Grand National Meeting Guide: Day 3

The third day of racing at the Grand National meeting is the climax of the National Hunt season and sees over 60 000 spectators flock to Aintree whilst millions of horseracing fans and punters tune in on their television sets all around the world. The races on day three are broadcast live on national television in the United Kingdom by the BBC.

The Handicap HurdleAINTREE, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 12: (L-R) Mighty Man ridden by Richard Johnson, Fire Dragon ridden by Noel Fehily and Lough Derg ridden by Tom Scudamore jump the first fence during the John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle Race run at Aintree Racecourse on April 12, 2007 in Aintree, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

The final day on the Grand National card starts off with a two-mile, ½ furlong handicap race over Aintree racecourse that serves as a taster for the day’s big race.

The Novices’ Steeplechase

The Maghull Novices’ Steeplechase is a Grade One race that acts as the second leg of the Arkle Steeplechase at the Cheltenham Festival. Punters look out for form horses at Cheltenham and use their performances to pick at winner at Aintree. A tough two-mile sprint over fences.

The Aintree Hurdle

The Aintree Handicap Hurdle is the curtain raiser for the main event and serves to raise the crowd’s excitement levels to fever pitch. The race is open to horses that raced in the Cheltenham Champion hurdle and requires horses to push themselves to the limit in this fast race.

The Grand National Handicap Steeplechase

The main event of the Grand National meeting is one of the most watched sporting events of the year. Forty of the top chasers in National Hunt racing take on two circuits of the arduous Aintree racecourse and its famous fences. The horse that emerges as the winner from the handful that finishes that race earns instant fame. The race is the racehorse betting highlight of racing calendar, and some punters spend months plotting which horse to bet on for the best returns.

Novices’ Handicap Chase

The Novices’ Handicap chase takes place once the Grand National winner has been crowned. The event gives amateur jockeys the opportunity to experience the atmosphere and bustle of a big day at the races and to test their riding skills on the legendary Aintree racecourse.

Champion Standard Open

The Champion Standard Open is the last race on the Grand National card. This ‘bumper’ race offers less fancied horses the opportunity to contest a major racing prize on an obstacle-free course over the distances run in National Hunt races. The two-furlong race is usually a fast-paced affair and one of the trickiest betting races at the Grand National meeting.

Once you’ve familiarised yourself with our 2009 Grand National Meeting guide (day 3), we recommend William Hill for the best racehorse betting.