Aintree Course Guide

Home to the world-famous Grand National, Aintree’s three-day April Festival is one of the highlights in the National Hunt calendar which stands second only to Cheltenham in terms of importance in the UK. Aside from the marathon steeplechase, highlights at the meeting include the Aintree Hurdle, Liverpool Hurdle, Bowl Chase and Melling Chase – all Grade 1 races – plus the Fox Hunters Chase and Topham Chase, both of which are run over the big spruce fences.

Aintree also stages two important meetings in the first half of the season; the early November fixture features the Old Roan Chase – a Grade 2 contest over two and a half miles – whilst the December meeting features the Becher Chase and Grand Sefton Chase, a once-a-year opportunity to watch two races over the National fences in a single afternoon.

Advance Going
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Current Weather today at: Aintree

Today
Light rain

Forecast: Light rain
Temp: 6.2° - 10.6°
Rainfall: 0.85mm
Wind: 5.2 mph SW

Tomorrow
Drizzle

Forecast: Drizzle
Temp: 5.7° - 12.0°
Rainfall: 1.07mm
Wind: 13.7 mph W

Last Update: 02/04/2026 07:00

The Grand National course is triangular with its apex (at the Canal Turn) the furthest point from the stands. Inside is the easier Mildmay course which has birch fences. A major feature of the Mildmay course is its sharpness and the fences there are stiffer than used to be the case. The Grand National is run over two complete circuits taking in sixteen spruce fences first time round and fourteen the second and still provides one of the toughest tests ever devised for horse and rider. The run in is 494 yards long and includes an elbow.


Even though it’s flat, it can be very testing for a horse, so you need one that can travel. The winner is almost always still on the bridle leaving the back straight - take a look at some old tapes if you want proof - and those that aren’t really struggle to get home. It’s a long, long way from the home turn to the line and a very long run-in, so you need to have a bit of horse left under you all the way up the home straight to have any chance. As a general rule, it’s the horses that can get into a rhythm, racing nicely on the bridle, who do best at Aintree.

View from the saddle: Mick Fitzgerald
Upcoming races

Results

12:00 William Hill Daily Bet Boosts Mares' Handicap Hurdle

2m 4f | Class 4 | 3YO plus | 7 ran
  • Winner: Analiese 10/3 2Fav
  • Jockey: Toby Wynne Trainer: Mrs M Rowley
  • Owner: Four Gents

12:30 William Hill Racing Bet Builder Handicap Chase

GBB Race

2m 4f | Class 2 | 4YO plus | 5 ran
  • Winner: Prairie Wolf 7/2
  • Jockey: Jack Tudor Trainer: J Parkinson & S Smith
  • Owner: Mr G R Orchard & Mrs J M Gray

13:05 William Hill Formby Novices' Hurdle

Grade 1 | GBB Race

2m 1f | Class 1 | 3YO plus | 6 ran
  • Winner: Idaho Sun 3/1 2Fav
  • Jockey: Bryan Carver Trainer: H Fry
  • Owner: Mr Jeremy Gear

13:40 William Hill Daily Bet Boosts Handicap Hurdle

GBB Race

2m 4f | Class 2 | 4YO plus | 8 ran
  • Winner: Indeevar Bleu 9/2
  • Jockey: Jack Tudor Trainer: O Murphy
  • Owner: Mrs Diana L Whateley

14:15 William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Chase

GBB Race

3m 1f | Class 3 | 4YO plus | 8 ran
  • Winner: Fortunate Man 15/8 Fav
  • Jockey: Jonjo O'Neill Jr. Trainer: Jonjo & A J O'Neill
  • Owner: Mr John P McManus

14:50 William Hill Extra Places With B.O.G Novices' Limited Handicap Chase

GBB Race

2m | Class 3 | 4YO plus | 3 ran
  • Winner: Throatlash 5/2 2Fav
  • Jockey: B S Hughes Trainer: D McCain Jnr
  • Owner: Mr J Fyffe

15:25 William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive Open NH Flat Race

GBB Race

2m 1f | Class 2 | 4YO to 5YO | 8 ran
  • Winner: No Walkover 2/1 2Fav
  • Jockey: Jack Tudor Trainer: D Pipe
  • Owner: Mr G Thompson
Future Fixtures

Address & Contact

Aintree Racecourse
Ormskirk Road
Aintree
Liverpool
L9 5AS
0151 523 2600

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