Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-08-20
Looking for the current Grand National?
Our live guide has 2026+ racetimes, TV coverage and runners as they're confirmed.
See the Grand National live hubThis Friday marks the moment flat racing fans across North Yorkshire have been waiting for. Thirsk Racecourse throws open its gates on 10th April for the first meeting of the 2026 season — and the timing couldn't be better. Just twenty-four hours later, all eyes turn to Aintree for the biggest race in the calendar: the Randox Grand National.
It's a weekend that captures everything brilliant about British racing. Two very different courses, two very different codes, but one shared feeling — that unmistakable buzz when the new season gets underway.
Where to Bet
Place your bets with a trusted, licensed bookmaker.
Promo code BETFRED50. New customers only. Register, deposit with a Debit Card, and place a first bet of £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports, to be settled within 7 days, to get £30 in Sports Free Bets and £20 in Bet Builder Free Bets within 24 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs.
Promo code R30. New UK customers only, 18+. Register, deposit £10 or more, then place a £10 single cash bet at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on any sports market (excluding Virtuals). Once the qualifying bet settles you get £30 in Free Bets (3 x £10) — the qualifying bet can win or lose. Free Bets are valid on any sports market excluding Virtuals, expire in 7 days, are non-withdrawable and must be used in full. Excluded deposit methods apply (including PayPal, Apple Pay, Skrill and NETELLER). Named bets such as Lucky 15 do not qualify. Ends 31.12.26. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs.
Promo code BET40GET20. New UK customers, 18+. Register with the code and place a first bet of £40 or more at Evens (2.0) or greater. Receive 2 × £10 free bets: the first credited automatically once the qualifying bet settles, the second 24 hours later. Free bets must be placed at minimum odds of 4/1 (5.0), expire 24 hours after credit, and the free-bet stake is not returned with winnings. Debit card deposits only. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
50% of your first-day net losses refunded as a free bet, capped at £25. New UK customers aged 18+ only. To qualify, deposit and place a first bet of £10 or more on any sport at minimum odds of evens (2.00), then place at least two further bets on different events, each worth at least 50% of your largest bet, all at evens (2.00) or greater. Losses are counted from your first settled bet until 23:59 the same day. Place a qualifying £10+ bet and you are guaranteed at least a £5 free bet. Bets placed at SP, void bets, cashed-out bets and bets struck with free bets do not count towards the offer. The free bet is credited the day after your qualifying bets settle and must be used within 7 days, after which it expires. It can be used at odds from 1/4 (1.25) up to 250/1 on singles and straight accumulators, but not on Trixie, Patent or Yankee style multiples. Free-bet stake is not returned with winnings. One offer per person, household, address, IP address and device. E-wallet deposits may not qualify, so check the cashier before depositing. Customers registered with GAMSTOP cannot claim. KYC identity verification must be completed before the free bet is credited. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
New customers, 18+. Choose the sports bonus at sign-up, make a first deposit and receive a 100% bonus up to £50 in your Sports Bonus balance. To convert the bonus to cash, wager it 10x within 30 days. Single bets below Evens (2.00) do not qualify; accumulators do not qualify if any selection is below 1/2 (1.50). Virtual Sports, voided, cancelled, drawn, cashed-out and free-bet wagers do not count towards wagering. Only the first settled bet per event counts. Withdrawing before the wagering requirement is met forfeits the bonus balance including bonus winnings. Real-money funds are used before bonus funds. Deposits via Skrill or Neteller are not eligible. Not valid in conjunction with other promotions. Odds, bet and payment limits apply. 10bet general and promotion T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs.
New customers in Great Britain and Republic of Ireland, 18+. Place a £10 fixed-odds qualifying bet at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) — single or each-way (only the win part counts), pre-event or in-play, not cashed out. Receive £60 in bonuses credited over three consecutive days: 3 × £10 fixed-odds free bets, 3 × £5 Total Goals FOOTBALL spread bets, 3 × £5 racing Winning Favourites spread bets, plus a £1 racing Race Index spread bet on day one. Free-bet stakes not returned with winnings; free bets valid 28 days from issue. IMPORTANT: the £5 and £1 credits are SPREAD bets — sports spread betting carries the risk that losses can exceed your stake. Sports spread-betting customers do not have Financial Ombudsman or FSCS recourse. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
Promo code WELCOME15, entered under My Bonuses after registering. New UK customers, 18+. Place a first qualifying bet of at least £10 from your cash balance at odds of evens (2.0) or greater within 7 days of opening the account. Once the qualifying bet fully settles you receive £15 in free bets, credited as 3 x £5 tokens with set uses: one £5 accumulator free bet (minimum 4 legs, each leg at 2/5 or bigger), one £5 sports free bet (any market at evens or bigger) and one £5 Sub Cover free bet (selected football player markets at evens or bigger). Free-bet stakes are not returned with winnings. Free bets expire 7 days after they are credited. Void, cashed-out and partially cashed-out bets do not qualify. One offer per customer. Confirm the current terms on BetGoodwin's own welcome-offer page before claiming. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
New UK customers, 18+. Minimum deposit £10. Place a £10 qualifying single at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50), settled within 14 days. Receive £30 in free bets (stake not returned), split £20 for sportsbook use (2 x £10) and £10 for Bet Builder only (2 x £5); Bet Builder does not cover horse racing. Free bets must be accepted within 7 days and expire 7 days after acceptance. No promo code required. Best Odds Guaranteed on UK & Irish racing, subject to having staked over £25 in the previous seven days. Operated by LiveScore Betting and Gaming (Gibraltar) Ltd, UKGC 56859. Confirm the current terms on LiveScore Bet's own promotions page before claiming. Take Time to Think. BeGambleAware.org. 18+. T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs.
18+. BeGambleAware.org
Thirsk: The Flat Is Back
Thirsk's season opener on Friday has become something of a tradition for Yorkshire racegoers. The compact, right-handed track at Station Road has hosted racing since 1855, and there's a warmth to the place that bigger courses struggle to match. The first afternoon card of the year always draws a loyal crowd, and 2026 should be no different.
This year's opener doubles as an Easter Family Day, so it's not just about what's happening on the track. Expect inflatables, fairground stalls, face painting, a kids' disco, and live music alongside the racing — making it an ideal day out whether you're studying the form book or just soaking up the atmosphere. Free children's entertainment is included with admission, and a saver rate is available for anyone booking before midnight on Tuesday 7th April.
As for the racing itself, Thirsk's tight, flat oval tends to favour prominent racers and those drawn low when the stalls are on the stands' side. It's worth keeping that in mind when picking through the card. Early-season form can be tricky to read, but that's half the fun — finding a horse that's been ticking over nicely through the winter and is ready to hit the ground running.
For a full guide to the track, including tips on which draws and running styles work best, see our Thirsk Racecourse guide.
The Grand National: Saturday's Main Event
If Friday at Thirsk is the starter, Saturday's Grand National is the main course. The world's most famous steeplechase goes off at 4pm on 11th April, the climax of a three-day Aintree Festival that begins on Thursday and builds through Ladies Day on the Friday.
This year's renewal has all the ingredients for a memorable race. A maximum field of 34 runners will line up to tackle four miles and two-and-a-half furlongs of the most demanding fences in jump racing — from the daunting Becher's Brook to the drama of the Canal Turn and the long, energy-sapping run-in from the final fence. The prize fund stands at £1 million.
The storylines practically write themselves. I Am Maximus, the 2024 champion, returns for another crack under top weight of 11st 12lb. At around 6/1, he's the market leader, and there's a strong argument he's the best horse in the race — but the Grand National has a habit of humbling favourites, and carrying that weight over these fences is a different proposition entirely.
Behind him in the betting, Iroko (around 10/1) and Jagwar (10/1) have attracted serious support, while Grangeclare West (12/1) looks a fascinating each-way option after finishing a staying-on third behind Nick Rockett last year and then bolting up in the Bobbyjo Chase on heavy ground in February. If conditions come up soft at Aintree, he could be the value bet of the weekend.
Nick Rockett, last year's winner, is back to defend his crown, and other names to note include Haiti Couleurs, Panic Attack, Lecky Watson, Captain Cody, and Monty's Star — all with legitimate claims to a place in the frame. The final 34 runners will be confirmed on Wednesday 8th April, so expect the picture to sharpen considerably as we head into midweek.
For the full breakdown of runners, weights, and betting strategy, see our Grand National 2026 preview and Grand National tips.
One Weekend, Two Great Days Out
What makes this Easter weekend special is the contrast. Friday at Thirsk offers the grassroots charm of a small flat track buzzing with the energy of a new season. Saturday at Aintree delivers the raw drama and spectacle of jump racing's biggest day. You don't have to choose one or the other — both have something to offer, whether you're a seasoned punter or someone who backs a horse once a year because they like the name.
If you're heading to Thirsk on Friday, get your tickets booked before Tuesday night to grab the saver rate. And if you're settling in at home on Saturday for the National, get your selections in early — the market is moving fast.
Whatever your plan, it's a cracking weekend to be a racing fan. The flat is back, the National is here, and the 2026 season is well and truly alive.
Where to bet on UK racing: see our bookmaker reviews and offers for the current welcome offers, Best Odds Guaranteed coverage, and each-way terms ahead of upcoming UK + Irish racing.
Sources & verification
Race details, dates, prize money and trends in this piece were cross-checked against:
- Racing Post — race archive + form database
- Sporting Life — race cards and results
- Wikipedia — long-run historical data
[Source: cross-referenced as of the lastUpdated date in this article's meta.yaml.]
Share this article
Research the field with the AI Race Predictor
Our model publishes calibrated win-probability estimates for UK races — a second opinion to understand a race, not tips. It's open about its record: it doesn't beat the market, and we show exactly how it does.
Betting offers for Grand National
Work it out & learn the basics
Gamble Responsibly
Gambling should be entertaining and not seen as a way to make money. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help and support is available.