We look forward to one of the greatest weeks in the racing calendar, with Aintree’s three-day Grand National meeting towards the end of the week. There’s plenty of other fantastic action to look forward to – find out what the racing looks like this week!
Monday 8th April
The week starts with an exciting day for us as Dunstan bids for a fifth successive victory since joining Racing Club. He races on the Wolverhampton card (7pm) and fingers crossed for another big run from him!
There are two additional all-weather meetings earlier in the day, at Newcastle and Lingfield, while the sole jumps fixture comes from Wincanton.
We’ll also find out the five-day confirmations for Saturday’s Grand National and the entries for the rest of the excellent racing at Aintree on Saturday.
Tuesday 9th April
The weather has taken both the Hexham and Navan meetings, but there is still a jumps fixture at Hereford to get your National Hunt fix. Flat action returns to Thirsk with a bumper eight-race card, whilst there’s further flat action on the all-weather at Southwell in the evening.
The pick of the action comes from France, with Deauville hosting two Group 3 races – the Prix Imprudence (1.30pm) and the Prix Djebel (2.40pm). The former could go the way of Ramatuelle, who was last seen finishing a close runner-up in the Group 1 Prix Morny.
The final fields for day one of Aintree’s Grand National meeting will be announced, whilst the weights for the Scottish Grand National (Ayr) at Bet365 Gold Cup (Sandown) will also be revealed.
Wednesday 10th April
The pick of the action on Wednesday is over in Ireland, as Leopardstown hosts the Listed Heritage Stakes (3.15pm). Dermot Weld has won three of the last six renewals, and he has Knight To King as his sole entry this year, who was last seen finishing runner-up in the Listed Devoy Stakes at Naas.
Back in the UK, there’s a trio of all-weather meetings at Kempton, Lingfield and Wolverhampton, whilst the sole jumps meeting comes from Market Rasen.
The day two final fields are announced for Aintree’s Grand National meeting, so we will know the runners for the four Grade 1 meetings on the card, plus the fantastic Topham Handicap Chase.
Thursday 11th April
Aintree’s three-day Grand National meeting begins, with four Grade 1’s on what is a superb opening card. The standout contest is the Aintree Bowl (2.55pm), where we could see last year’s winner Shishkin take on the likes of Gerri Colombe and Hewick.
Elsewhere on the card, we could see Sir Gino back in action in the 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (2.20pm), whilst Grey Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny are set to clash again in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase (1.45pm).
There’s further jump action at Taunton and Limerick, whilst the flat action comes on the all-weather at Chelmsford and Southwell.
We will also find out the final 34 runners for Saturday’s Grand National and all the confirmed runners on Saturday’s cards.
Friday 12th April
Day two of the Grand National meeting looks set to be another excellent day of racing, with another four Grade 1’s, plus the competitive Topham Handicap Chase (4.05pm). The day begins with the Mildmay Noices’ Chase (1.45pm), which could see Cheltenham Festival winners Corbetts Cross and Chianti Classico line up, before the Irish look set to dominate the Top Novices’ Hurdle (2.55pm), with the likes of Slade Steel, Mystical Power and Firefox all set to line up.
The feature race on the card is the Melling Chase (3.30pm), which should feature Jonbon, Pic D’Orhy, and Banbridge, as well as Ryanair Chase winner Protektorat. The final Grade 1 race on the card is the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (4.40pm), where we could see The Jukebox Man, Stellar Story, and Better Days Ahead.
There’s further racing from Dundalk, Sedgefield, Southwell, and Leicester, although the latter must pass an inspection on Tuesday due to the course being waterlogged in places currently.
Saturday 13th April
There’s no doubting what the feature race is on Saturday, as the most valuable jump race in Europe goes to post at Aintree – the Randox Grand National (4pm). Corach Rambler could become just the second horse in the last 50 years to win back-to-back renewals, but he will face a difficult task against the likes of Vanillier, Noble Yeats, and Welsh Grand National winner Nassalam. You can read our article on Grand National winner trends HERE, which might help you whittle down the field!
There’s a further trio of Grade 1’s to support the National:
- Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (1.55pm)
- Liverpool Hurdle (3.05pm)
- Maghull Novices’ Chase (5pm)
Away from Aintree, the racing kicks off earlier than usual, with Chelmsford hosting a morning meeting, starting at 10am. There’s further racing at Chepstow, Newcastle, Yarmouth, Wolverhampton and Bellewstown.
There’s also Grade 1 action over in the USA, with the Jenny Wiley Stakes (10.16pm), with Charlie Appleby sending over Frankel filly English Rose to put it up to the American stars.
Sunday 14th April
It’s a quiet end to the week, with jus two jump meetings going to post in the UK, at Plumpton and Hereford. There’s further action in Ireland, with racing at Bellewstown and Down Royal, but the pick of the action comes in France at Longchamp, which hosts a couple of Group 3 classic trials.
