Overview
- Final declarations confirm a full 34-runner field, with two reserves promoted after Thursday’s withdrawals and no further changes at Friday’s 1pm cut-off.
- Defending champion Nick Rockett was ruled out on Thursday morning with a cough, which shifted the market and pushed I Am Maximus to the head of the odds.
- The four-and-a-quarter-mile steeplechase begins at 4pm BST on Saturday April 11 and will air free on ITV1, with streaming on ITVX and additional coverage on RacingTV.
- A total purse of £1 million includes £500,000 to the winner, and organisers expect more than 150,000 attendees across the three-day festival.
- Opening Day on Thursday featured seven races at Aintree, with Brighterdaysahead winning the Aintree Hurdle as the meeting moved toward Grand National day.