A cold and unsettled week in the build up to Aintree and the Grand National. Frost and rain, even sleet showers with a chilly wind.
As the winter jumps season comes to an end and the flat season starts, there will be a lot of random betting this weekend on the Grand National. With so many runners, it often throws up a surprise, yet last year’s winner Tiger Roll is favourite again. The only weather name in the lengthy list of runners is Vintage Clouds and the current going is Good to Soft even with some damage to the course early on Monday morning.
The Festival runs from Thursday 4th April until Saturday 6th with “ the most iconic of all handicapped horseracing events in the world”
What about the weather forecast this week?
Colder than it has been and more unsettled. April brings a chilly northerly flow midweek with the chance of some wintry showers whirling past Aintree this week. Nothing is expected to settle although there may be a temporary whiteness on the ground from hail, but it is a different picture from the end of March warmth. A frost is expected for Friday morning and although there is a lot of uncertainty about the fine detail for showers and rainfall, there are signs of a frontal band pushing east across Britain on Saturday. If this does come off, it may reach NW England late afternoon. A lot of uncertainty with this as the UK is in the middle of lots of jostling weather systems from Wednesday onwards.
It’s going to be quite difficult to predict how much rain will actually reach Aintree over the next few days with showers coming and going.
Tuesday’s westerly wind will drive showers in off the Irish Sea. The winds will be from the north for a time on Wednesday, so dry before backing to the NW again and the risk of another downpour and there could be a spell of heavier rain Wednesday night into Thursday morning with a brisk cold westerly wind. This is from an area of low pressure to the NE and as Aintree is at the edge of the rain band it won’t take much for the rain to just stay further north.
Friday brings a swing in wind direction, to the SW then SE and again uncertainty if rain will reach up to Merseyside.
Then by Saturday a cool east to NE wind but hopefully the rain band will falter before it reaches over the Pennines
There will be an update on Wednesday for the detail for each race day but for a current outlook. Aintree forecast
On Grand National Thursday at Aintree - Cold, with blustery showers, of rain, sleet and hail. Mixed with drier spells but always chilly in the wind. +5C but feeling more like -1C
Friday is Ladies Day, #FabulousFriday - Nippy start but not as cold in the afternoon, up to 10C. Breezy which is a shame for the hats. Not as bad as on Thursday and more chance of sunny spells but with a risk of showers.
And then there’s Grand National Day, with the most well-known race being at 5:15 on Saturday, that’s the big one - A better day, drier, not as cold, up to 11C in a NE breeze. Hopefully, the rain will hold off til evening.
On the day keep an eye on the Netweather Radar, for when to pop inside.
