grand national 2013 /

Grand National Horses Can Go on to Make History
21/03/13

This year, the John Smith's Grand National Event will run from Thursday 4 April through Saturday 6 April. For three brilliant days, the atmosphere at Aintree Racecourse will be nothing short of electric as the excitement and suspense grows toward the start of the Grand National race on Saturday.

This race sits at the summit of the horseracing mountain; a victory in the Grand National is the most exalted accomplishment a horseracing team can strive for. Punters from around the world will be watching to see which Grand National horses succeed despite long pre-race odds, and which favourites fall to the wayside.

Grand National 2013 Racing Schedule

The overall Grand National event is divided into three days: Grand Opening Day (4 April), Ladies Day (5 April), and Grand National Day (6 April). Although musical performances will greet the many guests at Aintree Racecourse, the horses are the main story and the schedule of races on the first day is as follows:

• 2:00 pm: The Matalan Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle
  
• 2:30 pm: The Betfred Bowl Steeplechase
  
• 3:05 pm: John Smith's Aintree Hurdle
  
• 3:40 pm: John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase
  
• 4:15 pm: Matalan Red Rum Handicap Chase
  
• 4:50 pm: Betfred Manifesto Novices' Steeplechase
  
• 5:25 pm: Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle

Ladies Day is always fun at the Grand National Festival but although many come for the fashions and styles, many more come for the races:

• 2:00 pm: John Smith's Top Novices' Hurdle
  
• 2:30 pm: John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chase
  
• 3:05 pm: John Smith's Melling Chase
  
• 3:40 pm: John Smith's Topham Chase
  
• 4:15 pm: John Smith's Sefton Novices' Hurdle
  
• 4:50 pm: John Smith's Handicap Hurdle
  
• 5:25 pm: John Smith's Mares Flat Race

Finally, the time comes for Grand National Day and the running of the Grand National race. The races on the final day are as follows:

• 1:45 pm: John Smith's Mersey Novices' Hurdle
  
• 2:15 pm: John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase
  
• 2:50 pm: John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle
  
• 3:25 pm: John Smith's Handicap Chase
  
• 4:15 pm: John Smith's Grand National Steeplechase
  
• 5:10 pm: John Smith's Handicap Hurdle
  
• 5:40 pm: John Smith's Champion Flat

The last three Grand National horses to win were Neptune Collonges (2012), Ballabriggs (2011) and Don't Push It (2010). The ante-post prices for the 2013 National indicate that anything can happen this year; this is the spectacular event that never disappoints.