The Grand National (40 picture)

The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase over a distance of four miles and 856 yards (7,242 m), with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree’s National Course.
The steeplechase is the centrepiece of a three-day meeting, one of only four run at Aintree in the racing season. It is the most valuable National Hunt event in Britain, offering a total prize fund of £950,000 in 2011. The race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year. Thousands of people dress up and come out to enjoy the sunshine – UK weather permitting of course – the food, the drink, the racing and the betting.
This year’s big race was won by the horse Ballabriggs ridden by jason Maguire.

101. Ballabriggs, ridden by Jason Maguire, jumps the last fence on the way to win the Grand National Steeple Chase on the final day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2010. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

202. A racegoer poses for photographers during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

303. Racegoers pose for photographers during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

404. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

505. Racegoers leave after the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

606. Racegoers pose for photographers during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

707. Racegoers pose for photographers during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

808. Baby Run ridden by Willie Twiston-Davies (C) jumps over the chair fence on the way to winning the Fox Hunters steeple chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

909. Big Buck's ridden by Ruby Walsh (L) jump the last hurdle on the way to winning the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle race ahead of Grands Crus ridden by Tom Scudamore at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

1010. Baby Run (L), ridden by Willy Twiston-Davies, jumps Bechers Brook on the way to winning the Fox Hunters' steeple chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

1111. Baby Run ridden by Willie Twiston-Davies jumps the last fence on the way to winning the Fox Hunters steeple chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

1212. Nacarat ridden by Paddy Brennan jumps over the last fence on the way to winning the Totesport Bowl Steeple Chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

1313. Nacarat ridden by Paddy Brennan (R) jumps over the last fence the first time round on the way to winning the Totesport Bowl Steeple Chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

1414. Ballabriggs ridden by Jason Maguire (front L) jumps Becher's Brook on his way to winning the Grand National Steeplechase on the final day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

1515. Racegoers react to the action during the first day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

1616. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

1717. Kanesh ridden by J Codd jumps the last fence during the Fox Hunters steeple chase at Aintree, northern England April 7, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

1818. Quito de la Roque (L) ridden by Davy Russell on his way to winning the Mildmay Novices' Steeple Chase, is followed closely by Sarando ridden by Will Kennedy on Ladies' Day at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

1919. Race-goers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

2020. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

2121. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

2222. Coleen Rooney (2nd L), wife of soccer player Wayne Rooney, watches the races on Ladies' Day at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

2323. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

2424. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

2525. Racegoers react during the Topham Steeple chase race during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

2626. Racegoers arrive for the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

2828. Racegoers cheer as Topolski (R) wins the Top Novices hurdle race during the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

2929. Master Minded ridden by Ruby Walsh jumps the last fence on his way to winning The John Smith's Melling Steeple Chase on Ladies' Day at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

3030. Quito de la Roque (L) ridden by Davy Russell on his way to winning the Mildmay Novices' Steeple Chase, is chased by Sarando ridden by Will Kennedy, on Ladies' Day at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

3131. Made in Taipan ridden by Robbie Power jumps the last in The John Smith's Melling Steeple Chase on Ladies' Day at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England, April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

3232. Racegoers are seen during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

3333. Racegoers sit as they eat during the second day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree, northern England April 8, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

3434. Ballabriggs, ridden by Jason Maguire (L), clears the Chair during the Grand National Steeple Chase at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree in Liverpool, northern England, April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

3535. Race-goers react to the action during the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

3636. Racegoers react during the Aintree hurdle race on the final day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

3737. Ballabriggs, ridden by Jason Maguire, comes across the line to win the Grand National Steeple Chase during the Grand National Meeting at Aintree in Liverpool, northern England, April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

3838. Ballabriggs, ridden by Jason Maguire, comes across the line to win the Grand National Steeple Chase during the Grand National Meeting at Aintree in Liverpool, northern England, April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

3939. Jason Maguire dismounts Ballabriggs after they won the Grand National Steeple Chase during the Grand National Meeting at Aintree in Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

4040. Ballabriggs' jockey Jason Maguire (L), the winner of the Grand National Steeplechase, walks to the winners' enclosure during the Grand National Meeting at Aintree, Liverpool, northern England April 9, 2011. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne