The home of Britain’s biggest racing event and the most famous jumps race in the world. We are of course speaking of the Grand National and its array of legendary obstacles including The Chair and Becher’s Brook. Located in Merseyside on the borders of Liverpool, Aintree stages only a relatively small number of jumps meetings over the course of its season which runs from April through to November.
Aside from the historic Grand National, which acts as the headline act of a three-day meeting in April, other standout race days include the Grand Sefton Steeplechase meeting in November, and the Becher Chase – featuring those famous Grand National fences – in December.
Upcoming Fixtures at Aintree
- Friday 15th May 2026 - Jump / Turf
- Sunday 25th October 2026 - Jump / Turf
- Saturday 7th November 2026 - Jump / Turf
- Saturday 5th December 2026 - Jump / Turf
- Saturday 26th December 2026 - Jump / Turf
Recent Fixtures
- Saturday 11th April 2026 - Jump / Turf
- Friday 10th April 2026 - Jump / Turf
- Thursday 9th April 2026 - Jump / Turf
- Friday 26th December 2025 - Jump / Turf
- Saturday 6th December 2025 - Jump / Turf
- Saturday 8th November 2025 - Jump / Turf
- Sunday 26th October 2025 - Jump / Turf
- Friday 16th May 2025 - Jump / Turf
- Saturday 5th April 2025 - Jump / Turf
- Friday 4th April 2025 - Jump / Turf
- Thursday 3rd April 2025 - Jump / Turf
- Thursday 26th December 2024 - Jump / Turf
- Saturday 7th December 2024 - Jump / Turf
- Saturday 9th November 2024 - Jump / Turf
- Sunday 27th October 2024 - Jump / Turf
- Friday 17th May 2024 - Jump / Turf
- Saturday 13th April 2024 - Jump / Turf
- Friday 12th April 2024 - Jump / Turf
- Thursday 11th April 2024 - Jump / Turf
- Tuesday 26th December 2023 - Jump / Grass
- Saturday 9th December 2023 - Jump / Grass
- Saturday 11th November 2023 - Jump / Grass
- Sunday 29th October 2023 - Jump / Grass
- Friday 16th June 2023 - Jump / Grass
- Friday 19th May 2023 - Jump / Grass
Major Meetings at Aintree
Aintree Racecourse stages a compact jumps calendar, hosting only a handful of fixtures each season. Attention is overwhelmingly centred on the Grand National Festival, with the remaining meetings playing a supporting role across the year – though all remain high quality.
Grand National Festival (April)
This is the daddy of them all. The Grand National is run every April, as part of a three-day festival. This is the very meeting that has seen Red Rum, Tiger Roll, and I Am Maximus strut their stuff over the most difficult fences in the country.
- 3-day meeting (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, in early April)
- Includes: Grand National Day (Saturday), Ladies Day (Friday), Opening Day (Thursday)
- Features multiple top-level (Grade 1) races
- The biggest and most important yearly meeting at Aintree
May Evening Racing (May)
The May Evening meeting offers punters the chance to start celebrating summer at one of racing’s true homes. There’s nothing like racing under the evening sky, and Aintree provides it all. The top race of the evening is the three-mile, one-furlong handicap chase, run on the Mildmay Course.
- Typically a one-day fixture in the middle of May
- More relaxed, social atmosphere
- Popular with casual racegoers and after-work crowds
Halloween Family Day (October)
The Grade 2 Old Roan Handicap Chase, a famous event, is the feature race as Aintree gets its season underway for the winter. There are usually seven races on the card in total, with recent winners of the Old Roan including such names as Kauto Star, Frodon, and Hitman.
- Held in late October on a Sunday
- Family-focused race day featuring entertainment
- Marks the start of Aintree’s new jumps season
Grand Sefton Day (November)
As the jumps season gets into full swing, Aintree offers up another of its major feature races of the season.
- Staged on Saturday in early November
- Features the Grand Sefton Chase – a major betting handicap
- Typically features seven events on the card
Becher Chase Day (Late November / Early December)
This outstanding winter meeting, run on Saturday, offers horses and jockeys the chance to test out the National fences. This day has produced the likes of Walk In The Mill, Amberleigh House, and Vieux Lion Rouge.
- Run over the famous Grand National fences
- Key race is the Becher Chase – around £150,000 in prize money
- Important trial meeting for potential Grand National contenders
Boxing Day Racing (December)
Racegoers are invited to continue their festive celebrations with a day at Aintree. The main feature, a Grade 1 race, has been won by some of the very best, not least Constitution Hill in 2022.
- Joins Kempton as a major meeting on December 26
- Festive-themed race day with strong attendance and betting interest
- Features the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle
