Why has the Grand National time changed from 5.15pm to 4pm?

ONE of the biggest days in racing is almost here.

The Grand National returns to Aintree TOMORROW - but at a slightly different time this year.

Aintree's featured race is set to start one hour and 15 minutes earlier than the more regular time of 5:15pm.

The move comes as part of a huge overhaul of the annual race, which includes slashing the number of runners from 40 to 34.

Why has the start time changed?

Sulekha Varma, clerk of the course at Aintree, has cited safety concerns as the main reason for the race being brought forward.

She said: "We leave no stone unturned in providing world-class standards of welfare for our participants and undertake a review after every Randox Grand National.

"These reviews look at a wide range of factors and the learnings from the process drives a number of changes, large and small, annually.

"In October we announced that one of the changes being made from 2024 would involve bringing forward the start time of the race, which has been 5.15pm since 2016.

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"This was a decision we took after a number of participants and other racing stakeholders raised concerns about the long build-up to the race throughout the day and heightened tension as a result.

"These were not issues which had been identified as a problem when the race was previously staged at 3.45pm and 4.15pm.

"Bringing forward the start time of the Randox Grand National by 75 minutes to 4pm will also help us to maintain optimal jumping ground, as warm or breezy conditions can dry out the racing surface.

"We would like to thank both our broadcast partner ITV and the British Horseracing Authority for their assistance in helping to bring about this change to a race which remains a British institution, loved and watched by millions of people all over the world every year."

In addition to the new start time, the first fence has been moved 60 yards closer to slow the speed at which horses run into it.

The running rail, which goes beside the track, has also been altered to help capture loose horses.

How to watch Grand National 2024

ITV1 and Racing TV will broadcast the Grand National this year.

You can live stream the race for FREE via the ITVX app/website.

Alternatively, you can follow all the action from Aintree Festival by following SunSport's live blog.