey Samuel Scott, trainer Myles Osborne)
  23. Thunder Rock (age 10, jockey James King, trainer Olly Murphy)
  24. Unexpected Party (age 11, jockey Heidi Palin, trainer Dan Skelton)
  25. Whats The Solution (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jack Teal)
  26. Willewonga (age 10, jockey Alan O’Sullivan, trainer John O’Shea)
  27. Hollywood Harmon (age 9, jockey Pippa Brown, trainer Andrew Wilson)

 

Race 5: Aintree Hurdle – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 4:05 pm
  • Distance: about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres)
  • Course: 11 hurdles
  • Horses: four years or older

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

  1. Alexei (age 6, jockey Brendan Powell, trainer Joe Tizzard)
  2. El Fabiolo (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  3. Jingko Blue (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  4. Kabral Du Mathan (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  5. Lucky Place (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  6. Potters Charm (age 7, jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)
  7. The New Lion (age 7, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
  8. Air Of Entitlement (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  9. Brighterdaysahead (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  10. Golden Ace (age 8, jockey Lorcan Williams, trainer Jeremy Scott)

 

Race 6: Red Rum Handicap Chase – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 4:40 pm
  • Distance: about 2 miles (1 mile, 7 furlongs and 176 yards, or 3,178 metres)
  • Course: 12 fences
  • Horses: five years or older

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

  1. JPR One (age 9, jockey Brendan Powell, trainer Joe Tizzard)
  2. Edwardstone (age 12, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Alan King)
  3. No Questions Asked (age 8, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
  4. Jazzy Matty (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Cian Collins)
  5. Be Aware (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  6. Inthepocket (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  7. Hercule Du Seuil (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Neil P Mulholland)
  8. Brookie (age 9, jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, trainer Anthony Honeyball)
  9. Boothill (age 11, jockey Bryan Carver, trainer Harry Fry)
  10. Alnilam (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Olly Murphy)
  11. Break My Soul (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ian Patrick Donoghue)
  12. Stencil (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Noel & Amanda Zetterholm)
  13. Jasko Des Dames (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  14. Sans Bruit (age 8, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Paul Nicholls)
  15. Golden Joy (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  16. Highlands Legacy (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jonjo & A J O’Neill)
  17. Relieved Of Duties (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  18. Ryan’s Rocket (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Fergal O’Brien)
  19. Petit Tonnerre (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jonjo & A J O’Neill)
  20. Wonleg (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  21. Grain d’Oudairies (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Donald McCain Jr)
  22. Javert Allen (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jane Williams)
  23. Dr T J Eckleburg (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Cath Williams)
  24. Palamon (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)

 

Race 7: Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 5:15 pm
  • Distance: about 2 miles and 1 furlong (2 miles and 209 yards, or 3,410 metres)
  • Horses: fillies and mares aged four to six years

The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:

  1. Brave Lady (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Peter Fahey)
  2. Burds Of A Feather (age 5, jockey Tom Broughton, trainer Max Comley)
  3. Divine Diva (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  4. Doubleosue (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore)
  5. Emerald Quest (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Neil Mulholland)
  6. Fairy Park (age 5, jockey Brendan Powell, trainer Joe Tizzard)
  7. Hotter Than Dubai (age 5, jockey Bryan Carver, trainer Chris Honour)
  8. Kiltybo (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Conor Houlihan)
  9. Ladies Day (age 5, jockey Jack Andrews, trainer Tom Ellis)
  10. Lennon Grove (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
  11. Lizzie Twigg (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  12. Midnight Musical (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Anthony McCann)
  13. Nan’s Choice (age 5, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
  14. One Dimensional (age 6, jockey David Bass, trainer Max Comley)
  15. Peace Belle (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jennie Candlish)
  16. Princess Day (age 5, jockey Lorcan Williams, trainer Jeremy Scott)
  17. Seven Stars (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Alan King)
  18. Ti’mamzel (age 5, jockey Caoilin Quinn, trainer Gary & Josh Moore)
  19. Tiktok Casey (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Peter Fahey)
  20. Billey Shiftit (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
  21. It Would Be You (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jennie Candlish)
  22. Martini Majesty (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Alan King)
  23. Roxy Russet (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Longsdon)

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Key Races on Grand National Opening Day

The Grand National Opening Day includes three major Grade 1 races along with one headline race which is also Grade 1. 

 

Aintree Hurdle (Headline Race)

The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race that accepts both male and female horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 metres) and includes 11 hurdles to be jumped. This race often features horses who previously ran in the Champion Hurdle. The prize money is £250,000.

 

Aintree Bowl

The Aintree Bowl is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase that accepts both male and female horses aged five years or older. It is run over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong (3 miles and 210 yards, or 5,020 metres) and includes 19 fences to be jumped. It was initially established for horses who were unable to participate in the previous month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. The prize money is £250,000.

 

Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle

The Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race that accepts both male and female horses aged four years. It is run over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (2 miles and 209 yards, or 3,410 metres) and includes nine hurdles to be jumped. This race is for novice hurdlers. The prize money is £110,000.

 

Manifesto Novices’ Chase

The Manifesto Novices’ Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase that accepts both male and female horses aged five years or older. It is run over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (2 miles, 3 furlongs and 200 yards, or 4,005 metres) and includes 16 fences to be jumped. This race is for novice chasers. The prize money is £120,000.

GRAND NATIONAL BETTING

 

How to Read a Racecard for Grand National Races

Learning how to read a race card for the Grand National races will help you better understand what action is taking place on the tracks as well as make more informed decisions when placing wagers on any of the available betting markets and practice responsible gambling.

Race time: Of course, if you know when the race starts you will take precautions not to miss the beginning. But another thing is that each race has a certain timeframe before the start to announce the final list of participating horses as well as any non-runners. If you are planning to place a bet on the race, this information will help you be prepared. 

Horse number: You will notice that every horse on the track has a large number on its side. These numbers are assigned before the start but they don’t have anything to do with the odds or the horse’s probable chances to win the race. They are just there to help viewers find the horse they are interested in during a fast paced race. When placing bets, punters also use these numbers to avoid confusion, especially if some horses have similar names. 

Jockey: The jockey leading the horse on the track plays an equally important role as the horse itself. Once you know who will be riding the horse you want to back with a bet, check their past performance, their dynamics with the horse, and their overall historic performance in the race in question.

Trainer: Every step of the preparation for the race is designed and approved by a trainer. Each of them has their own style of working with their charges. See how they normally perform at this race and which races they tend to excel at.

Weight: The horse’s weight is always displayed next to its name and age on the race card. It continues the historical tradition of using stones and pounds (for example, 9-7, i.e. 9 stones and 7 pounds). The displayed weight includes all the equipment and additional weight the horse is assigned in the race. Weight greatly affects how a horse will perform in different ground conditions, over longer distances, or how fast they can accelerate, thus it is an important piece of information for bettors. 

Official rating: Official rating (OR) isn’t in any way connected to the horse’s current odds or chances to win. Instead, it reflects its past performance and can change after every race: grow if the horse showed an outstanding result, fall if the outcome was worse than expected, or stay the same if the horse performed just as expected. The additional weight a horse has to carry in a handicap race will directly depend on its official rating. Horses with higher OR will carry more weight than those with a lower one, with every additional OR point equalling an additional pound. 

Form figures: If you see a string of numbers next to a horse’s name, it shows how the horse performed in the most recent races. Each number is a place the horse took, with the 10th and anything below shown as 0. Dashes “-” represent a break, while letters correspond to outcomes like “fell” or “unseated rider” and are more common in National Hunt races. Bettors use this information to evaluate a horse before placing a wager on it.

 

Where to Find Latest Grand National Thursday Odds

As part of the Grand National Festival, the Opening Day attracts bettors of all styles and tastes. It offers all the popular horse race betting markets with odds coming in as soon as the runners for each race are announced and sometimes even before that. 

You will find Grand National Thursday betting odds at every major bookmaking platform that offers horse racing on the menu. Some of the most popular ones include:

  • Win: You are placing your wager on a horse that you think will win the race.
  • Place: You are placing a wager on a horse to be placed, i.e. take one of the winning places in the race. 
  • Each way: You are placing a wager on a horse to win the race and another one on the same horse to be placed in the same race.
  • Forecast: You are placing a wager on two horses, stating one of them will win the race and the other will take the second place.
  • Tricast: You are placing a wager on three horses for one of them to come to the finish line first and the other two to be the second and third in the race.

Before you make a bet, keep in mind that horse racing odds tend to fluctuate frequently and there are a number of factors to take into consideration, for example, the horse’s recent performance and physical form, ground conditions, or any non-runners. 

Many bookmaking platforms keep betting open during the race too, even if on a limited number of markets. That’s why, as the race progresses, the odds keep rapidly changing depending on what is going on on the tracks. If you are considering live betting, make sure you keep checking the odds and make a swift decision.

As a UKGC licensed bookmaker, 7bet offers its customers a variety of horse racing betting markets and guarantees a safe and secure experience.

 

FAQ – Grand National Opening Day

When is Grand National Opening Day 2026?

Grand National Day 1 takes place on Thursday, 9 April 2026. It is held at the Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside, near Liverpool and is often called the Grand National Opening Day.

How many races are on Grand National Thursday?

The Grand National Thursday hosts 7 races out of the total of 21 conducted during the Grand National Festival.

What are the biggest races on Day 1?

The headline race of the Grand National Opening Day is the Aintree Hurdle, while other significant races include Aintree Bowl, Manifesto Novices’ Chase, and Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle that are all Grade 1 races.

Betting is only available to participants aged 18 years and over. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org