The 2017 Grand National is due to be run on Saturday the 8th April at Aintree Racecourse (Liverpool). The start time is set for 5:15 p.m. Live coverage of the race will be screened by iTV in the UK. Why not join the rest of the country and cheer on your horse in this years race.

The Grand National is the pinnacle of the three day Aintree Festival which commences on Thursday 6th of April with the ‘Opening Day’ which is followed by ‘Ladies’ Day’ on Friday the 7th of April and ends with the big one ‘Grand National Day’ on the Saturday.

Crowds in excess of 150,000 will witness one of the greatest sporting events in the world and 9 million people in the UK will tune in to watch the action unfold on TV. Tickets are now on sale for the 2016 National at the Aintree Racecourse website.

THE START OF THE RACE

Watching forty horses jockey for position at the starting line of the Grand National is one of the most impressive sights in sport. There is a palpable tension in the air as the official race starter aims to get the runners lined-up. Each jockey is aiming to gain a few feet of turf and a clear run to the first fence. Once the horses are in good order the starter will raise the tape and they’re off!

In recent years, changes to the starting line position, tape placement and better communication between jockeys and course officials have reduced the chances of a false start, like the one in 1993 which voided the race. Video below shows the day it all went wrong at Aintree…

WHERE CAN I WATCH?

The best place to be on Grand National day is Aintree Racecourse, sample the atmosphere first hand and see history in the making. Ticket prices range from £20 all the way up to several hundred pounds for VIP and hospitality tickets. If you’re in the UK you can enjoy live coverage of the race from Channel Four. Those outside the UK will need to check local TV listings, the race is screened in most countries but may only be available on satellite or pay per view channels. One option which you may not have considered is to watch the race streamed over the internet, many online bookmakers offer this as a free service to customers.

WHO CAN ENTER?

Only horses aged seven or above can now compete and every runner must have been placed in the first four of a chase of three miles or more by March 20th and be rated 120 or above.

The regulations surrounding the Grand National are very specific and are as follows: The race is a Class 1, Grade 3 event over four miles and four furlongs. There is a total prize fund of £1,000,000. The Grand National is a handicap race, in short a better horse will have to carry more weight than his rivals. The theory is to give all runners an equal chance of winning and the weights are set by the official BHA handicapper and the top weight is set at 11st-10lbs with a minimum weight of 10st. The Grand National is the only race fixture in which the handicapper can deviate from the published ratings and also take into account previous hurdle form.

BETTING ON THE RACE

A few quid each-way on a horse you fancy can add to the excitement of the day. Without doubt the Grand National remains one of the few horse races that nearly everyone has a bet on. Maybe it’s the unpredictable nature of the race or the chance of landing a big odds winner, that keeps us handing over our money to the bookies year after year. Whatever your reason for having a bet we can help you find a bookmaker offering fantastic free bet deals and also help you find a horse to back. Check out our betting guide to the Grand National.

ALERT & REMINDER SERVICE

If you’re worried about missing the start date of the race then why not sign up to our free email newsletter? We’ll give you a reminder when the race is on. We’ll also provide exclusive interviews with Jockeys and Trainers, competitions to win tickets to Aintree and all the news on the Grand National as it happens. Sign up here and you’ll never miss another National.