OFFICIALS at Aintree have brought forward the starting time of this year's Martell Grand National by 45 minutes to enable the race to be televised fully around the world.

The marathon event has become popular with a growing international television audience but TV companies worldwide were faced with a problem because the Aintree spectacular falls a week earlier than usual, and outside British Summer Time which begins at 2.00 a.m. the next day.

Explaining the reasoning behind the move, which applies this year only, Aintree managing director Charles Barnett said: "Aintree racecourse, together with the meeting's sponsor Martell Cognac, are totally committed to expanding the international status of the Grand Nationals."