Grand National: Looking ahead to Ladies Day and Grand National Day

Grand National 2026

It’s Grand National week, and the most celebrated three days in the British racing calendar are almost here. 

Grand National Day Hospitality

The 2026 Grand National Festival runs from Thursday, 9th April to Saturday, 11th April at the historic Aintree Racecourse, and with the action now just days away, excitement is at fever pitch.

Each day has something memorable about it, but Ladies Day and the highly anticipated Grand National Day are two of the standout days for any racegoer who is heading for the Aintree Grand National on an annual basis.

Ladies’ Day – Friday 10th April 2026

Here, you can take a look back at the action from Ladies Day in 2025:

Ladies Day is one of the most vibrant days in the racing calendar. The annual Style Awards return once again, putting the best-dressed racegoers in the spotlight alongside the horses, trainers, and jockeys on track.

Seven races are scheduled across the afternoon, headlined by the Grade One Melling Steeple Chase and the beloved Topham Handicap Chase – the race that puts horse and rider to the test over those iconic Grand National fences. Last year’s Topham winner, Gentleman De Mee, was trained by Willie Mullins and ridden to victory by Mark Walsh.

Ladies Day race schedule:

1:45 pm The William Hill Handicap Hurdle Race
2:20 pm The William Hill Mildway Novices’ Steeple Chase
2:55 pm The Thatprizeguy Top Novices’ Hurdle Race
3:30 pm The JCB Melling Steeple Chase
4:05 pm The Randox Topham Handicap Steeple Chase
4:40 pm The Oddschecker Sefton Novices’ Hurdle Race
5:15 pm The Debenhams Handicap Hurdle Race

Grand National Day – Saturday 11th April 2026

Here, you can view highlights of the most recent edition of the prestigious Grand National Day, which was in April 2025:

This is the biggest day in jump racing. Grand National Day culminates in the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase at 4:00 pm, the most famous steeplechase. Last year, Nick Rockett, ridden by Patrick Mullins and trained by Willie Mullins, claimed a famous victory, following in the hoofprints of the previous year’s winner, I Am Maximus, also from the Mullins yard. Both Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus are back this year!

With seven races across the day building to that showpiece 4 pm moment, the atmosphere at Aintree will be electric from the first race to the last.

Grand National Day race schedule

12:45 pm The Hallgarten and Novum Wines Maghull Novices’ Steeple Chase
1:20 pm The William Hill Handicap Hurdle Race
1:55 pm The Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle Race
2:30 pm The William Hill Handicap Steeple Chase
3:05 pm The Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle Race
4:00 pm The Randox Grand National Handicap Steeple Chase
5:00 pm The Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race

All eyes are on the incredible and historic Aintree Racecourse for three days of enthralling action at the 2026 Grand National from Thursday, 9th April to Saturday, 11th April 2026.

Ladies Day and Grand National Day are the two days of racing at Aintree that stand out the most, and there will be some unmissable action out on track on both of these prestigious days.

There is no better way to watch world-class horse racing than with an Eventmasters VIP Hospitality Package. Book now to avoid disappointment!

2026 Aintree Grand National Hospitality Packages

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Grand National

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