And they're off! Aintree's Grand National Festival begins

The doors have opened at Aintree for the Grand National Festival 2016.

150,000 race goers are expected to attend over the next three days.

Worldwide 600 million people will tune in to watch the main race on TV.

Aintree's Managing Director John Baker told us it's an unmissable occasion;

''I've worked in racing for twenty odd years now and when you come to Aintree it's like no other event that I've ever seen or worked on''

The first race will begin at 1:40pm

Here's a full time table of today's Grand Opening;

1.40: The Merseyrail Manifesto Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1)

2.15: The Betfred Anniversary 4YO Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

2.50: The Betfred Bowl Steeple Chase (Grade 1)

3.25: The Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)

4.05: The Crabbie’s Fox Hunters’ Steeple Chase (Class 2)

4.40: The Betfred Red Rum Handicap Steeple Chase (Grade 3)

5.15: The Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat (Grade 2)

Will you be there today?

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