Aintree Grand National - Day 1 - Thursday
Held on the Thursday, the opening day of the Grand National Meeting is a great introduction to the Festival that lies ahead.
Although the crowds don't tend to be quite as big as they are for the following two days of the Festival, the Thursday arguably has the best day of racing action, with no less than four Grade 1 races on the card - including the Aintree Bowl, which tends to feature the main protagonists from the previous month's Cheltenham Festival.
Grand National Festival Day 1 Card
13.45 - Manifesto Novices' Chase - Grade 1 - 2m 3f 200y
14.20 - Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Novices' Hurdle - Grade 1 - 2m 209y
14.55 - Aintree Bowl - Grade 1 - 3m 210y
15.30 - Aintree Hurdle - Grade 1 - 2m 4f
16.05 - Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase - Class 2 - 2m 5f 19y
16.40 - Red Rum Handicap Chase - Grade 3 - 1m 7f 176y
17.15 - Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race - Grade 2 - 2m 209y