Grand National 2017: TV Schedule, Sweepstake Info, Odds, Top Contenders and More

Vieux Lion Rouge and Definitly Red lead the betting ahead of the 2017 Grand National, with the 40 runners for the annual Aintree showpiece having been confirmed on Thursday.

Per BBC Sport's Frank Keogh, Doctor Harper was the final horse to make the lineup after a withdrawal from Pendra, while Bless The Wings, Knock House, Sambremont and Viva Steve remain in reserve.

As always, it is a difficult task to pick a winner for the world's greatest steeplechase, with the horses set to take on 30 fences over more than four miles on Saturday.

Read on for full scheduling details and a preview of this year's Grand National, along with viewing details.

Date: Saturday, April 8

Time: 5:15 p.m. BST, 2:15 p.m. ET

TV Info: Live on ITV and available to stream on the ITV Hub (UK only)

Horse	Odds
Definitly Red	10-1
Vieux Lion Rouge	10-1
Blaklion	12-1
More of That	12-1
One For Arthur	14-1
The Last Samuri	14-1
Cause Of Causes	14-1
Pleasant Company	14-1
Ucello Conti	14-1
Saphir du Rheu	16-1

For full odds, courtesy of Oddschecker.com, click here. Click here for a full sweepstake kit, via Sky Sports. 

Preview 

The Last Samuri heads the field of 40 for this year's National having finished as runner-up to 33-1 shot Rule The World in 2016.

The nine-year-old will hope to go one better this year, and trainer Kim Bailey is confident he can deal with carrying the top weight, per Marcus Armytage in the Telegraph:

"

I’m very happy with him. At least David Bass [the jockey] won’t have to waste this year. He’s not the biggest but people who have ridden him tell me he's like Docklands Express [fourth in 1992]—he rides bigger and, if the ground remains pretty good, it will be much easier for him to carry it. Last year he was the focus of everyone’s attention, this year he has been forgotten.

"

No top weight has won the Grand National since Red Rum in 1974, though, and there is some serious competition in the field, not least Definitly Red.

Under jockey Danny Cook, the eight-year old cruised to victory at last month's Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, beating The Last Samuri into second by a massive 14 lengths.

Cause Of Causes also goes into Saturday's race in fine form having claimed a third consecutive win at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

And Vieux Lion Rouge, who could well go off favourite come the race, won over Grand National fences in December so has the course form to be deserving of backing.

Blaklion is another likely to be well backed. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, he won the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in 2016 and was second to Vieux Lion Rouge in February's Grand National Trial at Haydock.

Meanwhile, jockey Noel Fehily said he would not swap Blaklion for any other horse, per Jon Lees in the Racing Post:

"

It’s the Grand National, so you can’t exactly be over-confident, but I wouldn’t swap Blaklion for anything. He’s got a nice bit of form and a bit of class about him, and I’m hoping for a big run. There are plenty of other things I could worry about other than the trip, and I don’t think that will be an issue. He was very accurate around Haydock last time too, and he’s been around Cheltenham a few times, and jumps fine.

"

A heartwarming story to go among the many other lines surrounding the buildup to the 2017 Grand National is the news that a 41st place has been put on the National card this year, for terminally ill Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery, per BBC Sport's Richard Conway:

He has been given a five-star rating and perfect form, while the red and white silks match the Black Cats' home colours.