Grand National 2026 Live – TV Channel and Replay Guide

The Grand National 2026 live broadcast aired on Saturday, 11 April, with the main race starting at 4:00 pm UK time. Viewers in the United Kingdom could watch free coverage on ITV1 and ITVX, while Racing TV carried the meeting through its subscription service.

The race has now finished. I Am Maximus won under Paul Townend, ahead of Iroko and Jordans. Anyone searching for live coverage today will therefore need a replay, highlights or the official result rather than a current stream.

What Channel Was the Grand National On?

Jockeys race horses over a steeplechase fence during a crowded event.

The 2026 Grand National was shown live on ITV1, streamed through ITVX, and simulcast in Scotland through STV. ITV’s Grand National Day programme ran from 12:45 pm until 5:00 pm, covering five races from the Aintree card, including the 4:00 pm feature.

Racing TV provided subscription coverage for viewers who wanted access through television, desktop or a mobile device. It was also the relevant option for races outside ITV’s selected broadcast schedule.

The main UK viewing options were:

Service	Type of coverage	Access
ITV1	Free live television broadcast	UK television viewers
ITVX	ITV live stream and catch-up	Account and applicable UK viewing requirements
STV	Live broadcast in Scotland	Scottish viewers
Racing TV	Specialist racing coverage	Paid subscription

ITVX did not require a separate paid racing subscription, but viewers needed an account. UK rules for watching live television also applied.

Where Can I Watch the Grand National 2026 Replay?

Replay availability can change after the event. ITVX may retain programme catch-up for a limited period, while Racing TV generally provides race replays and detailed results to eligible users.

Short highlights, the finish and post-race interviews may also appear through official racing broadcasters and Aintree’s media channels. Availability depends on location because broadcasting rights are sold by territory.

When looking for a replay, use this order:

Check ITVX for the complete Grand National Day programme.
Look for the 4:00 pm Aintree result through Racing TV.
Use official Aintree or broadcaster highlights if the full programme is no longer available.
Avoid unofficial streaming pages that request software installations, payment-card data or browser notification access.

A page labelled grand national.live is not automatically an authorised broadcaster. The domain name alone does not confirm that a stream is legal, current or safe to open.

How Could Viewers Watch Outside the UK?

International Grand National coverage depended on the broadcaster holding rights in each country. ITVX is primarily intended for viewers in the United Kingdom and may restrict access from other regions.

Viewers abroad should look for:

a licensed local racing channel;
an official sports streaming service carrying UK racing;
an operator with authorised live-racing coverage in that market;
official highlights after the race.

Using an unlicensed mirror stream creates several problems. The video may be delayed, removed during the race or surrounded by deceptive adverts. Some pages imitate a video player while trying to install extensions or collect payment information.

A virtual private network does not create broadcasting rights. It may also breach the terms of a streaming platform. The safer approach is to identify the authorised service for the viewer’s current location.

What Time Did the Grand National Start?

The Randox Grand National began at 4:00 pm BST on Saturday, 11 April 2026. ITV’s extended coverage started at 12:45 pm and continued until 5:00 pm.

The televised Grand National Day schedule included:

Time	Race
1:20 pm	William Hill Handicap Hurdle
1:55 pm	Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle
2:30 pm	William Hill Handicap Steeple Chase
3:05 pm	Liverpool Hurdle
4:00 pm	Randox Grand National Handicap Steeple Chase

The complete Aintree card also contained races outside ITV’s five-race selection. Racing TV was the more comprehensive option for viewers following the entire meeting.

Future Grand Nationals should not be assumed to use the same start time. The confirmed race schedule can change from one year to another, so viewers should check the current programme rather than relying on an archived 2026 guide.

Who Won the Grand National in 2026?

I Am Maximus won the 2026 Grand National, giving jockey Paul Townend another major Aintree success and trainer Willie Mullins a third consecutive victory in the race.

Jockey in green and gold silks holds a Randox trophy between two officials.

The ten-year-old started as the 9/2 favourite and finished ahead of Iroko, with Jordans taking third place.

The leading finishers were:

Position	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Starting price
1st	I Am Maximus	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins	9/2 favourite
2nd	Iroko	Jonjo O’Neill Jr.	Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero	18/1
3rd	Jordans	Ben Jones	Joseph O’Brien	28/1
4th	Johnnywho	Richie McLernon	Jonjo and A.J. O’Neill	12/1
5th	High Class Hero	James Bowen	Willie Mullins	66/1

I Am Maximus had previously won the race in 2024. His 2026 victory made him the first horse since Red Rum to regain the Grand National after winning an earlier edition.

The result also underlined the strength of Irish-trained runners. Horses trained in Ireland filled several of the leading places, although the race included representatives from both British and Irish yards.

What Is the Grand National?

The Grand National is a long-distance handicap steeplechase run at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool. Its official history dates to 1839, and the event has developed into one of the most recognisable races in British sport.

The race is contested over approximately 4 miles and 2½ furlongs, or about 6.9 kilometres. Horses complete two circuits and negotiate 30 jumping efforts.

A handicap system assigns different weights to the runners. Higher-rated horses generally carry more weight, with the intention of producing a competitive field. The final result can still be influenced by stamina, jumping accuracy, ground conditions, pace and how efficiently a jockey navigates the large group.

The race usually takes around nine to ten minutes, although conditions can affect the time. Mr Frisk holds the record for the fastest winning time, completing the course in 8 minutes 47.8 seconds in 1990.

How the Aintree Course Works

The supplied course diagram shows the full Grand National layout, including the two circuits, winning post and named obstacles. There are 16 individual fences, but 14 are jumped twice. The Chair and Water Jump appear only on the first circuit, producing 30 jumping efforts in total.

The opening fences allow the field to establish position before reaching the most distinctive section of the course.

Becher’s Brook

Becher’s Brook is jumped as fences 6 and 22. Its landing side historically sat lower than the take-off side, creating an unusual visual test. The obstacle has been modified over time, but it remains one of the race’s best-known landmarks.

Foinavon

Foinavon is fences 7 and 23. It is named after the 1967 winner, who avoided a major pile-up at the obstacle and went on to claim the race at long odds.

Canal Turn

Canal Turn appears as fences 8 and 24. Horses must negotiate a sharp left turn immediately after landing. Positioning matters because runners approaching wide can cover extra ground, while a crowded inside line may leave less room.

Valentine’s Brook

Valentine’s Brook is jumped as fences 9 and 25. It follows Canal Turn and forms part of a demanding sequence in which horses must quickly regain rhythm.

The Chair and Water Jump

The Chair is fence 15 and the tallest obstacle on the course. It is followed by the Water Jump at fence 16. Neither is jumped on the second circuit.

On the final lap, the field bypasses these two obstacles and turns towards the long run-in. Runners pass the Elbow before reaching the winning post, a stage where stamina and remaining momentum become decisive.

How Many Fences Are in the Grand National?

The Grand National contains 30 jumping efforts over 16 individual fences. Fourteen fences are crossed on both circuits, while The Chair and Water Jump are used only during the first lap.

Fence heights and designs differ. Some include open ditches, while others test the horse through their width, landing profile or the turn immediately afterwards. The Chair is approximately 5 feet 2 inches high, while the smallest obstacles are around 4 feet 6 inches.

Modern fences use spruce woven into a more flexible internal structure. The course has also undergone safety-related modifications, including changes to landing areas and obstacle construction.

The challenge comes from the complete combination: distance, field size, handicap weight, repeated jumping and the need to maintain concentration for almost seven kilometres.

Who Presented ITV’s Grand National Coverage?

Ed Chamberlin led ITV Racing’s coverage of the 2026 festival. The programme included former jockeys and racing analysts Sir Anthony McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Mick Fitzgerald.

Jockey in Randox racing silks rides past a horse racing form guide.

Richard Hoiles, Mark Johnson and Stewart Machin handled race commentary. Other members of the team reported from the paddock, starting area, betting ring and around Aintree.

Oli Bell presented The Opening Show from the racecourse on Grand National morning. The preview programme covered the runners, ground conditions, betting market and late developments before the main ITV broadcast.

The broadcast team matters more at Aintree than during a routine race meeting because viewers cannot see every part of the course from one camera angle. Commentary identifies fallers, loose horses, changing positions and runners moving into contention around the second circuit.

What to Check Before Watching the Next Grand National

An archived Grand National viewing guide can explain the broadcasters and format, but it should not be used as the final schedule for a later edition.

Before the next race, confirm:

the event date;
the advertised start time;
the ITV broadcast window;
whether every race is televised;
current ITVX availability;
Racing TV channel details;
territorial streaming restrictions;
the final list of runners and reserves.

The most common mistake is searching for “Grand National live” after the race has finished and opening the first unofficial stream in the results. For the 2026 edition, live coverage has ended: the useful options now are an authorised replay, official highlights and the confirmed result.