Day 3 of Aintree Festival has arrived and all eyes are on the Grand National.
The curtain comes down on the Randox Grand National Festival with a blockbuster Saturday card headlined by the world’s most famous steeplechase. The 2026 Grand National takes centre stage at 4:00pm.
With three Grade 1s, two competitive handicaps, and the National itself, Day 3 delivers drama from start to finish.
If you are planning a bet, make sure you get the most from your stakes and check out the Grand National free bets available through Oddschecker before placing your wagers.
If you’re eyeing up a bet in the Grand National this week, make sure you get the most out of your stakes and check out the Grand National free bets available through oddschecker.
What to Expect on Day 3 of the Aintree Festival
Salvator Mundi seeks back to back Aintree wins in the Maghull Novices Chase (12:45pm)
Last year’s Top Novices Hurdle winner returns to Aintree chasing a Grade 1 double over fences. The Willie Mullins trained Salvator Mundi heads a lively field that includes Mirabad, King Of Kingsfield, and Mighty Bandit. Expect a strong early pace, which should suit Salvator Mundi’s finishing kick.
Good To Be Alive targets redemption in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle (1:20pm)
A deep staying handicap where Good To Be Alive looks well treated after a solid run at Kelso. He faces a competitive field including Bossman Jack and Deep Cave, both proven under similar conditions.
Bossman Jack headlines the Mersey Novices Hurdle (1:55pm)
The Turners Mersey Novices Hurdle is one of the most informative races of the spring. Bossman Jack impressed at Cheltenham and now steps up in trip, taking on Deep Cave and Iroko in a strong renewal.
Freebooter Handicap Chase (2:30pm)
A competitive staying handicap over 3m1f that often produces thrilling finishes. Deep Cave and Ronnie Russet have attracted support in the market, while Good Boy Bobby adds valuable experience.
Liverpool Hurdle (3:05pm)
The Stayers Hurdle rematch brings together Cheltenham performers Air Of Entitlement, Home By The Lee, and Jingko Blue, alongside last year’s winner Hiddenvalley Lake and 2024 scorer Strong Leader.
This is a high-quality clash of stamina and class that often determines the top staying hurdler of the season.
The Randox Grand National (4:00pm)
The world’s most famous race takes centre stage. I Am Maximus bids to emulate Red Rum by carrying top weight to victory and reclaiming the crown. He is joined by several JP McManus runners including Iroko, Jagwar, Johnnywho, Oscars Brother, and Perceval Legallois.
Other leading contenders include Grangeclare West, Monty’s Star, and Amirite, all bringing strong staying form.
Weatherbys NH Flat Race (5:00pm)
The meeting concludes with a Grade 2 bumper showcasing emerging talent. Ronnie Russet appeals as a value option after a strong Cheltenham run, while Deep Cave could cap a big day for connections.
Aintree Day 3 Racecard and Race Guide
All times local. First six races shown on ITV1.
12:45 – Hallgarten and Novum Wines Maghull Novices Chase (Grade 1)
1:20 – William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
1:55 – Turners Mersey Novices Hurdle (Grade 1)
2:30 – Freebooter Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
3:05 – Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
4:00 – Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
5:00 – Weatherbys NH Flat Race (Grade 2)
Aintree Day 3 Ground and Weather
Official going: Good to Soft, Good in places on the Mildmay Course and Good to Soft on the National Course.
Forecast: Dry with sunny intervals, highs of 12 degrees and lows of 5 degrees, providing ideal racing conditions.
Today's Best Bets from Our Tipsters
Honesty Policy - Tipster Concensus in the Liverpool Hurdle - 15:05 Aintree
Looking across both sets of tips, the standout consensus selection is HONESTY POLICY in the 3:05 Liverpool Hurdle, and it’s easy to see why both Jake Price and Road to Cheltenham have landed on him.
Both tipsters are willing to forgive that below-par effort in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, instead focusing on the much stronger body of form he’s shown on flatter tracks. Jake Price highlights his previous win in this race along with solid Grade 1 efforts at Ascot and Punchestown, while Road to Cheltenham also notes that his Cheltenham run was still respectable given his inexperience. Crucially, both point to Aintree’s flat, galloping nature as a major positive, with conditions expected to suit perfectly.
There’s also shared confidence around the setup: better ground, a return to a track that clearly plays to his strengths, and the belief that he still has improvement to come at this level. Road to Cheltenham even flags him as a potential future Stayers’ Hurdle contender, reinforcing the high regard he’s held in.
Johnnywho - The Most Backed Bet Through Oddschecker in The Grand National - 16:00 Aintree
Johnnywho arrives at the Grand National off the back of a key Cheltenham Festival win in the Ultima Handicap Chase, a race whose winners have historically translated well to Aintree success.
That performance was notably enhanced by the addition of first-time cheekpieces, which sharpened his jumping and travelling, and he backed it up with a solid experience over these fences in the Grand Sefton, where he handled the National obstacles without issue.
Crucially, he now goes into the race effectively well-handicapped, running off a mark of 146 and judged to be around 6lb “well in” based on his latest improvement.
With proven staying ability, strong course-relevant form, and an upward trajectory since the equipment change, he looks to have plenty of the right attributes for a bold National run.
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Key Races to Watch on Day 3 at Aintree
All eyes are firmly on the Randox Grand National, the most iconic race in jump racing. Run over a gruelling 4 miles 2½ furlongs and featuring 30 of the sport’s most famous fences, it’s a race that demands stamina, precision, and no shortage of luck. Scheduled for 4:00pm, it dominates not just the card, but the entire racing landscape on Saturday.
This year’s renewal looks as competitive as ever, with leading contenders including I Am Maximum, a proven stayer at the top of the market, the classy and smooth-jumping Grangeclare West, and the ultra-consistent Jagwar, who looks tailor-made for a test of this nature. Monty’s Star is another who has attracted strong support, dropping into handicap company with a profile that suggests he could be well treated.
Key Aintree Stats & Trends for Day 3
Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
- 22 of the last 22 winners were aged 8 or younger
- 22 of the last 22 winners were priced 5/1 or shorter
- 18 of the last 22 winners ran within the last 35 days
- 16 of the last 22 winners were placed top three last time out
- 14 of the last 22 winners ran in the Arkle Chase last time out
- No 9-year-old has ever won the race
William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
- 11 of the last 12 winners were aged 6–8
- 10 of the last 12 winners carried 10-12 or more
- 10 of the last 12 winners returned 11/1 or shorter
- 10 of the last 12 winners finished in the top 5 last time out
- 8 of the last 12 winners ran within the last 6 weeks
- 8 of the last 12 winners carried 10-12 in weight
- 7 of the last 12 winners were rated 131–138
- 5 of the last 12 winners ran at the Cheltenham Festival last time out
The Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 21 of the last 22 winners were aged 5 or older
- 19 of the last 22 winners were aged 5–6
- 18 of the last 22 winners placed top three last time out
- 12 of the last 22 winners ran in the Supreme, Ballymore or County Hurdle last time out
- 21 of the last 28 winners came from the top 2 in the betting
- 15 of the last 16 winners finished top 3 last time out
- 16 of the last 26 winners ran at the Cheltenham Festival that season
- 17 of the last 28 winners finished 6th or better at Cheltenham
- 10 of the last 15 winners were 5-year-olds
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William Hill Handicap Chase (Listed)
- 18 of the last 22 winners ran within the last 35 days
- 16 of the last 22 winners were aged 8 or older
- 16 of the last 22 winners carried 11-1 or less
- Only 4 of the last 26 winners were aged 10+
- Only 5 winners carried more than 11st in the last 21 years
- 11 of the last 15 winners were rated 131–140
- 10 of the last 13 winners had previously won over 3m
Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
- 17 of the last 21 winners were aged 6–8
- 16 of the last 21 winners ran within the last 30 days
- 14 of the last 21 winners had previously won or placed at Aintree
- 16 of the last 21 winners ran at Cheltenham that season
- 19 of the last 21 winners had already won a Grade 1 or 2
- 17 of the last 21 winners had run at Aintree before
- 3 of the last 21 winners were aged 9+
- No 5-year-old has ever won the race
Randox Grand National (Handicap Chase)
- 33 of the last 34 winners were rated 137 or higher
- 32 of the last 34 winners ran within the last 55 days
- 30 of the last 34 winners had won over 3m+ before
- 30 of the last 34 winners had won no more than 6 chase races
- 26 of the last 34 winners were double-figure prices
- 25 of the last 34 winners ran within the last 34 days
- 25 of the last 34 winners carried 10-13 or less
- 25 of the last 34 winners were aged 9 or older
- 24 of the last 34 winners came from outside the top 3 in the betting
- 23 of the last 34 winners were aged 10 or younger
- 22 of the last 34 winners finished top 4 last time out
- 21 of the last 34 winners had 4–6 chase wins
- 20 of the last 34 winners were Irish-bred
- 20 of the last 34 winners were placed favourites (top 4)
- 18 of the last 34 winners carried 10-8 or less
- 16 of the last 34 winners were aged 9–10
- 13 of the last 34 winners ran at Cheltenham last time out
- 10 of the last 34 winners won last time out
