Introduced by Desmond Lynam from Aintree, featuring the Martell Grand National.
See today's choices.
Competitions and Giveaways: p124
Richard Dunwoody's Kind of Day: p130

12.15 Prologue
Setting the scene at Aintree for the great race.

12.25 Football Focus
Gary Lineker looks ahead to this weekend's FA Cup semi-finals and reflects on England and Scotland's first internationals of 1996.

12.50 Secret of Success
What makes a Grand National horse? Top trainer Jenny Pitman, twice a winner with Corbiere in 1983 and Royal Athlete last year, tells Sue Barker what to look for.

1.00 News

1.05 Guide to the Grand National
Julian Wilson, Jonathan Powell and Graham Rock with the latest news of runners and riders. Including races at 1.35 and 2.10.

2.20 Grand National Build-Up

3.00 The Grand National
Four-and-a-half gruelling miles, 30 fences including Becher's Brook, Canal Turn, Valentine's and the Chair, and 40 horses striving to win the world's most prestigious steeplechase.

3.20 The Re-run
Richard Pitman, Peter Scudamore and Bill Smith review the whole race from every angle.

3.50 Football Half-Times

4.00 Motor Racing
Live coverage of official practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix, this season's second Formula 1 race.
The race can be seen live tomorrow at 4.45pm on BBC2.

5.00 Final Score

(Stereo)

Grand National 12.15pm BBC1
The most famous steeplechase in the world, the Grand National, provides the backbone of today's Grandstand. Live coverage of the event begins at 12.15pm and in the ensuing hours the race will be previewed, watched and analysed.
Run over four-and-a-half miles, with 30 daunting fences to be cleared, the National is the one race that tempts folk to have a yearly flutter. But it is a lottery, where favourites seldom win and where a 40-1 shot such as last year's winner Royal Athlete can romp home to make a jockey, an owner, a trainer and the betting fraternity very happy in the process. This year the race starts at the earlier time of 3.00pm and for the winner there is a record £115,000 prize.
Read all about jockey Richard Dunwoody's Kind of day on page 130.