LOOKING FORWARD - DAY THREE OF THE RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL

Horseracing in the UK is a sport that feeds off its tradition, and it is not often that you do not see events happen as planned unless a significant factor is at play, and last year it was the coronavirus. The pandemic forced changes and halts to life as we have come to know it, and the world of professional sports and horseracing was no exception, but the turn of the year and more information about the virus is making it easier to find innovative ways around it. It is in this spirit that fans and jockeys alike are looking forward to the RANDOX HEALTH GRAND NATIONAL with much anticipation and excitement. Coming on the back of Cheltenham in May, Aintree and the Grand National should be the perfect salve or encore to all parties involved from horses to punters. Punters will be looking to make big on such a special event and a slew of welcome bonuses for the Aintree races will certainly be at their disposal for those new to the experience, or seasoned hands who may be looking to take advantage of a freebie or more. The Grand National runs through three days and the main event race takes place on the final day.

Day three serves up seven races on the cards with the star attraction being the RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE. Before getting there, a few other races fill up the card with more fun than you would expect, starting with the Grade 2 WEATHERBYS RACING BANK STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT flat race, a rare sight in the thick of a jumping event, but it is the Grand National, things switch up. The 2m 209y race for horses aged between four and six years old gets the ball rolling with a 34,000 GBP pot, before the DOOM BAR MAGHULL NOVICES’STEEPLECHASE for horses aged five years and above, comes in for just about two miles and a 75,000 GBP finish line.

The RYANAIR STAYERS HURDLE race is the second-biggest of the day, with a 150,000 GBP prizemoney up for grabs for horses aged four years and above who can battle it out over 3m 149y. The main event, the RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE, leaves no illusion as to what is the main attraction, commanding a 750,000 GBP prizemoney, for a run of 4m 2f and 74y. The winner will have to earn every bit of their spoils, on what is the longest ride of the day. Two more Betway races and the BRIDLE ROAD HANDICAP HURDLE race make up the remainder of the day’s excitement and fun.