Aintree Race Times Grand National
Spectators may yet be a possibility at the Randox Grand National but are a “long shot”, as racing pushes to be included in the Government’s programme for pilot events on its road map to ease coronavirus restrictions.
Racecourse Association chief executive David Armstrong has confirmed representations will be made to Government and its Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport for at least one meeting to test the return of spectators before the potential resumption of limited crowds on May 17.
In line with the road map of dates for easing measures published by the Government this week, officials at the British Horseracing Authority and RCA are planning for the return of owners on course from March 29.
Held at Aintree racecourse in Liverpool and run over the famous iconic fences, the Randox Grand National is the race the world stops to watch. But the Randox Grand National Festival is not just about the Saturday showpiece race – three days of top class racing take place from Thursday 8 th April to Saturday 10 th April, featuring nine Grade One races across three days, before culminating in the. Grand National race times: TV coverage details of the Aintree Festival including where to watch a free Grand National live stream. For all your questions regarding the Grand National 2019 official time and date, click here for answers! The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over an official distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs), with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable jump race. The Grand National Festival contains 21 races spread across three days (Thursday to Friday) in early April. The three days race includes a huge 11 Grade 1 races. Day 1 - Thursday 13:45 DEVENISH MANIFESTO NOVICES' CHASE (Grade 1) (1).
Racing will also ask Government if courses can be designated as ‘stadia’ – in which case, attendance from May 17 could increase from a limit of 4,000 to 10,000, before the proposed end to all restrictions at step four of the road map on June 21.
Armstrong told Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday: “During April and into early May, a new organisation has been set up called the Events Research Programme – and that’s going to be running a series of pilot or test events.
“That will allow us to potentially take part and host a pilot event on one or more racecourses in that period.”
Those opportunities are expected be very limited for racing, however – with many other sports and entertainment venues also sure to be considered – and Armstrong suspects Grand National day on April 10 may be a little soon.
“I think it’s a possibility, but probably a long shot at this point,” he said of the prospect of a test crowd at Aintree.
“It’s only five weeks or so until we get to the Grand National, and that doesn’t leave a lot of time for preparation.
“But we’ll certainly be pushing hard for all our major events to be included in that ERP, and we would include the Grand National in that. It’s just a little bit higher up the ‘hard-to-do’ list.”
🗣 'I think it's a possibility, but probably a longshot.'
David Armstrong, the Racecourse Association's CEO thinks crowds are probably unlikely to return to racecourses in time for the Grand National, but pilot events are planned in April@ABE_Dubai#LuckOnSundaypic.twitter.com/ZfOVymz9Ve
In the week before Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the Government’s road map, Chester published a plan of its own to be able to welcome back crowds for the course’s Boodles May Festival.
That meeting, from May 5-7, precedes the date for spectators to return – but could yet be a contender for the pilot programme.
Armstrong added: “That is practical, and I’d hope that events like Chester’s May Festival would be very high on the list of potential pilot events.
“The number of events that racing might get, or sport in total, would be relatively limited.
“I would be hopeful we’d get certainly one event to trial – we might struggle to get more than that.”
Armstrong is delighted to see the Government’s schedule for a gradual return to normality after the latest pandemic lockdown.
It allows racing to make plans of its own and begin to assess the practicalities and possibilities – including the issue of stadium designation, to admit larger crowds.
“Currently, we’re working with DCMS and Government to see if we can ask for racecourses to be considered as stadia in that circumstance,” Armstrong added.
“It’s great to see the road map – and particularly steps three and four, which allow us to properly understand the way in which we’ll be able to bring racing back to normal.
“That’s very exciting.”
Sounding notes of caution too, however, he said: “Each of those dates are ‘not-before dates’.
“They rely on everything moving smoothly, and on certain tests being met by Government – (so) we’ll only find out that we’re definitely moving from one step to another one week before the step actually starts.
“So it will be quite short notice. But obviously, we want to plan on the basis that those steps are going to be achieved.”
Chester’s initial plans for a May crowd stipulated an on-site, race-day testing programme – and administrators are already considering how that could work nationally.
“There’s a possibility that mass testing would be included – and we’re working on a variety of potential solutions for mass testing,” he said.
“But of course it is a difficult thing to do, and very difficult if you try to do it on the racecourse on the race day itself.
“We’ll be looking at a number of options of how we might do that, so that we can simplify the process should we be required to do it.”
13:45 The Manifesto Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1)Grand National Aintree England
The Manifesto Novices’ Chase is a Grade 1 race run over 2 miles, 3 furlongs and 200 yards – with a total of 16 fences jumped. Named after the legendary two-time Grand National winner the race is open to novice chasers aged five years and older. Since the inaugural race in 2009 both Philip Hobbs (2011 and 2012) and Nicky Henderson (20120 and 2013) have trained two winners to jointly hold the record. Their respective jockeys have also won the most races for a jockey with Richard Johnson riding for Hobbs on Wishful Thinking (2011) and Menorah (2012), whilst Barry Geraghty won on Mad Max (2010) and Captain Conan (2013) riding for Henderson.
14:20 DOOM BAR ANNIVERSARY 4-Y-O JUVENILE HURDLE (Grade 1) (1)The Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 1 run over 2 miles and 209 yards, with a total of 9 hurdles jumped. The 2019 purse was £100,000 – with Pentland Hills taking victory in that race. The race is open to horses that are four years old and have previously ran in the Triumph Hurdle. Pentland Hills also won that event in 2019.
14:50 BETWAY BOWL CHASE (Grade 1) (1)The Betway Bowl is a Grade 1 run over 3 miles and 210 yards, with a total of 19 fences to be jumped. The 2019 purse was £200,000 – with Kemboy taking victory. The race was first included on the Grand National card in 1984 and was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2010.
15:25 BETWAY AINTREE HURDLE (Grade 1) (1)The Aintree Hurdle is a Grade 1 run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs, with a total of 11 hurdles to jump. The 2019 purse was £250,000 – with Supasundae winning. Ruby Walsh holds the record for most jockey wins with five (2002, 2003, 2006, 2013 and 2016) whilst Toby Balding holds the record for most wins by a trainer, also winning on five occasions (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993). The last four of Baldings wins were with Morley Street who’s four consecutive wins makes him the races most successful horse.
16:05 ROSE PATERSON RANDOX FOXHUNTERS' OPEN HUNTERS' CHASE (2)The Foxhunters takes place over 2 miles and 5 furlongs, with the 2019 renewal being won by Top Wood. The race is open to amateur riders and horses aged six years or older. Credit Call holds the record for most wins, winning on three occasions back in in the 70’s (1972, 1975 and 1976).
16:40 RED RUM HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3) (1)The Grade 3 Red Rum Handicap Chase (named in honour of the three time winner of the same name) is run over 1 mile, 7 furlongs and 176 yards – with a total of 12 fences to be jumped. The 2019 purse was £90,000 with Moon Over Germany taking victory. The race is open to horses that are aged five years or older.
Aintree Grand National Runners
17:15 GOFFS UK NICKEL COIN MARES' STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT (Grade 2) (1)Aintree Race Times Grand Nationals
The Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat takes place over 2 miles and 209 yards and is the last race on day 1 of the Grand National Festival. The 2019 purse was £45,000 – with Glancing Queen taking that win. The race was first included on the Grand National card in 2005 with listed status before been promoted to Grade 2 in 2016. It’s named after the 1951 Grand National winner Nickel Coin.