Aintree racecourse is ready for its biggest week of the year, with over 150,000 people expected to visit the Liverpool track for the Grand National meeting.
The three-day event features 21 races, nine of them grade one contests, and is headlined by Saturday's Grand National, the most famous race in the sport.
The 2018 winner Tiger Roll is back to defend his crown, and will be strong favourite after a brilliant win in the Cross Country Chase, looking to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to-back Nationals.
This year's race, the 172nd annual running of the contest, offers £1million in prize money.
Scroll down for Standard Sport's comprehensive preview of the meeting and the big race…
In Pictures | 171st Grand National | 14/04/2018 1/28Davy Russell celebrates after riding Tiger Roll
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2/28Davy Russell celebrates after riding Tiger Roll
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3/28Davy Russell celebrates after riding Tiger Roll
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4/28Davy Russell riding Tiger Roll (L) clear the last to win the Grand National ahead of Pleasant Company.
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5/28Casse Tete ridden by Joshua Moore clears a fence during the Betway Handicap Steeple Chase
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6/28Sean Flanagan riding Identity Thief clear the last to win The Ryanair Stayers Hurdle
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7/28Sean Flanagan riding Identity Thief clear the last to win The Ryanair Stayers Hurdle
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8/28Thomas Patrick ridden by Richard Johnson jumps a fence during their victory in the Betway Handicap Steeple Chase
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9/28Getty Images
10/28Getty Images
11/28Getty Images
12/28Diego Du Charmil ridden by Harry Cobden wins the Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Steeple Chase
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13/28A racegoer studies the programme
AFP/Getty Images
14/28Racegoers pose for a selfie
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15/28Racegoers cheer during the final day
AFP/Getty Images
16/28Horses and riders (R) in the The Gaskells Handicap Hurdle
AFP/Getty Images
17/28Noel Fehily riding Black Op
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18/28A general view of the action in The Gaskells Handicap Hurdle
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19/28Horses and jockeys head to the finish line during the Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle
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20/28Black Op ridden by Noel Fehily
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21/28A general view of the action in The Gaskells Handicap Hurdle
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22/28Tom Scudamore riding Mr Big Shot (nearest) clear the last to win The Gaskells Handicap Hurdle
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23/28Tom Scudamore riding Mr Big Shot (C)
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24/28om Scudamore riding Mr Big Shot (C)
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25/28Racegoers attend the final day of the Grand National Festival
AFP/Getty Images
26/28Coleen Rooney, wife of Everton's footballer Wayne Rooney
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27/28Dressed for the races
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28/28A racegoer is, well, horsing around
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1/28Davy Russell celebrates after riding Tiger Roll
Getty Images
2/28Davy Russell celebrates after riding Tiger Roll
Getty Images
3/28Davy Russell celebrates after riding Tiger Roll
Getty Images
4/28Davy Russell riding Tiger Roll (L) clear the last to win the Grand National ahead of Pleasant Company.
Getty Images
5/28Casse Tete ridden by Joshua Moore clears a fence during the Betway Handicap Steeple Chase
Getty Images
6/28Sean Flanagan riding Identity Thief clear the last to win The Ryanair Stayers Hurdle
Getty Images
7/28Sean Flanagan riding Identity Thief clear the last to win The Ryanair Stayers Hurdle
Getty Images
8/28Thomas Patrick ridden by Richard Johnson jumps a fence during their victory in the Betway Handicap Steeple Chase
Getty Images
9/28Getty Images
10/28Getty Images
11/28Getty Images
12/28Diego Du Charmil ridden by Harry Cobden wins the Doom Bar Maghull Novices' Steeple Chase
Getty Images
13/28A racegoer studies the programme
AFP/Getty Images
14/28Racegoers pose for a selfie
AFP/Getty Images
15/28Racegoers cheer during the final day
AFP/Getty Images
16/28Horses and riders (R) in the The Gaskells Handicap Hurdle
AFP/Getty Images
17/28Noel Fehily riding Black Op
Getty Images
18/28A general view of the action in The Gaskells Handicap Hurdle
Getty Images
19/28Horses and jockeys head to the finish line during the Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle
Getty Images
20/28Black Op ridden by Noel Fehily
Getty Images
21/28A general view of the action in The Gaskells Handicap Hurdle
Getty Images
22/28Tom Scudamore riding Mr Big Shot (nearest) clear the last to win The Gaskells Handicap Hurdle
Getty Images
23/28Tom Scudamore riding Mr Big Shot (C)
Getty Images
24/28om Scudamore riding Mr Big Shot (C)
Getty Images
25/28Racegoers attend the final day of the Grand National Festival
AFP/Getty Images
26/28Coleen Rooney, wife of Everton's footballer Wayne Rooney
AFP/Getty Images
27/28Dressed for the races
Getty Images
28/28A racegoer is, well, horsing around
Getty Images
Date, time and venueThe Grand National Meeting begins on Thursday, 4 April and runs until Saturday, 6 March.
The meeting is staged at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, and includes seven races per day.
Saturday's Grand National is the showpiece event and will run at 5:15pm on the final day. For individual times check out the full schedule below.
TipsTips will appear here closer to raceday.
WeatherWeather forecasts and going updates will appear here closer to the meeting.
Schedule and resultsDavy Russell celebrates his win in the 2018 Grand National on Tiger Roll Photo: Getty Images
Thursday
1:45pm Manifesto Novices' Chase 2:20pm Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle 2:50pm Betway Bowl Chase 3:25pm Aintree Hurdle 4:05pm Foxhunters' Chase 4:40pm Red Rum Handicap Chase 5:15pm Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open NH Flat RaceFriday
1:45pm Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle 2:20pm Top Novices' Hurdle 2:50pm Mildmay Novices' Chase 3:25pm Melling Chase 4:05pm Topham Chase 4:40pm Sefton Novices' Hurdle 5:15pm Champion Standard Open NH Flat RaceSaturday
1:45pm Gaskells Handicap Hurdle 2:25pm Mersey Novices' Hurdle 3:00pm Maghull Novices' Chase 3:40pm Liverpool Hurdle 4:20pm Betway Handicap Chase 5:15pm Grand National 6:20pm Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle Grand National odds (via Betfair)Odds subject to change correct as of 26/03/19
More about: | Tiger Roll | Grand National | Grand National 2019