Grand National Thursday 2024 full race card and tips - list of runners and odds

The Grand National Festival at Aintree gets underway on this afternoon.

The three-day meeting kicks off today, April 11, with a handful of high-class jump races that are sure to enthral the passionate crowds that make the day what it is.

Despite attracting a lower attendance than Grand National day itself, the opening day is still a hugely popular event on the jump racing calendar, with around 35,000 people expected to attend, making it one of the most well-attended days outside the Cheltenham festival.

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Grand National 2024 sweepstake kit to print for free for the big race

The first of seven races gets underway at 1.45pm but already the adverse weather experienced on Merseyside this week has vastly reduced the size of the fields in many of Thursday's races, including the Grade 1 opener which has been cut from 18 entries to just five.

Here is the ECHO's guide to Thursday's Aintree racecard with our tips on who you might want to take a punt on.

Grand Opening Day racecard (Thursday, 11 April)

13:45 - Manifesto Novices' Hurdle - Grade 1

1 Blow Your Wad (IRE), J: Stan Sheppard, T: Tom Lacey, 10/1

2 Colonel Harry (IRE), J: Gavin Sheehan, T: Jamie Snowden, 33/1

3 Ginny’s Destiny (IRE), J: Harry Cobden, T: Paul Nicholls, 7/2

4 Grey Dawning (IRE), J: Harry Skelton, T: Dan Skelton, 10/11 F

5 Il Etait Temps (FR), J: Paul Townsend, T: WP Mullins, 7/2

2023: Banbridge (IRE), J: JJ Slevin, T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, 2/1

Tip: Ginny's Destiny

Each-way tip: Il Etait Temps

14:20 - Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle - Grade 1

THU 2:20

1 Dirty Den (GB), J: Ben Poste, T: Syd Hosie, 150/1

2 Intelletto (IRE), J: J J Slevin, T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien, 20/1

3