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08 Apr
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Grand National Saturday (Day 3) – Races, Runners & Racecard

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The culmination of the Grand National Festival, the Grand National Saturday is its third and final day. As you can guess from the name, it usually falls on a Saturday and features the main race of the event, the Grand National chase. For this reason it is also often referred to simply as the Grand National Day.

The Grand National is often regarded as the most significant cultural event in Britain’s National Hunt calendar. In this article, you will find detailed information on what to expect on the third day of the Grand National, including the races it hosts, the runners taking part, and what the race cards have in store for horse racing enthusiasts.

 

Grand National Saturday Overview

The Grand National Saturday will take place on Saturday, 11 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, 3 races are classified as Grade 1: Maghull Novices’ Chase, Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, and Liverpool Hurdle, while the headline race is a Premier Handicap race.

The main schedule of the Grand National Saturday is as follows:

  • Date: Saturday, 11 April
  • Gate opening: 10:00 am
  • First race: 12:45 pm
  • Headline race: 4:00 pm
  • Last race: 5:00 pm

 

Grand National Saturday Schedule

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

Saturday, 11 April

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

Time Race Distance  Conditions 
12:45 pm THE HALLGARTEN & NOVUM WINES MAGHULL NOVICES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) About two miles (1m 7f 176yds) 5YO+ £120,000.00
1:20 pm THE WILLIAM HILL HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) Three miles about half a furlong (3m 149yds) 4YO+ £75,000.00
1:55 pm THE TURNERS MERSEY NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) Two miles about four furlongs (2m 4f) 4YO+ £100,000.00
2:30 pm THE WILLIAM HILL HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (REGISTERED AS THE FREEBOOTER HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) Three miles about one furlong (3m 210yds) 5YO+ £100,000.00
3:05 pm THE LIVERPOOL HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) Three miles about half a furlong (3m 149yds) 4YO+ £250,000.00
4:00 pm THE RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE)  (CL 1) Four miles about two and a half furlongs (4m 2f 74yds) 7YO+ £1,000,000.00
5:00 pm THE WEATHERBYS nhstallions.co.uk 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 Saturday Runners & Racecards

The Grand National Saturday racecard includes the schedule of the day as well as conditions for each of the seven races. It is usually published several weeks prior to the fixture.

On the other hand, the list of Grand National Saturday runners becomes available closer to the start of the Festival, with the final declarations made around 8 April.

 

Race 1: Maghull Novices’ Chase – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 12:45 pm
  • Distance: about 2 miles (1 mile 7 furlong 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. Alnilam (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Olly Murphy)
  2. Be Aware (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  3. Kala Conti (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  4. King Of Kingsfield (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  5. Mighty Bandit (age 6, jockey James Bowen, trainer Warren Greatrex)
  6. Mirabad (age 7, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
  7. No Questions Asked (age 8, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
  8. Queens Gamble (age 8, jockey Paul O’Brien, trainer Harry Derham)
  9. Salvator Mundi (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  10. Stencil (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Noel & Amanda Zetterholm)

 

Race 2: William Hill Handicap Hurdle Race – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 1:20 pm
  • Distance: about three miles and 1/2 furlong (3 miles 149 yards, or 4,800 metres)
  • Course: 13 hurdles
  • Horses: four years or older

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

  1. A Perfect Day (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ben Clarke)
  2. Absolutely Doyen (age 6, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Paul Nicholls)
  3. Ace Of Spades (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  4. Ballystone (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John McConnell)
  5. Bobby’s Nelson (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  6. Bold Endeavour (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  7. Bollin Thou (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nick Scholfield)
  8. Both Barrels (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Donald Whillans)
  9. Catchintsavo (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Anthony J Honeyball)
  10. Champagne Kid (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer P E Collins)
  11. Chart Topper (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  12. Coumeenoole (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  13. Doddiethegreat (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  14. Duke Silver (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
  15. Eagle Fang (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer William Durkan)
  16. El Capitaine (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Kayley Woollacott)
  17. Elysian Knight (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Neil Mulholland)
  18. Flying Fortune (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Mickey Bowen)
  19. Fortune Timmy (age 6, jockey Tom Cannon, trainer Chris Gordon)
  20. Get On George (age 6, jockey Jack Tudor, trainer Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith)
  21. Go To War (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  22. Good To Be Alive (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Olly Murphy)
  23. Gowel Road (age 10, jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell, trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)
  24. Gwennie May Star (age 6, jockey Jack Tudor, trainer Christian Williams)
  25. Hamsiyann (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer A J Martin)
  26. Harbour Lake (age 10, jockey Tom Cannon, trainer Alan King)
  27. Hartington (age 7, jockey Brendan Powell, trainer Joe Tizzard)
  28. Hold The Serve (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Olly Murphy)
  29. Idem (age 8, jockey Patrick Wadge, trainer Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore)
  30. Ikarak (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Olly Murphy)
  31. Ike Sport (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Neil Mulholland)
  32. Indiana Jones (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Michael Morris)
  33. Irandando Has (age 7, jockey Toby Wynne, trainer Sam Allwood)
  34. Jeriko Du Reponet (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  35. Kaka’s Cousin (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jonjo & A J O’Neill)
  36. Kepler’s Law (age 7, jockey Jack Tudor, trainer Christian Williams)
  37. Kikijo (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Philip Hobbs & Josh White)
  38. Lavida Adiva (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ruth Jefferson)
  39. Lihyan (age 8, jockey William Maggs, trainer Rebecca Menzies)
  40. Lisnagar Fortune (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John McConnell)
  41. Lord Snootie (age 9, jockey Jack Tudor, trainer Christian Williams)
  42. Lucky Place (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  43. Masked Dance (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Mel Rowley)
  44. Maximilian (age 10, jockey Theo Gillard, trainer Donald McCain Jr)
  45. Minella Rescue (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gary Hanmer)
  46. Minella Sixo (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  47. Onewaywest (age 7, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
  48. Push The Button (age 7, jockey Rian Corcoran, trainer Mark Walford)
  49. Quantum Quest (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  50. Red Dirt Road (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jonjo & A J O’Neill)
  51. Royal Infantry (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  52. Santos Blue (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Olly Murphy)
  53. Serious Chat (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Donald McCain Jr)
  54. Skyjack Hijack (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jennie Candlish)
  55. Supreme Malinas (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  56. Supremely West (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  57. Turndlightsdownlow (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Martin Keighley)
  58. Wade Out (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Olly Murphy)

 

Race 3: Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 1:55 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. Allfor (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore)
  2. Ballyfad (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  3. Bossman Jack (age 6, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
  4. Came From Nowhere (age 7, jockey Lorcan Williams, trainer Jeremy Scott)
  5. Champagne Kid (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer P E Collins)
  6. Charisma Cat (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Alan King)
  7. Diamond Du Berlais (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  8. Harbour Island (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Olly Murphy)
  9. Kosac D’oudairies (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jamie Snowden)
  10. Lord Byron (age 4, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Faye Bramley)
  11. Masked Man (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)
  12. Montemares (age 5, jockey Stan Sheppard, trainer Tom Lacey)
  13. Onlyforfrankie (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Alastair Ralph)
  14. Pourquoi Pas Papa (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Paul Nicholls)
  15. Rooster Crowing (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Mickael Seror)
  16. Scorpio Rising (age 6, jockey Sean Bowen, trainer Olly Murphy)
  17. Shadow Paddy (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Eoin Christopher McCarthy)
  18. Soldier Reeves (age 5, jockey Tristan Durrell, trainer Dan Skelton)
  19. Swindon Village (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Longsdon)
  20. Zanndabad (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer A J Martin)
  21. Zeus Power (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)

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Race 4: Freebooter Handicap Chase – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 2:30 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. Ain’t That A Shame (age 12, jockey Jack Andrews, trainer Tom Ellis)
  2. Amirite (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  3. Bad (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ben Pauling)
  4. Brave Fortune (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
  5. Chance Another One (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Emmet Mullins)
  6. Cruz Control (age 9, jockey Stan Sheppard, trainer Tom Lacey)
  7. Deep Cave (age 8, jockey Jack Tudor, trainer Christian Williams)
  8. Erne River (age 11, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nick Kent)
  9. Fortunate Man (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jonjo & A J O’Neill)
  10. Glengouly (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Faye Bramley)
  11. Hold Your Fort (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Debra Hamer)
  12. Imperial Saint (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Philip Hobbs & Johnson White)
  13. In Love (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Hugo Merienne)
  14. Jipcot (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jonjo & A J O’Neill)
  15. Josh The Boss (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)
  16. Kelce (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Neil Mulholland)
  17. Kish Bank (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  18. Konfusion (age 8, jockey Gavin Sheehan, trainer Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith)
  19. Leave Of Absence (age 9, jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, trainer Anthony Honeyball)
  20. Lookaway (age 9, jockey Jack Quinlan, trainer Neil King)
  21. Mr Hope Street (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  22. Myretown (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore)
  23. Peaky Boy (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jonjo & A J O’Neill)
  24. Stolen Silver (age 11, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Georgina Nicholls)
  25. U Cant Be Serious (age 7, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Joe Tizzard)
  26. Uncle Bert (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)

 

Race 5: Liverpool Hurdle – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 3:05 pm
  • Distance: about 3 miles and 1/2 furlong (3 miles and 149 yards, or 4,964 metres)
  • Course: 13 hurdles
  • Horses: four years or older

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

  1. Air Of Entitlement (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  2. Doddiethegreat (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  3. Happy Jacky (age 12, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Mark Fahey)
  4. Hewick (age 11, jockey Paddy Hanlon, trainer John Joseph Hanlon)
  5. Hiddenvalley Lake (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  6. Home By The Lee (age 11, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
  7. Honesty Policy (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  8. Impose Toi (age 8, jockey Nico de Boinville, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  9. Jingko Blue (age 7, jockey James Bowen, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  10. Lavida Adiva (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ruth Jefferson)
  11. Royal Infantry (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  12. Strong Leader (age 9, jockey Sean Bowen, trainer Olly Murphy)
  13. Supremely West (age 8, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
  14. Take No Chances (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Dan Skelton)
  15. Wodhooh (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)

 

Race 6: Grand National – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 4:00 pm
  • Distance: about 4 miles 2 1/2 furlongs (4 miles 550 yards; 7 kilometres)
  • Course: 30 fences
  • Horses: seven years or older

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

  1. I Am Maximus (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  2. Nick Rockett (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  3. Banbridge (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
  4. Grangeclare West (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  5. Gerri Colombe (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  6. Haiti Couleurs (age 9, jockey Sean Bowen, trainer Rebecca Curtis)
  7. Spillane’s Tower (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer James Joseph Mangan)
  8. Firefox (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  9. Monty’s Star (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  10. Spanish Harlem (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  11. Lecky Watson (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  12. Champ Kiely (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  13. Iroko (age 8, jockey Jonjo O’Neill Jr, trainer Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
  14. Favori De Champdou (age 11, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  15. Three Card Brag (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  16. Oscars Brother (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Connor King)
  17. Mr Vango (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Sara Bradstock)
  18. High Class Hero (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  19. Stellar Story (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  20. Beauport (age 10,  jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)
  21. Captain Cody (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  22. Jagwar (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
  23. Perceval Legallois (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
  24. Gorgeous Tom (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  25. The Real Whacker (age 10, jockey Gavin Sheehan, trainer Patrick Neville)
  26. Quai De Bourbon (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  27. Answer To Kayf (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Terence O’Brien)
  28. Jordans (age 7, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
  29. Final Orders (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
  30. Marble Sands (age 10, jockey Kielan Woods, trainer David Killahena & Graeme McPherson)
  31. Panic Attack (age 10, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
  32. Top Of The Bill (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies)
  33. Johnnywho (age 9, jockey Richie McLernon, trainer Jonjo & A J O’Neill)
  34. Twig (age 11, jockey Beau Morgan, trainer Ben Pauling)
  35. Pied Piper (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  36. Imperial Saint (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Philip Hobbs & Johnson White)
  37. Amirite (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  38. Ain’t That A Shame (age 12, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Tom Ellis)
  39. Yeah Man (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gavin Cromwell)
  40. Soul Icon (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
  41. Hyland (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Nicky Henderson)
  42. Deep Cave (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Christian Williams)
  43. Buddy One (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Paul John Gilligan)
  44. Anyway (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer David Kenneth Budds)
  45. The Short Go (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Henry De Bromhead)
  46. Weveallbeencaught (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Eric McNamara)
  47. Shanbally Kid (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willi Mullins)
  48. Will Do (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  49. In d’Or (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Fergal O’Brien)

 

Race 7: Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race – Racecard & Runners

  • Start time: 5:00 pm
  • Distance: about 2 miles and 1 furlong (2 miles and 209 yards, or 3,410 metres)
  • Horses: four to six years

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

  1. Arms Park (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Catherine Williams)
  2. Barachiel (age 5, jockey Robert Dunne, trainer Robert Stephens)
  3. Bass Hunter (age 6, jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Chris Gordon)
  4. Chicker (age 5, jockey Jonathan Burke, trainer Fergal O’Brien)
  5. Coconut Man (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore)
  6. Cooltobecareless (age 5, jockey Tristan Durrell, trainer Dan Skelton)
  7. Diamant Dore (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian Paul Keatley)
  8. Forthfactor (age 5, jockey Heidi Palin, trainer Dan Skelton)
  9. Governors Rock (age 5, jockey James Bowen, trainer Warren Greatrex)
  10. Hidden Mountain (age 5, jockey Thomas Bellamy, trainer Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls)
  11. It’s Good To Talk (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Emmet Mullins)
  12. Le Roi Remi (age 5, jockey Jack Andrews, trainer Tom Ellis)
  13. Look Me (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
  14. Low Kick (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Gordon Elliott)
  15. Makingplansfor (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer David Evans)
  16. Merry Away (age 5, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
  17. Moments Away (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Martin Keighley)
  18. One Knight (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Emma Lavelle)
  19. Rices Pool (age 5, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
  20. Risky Obsession (age 5, jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton)
  21. Ronnie Russet (age 5, jockey Sean Quinlan, trainer Jedd O’Keeffe)
  22. Smile John Boy (age 5, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
  23. Thelastmanfrompenr (age 6, jockey Sean Bowen, trainer Laura Morgan)
  24. The Perfect Poet (age 5, jockey Ben Jones, trainer Ben Pauling)
  25. Merlin Allen (age 4, jockey Ciaran Gethings, trainer Jane Williams)
  26. Nightflyer (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jonjo & A J O’Neill)
  27. Sea Tempest (age 4, jockey Stan Sheppard, trainer T Lacey)
GRAND NATIONAL BETTING

 

Key Races on Grand National Saturday

Grand National Saturday races include three major Grade 1 fixtures along with one headline race which is a Premier Handicap race.

 

Grand National (Headline Race)

The Grand National is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase that accepts both male and female horses aged seven years or older. It is run over a distance of about 4 miles 2 1/2 furlongs (4 miles 550 yards; 7 kilometres) and includes 30 fences to be jumped. It is the central event of the entire Festival. The prize money is £1,000,000.

 

Maghull Novices’ Chase 

The Maghull 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 (1 mile 7 furlong and 176 yards, or 3,178 metres) and includes 12 fences to be jumped. This race is for novice chasers. The prize money is £120,000.

 

Mersey Novices’ Hurdle

The Mersey Novices’ 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. It often includes horses that ran in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham a month prior. The prize money is £100,000.

 

Liverpool Hurdle

The Liverpool 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 3 miles and 1/2 furlong (3 miles and 149 yards, or 4,964 metres) and includes 13 hurdles to be jumped. It was originally held at Ascot but was transferred to Aintree in 2004. The prize money is £250,000.

 

Grand National Saturday Betting

The Grand National is frequently cited as a key element of British culture that attracts viewers and bettors who don’t normally engage in horse racing at other times of the year. With a prize purse of £1,000,000 it holds the title of the most valuable jump race in Europe. 

It comes as no surprise that all major bookmaking platforms that feature horse racing offer Grand National betting odds on every race of the event, including all seven races of Grand National Saturday. Let’s take a look at the most popular markets for the day.

 

Win Bet

This betting market works the same in horse racing as any straight win market in sports betting. As a punter, you are trying to predict the outcome of the race by betting on a horse that in your opinion is the most likely to come to the finish line first and become the winner. If your prediction happens to be correct, you will qualify for a payout.

The main difference with other straight win markets is how many possible outcomes a horse race can have. In most team sports a match can have two outcomes: a home team win or an away team win. In case a draw is allowed by the rules, another outcome is added to the possibility. 

However, in horse racing every participating horse can potentially become a winner, so the number of outcomes will depend on the number of runners.

 

Place Bet

With this betting market you are still placing a wager on one horse but instead of betting on it to win the race, you predict that it will take one of the paid placements, i.e. finish the race in the winning top.

The number of paid placements for each race depends on the final number of runners at the start and will be announced before the race begins. One thing that lowers your risk here is that you don’t have to name the exact place the horse is going to take. Any placement within the winning top will bring a win on your bet.

 

Each Way Bet

This betting is a 2 in 1 deal of sorts, combining the win bet and the place bet. As a bettor, you place two stakes on one horse within the same race. One of them is a win bet for the horse to come to the finish line first. The other one is for the same horse to take one of the paid placements. 

Even though some inexperienced bettors avoid this market, it can bring value to your bet. If the horse you bet on does end up winning the race, you will be eligible for two payouts, both for the win bet and the place bet. If the horse finishes within the winning top but fails to take the first place, you will lose your win stake but will qualify for a payout on your place bet. As usually, the number of paid placements will depend on the final list of runners and be announced in advance.

 

Forecast & Tricast Bets

These two betting markets operate under the same mechanism with a slight difference in conditions. They are considered more advanced and involve higher risk for punters.

In forecast, instead of betting on one horse to win the race or be placed, you place a wager on two horses at the same time. Your bet states that horse A will come to the finish line first and become the winner of the race, while horse B will take second place. If you are betting on a straight forecast, both horses have to come to the finish line in the exact same order you defined. If it is a reverse forecast, they can switch places, as long as they take both the first and the second place.

The tricast bet follows the exact same model but here you add a third horse to the equation. So now you are betting that horse A will win the first place, horse B will be the second, while horse C will be the third. For a straight tricast, they will need to keep this exact order if your wager is to qualify for a payout. In combination tricast they are allowed to finish the race in any possible combination, as long as they take the first three places.

In both bets, if any of the horses falls behind and misses the winning top two (forecast bet) or top three (tricast bet), you will lose your wager. With the outcome depending on the performance of more than one horse, the risks grow. 

Before you place any bet on a Grand National Saturday race, remember to check the current odds. Horse racing odds are subject to frequent fluctuations that depend on the horses’ current physical form, ground conditions, number of runners, and any non-runners prior to the start.

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

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