±«Óãtv

In what will be a first for UK horse racing, the ±«Óãtv will broadcast the 2010 Grand National in High Definition.

As one of the UK's most popular sporting occasions, the famous steeplechase is the ultimate test of speed, strength and stamina and is a fitting event for the first HD TV horse racing broadcast.

There will be comprehensive live coverage from all three days of the Aintree festival across ±«Óãtv One and ±«Óãtv Two, ±«Óãtv Radio 5 Live, ±«Óãtv Sport online and Red Button, with the entire meeting shown on ±«Óãtv HD.

As well as broadcasting in HD, two new high-speed cameras will be used for the Grand National this year at The Chair and Becher's Brook. These cameras capture the action for high speed replays, revealing the splendour of the horses jumping over these imposing fences. The vortex camera is once again in use, operating from ground level to 100ft with 360 degree rotation, showing the full spectacle of the Grand National field as they go past the packed grandstands. ±«Óãtv Sport also has exclusive access to the jockey room before and after the big race.

The ±«Óãtv's TV coverage is presented by Clare Balding alongside Rishi Persad. They are joined by former Grand National-winning jockeys Mick Fitzgerald and Richard Dunwoody who, as expert pundits, will provide top-class analysis from the paddock. Richard Pitman and Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes will also be out and about at Aintree, bringing all the atmosphere of this, Liverpool's unique sporting event.

John Parrott once again pairs up with Gary Wiltshire to bring expert insight from the betting ring and all the news over the three days.

Jim McGrath leads the commentary team and is joined by Ian Bartlett and Darren Owen for the big race.

Live TV coverage from Aintree includes five races each day on Thursday 8 April and Friday 9 April on ±«Óãtv Two. Coverage begins at 1.40pm on Thursday and 1.45pm on Friday. Saturday's John Smith's Grand National programme on 10 April begins at 1.00pm on ±«Óãtv One with the big race starting at 4.15pm.

Radio 5 Live has live coverage from Aintree on all three days. Coverage is led by 5 Live racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght, with commentary from Luke Harvey and John Hunt. Former jockey Mick Fitzgerald also lends his expert opinion to radio audiences.

On Thursday 8 April Richard Bacon will be broadcasting his 5 Live programme from Aintree (2.00-4.00pm), with live commentary of the key races and special guests. There will also be live coverage of the pick of the day's races on Friday 9 April (2.00-4.00pm).

On Friday evening, 7.00-10.00pm, Colin Murray presents a special Kicking Off With Colin Murray from Liverpool John Moores University in front of a live audience. Colin will be joined by racing legends Mick Fitzgerald and 14 time Champion jockey Tony McCoy to look ahead to the Grand National the following day.

On Saturday 10 April Mark Pougatch presents 5 Live Sport from Aintree from 12noon, with commentary of the day's big races, including all the build-up and live coverage of the Grand National at 4.15pm.

To celebrate this year's Grand National, 5 Live is broadcasting a variety of programmes live from Liverpool John Moores University in front of local audiences, as well as hosting off-air events in the city (Thursday 8-Saturday 10 April). Featured programmes include a Mark Pougatch Sports Panel on Friday afternoon (1.00-2.00pm) and Fighting Talk on Saturday (11.00am-12noon); for full details visit bbc.co.uk/5live.

At bbc.co.uk/racing there will be live and on-demand video of ±«Óãtv races (UK only) plus live text commentary on Grand National day. The site provides everything race fans need to know about the big event, including coverage times, a guide to the National runners and riders and the popular online office sweepstake kit. Coverage will be available to watch for seven days on the ±«Óãtv iPlayer.

Up-to-the-minute results from Aintree will be available throughout the meeting, along with debates on the action at the 606 racing section of the website. And for the first time in 2010, news, colour and chat from the course will be available via the social networking site Twitter from the ±«Óãtv radio correspondent Cornelius Lysaght and racing website specialist Honest Frank: http://twitter.com/CorneliusRacing http://twitter.com/HonestFrank

LW