When is the Grand National 2026? Start time and how to watch on TV
The biggest event in the horse racing calendar is back at Aintree, with I Am Maximus eyeing up redemption after missing out last year against Nick Rockett
www.independent.co.ukHere’s the latest on the 2026 Grand National.
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Date and venue: The Grand National 2026 took place on Saturday 11 April at Aintree, with the race scheduled to start at 4:00pm BST. This aligns with recent schedules for the event at Aintree across festival days leading into race day.[3][4][6]
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Field and entries: Early in the build-up, hundreds of entries were narrowed down through confirmations and declarations, with final fields commonly around 34 runners for the big day. For 2026, reports indicate a post-declaration field shaping up from the initial longlist, with continued attention to the final runners as declarations closed.[2][5][9]
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Betting and viewing: UK viewers could watch the race on ITV1, with ITV Racing covering the lead-up through the festival week, and many bookmakers offering NRNB and related markets as the final field was confirmed.[4][2]
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Key context from coverage: The 2026 edition was sponsored as Randox Grand National, and coverage highlighted runners, odds, and race-day logistics, including start time, course layout, and historical context with past winners like I Am Maximus noted in coverage.[6][7][4]
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Quick reference points:
- When: 11 April 2026, 4pm BST start.[3][4]
- Where: Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool.[6]
- How to watch: ITV1/ITV Racing in the UK.[4]
- Final field: Declarations and final runners announced in the days leading up to race day.[9][2]
If you’d like, I can pull the confirmed runners and the latest odds from a specific source and present them in a concise list or chart. Would you prefer a quick runner-by-runner snapshot or a visual odds comparison?
Citations:
- Grand National 2026 date and start time[3][4]
- Field and entry details and declarations[5][2][9]
- ITV coverage and viewing details[4]
- Sponsorship and historical notes[7][6]