The Grand National Festival has arrived! The action kicks off at Aintree on Thursday, 9th April, and Star Sports is celebrating with an exclusive Day 1 welcome bonus.If you are looking to tackle the famous National fences, you can secure a £25 free bet simply by placing a qualifying wager on the afternoon’s showcase event.By backing your chosen horse in the thrilling Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase at 3.30pm, you guarantee yourself a substantial free bet to keep the momentum going throughout the racing weekend. It is the perfect strategy to build your bankroll early in the three-day spectacular!How to claim your Star Sports Aintree offer:Register: Create your new online Star Sports account using the promo code AINTREE1.Bet: Wager £50+ (Win) or £25+ (Each-Way) on the Race Winner market for the 3.30pm Aintree race (Thursday, 9th April).Check the odds: Ensure your qualifying selection is priced at Evens (2.0) or greater.Claim your bonus: Your £25 Free Bet will be added automatically to your account once all terms are met!Key terms & conditions:New online customers only using promo code AINTREE1.Promotion valid from 9am Wednesday 8th April 2026 to 3.30pm Thursday 9th April 2026.Qualifying bet must be placed on the 3.30pm Aintree race (Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase).The Free Bet must also be placed at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater and expires after 72 hours.Free bets cannot be split into smaller bets.Cashed out or void bets do not qualify.Full T&Cs apply.Get your Aintree festival betting off to a flying start by securing your Star Sports bonus today!About the authorNathan HillNathan Hill is an experienced sports writer who obsessively follows football – both the round ball and American kind – as well as range of other sports including F1, basketball, darts and snooker.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply.Remember to gamble responsiblyA responsible gambler is someone who:Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chase their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukFind our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.Most read in BettingGrand National Festival betting offer: Bet £10 get £40 free racing bets on Sky BetAintree Grand National Festival Day 1 (Thursday 9th April 2026)Championship promotion odds 2025/26: Coventry on the brink of ending 25-year PL exileThursday horse racing tips: Best Aintree bets at Grand National Festival from Tom LunnThe Masters 2026 free bets, betting offers and preview: New customer offers for golf fansPSG vs Liverpool betting offer: Get 50/1 on a goal scored with Sky Bet