Ranking the Top Races at the Grand National Meeting
The Grand National Festival at Aintree is one of the most anticipated fixtures in the National Hunt racing calendar.
Held annually in April, the three-day meeting attracts top-class horses, jockeys, and trainers, delivering thrilling competition across a range of prestigious Grand National races 2025.
While the Grand National itself undoubtedly takes centre stage, several other races throughout the festival showcase elite talent and provide unforgettable moments for racing fans.
That said, read on as we rank the top races at the Grand National Festival.
1. The Grand National (Premier Handicap)
While it might not be a Grade 1 by status, no race can overshadow the iconic Grand National, which remains the highlight of the jumps racing season and one of the most famous steeplechases in the world.
Run over a commanding four miles and two and a half furlongs, with 30 daunting fences such as Becher’s Brook and The Chair, the race is a true test of stamina, skill, and courage for both horse and rider.
With a rich history dating back to 1839, it captivates millions across the globe and remains a pinnacle in the sporting calendar.
2. Aintree Bowl (Grade 1)
The Aintree Bowl, one of four Grade 1s on the opening day of the three-day extravaganza, is a prestigious contest that attracts some of the top staying chasers from the United Kingdom and Ireland.Many of them competed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup just weeks earlier.
Contested over three miles and one furlong, the race provides a chance to prove their class on Aintree’s flat, galloping track.
The Aintree Bowl has an illustrious role of honour, including legends such as Desert Orchid and Cue Card, cementing its status as a must-watch event each April.
3. Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
Preceding the Grand National on day three of the festival, the Liverpool Hurdle is the ultimate test of stamina for long-distance hurdlers.
It traditionally serves as a rematch for horses who competed in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and offers a chance for redemption.
The iconic Big Buck’s, trained by Paul Nicholls, holds the record for the most wins in this contest—securing four titles in a row between 2009 and 2012.
4. Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)
Back to day one, the Aintree Hurdle’s two-and-a-half-mile trip requires the perfect blend of speed and stamina.
Often featuring horses who previously contested in the Champion Hurdle at Prestbury Park, the Aintree Hurdle provides a difference challenge with its longer trip and less challenging track.
Legendary hurdlers have written their names in folklore here, including Constitution Hill, Istabraq, and Dawn Run—who is the only horse to win both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup.
5. Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase
Known as the ‘amateur’s’ Grand National, the Foxhunters’ Chase used to be contested over the Grand National course and distance but was shortened to two miles and five furlongs in 1977.
While the trip might not be as demanding nowadays, the amateur riders still have to tackle the formidable fences.
This adds an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability to the race, and Sam Waley-Cohen won it three times before securing the Grand National itself in 2022.
The Top Novices’ Hurdle, Mildmay Novices’ Chase, Manifesto Novices’ Chase, Melling Chase, Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, and the 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle all deserve mentions.
