Aintree Grand National Festival 2026 — What Is On Thursday and Friday Before the Big Race

Most people think of the Grand National Festival as a one-day event. In reality, the Aintree Festival runs across three full days — Thursday April 9th, Friday April 10th and Saturday April 11th — with Grade 1 jump racing, the Topham Chase over the National fences, and some of the best handicap hurdles of the season filling the card before the big race on Saturday afternoon. If you are planning to bet across the Festival rather than just the Grand National, here is what to look for on Thursday and Friday. Thursday April 9th — Opening Day Thursday's card includes the William Hill Mildmay Novices' Chase, a Grade 1 novice chase over 2m4f that regularly produces future Gold Cup contenders. The Top Novices' Hurdle is another Grade 1 on Thursday — a two-mile championship for the best novice hurdlers of the season who did not run at Cheltenham or who want another crack at the top level. The William Hill Handicap Hurdle over 3m1f is one of the most competitive staying hurdle handicaps of the spring and has a strong recent record of throwing up big-priced winners. These are not warm-up races for casual punters. They are serious competitive events attracting top-quality horses from the leading British and Irish yards. Friday April 10th — Ladies Day Friday is the JCB Topham Handicap Chase. This is the single most important race for Grand National punters who want to identify horses comfortable over the Aintree National fences. Run over 2m5f on the Grand National course itself — jumping the same fences the horses will meet on Saturday — the Topham acts as a live dress rehearsal. Horses that jump Becher's Brook, the Canal Turn and the Chair cleanly on Friday arrive on Saturday with that experience banked. The Melling Chase on Friday is a Grade 1 over 2m4f attracting the best two-and-a-half-mile chasers in training. ITV carries full coverage across both days. Saturday April 11th — Grand National Day The Grand National itself is at 4pm. The card builds through the afternoon with the Maghull Novices' Chase, a Grade 1 over 2m, providing Grade 1 action in the early afternoon before the feature race. From 10am on Friday, any horse in the declared field that develops a problem can be replaced by one of Wednesday's named reserves up until 1pm. After that point, the field is final. Horse Racing Oracle AI publishes its Grand National selection and full Aintree Festival analysis on Wednesday after declarations. Sign up free at horseracingoracleai.com. Want free AI-powered tips every morning? Sign up free at horseracingoracleai.com -> Betting involves risk. Please gamble responsibly. Visit BeGambleAware.org.