The Grand National is almost upon us, so if you’re planning on being there to watch the action in real life, then it’s time to get organised.
We’ve created a fail-safe guide to ensure you have the best weekend possible in Aintree.
It’s important to remember that the National is the most-watched horse race in the United Kingdom and has the most expensive purse in European jump racing, at £1,000,000. There will be a whole lot of other people attending alongside you, so leaving yourself plenty of time and exercising plenty of patience is essential. Beyond these two tips, this guide will be all you need to have a wonderful time.
How To Get There
Assuming you’re local to Droitwich, your journey to Aintree should be manageable. As mentioned, leaving yourself plenty of time for the trip is the key to success. If you can afford to take the Friday off work, then make an entire weekend of it and leave a whole day early.
Aintree sits right outside Liverpool, so there’s plenty to explore if you’ve only got a ticket for Saturday.
On the other hand, if you’re a big horse racing fan, you could book to attend all three days of the festival and enjoy getting dressed up for Ladies Day on Friday and watching no less than four Grade 1 races on the Thursday.
Whichever you opt for, we recommend taking public transport to the racecourse. Hop on a train, or bus, to Birmingham, then take a direct train to Liverpool and a shuttle to the racecourse. If you’re quick with changes, you can be from door to door in as little as three hours. Plus, you can get on with studying some form on the train, something you certainly wouldn’t be able to do if you were driving!
How To Place A Bet
Part of the fun of a day at the races is placing a bet, and if you’d like to hedge your bets a little, then using a free bet Grand National can make a difference to the amount you need to wager. Big races like the Grand National can be difficult to call correctly, so a free bet could allow you to spread your chances over two or three horses instead of just one.
There is also the option to bet at the course, either with one of the bookmakers, who you can find on the forecourt, or with the Tote. If you choose to bet online or with a bookmaker, you’ll know your odds beforehand, whereas the Tote decides their odds based on their bets.
Schedule For The Day
The Grand National is known for capturing the imaginations of those who don’t usually watch horse racing. If you fall into this category, you might wonder how a day at the races usually plays out.
To begin with, it’s a good idea to walk around the public areas, note where the toilets are, find the refreshment stands, and spot the winning post. After this, you can make your way to the pre-parade ring, where the horses congregate to stretch their legs and get used to their surroundings before making their way to the parade ring.
The parade ring is a good place to spot the horses that are looking in excellent condition and feeling relaxed in their surroundings. Some people base their bets on paddock judging, using their knowledge to spot a fit and healthy horse.
Once you’ve watched the horses’ parade, you can place your bets and head up to the grandstand to watch the race. As soon as the race is over, the horses will make their way to the Winner’s Enclosure, where you can cheer them in. After this, it’s back to the parade ring for the excitement to start all over again.
