The Grand National is not only one of the most popular horse races in the world but it has become a part of British culture thanks to the huge number of once-a-year racing punters caught up in the excitement of this iconic event. Roughly a third of all adults in Britain enjoy Grand National betting each and every year and in 2020 the race was Britain’s biggest ever online sports betting event.
Our Grand National betting guide will take you through all the key features of this fantastic spectacle, including a rundown of exactly what makes this race so special, what you should be looking for in Grand National betting sites, as well as some advice on how to pick a winner which will maximise your enjoyment of the race and perhaps make you a couple of quid along the way!
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When it comes to race meetings, nothing beats the Cheltenham Festival. However, the most popular jumps race in the UK is undoubtedly the Grand National, so it’s no surprise that the vast majority of sportsbooks offer online Grand National betting ahead of the Aintree spectacular. And in the race to attract new punters, Grand National betting sites are falling over themselves to provide a wide range of new customer deals, special offers and much more!
The question of which is the best betting site for the Grand National is not easily answered and it can be difficult to know which sportsbooks are worthy of your time and money. So in our search for the best Grand National betting sites, we have come up with a specific set of criteria covering all the major areas that matter to punters, which will enable you to make a more effective decision.
- New Customer Offers – Online Grand National betting is a huge opportunity for sportsbooks to attract new punters, and the main way to do that is with new customer offers celebrating the race. These types of deals generally reward you for depositing money by matching your initial deposit, generally up to 100% but sometimes less. You can then use your free bet on any sporting market, including the Grand National. And don’t forget you should always check the terms and conditions surrounding any offer, welcome or otherwise!
- Grand National Betting Offers – Another perk when it comes to Grand National 2022 betting is that a huge number of bookmakers offer special deals that can help maximise your winnings. And free bets, price boosts, extra places and faller insurance are the most popular offers when it comes to betting on the Grand National online.
- Grand National Betting Odds – When it comes to Grand National 2022 betting odds, they are usually available in plenty of time before the big race, even appearing a year before on some betting sites. Odds will always differ from bookie to bookie so punters are always looking for the highest prices possible, as even a small increase can make a huge difference to your potential winnings. So if odds matter to you, it’s important to take advantage of odds comparison sites to check which online Grand National betting sites are providing the most competitive prices.
- Grand National Betting Markets – Every site we have featured in this article offers winner and each-way Grand National betting markets. However, some sites are more creative than others when it comes to other available markets, offering Grand National betting markets such as the margin of victory and age of the winner. And some even offer virtual Grand National betting to get you in the mood for the big race!
- Mobile Options – The popularity of smartphones in the UK shows no sign of dwindling and so it follows that more and more punters will consider the best betting site for the Grand National to be the one with the best app. Each and every one of the Grand National betting sites featured in this article has an iOS or Android app, but no two betting apps for the Grand National are the same, so it’s important to compare useability and site layout before making any decisions about which are the best betting apps for the Grand National.
- Live Streaming – While the Grand National has been aired on terrestrial TV for over 60 years, many racing aficionados may still find themselves out and about when the race gets underway. Fear not though because many Grand National betting sites will feature a live stream of the race, with just a small qualifying bet or a funded account generally required in order to gain access to the stream.
Grand National Betting Markets
For those of you who are relatively new to horse racing betting it’s important to outline the Grand National betting markets that you will encounter. And even if you’re an experienced punter we’re sure you will find something of interest too!
Race Winner
The most common Grand National betting market is to simply wager on the winner of the race, which is easier said than done with 40 horses taking on 30 fences over 4 and a quarter miles!
Each-Way
Many punters will place each-way bets in order to give themselves a chance to make a profit even if their selected horse does not finish first. An each-way bet is made up of two elements the first of which is the “win” part, where you will make a profit if your horse comes first. Then the second element is the “place”, if the horse fails to win but finishes in one of the top places, normally 5 for the Grand National, but sometimes 6 or even 7 if a particular sportsbook is feeling generous!
It’s important to remember that the place odds are generally a quarter or a fifth of the actual price. So for example, a £5 each-way bet will cost you £10 in total, comprising £5 for the win part and £5 for the place element. If your horse wins at 10/1 you will make £50 profit for your £5 win stake and £10 profit for the place element, presuming that you were getting 1/5 of the 10/1 odds for the place element, so 2/1. And if your horse doesn’t win but is placed, you would receive the place profit of £10 only.
Number of Finishers
Betting on the number of horses to complete the race is a popular bet with punters that want a wager that is not dependent on who wins the Grand National. The weather and the ground are often the keys to how many finishers there are as rain and softer going makes life much tougher and increases a horse’s chances of falling or even being pulled up.
Winning Distance
Another popular bet that is not reliant on the race result is to wager on the distance between the horses that finish first and second, measured in “lengths”, one of which is roughly eight feet.
Minella Times’ six and a half-length winning margin in 2021 was only the third time a horse had won by six lengths or more in the last 11 Grand Nationals, so the “Under six lengths” winning margin market should be popular next time around!
Nationality of the Winning Trainer
If you’re looking to narrow down the field to just two options then this is the bet for you, as many bookmakers will offer odds on an Irish-trained winner or a UK-trained horse being first past the post.
Irish trainers have dominated the Grand National in recent years with wins in the last three races, but looking at the bigger picture, eight of the last 12 victors have been UK-trained runners.
Multiple Betting
The Grand National Festival is full of top-class horses competing over three days, so you may wish to have a bet on a number of different runners. And there are a number of different ways to do this, including an accumulator, Placepot betting, the Trixie bet and much more.
Grand National Ante Post Betting
A common gambling term is ante post betting, which basically means placing a bet on the outcome of a race well in advance. The main advantage of Grand National ante post betting is the opportunity to secure bigger odds for a selection than those that may be available closer to the event. And when it comes to the Grand National this is even more relevant because a huge amount of bets will be placed in the week before the race and it’s not uncommon to see big reductions in the prices of the most popular horses.
The only cautionary note is that the final lineup will not be confirmed until 24 hours before the race, so there is a chance that your ante post betting for the Grand National may lead to a refund if your horse does not end up running. However, you should always check with your chosen bookmaker beforehand.
Grand National Betting Odds 2023
Prices are already out for the 2023 Grand National, with the following horses being those at the top of the betting and thus more likely to fall in price in the weeks running up to the big race!
Runner Odds Minella Times 10/1 (Betway) Any Second Now 11/1 (Betfred) Delta Work 11/1 (William Hill) Snow Leopardess 11/1 (Bet365) Eclair Surf 14/1 (888Sport) Longhouse Poet 16/1 (Bet365) Fiddlerontheroof 16/1 (Spreadex) Enjoy D’Allen 16/1 (Betfred) Run Wild Fred 16/1 (BoyleSports) Escaria Ten 20/1 (Bet365) All prices quoted correct and 25/1 Bar as of 10:00 BST on Grand National day, Saturday, 9 April 2022.
Grand National Online Betting Step-By-Step Guide
For many people, preparing to have a bet on the Grand National will be the first time they have ever set up an account at a Grand National online betting site. However, it’s generally a quick and easy process where you can be up and running and placing a bet in a matter of minutes.
Step 1: Select Your Grand National Betting Site
From our list of recommended bookies, decide which one best meets your needs when it comes to betting on the Grand National online. Look at their welcome offer, how easy the site is to use, and check out the Grand National 2022 betting markets and promotions.
For the purpose of this guide though, we’ll be using BetUK as an example.
Step 2: Sign Up
Click on the “Join” button, located in the top-right hand corner of the page, enter your personal details and create a username and password. We weren’t asked to provide any extra documents to verify our identity but it might be a requirement for others signing up.
Step 3: Verify Your Email & Deposit Funds
Before depositing for the first time you will be prompted to verify your email, which is a simple case of sending a code to your inbox which needs to be inputted on the site. Once you have done that you just need to click on “Deposit”, before choosing your preferred payment method from the drop-down list. Enter the deposit amount and payment details, confirm the total and then your funds should appear almost instantaneously.
Step 4: Browse Grand National Betting Markets
Select “Horse Racing” on the left-hand side of the page and then click on the “Daily Specials and Ante Post” button, followed by the Grand National link. Depending on how close to the race it is you will be faced with just the winner and each-way market or a selection of different ones.
Step 5: Place Bet
Add your selections to your bet slip and enter your chosen stake, before confirming the bet by clicking on the “Place Bet” button.
Step 6: Withdraw Winnings
If your bet is a winner your funds will be available to withdraw, but bear in mind that betting sites often take longer to settle Grand National bets because of the volume of wagers they have received. When your betting balance has been updated, enter the banking page of your account and click on withdraw. Select the payment method, which will generally be the same as your deposit, input your withdrawal amount and you should have your money between one and five days, depending on your withdrawal method.
Grand National Live Stream & Live Commentary
One of the reasons that the Grand National has become so popular is the fact that it has been broadcast on terrestrial TV since 1960. Fast-forward 62 years and viewers can watch the race on ITV, but for those looking to watch online, a number of bookies offer live streaming, including those below:
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Funded account Visit Betfred Must be logged in to your account Visit BoyleSports Must be logged in to your account Visit QuinnBet Best Betting Apps for the Grand National
Betting apps are a hugely popular way of wagering on the Grand National, but just like a sportsbook’s desktop sites, punters have different opinions when it comes to what they consider to be the best betting app for the Grand National.
For us, the best betting sites for the Grand National should offer an app that is easy to navigate on the smaller, portrait screen of a phone, and when it comes to the best betting apps for the Grand National, here are some of our favourites:
Grand National Betting Guide
At first glance, it may seem like a lottery picking the winner of the Grand National, with so many horses competing over such a long distance and a huge number of tough obstacles in their way. Let’s put it this way, our experts won’t be putting forward their free NAP of the Day in this 40-runner Premier Handicap.However, there are some strategies you can implement when betting on the Grand National online, to help you narrow down the field and zero in on the real contenders. Part of that process involves reading free horse racing tips today from SportsLens experts. There’s a bit more to it than that, though!
Of course, no Grand National betting tips could ever guarantee a winner and in this race more than any other, luck needs to play a part, with so many runners and fences to negotiate. However, the strategies we have outlined should help you put a shortlist together with horses that have a real crack at winning and give you some great enjoyment as the race unfolds!
Stamina
A horse’s stamina should be a big consideration because this is an equine test like no other. Generally, you should look for a horse that has already won over a distance of around three and a half miles, and horses that have completed the Grand National course before are also worthy of strong consideration.
Weather
The savviest Grand National punters take the weather into account, particularly when rain is forecast! This is because some horses excel when the going is heavy while others have never quite got to grips with soft conditions. And for those carrying the heavier weights, their task is invariably made even more difficult by heavy going.
Weight
The Grand National is a handicap race, meaning that all of the horses carry different weights, with the better horses having more to carry in an effort to even the playing field. The horses at the bottom of the handicap usually carry around 10-02 (that’s ten stones and two pounds), while the top weight can sometimes be as much as 11-10.
If a horse is carrying a large weight it usually means they are the real deal, but the nature of this race means that only one has carried more than 11st to victory in the last five years, and that was Tiger Roll, who is widely recognised as one of the greatest jumps horses of the last decade. So you can generally disregard those carrying the highest weight.
Age
A horse’s age is also an important factor as the last six winners of the race have all been either 8 or 9 years old. A 12-year-old has won just once since 1996, while a 7-year-old pulled off a rare win in 2022 so you should really really be looking at horses between 8 and 11.
What is the Grand National?
The Grand National has been called “The ultimate test of horse and rider” and it’s hard to argue as 40 horses have to tackle 30 fences over a stamina-sapping four and a quarter miles.
The race is run at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool and wherever you look around the course there are iconic features, including two of the toughest fences ever created in Becher’s Book and the Chair, the eye-catching Canal Turn and of course the Elbow, which is one of the longest run-ins in UK racing, at over a quarter of a mile.
These elements all make for a fascinating race that is unlike any other and has attracted punters in their millions to the best betting sites for the Grand National. And that increased exposure has not only made the Grand National a part of British culture but one of the most popular sporting events in the world. And it is also the most valuable jumps race in Europe with a prize fund of over one million pounds.
No race has thrown up more compelling stories than the Grand National, such as Red Rum securing a record third title in 1977 and jockey John Champion winning on Aldiniti in 1981 after recovering from cancer. Who could forget the famous “Race That Never Was” in 1993, jump jockey royalty Tony McCoy’s first and only win in 2010 and Tiger Roll’s historic double in 2018 and 2019.
As recently as 2021, we all had the privilege of watching perhaps the biggest story of them all unfold. And it was all thanks to Rachael Blackmore, who smashed through the glass ceiling and made history by becoming the first-ever female jockey to win the Grand National, after storming home on Minella Times. That race was even more symbolic after the cancellation of the Grand National in 2020, as Blackmore and her steed joined a long and distinguished list of former winners, the most recent of which are below:
Year Horse Jockey Trainer 2022 Noble Yeats Mr Sam Waley-Cohen Emmet Mullins 2021 Minella Times Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead 2019 Tiger Roll Davy Russell Gordon Elliott 2018 Tiger Roll Davy Russell Gordon Elliott 2017 One For Arthur Derek Fox Lucinda Russell 2016 Rule The World David Mullins Mouse Morris 2015 Many Clouds Leighton Aspell Oliver Sherwood 2014 Pineau De Re Leighton Aspell Richard Newland 2013 Auroras Encore Ryan Mania Sue Smith 2012 Neptune Collonges Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls 2011 Ballabriggs Jason Maguire Donald McCain, Jnr 2010 Don’t Push It Tony McCoy Jonjo O’Neill Grand National 2023 Date & Schedule
The 2023 Grand National Festival will be held between Thursday, April 7th & Saturday, April 9th at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. There are full racecards on all three days, all building up to the main event at 5:15 pm on Saturday evening.
Thursday 7th April – Liverpool’s NHS Day
Time Race Distance Type 13:45 Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f Chase 14:20 Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 1f Hurdle 14:55 Betway Bowl Chase (Grade 1) 3m 1f Chase 15:30 Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f Hurdle 16:05 Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase (Class 2) 2m 5f Chase 16:40 Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m Chase 17:15 Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m 1f Bumper Friday 8th April – Ladies Day
Time Race Distance Type 13:45 Orell Park Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 4f Hurdle 14:20 Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 1/2f Hurdle 14:55 Mildmay Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 3m 1f Chase 15:30 Melling Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f Hurdle 16:05 Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m 5f Chase 16:40 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m 1/2f Hurdle 17:15 Lydiate Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m 1/2f Hurdle Saturday 9th April – Grand National Day
Time Race Distance Type 13:45 Eft Construction Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 3m 1/2f Hurdle 14:25 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f Hurdle 15:00 Maghull Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m Chase 15:35 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m 1/2f Hurdle 16:15 Betway Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m 1f Chase 17:15 Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 4m 2f 110y Chase 18:20 Weatherbys Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m 1f Bumper Grand National Betting Summary
We have really enjoyed writing this Grand National online betting guide because not only has it brought back some great memories but it has got us excited about the latest renewal of the world’s most famous jumps race!
And now you have read this Grand National betting guide, we hope you are similarly excited, particularly as you should now be armed with an increased knowledge of Grand National betting markets, new and existing betting site customer offers for the Grand National and betting tips.
Whichever site you decide to wager with, we wish you the very best of luck! Gamble responsibly on our recommended online bookmaker and enjoy the race!
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Lee Bassin
Lee Bassin
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At first glance, it may seem like a lottery picking the winner of the Grand National, with so many horses competing over such a long distance and a huge number of tough obstacles in their way. Let’s put it this way, our experts won’t be putting forward their free 
