Sunday, October 26, 2025
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Sunday, October 26, 2025

Aintree Grand National Festival — The Ultimate Guide

Three days in Liverpool. Giant spruce fences. Roars that rattle your bones. The
Randox Grand National Festival blends folklore with top-class Grade 1 action on the
Mildmay and National courses. This guide covers history, feature races, travel tips, betting
angles, legends, and how it differs from Cheltenham.

🎬 Overview

Dates & Location

Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool. The festival typically runs Thursday to Saturday in early April, three weeks after Cheltenham.

Courses: Mildmay (conventional hurdles/fences) and the iconic National course with spruce fences like Becher’s, Canal Turn, and The Chair.

Why it matters

The Grand National is the most famous jump race on the planet — a marathon test of courage, stamina, and luck. The meeting also stages elite Grade 1s like the Aintree Hurdle, Melling Chase, and Betway/Aintree Bowl.

Pinnacle of spectacle: Cheltenham crowns champions; Aintree writes folklore.

Tip Want fundamentals first? Read our Betting Guide & Strategies, then use our Bet Calculator to crunch returns.

📜 History, Origins & Cultural Impact

Origins: Racing at Aintree dates to the 1820s; the National’s roots are usually traced to the 1839 race won by Lottery. Over time the fences, distance and safety provisions evolved — but the soul of the test endured.

Milestones: The National survived wars, rule changes and course tweaks. The meeting expanded and professionalised, adding Grade 1s and evolving into a three-day festival format with Ladies Day on Friday.

Cultural impact: A staple of British sport watched worldwide. Office sweepstakes, family traditions, and pub debates make it an annual cultural moment.

Cheltenham vs Aintree: Cheltenham is championship-style; Aintree is theatre. Many champions re-oppose on flatter, faster Mildmay tracks just weeks after Cheltenham — creating fascinating form cross-checks.

Economics: The festival brings a significant boost to Liverpool’s hospitality sector: hotels, restaurants, travel, media coverage, and jobs.

🗓️ Festival Structure & Race Menu

Day 1 — Opening Day (Thu)

  • Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle (G1) – top juveniles over 2m1f.
  • Aintree Bowl (G1) – 3m chasers (Gold Cup form guide).
  • Aintree Hurdle (G1) – 2m4f hurdle; speed meets stamina.
  • Foxhunters’ (National fences) – amateurs over the big ones.

Day 2 — Ladies Day (Fri)

  • Top Novices’ Hurdle (G1) – classy 2m novices.
  • Mildmay Novices’ Chase (G1) – staying novice chasers.
  • Melling Chase (G1) – elite 2m4f chasers (often Ryanair/C.Chase types).
  • Topham (National fences) – fiery 2m5f handicap over spruce.

Day 3 — Grand National Day (Sat)

  • Maghull Novices’ Chase (G1) – 2m speedsters.
  • Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (G1) – 2m4f rising stars.
  • Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (G1) – 3m stayers of the future.
  • Liverpool Hurdle (G1) – stayers’ crown at 3m+.
  • Grand National (Hcap, 4m2½f) – 30 spruce fences, history guaranteed.

NB: Sponsors and race names can change — structure remains similar year-to-year.

🏆 Feature Races (Deep Dives)

Grand National — the world’s race

Trip: ~4m2½f • Obstacles: 30 national fences • Field: up to 34–40 historically • Type: Handicap chase.

Character: Extreme test of jumping, positioning, and stamina. Reliability and rhythm matter as much as brilliance.

Famous winners: Red Rum (’73, ’74, ’77), Foinavon (’67 chaos), Aldaniti (’81 comeback), Miinnehoma (’94), Hedgehunter (’05), Don’t Push It (’10), Many Clouds (’15), Tiger Roll (’18, ’19), I Am Maximus (’24).

Jockey moments: A.P. McCoy finally landing it on Don’t Push It (2010); Leighton Aspell’s back-to-back wins (2014–15); Davy Russell’s double on Tiger Roll.

Trainer legends: Ginger McCain (& Red Rum), Gordon Elliott, Willie Mullins, Trevor Hemmings’ ownership legacy, Lucinda Russell (One For Arthur).

Trends snapshot: Clean jumping profile, stamina at 3m+ beforehand, protected weight (but class still counts), and proven big-field temperament.

Aintree Bowl (G1) — staying chasers’ rematch

About 3m over Mildmay fences. Often a collision of Gold Cup horses on a flatter, friendlier track. Emphasises rhythm and speed at the trip rather than extreme stamina.

Aintree Hurdle (G1) — 2m4f class clash

Brings together top-class 2m hurdlers stretching out and 2m4f specialists dropping from the Stayers trip. Speed + tactical nous wins.

Melling Chase (G1) — 2m4f pure quality

One of the classiest races of the spring. Ryanair or Champion Chase form often converges here; fluent jumping and cruising speed key.

Liverpool Hurdle (G1) — staying hurdlers’ crown

3m+ on Mildmay for top stayers. Suits strong travellers with a finishing kick on this less attritional track versus Cheltenham’s hill.

⭐ Trainers, Jockeys & Famous Horses

Trainers to know

  • Ginger McCain — synonymous with Red Rum; his son Donald McCain continued the National-fence legacy.
  • Willie Mullins — modern titan; trained I Am Maximus (2024) and many Aintree Grade 1 winners.
  • Gordon Elliott — Tiger Roll dual National; deep Aintree squad each year.
  • Paul Nicholls — multiple Aintree Grade 1s; Bowl & Melling heroes.
  • Nicky Henderson — prolific over hurdles/2m–2m4f chases at Aintree.
  • Nigel Twiston-Davies — two National wins (incl. Bindaree), adept with National-fence types.
  • Lucinda Russell — National winner One For Arthur; high-class stayers/chasers.

Jockeys to remember

  • Ruby Walsh — Aintree Grade 1 machine, supreme judge of pace.
  • A.P. McCoy — finally conquered the National on Don’t Push It (2010).
  • Davy Russell — cool hands; Tiger Roll double.
  • Leighton Aspell — back-to-back National wins (2014–15).
  • Derek Fox — One For Arthur (2017), ice-veins over the big fences.
  • Paul Townend — elite modern master; won the 2024 National on I Am Maximus.

Famous Aintree horses

  • Red Rum — the icon: National wins ’73, ’74, ’77 (2nd in ’75 & ’76); trained on Southport sands.
  • Tiger Roll — back-to-back National hero (’18, ’19); pocket rocket with a huge heart.
  • Many Clouds — National winner (’15); mighty competitor.
  • Don’t Push It — ended A.P. McCoy’s wait (’10).
  • One For Arthur — Scottish hero (’17); perfect round from Derek Fox.
  • I Am Maximus — Mullins/Townend (’24); class and stamina blend.
  • Foinavon — shock winner (’67) amid pile-up chaos.
  • Hedgehunter — classy chaser landing the big one (’05).

💡 Betting Angles & Trends

Grand National snapshots

  • Look for efficient jumpers with prior 3m+ stamina and big-field form.
  • Weights/handicaps still matter; classy types can defy them if fluent.
  • Spruce experience (Topham/Foxhunters/previous National) is a bonus.

Tool Crunch your perms and each-way returns with our Bet Calculator.

Mildmay Grade 1s

  • Often suits travellers who jump slickly; less attritional than Cheltenham.
  • Beware bounce factors or tough festival runs; some improve for the flatter track.
  • Follow **stable form**—big yards target specific races here.

Refine your staking & bankroll: Betting Guide & Strategies.

🎟️ Visiting Aintree (First-Timer Tips)

Tickets & Enclosures

  • Tattersalls / Festival Zone — value, atmosphere, access to stands/bars.
  • Grandstand / Premier / Hospitality — upgraded views & facilities.
  • Ladies Day (Fri) — fashion focus; plan earlier arrivals.

Travel & Practicalities

  • Rail to Aintree station is easiest (Merseyrail from Liverpool Central).
  • Book accommodation early; demand spikes National week.
  • Layers & footwear for variable spring weather.

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UK resources are listed on our Responsible Gambling Support page.

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❓ Aintree Grand National Festival FAQs

How is Aintree different from Cheltenham?
Cheltenham is championship peaks on a testing track; Aintree is flatter, faster, and mixes National fences with high-class Mildmay Grade 1s. Many Cheltenham stars re-engage here.
What are the three most important races?
The Grand National, the Aintree Hurdle, and the Aintree Bowl/Melling Chase depending on division.
Is previous National-fence form essential?
Not essential, but proven jumping under the unique spruce fences is a big positive. Rhythm and position are critical.
Best time to arrive on Grand National day?
Early. Public transport and security queues swell from late morning. Aim to be on course 90–120 minutes pre-first race.
Where can I learn staking and bankroll basics?
Start with our Betting Guide & Strategies and use the Bet Calculator to model returns.

Important: Educational content only. No guarantees. 18+ only. If betting affects your life or finances, pause and see our Responsible Gambling resources.