The runners and riders are all set to battle it out over 30 intimidating fences at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool on Saturday for the 177th Grand National, with a purse of $1.2 million up for grabs.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the race as it happens, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if it’s not available where you are.
First run in 1839 and regarded as the world’s most prestigious steeplechase, an expected lineup of 34 runners are set to compete in this year’s edition of the 4-mile race.
Last year’s winner, I Am Maximus, heads the field as the favorite, with the Willie Mullins-trained, JP McManus-owned horse aiming to repeat his seven and a half length triumph in the last year’s race.
This year’s Grand National takes place at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool on Saturday, April 5. The horses are set to get under starter’s orders slightly earlier than the start time of 4 p.m. BST local time in the UK (11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 1 a.m. AEST on Sunday, April 6, in Australia).
Paul Townend rode I Am Maximus to glory in last year’s Grand National.
Livestream the Grand National 2025 in the US
FanDuel Sports Network will be showing this year’s running of this horse race live in the US.
How to watch the Grand National 2025 online from anywhere using a VPN
IIf you’re traveling abroad and want to watch all of the action from Aintree while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds, and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security.
However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN usage to access region-specific content. If you’re considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform’s terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider’s installation instructions, ensuring you’re connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN usage is crucial.
Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year)Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 35% speed loss in 2025 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream the Grand National 2025 in the UK for free
It’s one of the biggest events on the UK’s sporting calendar, and you can watch this year’s event live and for free, with the Grand National being shown on free-to-air terrestrial broadcaster ITV1. That also means you’ll be able to stream the race for free on the network’s streaming service ITVX. Coverage starts at 12:45 p.m. BST on Saturday, with the Grand National itself set to start at 4 p.m.
ITVX is free to use in the UK, and works across a wide range of devices, including Chromecast, desktop, iOS and Android, Roku, Sky Glass and Xbox.
Can I livestream the Grand National 2025 in Canada?
Canadian sports fans looking to watch Saturday’s race can watch all the action live via Sportsnet.
Sportsnet is available via most cable operators, but cord-cutters can subscribe to the network’s standalone streaming service Sportsnet Plus instead, with prices starting at CA$25 per month or CA$200 per year.
Livestream the Grand National 2025 in Australia for free
Horse racing fans down under can watch the big race from Aintree for free via the Racing.com TV channel and Racing.com website.
Quick tips for streaming the Grand National using a VPN
- With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming the big race may vary.
- If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
- If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
- All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
- And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
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