# Grand National 2027: Racetimes, TV Coverage & Raceday Guide _The Grand National at Aintree — the most famous steeplechase in the world. Race times, ITV coverage, course notes and how to follow the runners over the 30-fence, 4m 2½f marathon._ *Source: [https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/grand-national/](https://stablebet.co.uk/racing-news/grand-national/) · last updated 2026-04-19* # Grand National 2027 The **Grand National** at Aintree is the most famous steeplechase in the world. Four miles, two-and-a-half furlongs of the most challenging fences in racing — **30 jumps**, including Becher's Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn — with up to 34 runners jumping in a single field. The race that stops the nation; the one UK sporting event where more people watch on television than attend, and the one horse race that many people will bet on even if they never bet on anything else. Run on the **Saturday of the three-day Grand National Meeting** each April, it's the centrepiece of the entire National Hunt calendar. Prize fund of **£1 million+** makes it the richest jumps race in Europe; the winner takes home over £500,000. For the **2027 edition**, the scheduled raceday is **Saturday 10 April 2027**. Declared runners, going update and off-time are published on the morning of the race — this page updates automatically as each detail is confirmed. ## At a glance - **Course**: Aintree (Grand National Course, left-handed, 2m 2f round) - **Distance**: 4 miles 2½ furlongs - **Obstacles**: 30 fences (the famous Grand National fences) - **Grade**: Grade 3 handicap chase (Premier Handicap) - **Prize fund**: £1m+, winner takes ~£500,000 - **Broadcast**: ITV1 (free-to-air UK, plus international syndication) - **First run**: 1839 The Grand National is the highest-staked single horse race in British culture. Over 600 million people worldwide watch the race on television each year. Read on for the 2027 race details, the race's extraordinary history, how to watch, and a full Grand National Day guide. ## 2027 race details # 2027 race details The 2027 Grand National is scheduled for **Saturday 10 April 2027** at Aintree, the Saturday of the three-day Grand National Meeting (Thursday–Saturday). | Detail | Value | |---|---| | **Race date** | Saturday 10 April 2027 | | **Off time** | TBA | | **Going** | TBA | | **Field size** | TBA (max 34) | | **Distance** | 4 miles 2½ furlongs | | **Obstacles** | 30 fences (16 different fences jumped twice, except The Chair + Water Jump jumped once) | | **Prize fund** | £1m+ | ### The fences The 30 fences include the famous named jumps: - **The Chair** (fence 15, jumped once) — 5ft 2in high with a 6ft-wide open ditch in front. The tallest on the course. - **Becher's Brook** (fence 6 and fence 22) — 5ft high with a steep drop on the landing side. - **Canal Turn** (fence 8 and fence 24) — 90-degree left turn immediately after landing. - **The Water Jump** (fence 16, jumped once) — 12ft 6in wide water ditch in front of the stands. - **Valentine's Brook** (fence 9 and fence 25) — 5ft high with a 5ft 6in-wide brook on landing side. - **Foinavon** (fence 7 and fence 23) — named after the 1967 100/1 winner whose rivals piled up here. ### Trials and build-up The road to the Grand National runs through three key prep races: - **Becher Chase** (Aintree, early December) — Grade 3 over 3m 2f on the National fences. The most direct prep available. - **Grand National Trial** (Haydock, February) — 3m 4½f handicap chase. - **Welsh Grand National** (Chepstow, 27 Dec) — 3m 6½f marathon prep for stamina. Five-day entries for the Grand National open in late January. Maximum permitted field is **34 runners**. Final declarations (48-hour) are on Thursday of race week. ### Ante-post markets Grand National ante-post is the single biggest betting market in UK sport. Books open after Cheltenham (mid-March) and peak in the final week. 60-70% of adult British population places a Grand National bet. Each-way terms typically 5 places (occasionally 6 or 7) with major bookmakers offering "best odds guaranteed" as standard. ## History and notable winners # History and notable winners The Grand National was first run at Aintree in **1839**, founded by **William Lynn**, landlord of the nearby Waterloo Hotel, who saw commercial promise in a major steeplechase close to Liverpool. The inaugural winner was **Lottery** — ridden by Jem Mason and sent off 5/1 favourite. The race has been run every year since bar wartime interruptions and the 1993 void year. ### The legends **Red Rum** is the most famous Grand National horse of all time — the **only horse to win it three times** (1973, 1974, 1977). Runner-up in 1975 and 1976 also. Trained by Ginger McCain on Southport Sands; his 1973 win, catching Crisp on the line after a 30-length deficit down the far side, remains the single most famous moment in British racing. **Aldaniti** (1981) — trained by Josh Gifford, ridden by **Bob Champion** who had just beaten cancer — gave the race its most emotional winner. The 1983 film "Champions" told the story. **Tipperary Tim** (1928) won at **100/1** — the longest-priced winner in Grand National history, alongside Foinavon (1967) and Mon Mome (2009). In 1928 he was one of just two horses to finish from a field of 42. **Foinavon** (1967, 100/1) — famous not just for the price but for the chaos at the 23rd fence (the small fence at the far end of the Canal Turn bend) where a riderless horse caused a pile-up. Foinavon jumped the fence on the outside and proceeded to win by 15 lengths. **Mon Mome** (2009, 100/1), **One For Arthur** (2017, 14/1), **Tiger Roll** (2018, 2019 — back-to-back, first since Red Rum's era), **I Am Maximus** (2024, 8/1) are modern champions. ### The 2023 protest + 2024 format changes In 2023 an Animal Rising protest delayed the start and a subsequent review led to major changes for 2024 onwards: - **Max field reduced from 40 to 34** runners - **First fence moved 60 yards closer to the start** to reduce speed into the first - **Fence heights reduced** at Becher's Brook and other landmark fences The changes have slightly reduced the race's casualty rate while preserving the character of the great race. ### What wins the Grand National The Grand National rewards: - **Genuine 4m+ stamina** — even modern changes haven't made it a shorter race - **Jumping fluency at speed** — 30 fences jumped at near-Gold-Cup pace in a 34-horse field - **An even temperament** — horses who don't handle crowded fields get dragged wide or tangled up - **A handicap mark of 140-160** — well-weighted horses have the best strike rate; top-weights can win but it's harder ### Recent roll of honour *This section updates after each year's running — see [/racing-news/](/racing-news/) for the most recent Grand National result article.* ## TV coverage and how to watch # TV coverage and how to watch The 2027 Grand National is live on **ITV1** (free-to-air in the UK). ### UK terrestrial — ITV1 / ITVX ITV Racing's Grand National Day coverage is the network's flagship sports broadcast of the year outside of major international football. Coverage typically runs **from 12:30pm** on Grand National Saturday, carrying all seven races from Aintree plus extended pre-race programming, celebrity fashion coverage, course analysis and runner-by-runner previews. The Grand National itself is the fourth or fifth race on the card, off around **5:15pm**; the exact off-time for 2027 is **TBA** once confirmed. ITVX carries the coverage live and on demand after the event, free to UK viewers. The Grand National broadcast regularly attracts **over 8 million UK viewers** — the single largest British racing audience of the year and one of the largest of any sport. ### Racing TV **Racing TV** carries the full three-day Grand National Meeting (Thursday–Saturday, 21 races total) with extensive pre- and post-race analysis. The Grand National Pass is typically a three-day bundle. Subscription or day-pass required. ### Sky Sports Racing Sky Sports Racing does **not** hold rights to the Grand National Meeting — Aintree is on Racing TV and ITV. Sky Sports Racing will show complementary Saturday fixtures. ### International - **Ireland**: RTÉ Sport + Racing TV carry the full meeting. - **US**: NBC Sports traditionally carries the race; US-based Irish/British expats follow heavily. - **Australia**: Sky Thoroughbred Central; time difference means Melbourne-based Australians watch late evening. - **Global reach**: the race is broadcast to **60+ countries**; estimated worldwide audience is 600+ million. ### Replays ITVX (free) and Racing TV (subscriber archive) keep the race available on-demand. The Racing Post, ITV Racing, Aintree and Red Rum's official channels all post the race video within hours. The race has been the most-watched British-racing YouTube video every year since the platform launched. ### Off-time reminders Grand National Day has the tightest TV-schedule discipline of any British horse race — the race is carried live worldwide, and the ITV slot is planned years ahead. Expect the advertised **TBA** to move by no more than 1 minute unless a late-withdrawal or stewards' delay intervenes. ## Grand National Day at Aintree # Grand National Day at Aintree ### Getting there Aintree Racecourse is at **Ormskirk Road, Aintree, Liverpool, L9 5AS** — 7 miles north of Liverpool city centre. The nearest station is **Aintree** (Merseyrail, direct from Liverpool Central, 20 minutes), then a 5-minute walk to the course. Drivers: Junction 7 of the M57 then A506 to the course. On-course parking is extensive but sold out early on Grand National Day. Park-and-ride options operate from Aintree Retail Park and nearby industrial estates. ### The enclosures Four tickets for Grand National Day: - **Earl of Derby Stand** — the premier enclosure with the best views, parade ring access, hospitality options. Smart dress code. - **Princess Royal Stand** — main public grandstand with excellent paddock access. - **Tattersalls Enclosure** — mid-course with bars, food stands, big-screen viewing. - **Central Course Enclosure** — budget option in the infield with picnic space. Has its own food and drinks outlets. Grand National Day tickets sell out fast every year — book early (typically on sale from September the previous year) through thejockeyclub.co.uk. ### On the day - **Gates open** around 10:30am. - **First race** is usually 1:45pm. - **The Grand National** is race 5 on the card, off at **5:15pm**. - Parade ring is crowded from 45 minutes before the National — the 34-runner field walk is a spectacle. - **Ladies' Day** is Friday — if you want the full Aintree experience across multiple days, consider the full three-day pass. ### Dress code **Earl of Derby Stand**: smart day-dress expected; many attendees wear suits or dresses with hats (Ladies' Day is the full fashion day, Saturday National Day is slightly more relaxed but still dressy). **Princess Royal / Tattersalls**: smart-casual expected; Saturday's crowd dresses up more than weekday racing crowds. **Central Course**: no dress code — traditional Aintree "Scouse National" atmosphere with picnics and dressed-up crowds. ### Food and drink Aintree has extensive hospitality: the Red Rum Garden, Earl of Derby restaurants, Princess Royal Suite, and trackside chalets are all premium options. Standard food outlets across all enclosures include traditional British fare, street food, and plenty of pub-food options. Pimm's and Champagne bars across the premium stands; standard bars throughout. ### Betting Tote facilities and on-course bookmakers everywhere. Grand National Day is the single highest-betting day in UK sport — over £100m is wagered on the race in UK alone. ATMs on-site but long queues — bring cash for the rails. Our [bookmaker comparison guide](/bookmakers/) covers app-based alternatives if you'd rather place from your phone. Each-way terms typically 5+ places. ## Sources & verification Race details, dates, prize money and trends in this piece were cross-checked against: - [Wikipedia — Grand National](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_National) - [Aintree Racecourse — official site](https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/) - [Racing Post — Grand National hub](https://www.racingpost.com/news/festivals/grand-national/) [Source: cross-referenced as of the lastUpdated date in this article's meta.yaml.]