Record number of viewers for this year's Grand National

10 million people across the UK tuned in to watch this year's Grand National.

Published 11th Apr 2016

A peak live UK television audience of more than 10 million watched Rule The World win the 2016 Crabbie's Grand National.

12% more people tuned in, despite the race’s later start time of 5.15pm, making it one of Channel 4’s most watched programmes ever.

During the three day festival 152,665 attended the racecourse, which included a record Grand Opening Day crowd of 35,581, a Ladies Day attendance (47,084) up by 2,006 people on last year and a 70,000 capped sell-out on Grand National Day.

John Baker, who runs Aintree as North West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses, said;

"We're thrilled more than 10 million people just in the UK watched the world's greatest chase at its new time of 5.15pm. That is one of the largest viewing audiences in British sport and will normally be Channel 4's biggest of the year across all its programming. The Crabbie's Grand National truly is the 'People's Race'.

"Around the world, hundreds of millions of people will have tuned in to watch, while a sell-out crowd of 70,000 people at Aintree enjoyed top-class racing and enhanced customer facilities. Many congratulations to Rule The World, Mouse Morris, Gigginstown House Stud and David Mullins on their victory."