The first race of the day at Aintree will be getting underway shortly. It’s the Hallgarten & Novum Wines Maghull Novices' Chase first up. A Grade 1 race over two miles.

We’ll let you know the result of that one when it’s done.

You may have seen our ranking and rating of every horse in this year’s Grand National a little earlier but here’s a visual version of the pinsticker’s guide

I Am Maximus has been the standout favourite all week but the markets are starting to move and suddenly, Willie Mullins’ charge isn’t out front on his own.

The 2024 winner is still trading at around 8/1 but you can get 9/1 in some places now. Meanwhile, Panic Attack – with Harry Skelton aboard and Dan Skelton training – has come right in to 8/1 and is slightly shorter in a lot of places.

Jagwar, who will be ridden by Mark Walsh, is also priced around 8/1, so we now have three co-favourites! Grangeclare West, another Mullins horse, is not far behind at 9/1 generally.

The Grand National might be the main event but it’s far from the only racing today. Here’s how the racecard is stacking up.

Saturday 11 April - Grand National Day

12:45 - Hallgarten & Novum Wines Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 2m

13:20 - William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 3m ½f

13:55 - Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f

14:30 - William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) 3m 1f

15:05 - Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m ½f

16:00 - Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Class 1) (Premier Handicap) 4m 2½f

17:00 - Weatherbys Nhstallions.Co.Uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m 1f

The racehorse Gold Dancer has been put down after breaking his back while winning the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree on Friday.

Gold Dancer had managed to stay on its feet following an awkward landing on the final fence, with the 100-30 joint-favourite under Paul Townend crossing the line ahead of Regent's Stroll by four and three-quarter lengths.

It was immediately clear, however, that Gold Dancer had suffered a serious injury when the horse made a mistake going over the final hurdle and its back legs dragged along the ground.

The seven-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, received on-course treatment by the Aintree veterinary team and screens were erected around him after crossing the line. But it was then confirmed that Gold Dancer had been put down.

The crowds are streaming into Aintree with a little over four hours until the big race.

The weather looks a little mixed, with potential showers and a light breeze but that hasn’t put the punters off – and it was sunny this morning, to be fair

Who should you be backing today? That’s always the big question with the Grand National.

It’s almost impossible to look into your crystal ball and regularly predict the winner but we’ve tried to help your decision-making by ranking and rating every horse in the race. A pinsticker’s guide, if you will

So, who are the all-important horses taking part in the race this afternoon?

The field was made official with Wednesday morning’s final declarations, as a full field of 34 horses was announced.

However, reigning Grand National champion Nick Rockett will not compete after being declared a non-runner on Thursday morning due to a cough, while Spillane’s Tower and Pied Piper also pulled out.

Horse; jockey; trainer

• 1. I Am Maximus; Paul Townend; Willie Mullins

• 3. Banbridge; JJ Slevin; Joseph O’Brien

• 4. Grangeclare West; Patrick Mullins; Willie Mullins

• 5. Gerri Colombe; Jack Kennedy; Gordon Elliott

• 6. Haiti Couleurs; Sean Bowen; Rebecca Curtis

• 7. Spillane’s Tower; Sean Bowen; Jimmy Mangan

• 8. Firefox; Keith Donoghue; Gordon Elliott

• 9. Monty’s Star; Darragh O'Keeffe; Henry de Bromhead

• 10. Spanish Harlem; Brian Hayes; Willie Mullins

• 11. Lecky Watson; Sean O’Keeffe; Willie Mullins

• 12. Champ Kiely; Danny Mullins; Willie Mullins

• 13. Iroko; Jonjo O’Neill Jr; Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

• 14. Favori De Champdou; Danny Gilligan; Gordon Elliott

• 15. Three Card Brag; Jordan Rainford; Gordon Elliott

• 16. Oscars Brother; Daniel King; Connor King

• 17. Mr Vango; Jack Tudor; Sara Bradstock

• 18. High Class Hero; James Bowen; Willie Mullins

• 19. Stellar Story; Robert Dunne; Gordon Elliott

• 20. Beauport; Sam Twiston-Davies; Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

• 21. Captain Cody; Jonathan Burke; Willie Mullins

• 22. Jagwar; Mark Walsh; Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

• 23. Perceval Legallois; Harry Cobden; Gavin Cromwell

• 24. Gorgeous Tom; Sean Flanagan; Henry de Bromhead

• 25. The Real Whacker; Gavin Sheehan; Patrick Neville

• 26. Quai De Bourbon; Donagh Meyler; Willie Mullins

• 27. Answer To Kayf; John Shinnick; Terence O’Brien

• 28. Jordans; Ben Jones; Joseph O’Brien

• 29. Final Orders; Conor Stone-Walsh; Gavin Cromwell

• 30. Marble Sands; Kielan Woods; David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

• 31. Panic Attack; Harry Skelton; Dan Skelton

• 32. Top Of The Bill; Toby McCain-Mitchell; Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

• 33. Johnnywho; Richie McLernon; Jonjo & A J O’Neill

• 34. Twig; Beau Morgan; Ben Pauling

• 36. Imperial Saint; Callum Pritchard; Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

• 37. Amirite; Phillip Enright; Henry de Bromhead

The Grand National takes place at Aintree on Saturday, 11 April, with the race starting at 4pm BST.

You can watch the race on ITV1 with ITV Racing broadcasting the racing throughout the week, with three days of action for fans to get stuck into.

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the 2026 Grand National at Aintree.

It’s the biggest day on the horse racing calendar when everyone, from serial bettors to your Grandma has a flutter on the gee-gees, as the race captivates a nation.