Grand National Festival Race Cards

The Grand National Festival contains 21 races spread across three days (Thursday to Saturday) in early April. The three days race includes a huge 11 Grade 1 races.

The Manifesto Novices’ Chase is a Grade 1 race run over 2 miles, 3 furlongs and 200 yards – with a total of 16 fences jumped. Named after the legendary two-time Grand National winner the race is open to novice chasers aged five years and older. Since the inaugural race in 2009 both Philip Hobbs (2011 and 2012) and Nicky Henderson (2012 and 2013) have trained two winners to jointly hold the record. Their respective jockeys have also won the most races for a jockey with Richard Johnson riding for Hobbs on Wishful Thinking (2011) and Menorah (2012), whilst Barry Geraghty won on Mad Max (2010) and Captain Conan (2013) riding for Henderson. The 2021 race was won by Protektorat.

The Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 1 run over 2 miles and 209 yards, with a total of 9 hurdles jumped. Monmiral took the victory in the 2021 race. The race is open to horses that are four years old and have previously ran in the Triumph Hurdle.

The Betway Bowl is a Grade 1 run over 3 miles and 210 yards, with a total of 19 fences to be jumped. The 2021 race was won by Clan Des Obeaux. The race was first included on the Grand National card in 1984 and was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2010.

The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs, with a total of 11 hurdles to jump. Abacadabras won the 2021 race. Ruby Walsh holds the record for most jockey wins with five (2002, 2003, 2006, 2013 and 2016) whilst Toby Balding holds the record for most wins by a trainer, also winning on five occasions (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993). The last four of Baldings wins were with Morley Street who’s four consecutive wins makes him the races most successful horse.

The Foxhunters takes place over 2 miles and 5 furlongs, with the 2021 renewal being won by Cousin Pascal. The race is open to amateur riders and horses aged six years or older. Credit Call holds the record for most wins, winning on three occasions back in in the 70’s (1972, 1975 and 1976).

The Grade 3 Red Rum Handicap Chase (named in honour of the three time winner of the same name) is run over 1 mile, 7 furlongs and 176 yards – with a total of 12 fences to be jumped. The 2021 race was won by Editeur Dun Gite. The race is open to horses that are aged five years or older.

The Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat takes place over 2 miles and 209 yards and is the last race on day 1 of the Grand National Festival. The 2021 race was won by Me Too Please. The race was first included on the Grand National card in 2005 with listed status before been promoted to Grade 2 in 2016. It’s named after the 1951 Grand National winner Nickel Coin.

The Orrell Park Handicap Hurdle opens the second day of racing at the Grand National Festival. It is run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs and open to horses aged four years and older. Tronador won the 2021 renewal.

The Top Novices’ Hurdle is run over 2 miles and 103 yards and includes 9 hurdles to be jumped. Belfast Banter won the 2021 race.

The Mildmay Novices’ Chase is a Grade 1 that takes place over 2 miles and 210 yards, with a total of 19 fences to be jumped. Chantry House won the 2021 renewal.

The Melling Chase is a Grade 1 race run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs, with a total of 16 fences to be jumped. Horses that ran in the Queen Mother Champion Chase or Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival are often included the field. Fakir D'Oudairies won the 2021 race.

The Topham is one of three races run over the Grand National Hurdles and covers a distance of 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 19 yards. The 2021 race was won by LiveLoveLaugh.

The Sefton Novices’ Hurdle is run over 3 miles and half a furlong – with thirteen hurdles jumped over the course of its running. Horses that featured in the Spa Novices Hurdle are often included in the field. Ahoy Senor won the 2021 race.

The Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle is run over 2 miles and 103 yards – with the 2021 renewal being won by Rowland Ward.

The Bridle Road Handicap Hurdle is run over 3 miles and half a furlong – with a total of 13 hurdles being jumped. The 2021 race was won by Hometown Boy.

The Mersey Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs – with a total of 11 hurdles being jumped. It is open to horses aged four years and older. The 2021 renewal was won by My Drogo.

The Maghull Novices’ Chase is a Grade 1 that is run over 1 mile, 7 furlongs and 176 yards – with a total of 12 fences to jump. Horses that previously featured in the Arkle Challenge Trophy often run in the race. The 2021 race was won by Shishkin.

The Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 run over 3 miles and 149 yards, with a total of 13 fences to jump. The 2021 renewal was eventually won by Thyme Hill.

The Betway Chase is run over 3 miles and 210 yards, with a total of 19 fences to be jumped. HappyGoLucky won the 2021 renewal.

The race that everyone is looking forward to – the Grand National. 40 horses jumping 30 fences over a distance of about 4 miles and 2 and a half furlongs. Minella Times won the race in 2021 as Rachel Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the event.

The Weatherbys Racing Bank Standard Open National Hunt Flat is run over 2 miles and 1 furlong – with the 2021 renewal being won by Knappers Hill. The race is open to horses aged between four and six years old.