What Channel Is the Grand National on Today

November 23, 2021

THE Grand National is the most valuable National Hunt race in Europe, and brings the UK to a standstill every year.

From Red Rum to Aldaniti, Devon Loch to Party Politics, winners of the punishing steeplechase have gone down in British folklore – while their jockeys have also become legends.

GRAND NATIONAL BETTING: SEE THESE LATEST SUN BETS OFFERS

Grand National Festival tips for Saturday

By Templegate

1.45: Whataknight "Has a great chance"
2.25: Messire Des Obeaux "A fine chance"
3.00: Charbel "Top form"
3.40: Potters Legend "Should get the decent pace he likes"
4.20: Cole Harden "Could easily grind his rivals into submission from the front"
5.15: Vieux Lion Rouge "Will be king of the Aintree jungle"
6.15: So Celebre "David Noonan is one of the best jockeys in the race"

BACK TEMPLEGATE'S TIPS WITH SUN BETS, ODDS MAY VARY

Rule the World turned up a surprise when it raced to victory in the 2016 Grand National Credit: Getty Images

Fans pack out Aintree and punters up and down the country gather round their televisions eager to see if they can strike lucky from a field of 40 runners.

Last year the Mouse Morris trained Rule the World, ridden by David Mullins, triumphed at odds of 33/1.

SunSport gives you the lowdown on the big race that brings a nation to a standstill every 12 months.

What TV channel is the Grand National on?

The Grand National will be shown live on ITV for the first time this year after the channel snapped up broadcasting rights for racing - with Ed Chamberlin to host.

The race has been broadcast on free-to-air TV in the UK since 1960, and was shown exclusively by the BBC until 2012.

But the BBC lost the rights to cover the race to Channel Four between 2013-2016 - who have now been replaced by ITV this year.

The BBC also broadcast the National live on radio every year between 1927-2013, with Talksport now holding the rights to commentate on radio.

The horses and jockeys will be looking to win the most prestigious race around Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

What is the Grand National?

The Grand National is a National Hunt race held every year at Aintree, and with a prize fund of over £1million it is the most valuable jump race in Europe.

Raced over a course of 4miles 514yards, a maximum field of 40 horses take on the toughest challenge over 30 fences in the handicap steeplechase.

The race was first run in 1839 and has grown to become a national institution in Britain - the single biggest betting race of the year popular with the general public and not just regular punters.

Fences such as The Chair, Becher's Brook and the Canal Turn have become famous worldwide due to the international interest in the race.

The Canal Turn is one of the most famous fences in the world of racing Credit: Getty Images

When is the 2017 Grand National?

The 2017 Grand National will be staged at Aintree racecourse near Liverpool on Saturday April 8.

The race will start at 5.15pm, with more than 70,000 expected to be in attendance to watch events unfurled live.

This year's race is sponsored by Randox Health, who have replaced Crabbie's as the official partner's of Aintree's three-day festival the culminates in the Grand National.

Who are Randox Health?

Randox Health is one of the world's leading healthcare diagnostics companies, which was launched in 2010.

It specialises in using technology to help diagnose a range of medical issues and has offices in over 145 countries around the globe.

The company claim that more than five per cent of the world's population, in excess of 370million, receive medical diagnosis using Randox products each year.

Red Rum jumps the last on the way to winning the 1974 Grand National Credit: PA:Press Association

Which horses are running?

Minella Rocco will not run in the Grand National in 2017

So far, the final 40 runners are yet to be selected.

110 horses entered the race this year and were all assigned a weight by the British Horse Racing Authority Head of Handicapping.

While it's still not 100 per cent, it's expected horses including Vieux Lion Rouge and Definitely Red will be running, but early-favourite Minella Rocco will not be running, according to trainer Jonjo O'Neill.

What are the Grand National betting odds?

Definitly Red and Vieux Lion Rouge are the two horses to watch, with Sun Bets reporting big numbers on both.
Templegate tipped Vieux Lion Rouge as his main selection for the Grand National.