Don’t worry, you don’t need to tune in at 10 AM. The day’s full of other races (the undercard, if you want to sound fancy), but the main event is a single, glorious four-and-a-half-mile slog. The TV coverage usually starts around 1:30 PM on ITV or Racing TV, but the real action—the parade ring, the jockeys wobbling in their silks—kicks off about an hour before the big race.
So, if you want to look clever in front of your mates, grab a cup of tea at 3:30 PM and watch the horses walk around. You’ll hear the commentator mutter something about “good conformation” and look like you know what you’re talking about. Trust me, nobody checks.
A little story: The year my mum won a tenner
My mum picks a horse the way most people pick a lottery ticket—by the name. A few years back, she saw one called “Pistol Pete” and said, “That reminds me of your uncle.” She backed it each-way, purely for the laugh. It came in at 33/1. She won £12.50, which she spent on a fancy candle. That’s the Grand National in a nutshell: chaotic, sentimental, and occasionally profitable. You don’t need to be a racing expert. You just need to pick a name you like and grin.
Grand National 2026 date, time, runners and odds – Paddy Power News
