What date and time is the Grand National and where does the race take place? Find out all you need to know and more in our comprehensive guide.
Even those new to horse racing betting have heard of the Grand National. Held annually since it was established in 1839, the Aintree spectacular is an edge-of-your-seat steeplechase event. But when does the Grand National take place? Read our guide to find out.
What is the Grand National?
With 34 horses competing in the ultimate test of speed, stamina, endurance and jumping ability, the Grand National is a must-see event that attracts hundreds of millions of viewers from around the world. Its popularity is as much due to the excitement it offers as it is for its proud history and tradition, making it a true highlight of British horse racing.
If you know your horse racing history, you’ll remember that Red Rum achieved legendary status half a century ago thanks to three wins in 1973, 1974 and 1977. More recently, Tiger Roll won the Grand National in both 2018 and 2019, making him the first horse since Red Rum to secure back-to-back victories.
So, when is the Grand National and what can you expect from this year’s race? Let’s take a look, or alternatively, explore even more Grand National news from our experts.
What date is the Grand National?
The Grand National takes place on Saturday 5 April 2025 and there will be around 150,000 people in attendance at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool.
What time is the Grand National?
The Grand National start time is 16:00 BST on Saturday 5 April 2025. Whether you’re placing a bet or just watching for fun, put the Grand National in your diary and make sure not to miss it!
What is the Grand National Festival race schedule?
You now know the Grand National start time, but when is the Grand National this year in relation to other horse racing events? The Grand National is the highlight of the three-day Grand National Festival at Aintree. and takes place on Day 3, which is aptly named Grand National Day. Below is a full rundown of the events taking place during the Grand National Festival.
Day 1: Opening Day
The first day of the Grand National Festival, appropriately called the Opening Day – takes place on Thursday 3rd April, with gates opening at 11am.
|
Time |
Race |
Distance |
|
1:45pm |
Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) |
2 miles, 4 furlongs |
|
2:20pm |
4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) |
2 miles, 1 furlong |
|
2:55pm |
Aintree Bowl (Grade 1) |
3 miles, 1 furlong |
|
3:30pm |
Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) |
2 miles, 4 furlongs |
|
4:05pm |
Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase |
2 miles, 5 furlongs |
|
4:40pm |
Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) |
2 miles |
|
5:15pm |
Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2) |
2 miles, 1 furlong |
Day 2: Ladies’ Day
The second day of the Grand National Festival, referred to as Ladies Day – takes place on Friday 4 April, with gates opening at 10.30am.
|
Time |
Race |
Distance |
|
1:45pm |
Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) |
3 miles, 1 furlong |
|
2:20pm |
Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) |
2 miles, 4 furlongs |
|
2:55pm |
Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) |
2 miles, ½ furlong |
|
3:30pm |
Melling Chase (Grade 1) |
2 miles, 4 furlongs |
|
4:05pm |
Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) |
2 miles, 5 furlongs |
|
4:40pm |
Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) |
3 miles, ½ furlong |
|
5:15pm |
Hallgarten and Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle |
2 miles, ½ furlong |
Day 3: Grand National Day
The final day of the Festival, and the date of the main event – the Grand National – takes place on Saturday 5th April, with gates opening at 10am.
|
Time |
Race |
Distance |
|
1:45pm |
Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) |
3 miles, ½ furlong |
|
2:20pm |
Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) |
2 miles, 4 furlongs |
|
2:55pm |
Freebooter Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) |
3 miles, 1 furlong |
|
3:30pm |
Liverpool Hurdle (Premier Handicap) |
3 miles, ½ furlong |
|
4:05pm |
Grand National (Premier Handicap) |
4 miles, 2.5 furlongs |
|
4:40pm |
Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) |
2 miles |
|
5:15pm |
Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2) |
2 miles, 1 furlong |
How to watch the Grand National live
If you can’t make it to the event in person, you can catch all of the Grand National race action on ITV Racing. The race will be shown on free-to-air TV on ITV, which is channel 103 on Sky and Virgin Media. You can also watch the race on the ITV website, ITVX and Racing TV.
Where does the Grand National take place?
Aside for the final three years of the First World War, when it was temporarily moved to Gatwick Racecourse (which was later converted into what is now Gatwick Airport), the Grand National has always taken place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool.
Aintree Racecourse attracts the very best horses, jockeys and trainers from across the UK and around the world, making it the perfect, historic home of the Grand National Festival.
This year’s Grand National horses
Thirty-four horses will take part in this year’s Grand National, and you can find all the 2025 Grand National odds from Betway, but some of the leading names include:
How to bet on the Grand National
At Betway, we take the complexity out of betting on the Grand National for first timers and seasoned horse racing fans alike. You can either place a race win bet on your chosen horse, or take advantage of our 1/4 each way odds, which includes a win bet and a place bet (in this case, if your horse finishes in the top 4).
