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Every year (barring the past couple of years, owing to the Covid pandemic), thousands of racegoers head to Liverpool for the Grand National meeting at Aintree racecourse (13–15 April in 2023). But if you’re not heading there in person, there is no need to miss the action, as every single race from the meeting will be shown on TV. Here’s how to watch the Grand National on TV…

Grand National on TV: how to watch

The Grand National meeting plays host to the most-watched race in the world, but how can you watch the Grand National meeting from the comfort of your armchair if you’re not able to make it there in person?

So here it is, your armchair viewing guide to the Grand National meeting — and now is definitely the time to invest in that 85inch 4K Ultra HD TV you’ve been hankering after. Grab your remote, a family pack of snacks and a tipple of your choosing because you needn’t leave your armchair for three days.

Where can I watch it?

Those of you with a Racing TV subscription can enjoy all the races live but for everyone else in the country, tune in to the main ITV Channel, where the ITV Racing team will take you right to the heart of the action. The live Grand National meeting coverage will also be simulcast on ITV X, on web and app for viewers to watch online or if you’re on the move you can still keep up to date by listening to BBC Radio 5 Live.

Presented by Ed Chamberlin, alongside a team of some of the sport’s best pundits, ITV Racing will broadcast five races a day of top class racing across the three-day Festival, with an extended show on Grand National Day. There will also be a full review of the race with Ruby Walsh alongside Oli Bell taking us through his analysis of what happened fence by fence.

Alongside Ed on the podium will be Grand National-winning jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald with Ruby Walsh, dual winner of the race providing his unique in-depth pre and post-race analysis from his state-of-the-art hub.

Reporting around the course, looking at horses, talking to connections and interviewing both winning and beaten jockeys will be Rishi Persad, Alice Plunkett, Adele Mulrennan and Matt Chapman. Brian Gleeson will be the betting ring, with Luke Harvey down at the starts and Chris Hughes out and about around the course. Oli Bell will interact with viewers at home and talk to famous faces in the ‘social stable’, and three big race commentators will be Richard Hoiles, Mark Johnson and Stewart Machin.

Lorraine’s Mark Heyes and GMB’s Charlotte Hawkins also join the team on Ladies Day on Friday to look at everything the racecourse has to offer away from the racing.

What time does it start?

ITV Racing coverage starts at 2pm every day, broadcasting live till 5pm on Thursday and Friday and will show coverage of five races. On Grand National day on Saturday coverage is extended and runs from 2pm until 6.15pm.

What if I’m too excited to wait until 2pm?

After you’ve picked up your copy of the Racing Post and checked out the latest news on the H&H Grand National page, join Oli Bell and his special guests on the Opening Show on ITV4 on Thursday and Friday from 9.30-10.30am and 9.30am-11am on Saturday, where you’ll hear from special guests and experts ready to point you towards some big winners (hopefully). Oli Bell will preview all the big races and take in the morning action around the course. He will have guests with him each day including jockey Harry Cobden on Friday and a big race line up on Saturday including Sir Anthony McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Mick Fitzgerald and Tom Scudamore. Matt Chapman, Adele Mulrennan, Luke Harvey, Chris Hughes and Alice Plunkett will also contribute throughout the week.

When is the big race?

The Grand National gets underway at 5.15pm on Saturday 15 April.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news and updates from the Grand National meeting via the Horse & Hound website and read the full report in the 20 April issue of the magazine

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