The Grand National - Aintree Racecourse

Location

Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Liverpool, England.

Grand National

The course is home to the world-renowned Grand National steeplechase. Prior to the event being held at Aintree, the race was run in the nearby district of Maghull. It is regarded as one of the most difficult of all courses to successfully complete, with 16 steeplechase fences including The Chair, Canal Turn and Becher's Brook. These are so infamous that even their names strike fear into the most professional of jockeys.

Here is a picture with the layout of the course in full :

Aintree race track

Renounced Fences

All fences bar the water jump are covered with spruce unlike any other course in British national hunt racing. Four other races take place over the National fences. These are the Topham Chase (formerly known as the John Hughes Trophy Chase) and the Fox Hunters' Chase at the Grand National meeting and the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase and Becher Handicap Chase in the November meeting.

Midway Course

Within the large National course there is also the smaller Mildmay course containing hurdles and fences. These fences are made of traditional national hunt material. The only fence common to the National and Mildmay courses is the water jump.
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