Aintree

Aintree is synonymous with one race - the Grand National - the most-watched jump race in the world and the one event in the sport that reaches well beyond regular racing fans.

The track

The Grand National is run over the National Course, a unique left-handed circuit with the largest fences in British racing - Becher's Brook, The Chair, and the Canal Turn among them. The fences have been modified several times over the decades specifically to improve safety while keeping the spectacle, and the National remains a genuine test of jumping ability, stamina, and a fair share of luck in traffic among a big field.

The Grand National meeting

Held every April, the three-day Grand National meeting builds to the National itself on the Saturday, but the two days before it carry championship-class racing in their own right, including the Aintree Hurdle and Melling Chase - both regularly attracting horses fresh from Cheltenham looking to add a big Aintree prize to their season.

Betting angle

The National's big field and unique fences mean form from anywhere else doesn't always translate directly - jumping ability and stamina over the National fences specifically matters more than raw class. Handicap weight and a horse's proven ability to jump these exact obstacles are usually the two biggest factors.