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Saturday 9th April 2022 is the culmination of three days of terrific jumps racing on Merseyside, as Aintree braces itself for all the thrills, spills and intense emotion of the Grand National – the world’s most iconic steeplechase.
Steeped in history and loved by fans of racing and sport the world over, the Grand National is a display of endeavour, ability, talent and true determination in equine and human form.
Betting Tips & Predictions
Get the latest betting tips for every race on Day 3 of the Grand National Festival by clicking the race names below:
Grand National Festival Day 3: Grand National Day Racecard April 9th 2022
The Grand National is the centrepiece of three days of intoxicating sporting action at Aintree, but the supporting Saturday card lacks nothing in terms of high-class racing to get punters in the mood for the main dish. The full Saturday programme is below.
| TIME | RACE | DISTANCE | PRIZE MONEY |
| 13:45 | EFT Systems Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) | 2m4f | £70,000 |
| 14:25 | Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m½f | £100,000 |
| 15:00 | Maghull Novices’ Steeplechase (Grade 1) | 3m1f | £100,000 |
| 15:35 | Ryanair Stayers’ (Liverpool) Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m4f | £70,000 |
| 16:15 | Handicap Steeplechase (Listed) | 2m5f | £150,000 |
| 17:15 | Grand National Steeplechase (Grade 3) | 3m½f | £1,000,000 |
| 18:20 | Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle (Conditionals/Amateur riders) | 2m1f | £50,000 |
Race 1 – 13:45 EFT Systems Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
A Grade 3 handicap over timber to begin The National card at Aintree. This is a race trainer David Pipe has won three times since 2011.
| YEAR | WINNER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2021 | Hometown Boy | Ciaran Gethings | 6/1fav |
| 2019 | Aux Ptits Soins | Harry Skelton | 11/1 |
| 2018 | Mr Big Shot | Tom Scudamore | 7/1fav |
| 2017 | Fountains Windfall | David Noonan | 11/1 |
Race 2 – 14:25 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
One of three Grade 1 contests supporting the Grand National, this has been won in recent times by classy operators like Simonsig, Nichols Canyon and Finian’s Oscar.
| YEAR | WINNER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2021 | My Drogo | Harry Skelton | 5/4fav |
| 2019 | Reserve Tank | Robbie Power | 20/1 |
| 2018 | Black Op | Noel Fehily | 3/1 |
| 2017 | Finian’s Oscar | Robbie Power | 3/1fav |
Race 3 – 15:00 Maghull Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1)
This routinely finds a high class winner, with Sprinter Sacre and Special Tiara amongst the winners in the last decade that have gone on to win the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in their careers.
| YEAR | WINNER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2021 | Shiskin | Nico de Boinville | 1/8fav |
| 2019 | Ornua | Davy Russell | 3/1joint-fav |
| 2018 | Diego Du Charmil | Harry Cobden | 5/1 |
| 2017 | San Benedeto | Nick Scholfield | 4/1 |
Race 4 – 15:35 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)
Aintree’s Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle immediately precedes the Grand National and has provided some thrilling recent finishes. Big Buck’s dominated this race with four wins from 2009 for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh.
| YEAR | WINNER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2021 | Thyme Hill | Tom O’Brien | 5/2fav |
| 2019 | If The Cap Fits | Sean Bowen | 7/1 |
| 2018 | Identity Thief | Sean Flanagan | 14/1 |
| 2017 | Yanworth | Barry Geraghty | 9/4fav |
Race 5 – 16:15 Handicap Steeple Chase (Listed)
A handicap that has been dominated by British-trained horses, with no Irish winner since Gold Options all the way back in 1991.
| YEAR | WINNER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2021 | Happygolucky | David Bass | 11/4fav |
| 2019 | Kildisart | Daryl Jacob | 8/1 |
| 2018 | Thomas Patrick | Richard Johnson | 3/1fav |
| 2017 | Sizing Codelco | Robbie Power | 10/1 |
Race 6 – 17:15 Grand National Steeple Chase (Grade 3)
The main event of the Aintree spectacular is the Grand National itself, a race simply steeped in sporting history and capable of producing spell-binding racing theatre. In 2019, Tiger Roll became the first horse since Red Rum to win a second National when he retained his crown under Davy Russell.
| YEAR | WINNER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2021 | Minella Times | Rachael Blackmore | 11/1 |
| 2019 | Tiger Roll | Davy Russell | 4/1fav |
| 2018 | Tiger Roll | Davy Russell | 10/1 |
| 2017 | Rule The World | David Mullins | 33/1 |
Race 7 – 18:15 Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys’ and Amateur Riders’)
The final race of the three-day Aintree meeting is left to the Conditional Jockeys’ and Amateur Riders’ to enjoy centre stage.
| YEAR | WINNER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2021 | Knappers Hill | Megan Nicholls | 8/1 |
| 2019 | Chief Justice | Jamie Codd | 13/2 |
| 2018 | Havana Beat | James Nixon | 12/1 |
| 2017 | Chesterfield | Daniel Sansom | 8/1 |
