If you can’t make it to Aintree for this year’s Grand National (14 April 2018), here’s how to keep up to date with all the nail-biting action by watching the Grand National on TV, radio or online.
Watch the Grand National on TV
On ITV…
This year, the Randox Health Grand National will be shown on ITV’s main channel for the second year in a row, with more than 10 hours’ live footage across the three day Grand National Festival (12-14 April 2018), taking in the major feature races every day.
The coverage on Saturday (14 April 2018) kicks off on ITV at 2pm, with the big race due off at 5.15pm. The live race will be followed by a full replay with analysis to show where viewers’ selections finished.
Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani will host the ITV racing coverage, with expert analysis from Sir AP McCoy, Luke Harvey, Mick Fitzgerald and Brough Scott. Additional reporting will come from Oli Bell and Alice Plunkett, while Matt Chapman will have the latest betting news and Brian Gleeson will provide an Irish angle on the action.
Additionally, Lucy Verasamy will be on hand with the all-important weather forecasts, expert Eva O’Donoghue will give her views from a veterinary perspective, Mark Heyes and Charlotte Hawkins join the team on Friday to cast their eye over the fashions on show, and Richard Hoiles will be in the commentary box throughout.
Thursday 12 April: 2-5pm
On the opening day, three Grade One races headline the ITV Racing card: the Doom Bar Anniversary four-year-old Hurdle (2.20pm), the Betway Bowl (2.50pm) and the Betway Aintree Hurdle (3.25pm), plus the amateur riders go over the Grand National fences in the Randox Health Foxhunters’ Chase (4.05pm).
Friday 13 April: 2-5pm
Ladies’ Day features four Grade One races including the Betway Novices’ Hurdle (2.20pm), Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase (2.50pm), JLT Melling Chase (3.25pm) and the Doom Bar Sefton NovicesÆ Hurdle (4.40pm), plus the professionals are in action over the big fences in the Randox Health Topham Chase (4.05pm).
Saturday 14 April: 2-6.15pm
Saturday’s feature is the 2018 Randox Health Grand National, due off at 5.15pm, with supporting races on the card including the Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (2.25pm), Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Chase (3.00pm), Betway Handicap Chase (3.40pm) and the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle (4.20pm). The live race will be followed by a full replay with analysis to show where viewers’ selections finished.
Alongside ITV’s coverage, daily editions of The Opening Show, presented by Oli Bell, will air on ITV4 every morning throughout the festival to preview each day’s action.
The live coverage on ITV will also be shown at the same time on the ITV Hub (on web and app) for viewers to watch online and via the ITV Racing site. There will also be extensive coverage provided via ITV Racing’s social media channels.
You can also download the free ITV Racing app, which includes the popular ITV7 competition with pots of £50,000 on Thursday and Friday, and of £100,000 on Grand National day.
On Racing UK…
The subscription racing channel will be previewing the Grand National action at 1pm on Tuesday 10 April. The channel will provide live coverage from Aintree during all three days of the Grand National Festival, from 1pm each day.
Grand National 2018 on radio
Thursday 12 April: 1-4.15pm
5 live Racing on sports extra, with commentary of the main races also on BBC Radio 5 live.
Friday 13 April: 1-4.15pm
5 live Racing on sports extra, with commentary of the main races also on BBC Radio 5 live.
Saturday 14 April: 11am-6pm
BBC Radio 5 live build-up to the Grand National and commentaries of races around live football coverage.
Don’t miss H&H’s Grand National preview — including our ultimate form guide and much more — on sale on Thursday, 12 April. And you can read the full report from the Grand National meeting in H&H magazine on Thursday 19 April
