The Aintree Festival gets underway in Liverpool on Thursday afternoon and horse racing fanatics will be thrilled at the prospect of three days of top jumping action that concludes with the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National.

The Grand National is without doubt the most famous race of the meeting, but horse racing fanatics will be eagerly anticipating a number of the supporting races on Thursday and Friday.

We’ve had our tipsters working overtime ploughing through all the form ahead of the 2010 Grand National meeting – follow this link to read all their tips just hours before the festival gets underway.

With a whopping 21 races for punters to sink their teeth into over the course of the three days, it is vital that practised and inexperienced punters make use of the attractive looking free bet offers some of the nation’s leading bookmakers have in place.  Click here to see what bookmaker offers we recommend.

Blue Square are offering new customers a free £66 bet on the 2010 Grand National meeting – sign up now using bonus code MAXIMUMBONUS.

Similarly, Stan James are offering new customers a free £25 bet on the Aintree Festival – sign up now using bonus code MAXIMUMBONUS.

Thursday’s card from Aintree

14:00 Bgc Partners Liverpool Hurdle
14:35 Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
15:10 totesport Bowl Chase (Grade 1)
15:45 John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase
16:20 Alder Hey Imagine Appeal Red Rum Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
16:55 totepool Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 2)
17:30 Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle