The Randox Grand National 2023 promises to be one of the highlights of the year as racing returns to Aintree in April.
The three-day racing spectacular will be taking place from Thursday, April 13 to Saturday, April 15. Tickets are already on sale, with certain tickets already sold out.
Last year's race was won by Noble Yeats and jockey Sam Waley-Cohen. Waley-Cohen was the first amateur jockey to win the Grand National since Marcus Armytage on Mr Frisk in 1990.
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We've put together a guide to everything we know about the 2023 Grand National, including the race dates, times, ticket information and how you can follow the action on TV.
When is the Grand National 2023?
The Grand National will take place from Thursday, April 13 to Saturday, April 15. April 13 will be Opening Day, when the racing action will commence. April 14 is Ladies Day, which always proves to be one of the most popular race days. Ladies Day will see the Style Awards take place in partnership with Never Fully Dressed. Saturday, April 15 is Grand National Day, when the main event will take place.
How to buy tickets for the Grand National
Tickets for all three days of the Grand National can be purchased online via The Jockey Club website. Tickets for Opening Day are priced from £28.80, Ladies Day tickets start at £47.70 and Grand National Day tickets are priced from £80 per person. Ticket prices vary depending on the section you choose to sit in. Some sections are already sold out. To view the full range of ticket options and prices. click here.
What is the race time of the Grand National 2023?
The timings of the Grand National have varied in recent years, but organisers have now settled on a later time. Due to television demands and a desire to prevent a clash with the 3pm Saturday football fixtures, the 2023 Grand National will take place at 5.15pm on Saturday, April 15. The race is just under four and a half miles long and is the sixth of seven races taking place that day.
How can I watch the Grand National? What TV channel is it on?
The Grand National will be broadcast on ITV, meaning you can watch it live from the comfort of your own home on TV. If you are on the move, you can still keep up with the action as it happens by streaming the race live on the ITV website or the ITV app.
How are the horses picked?
Horses must meet certain conditions to run in the Grand National and there is a lengthy selection process involved in deciding which horses will take part. There are around 100 credible applications for horses to run in the Grand National, which must be cut down to 40 before the race. In order to qualify, a horse must meet the following criteria:
- Official rating of 125 or more
- Aged seven or above
- Completed three or more steeplechases
- Completed one steeplechase in the current season
- Finished between 1st and 4th in a steeplechase over 2 miles 7½ furlongs or greater
Jockeys must also meet certain criteria to be deemed suitable to ride in the race. Riders must have ridden 15 winners, 10 of which must be steeplechases.
Which horses are running this year and what are the odds?
The full line-up of the 40 runners taking part in this year's Grand National has yet to be confirmed. The list of horses running in the race will traditionally be announced in mid-February. Although the list of runners hasn't been officially announced, many bookmakers are already taking bets, with last year's winner, Noble Yeats, proving to be an early favourite. The current five favourites are:
- Noble Yeats - 8/1
- Longhouse Poet - 14/1
- Any Second Now - 14/1
- Corach Rambler - 16/1
- Capdanno - 25/1
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