PREVIEW: Grand National Festival 2021, ITV

ITV Racing will broadcast five races a day with an extended show on Grand National Day.

Alongside Ed and Francesca will be Grand National-winning jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald, and Ruby Walsh (joining virtually from Ireland). For reporting, news and action from around the course will be Rishi Persad, Oli Bell, Alice Plunkett, Matt Chapman and Luke Harvey with commentators, Richard Hoiles, Mark Johnson and Ian Bartlett. Chris Hughes will host the popular social stable alongside Oli, encouraging viewers at home to join in with the action.

Across the week, the Bafta-winning production and technical team will use state-of-the-art and innovative visual and audio technology plus will talk to owners and connections of the horses remotely.

The Opening Show, hosted by Oli Bell, will be on daily, tracking all the action around the course and bringing viewers all the latest news and tipping from the experts. Oli will be joined by Matt Chapman every day as well as Ruby Walsh and Luke Harvey on Thursday, Alice Plunkett on Friday and Sir Anthony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald on Saturday.

Liverpool’s NHS Day - Thursday 8th April

On the opening day, three Grade One races headline the ITV Racing card - the Doom Bar Anniversary 4 year old Hurdle (2.20pm), the Betway Bowl Steeple Chase (2.50pm) and the Betway Aintree Hurdle (3.25pm), plus the Rose Paterson Randox Health Foxhunters' Steeple Chase (4.05pm) over the Grand National fences.

Ladies Day – 9th April Ladies’ Day features four Grade One races including the Betway Top Novices' Hurdle (2.20pm), the Betway Mildmay Novices' Steeple Chase (2.50pm), the Marsh Steeple Chase (3.25pm) and the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle (4.40pm), plus the professionals are in action over the big fences in the Randox Health Topham Steeple Chase (4.05pm).

Randox Grand National Day – 10th April Saturday’s feature is the world’s most famous race, the Randox Grand National Steeple Chase, due off at 5.15pm, with supporting races on the card including the Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle (2.25pm), the Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Steeple Chase (3.00pm), the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle (3.40pm) and the Betway Handicap Steeple Chase (4.20pm). The Grand National will be followed by a full replay with analysis to show where viewers’ selections finished.