Aintree Racecourse, host of UK horseracing’s showpiece event the Grand National, has confirmed that the 2016 edition of the race will start an hour later than in previous years in an effort to help increase television audience figures.
The Grand National has traditionally started at 4.15pm local time, but the 2016 race will begin at 5.15pm.
UK commercial broadcaster Channel 4 reported an audience of 8.9m for the 2015 race – its highest rating for any programme so far this year.
Ed Harvard, head of TV events at Channel 4, said: “The 5.15pm slot follows afternoon live football and the results round-up on BBC Radio 5 Live, providing football and other sports fans with the opportunity to listen to the race on their journeys home.”
A handicap hurdle for conditional and amateur jockeys will now be the only race that will follow the Grand National, before the end of the day’s racing.
John Baker, regional director of the Jockey Club North West, an organisation that runs Aintree, added: “We’re always keen to explore ways to grow and enhance this superb three-day festival and we believe that in collaboration with our broadcast partner, Channel 4, and with the backing of the British Horseracing Association, this is another extremely positive step forward for the ‘People’s Race’.”