See the latest Grand National Weather update as the forecast looks dry for the huge meeting at Aintree this week.
Grand National Weather Update 2026 – Hurdles & Chase Course Ground
Five times out of the last six seasons has seen good-to-soft ground on day one of the Aintree Grand National meeting, both on the hurdles and chase course.
And the ground has been good-to-soft on the opening day of the meeting four times in the five years. 2024 was the only exception when the opening race of the meeting saw Sir Gino win on SOFT ground.
All other meetings in the last five years were good-to-soft.
We’re expecting the ground to be good-to-soft again this time around, despite the early forecast suggesting that Aintree will be hit with a little rain on Thursday and Saturday.
According to BBC Weather and the Met Office, we’re expecting ‘light rain showers and a fresh breeze’ on Thursday 9th April (Opening Day).
And on Friday 10th April for Ladies Day, it’s better with no rain expected, ‘light cloud and a moderate breeze’ reported.
As for Grand National Day on Saturday 11th April, ‘light rain and a moderate breeze’ is forecast.
With minimal rain expexted, we should be expecting good-to-soft with the ‘breeze’ expected on all three days.
Ground generally dries pretty quickly at Aintree, even with wet weather – so good-to-soft, good in places is almost a certainty. Of course, the ground is subject to change, but with only little rain expected, there shouldn’t be too much of a change in the going – if any.
All eyes will be on the Grand National weather and you can watch the action unfold live on the ITV Racing schedule.
Aintree Grand National Weather & Ground In Last 10 Years On Day One
- 2025 – Good-To-Soft
- 2024 – Soft
- 2023 – Good-To-Soft
- 2022 – Good-To-Soft
- 2021 – Good-To-Soft
- 2020 – CANCELLED
- 2019 – Good-To-Soft
- 2018 – Good-To-Soft
- 2017 – Good
- 2016 – Soft
Grand National Weather Update And National Course Ground
The Grand National has only been run on soft or heavy ground three times in the last 10 renewals and with just a little bit of rain forecast, the ground is expected to be good-to-soft throughout the meeting. We’re taking a look at the last 10 years on the National course to get a picture of what the ground may be come Saturday 11th April.
If there are any drastic changes at the Grand National declaration stage, then we could see horses not declared for the meeting.
Grand National Ground In Last 10 Years
With the Grand National ran on a different course, the ‘National Course’, take a look at the stats below from the last 10 years. This course is used just four times during the National Hunt season.
It’s used for, of course the Grand National. Then it’s in use for two other races at the festival, the Topham Chase and the Fox Hunters’ Chase. Elsewhere on the calendar, it’s used for the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase and the Becher Chase.
Grand National favourites don’t have the best record in the race over the years, and that could be due to the ground.
- 2026 – Good-To-Soft predicted
- 2025 – Good-To-Soft
- 2024 – Soft
- 2023 – Good-To-Soft
- 2022 – Good-To-Soft
- 2021 – Good-To-Soft
- 2020 – CANCELLED
- 2019 – Good-To-Soft
- 2018 – Heavy
- 2017 – Good-To-Soft
- 2016 – Soft
Grand National Going Revealed 07/04/26
