Watch the Grand National Festival live on ITV
Ed Chamberlin presents exclusive free-to-air coverage of the three days of the Grand National Festival at Aintree which culminates in the most famous race of all, the Randox Health Grand National at 5.15pm on ITV this Saturday.
Our coverage will feature three hours of action on both Thursday and Friday with five top-class races on each day. Seven of the 10 races across both days are at Grade 1 level and are set to feature many of the winners from March’s Cheltenham Festival.
Saturday features a four-and-a-quarter hour afternoon broadcast from 2pm. Four races lead up to the Grand National itself, when 40 runners will jump the 30 famous fences including iconic obstacles like Becher’s Brook and The Chair.
All three days of racing will be set up by The Opening Show in its familiar 10am slot on ITV4, with Saturday’s show extended from the usual hour to 90 minutes as we build up the excitement ahead of everyone’s favourite race.
Main presenter Ed Chamberlin will be assisted by Oli Bell as chief on-course reporter, while Oli also presents the three Opening Shows.
The unique layout of the Grand National course means three commentators are required, so Mark Johnson and Ian Bartlett will provide back-up to Richard Hoiles.
Sir Anthony McCoy is on board for all three days, and the 20-time champion jockey - a winner of the Grand National on Don’t Push It in 2010 - will double up as our chief Opening Show guest on Saturday alongside Dave Yates of the Mirror.
Robbie Power, the jockey who rode last month’s Gold Cup winner Sizing John and partnered Silver Birch to Grand National victory in 2007 is our Opening Show guest on Thursday. Katie Walsh, booked to ride Wonderful Charm for Paul Nicholls on Saturday, will fulfil the same role on Friday.
Luke Harvey, Mick Fitzgerald and Brian Gleeson will be adding their expert thoughts throughout the three days, the latter providing regular betting updates alongside Matt Chapman, who will also appear on the Opening Show.
Lucy Verasamy will provide essential weather forecasts through the week, Victoria Pendleton and Brough Scott make guest appearances and Alice Plunkett is on hand for the vital news from the parade ring.
Fashion is key on Friday for Ladies’ Day when Charlotte Hawkins and Mark Heyes will turn their attentions to the special glamour of the occasion.
ITV’s televised coverage will be simulcast live on the ITV Hub and we'll have replays of all our races on the ITV Racing app, Twitter and Facebook plus all the key features and interviews.
We'll be running our ITV7 prize competition on all three days with an enhanced jackpot of £100,000 on Saturday. You can enter for free via the ITV Racing app or online.
Download the app for free:
Our popular Facebook Live will be streamed daily at 7pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. Just head to our Facebook page to join in the fun.
WEDNESDAY 5TH APRIL
19:00 Facebook Live with Oli Bell and guests
THURSDAY 6TH APRIL
10:00 - 11:00 - The Opening Show
Live coverage starts at 2pm
14:20 The Doom Bar Anniversary4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle Race (Grade 1)14.50 The Betway Bowl Steeple Chase (Grade 1)15.25 The Betway Aintree Hurdle Race (Grade 1)16.05 The Randox Health Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Steeple Chase16.40 The Red Rum HandicapSteeple Chase (Grade 3)
19:00 Facebook Live
FRIDAY 7TH APRIL
10:00 - 11:00 - The Opening Show
Live coverage starts at 2pm
14:20 The Crabbie's Top Novices'Hurdle Race (Grade 1)14:50 The Betway Mildmay Novices' Steeple Chase (Grade 1)15:25 The JLT Melling Steeple Chase (Grade 1)16:05 The Randox Health Topham Handicap Steeple Chase (Grade 3)16:40 The Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle Race (Grade 1)
19:00 Facebook Live
SATURDAY 8TH APRIL
10:00 - 11:30 - The Opening Show
Live coverage starts at 2pm
14:25 The Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle Race (Grade 1)15:00 The Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Steeple Chase (Grade 1)15:40 The Betway Handicap SteepleChase (Listed Race)16:20 The Ryanair Stayers Liverpool Hurdle Race (Grade 1)17:15 THE RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP