Race 1 - Sponsored H'Cap Hurdle - 3 miles & half a furlong -  First run in 1988 this race opened the meeting until 1992 and again in 2001. It was briefly moved to the Saturday in 2006 and between 2016 and 2022 it was the opening race on Grand National day. It is again this year.

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Race 2 - Mersey Novices Hurdle - 2 and a half miles - First run in 1977 and upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2014. Since 1990 it's most notable winner was three times Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate (2000). Stayers Hurdle winner and subsequent Grand National runner Cyborgo won this in 1994. Tidal Bay another National runner (and Bet365 Gold Cup winner) is another notable winner from 2007. Old favorites Barton (1999) and Simonsig (2012) have also won this. Until 1993 it ended Grand Natonal day (the legendary One Man trailed in last of three runners that year). It returned to Grand National day in 2006.

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Race 3 - William Hill Handicap Chase - 3 miles, 1 furlong - First run in 1977 this has been part of Grand National day since 2009.  Future National winner Don't Push It won this the year before his National triumph and Saint Are who was twice placed in the National won this in 2012. In 2023 the race was registered as the Freebooter Handicap Chase - about time the winner of the most races over the National course was honoured.  

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Race 4 - JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle - 3 miles, half a furlong - First run in 1974 the race was initially run at Ascot as the Long Distance Hurdle. In 2004 it was transferred to Aintree to open the National meeting. That years Stayers Hurdle champion Iris's Gift won the first Aintree running and the following year the popular grey Monets Garden who was to later make the Mildmay course his own was victorious. The legendary Big Bucks won this race four times between 2009 and 2012 during his eighteen race unbeaten streak. Thistlecrack (2016) and Sire Du Berlais (2023) are others to win both this and the Stayers/World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in the same year. The race was moved to Grand National day in 2013. Personally I preferred it when it opened the meeting.

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Race 5 - The Grand National - 4 miles, 2 & a half furlongs -  Run on the Saturday of the meeting since 1948 with one brief exception in 1957. For many years it was the third race on the card until 1992 when it was the fourth. In 2005 it became the fifth race due to the BBC also covering the Prince of Wales' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles. From 2016 onwards in an attempt to maximise the TV audience the race has been staged at 5.15pm and is the sixth race on the card.  Strange that in 1997 when the race was postponed to the Monday 5.00pm is seemed a ridiculously late time to stage the race - how times changed. As part of the review into the race following the events of 2023 the race has been moved forward and will now start at 4.00pm.

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Race 6 - Maghull Novices Chase - 2 miles - The old Mildmay Chase first run in 1954 and between 1967 and 1975 was the only event run over the Mildmay course. After being run under a variety of sponsored guises it was renamed the Magull Novices Chase in 1994 and promoted to Grade 1 status the following year. After the Arkle Trophy it is the most prestigious novice chase over the minimum distance. Since 1990 Flagship Uberalles (1999), Well Chief (2004), Sprinter Sacre (2012), Douvan (2016) & Shishkin (2021) have won both the Arkle and this race in the same year. Paul Nicholls has won this an incredible eight times. Until 1992 this was a highlight of the second day of the meeting before being moved to the first day. Since 2005 it has been part of the National supporting card and for the first time in 2023 it opened proceedings. For 2024 it will be staged an hour after the National.

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Race 7 - Weatherbys Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race - Two miles - First run in 1987 and re-introduced in 1990 after a years absence this race concluded the meeting until 2015 when it was moved to close day two. The New One (2012) is the most notable winner. In 2021 it was switched back to it's original slot.