What is the official distance of the Grand National steeplechase at Aintree?

The Grand National steeplechase at Aintree has an official distance of about 4 miles 2½ furlongs.

The race is run over approximately 4 miles 514 yards, a distance that makes it one of the longest and most demanding events in the British National Hunt calendar. Its course includes 30 fences, although the field completes two circuits and jumps 30 obstacles in total.

Aintree’s obstacles have distinctive names, including Becher’s Brook, Valentine’s Brook, Canal Turn and The Chair. The course has been modified over time to improve safety, and the distance has changed slightly in different eras because of course alterations.

The Grand National is often loosely described as four and a quarter miles. That shorthand is useful, but the more precise traditional measurement is 4 miles 2½ furlongs. It is also separate from the shorter Grand National Festival races held at Aintree, which have different distances and obstacles.