National Hunt racing is preparing for another showpiece week, with the Grand National meeting set to get underway at Aintree.

Only three weeks after the Cheltenham Festival comes another highlight of the British Sporting calendar, with three days of top-class action all building towards the National itself.

The Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximus sits at the top of the weights as he seeks to emulate the likes of Red Rum and Tiger Roll by retaining the crown he won 12 months ago.

The race has a typically open look to it after connections decided against running Inothewayurthinkin, the long-time ante-post favourite, so soon after his superb Cheltenham Gold Cup win.

Former King George winner Hewick, Cheltenham’s Cross Country Chase hero Stumptown and Irish National winner Intense Raffles are among the other prominent contenders, while even beyond the defending champion owner JP McManus has a strong hand, including Iroko.

Here’s everything you need to know...

The 2025 Grand National meeting runs from Thursday, April 3, to Saturday, April 5, with the Grand National itself taking place at 4pm BST on Saturday.

A new, earlier time for the feature race of the meeting was introduced last year, bringing the race forward by 75 minutes, and remains in place for the 2025 edition.

As ever, the famous Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool will host the race.

The final field was confirmed on the morning of Thursday, April 3.

You can read the full 34-horse list here.

The sun is expected to shine over Aintree for the majority of the meeting, with little to no rain predicted across all three days.

Hitting a high of 18C on Thursday and Friday, Saturday will see slightly cooler temperatures closer to 15C for a dry few days.

The total prize fund for the race is £1 million, and it breaks down as follows:

(Bar 50/1, odds subject to change.)

Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

Aintree Bowl (Grade 1)

Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)

Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase

Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2)

Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)

Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Melling Chase (Grade 1)

Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Hallgarten and Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle

William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)

Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Freebooter Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)

Grand National (Premier Handicap)

Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2)