The Grand National is the single biggest betting event of the year in the UK. Around 600 million people watch worldwide, and more casual punters place a bet on the National than any other race. The race takes place at Aintree each April, covers 4 miles and 514 yards over 30 fences, and typically features a field of up to 34 runners. That large field and the unpredictable nature of jumps racing makes it one of the most exciting – and challenging – betting events on the calendar.
Grand National Betting at a Glance
Best Grand National Betting Sites
The bookmakers below all offer Grand National markets and hold valid UKGC licences. For the National, the key differentiators are each-way place terms (some pay 4 places, others pay 6 or more), ante-post prices, and whether they offer extra place promotions on the day.
Casino list updated: April 2026
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Grand National Betting Markets
The National generates more betting markets than a typical horse racing event. Here's what most bookmakers offer.
Outright Winner
The most popular bet. With 34 runners, winners regularly come in at double-figure prices. The favourite has won in some recent years, but outsiders at 20/1 to 66/1 have also landed the race. That unpredictability is what makes the race so appealing for a punt.
Each-Way Betting
Each-way is the standard way to bet on the Grand National. Your stake is split into two bets: one for the win and one for a place. Standard terms are 1/4 odds for the first 4 places, but many bookmakers extend this to 5, 6, or even 8 places for the National as a promotion. Backing a 33/1 shot each-way with 1/4 odds for 6 places means you get paid 33/4 (around 8/1) if your horse finishes in the top 6. Always check how many places each bookmaker is paying before placing your bet.
Ante-Post Betting
Ante-post odds are available months before the race, typically from November onwards. Prices are longer because you're taking the risk that your horse might not run - if it's injured, fails to make the final declaration, or is balloted out, you lose your stake. Non-runner no bet (NRNB) offers remove this risk but at shorter odds. Ante-post betting rewards early research into potential runners and form from key trial races.
Place Betting
Instead of win or each-way, you can bet on a horse to finish in the top 2, 3, 4, or 6 at fixed odds. Place-only bets are useful when you think a horse will run well but might not win. The odds are shorter than each-way place returns but the stake is simpler.
Forecast and Tricast
Predict the first two (forecast) or first three (tricast) finishers in exact order. These are high-risk, high-reward bets. In a 34-runner race, getting the first two right in order is extremely difficult, which is why forecast payouts can be substantial.
Specials and Props
Some bookmakers offer extra markets like: will the favourite win? Will a grey horse finish in the top 3? How many horses will complete the course? These novelty bets add to the fun for casual punters.
How to Bet on the Grand National
- 1Open an account with a UKGC-licensed bookmaker from the list above
- 2Navigate to Horse Racing and find the Grand National (usually under Ante-Post or Aintree)
- 3Browse the runners and their odds - check each-way place terms before selecting
- 4Choose your horse and select win only, each-way, or place only
- 5Enter your stake and confirm the bet
- 6On race day (April), watch the race live on ITV and follow your selection
- 7Collect any winnings - they are usually settled within minutes of the result
Grand National Betting Tips
Picking the Grand National winner is notoriously difficult, but historical trends can narrow down the field.
Weight Is a Factor
Over the last decade, the vast majority of Grand National winners have carried less than 11 stone. Only a handful of recent winners have defied top weight. Lighter-weighted horses have an advantage over 4+ miles of stamina-sapping fences. When analysing runners, pay attention to their allocated weight - horses carrying 10 stone to 10-12 have a stronger strike rate historically.
Age Sweet Spot
Eight, nine, and ten-year-olds have dominated recent Grand Nationals. Younger horses may lack the experience to handle the fences, while older horses may lack the stamina to last the distance. The age profile of your selection is one of the easiest trends to apply.
Previous Aintree Form
Horses who have run well over the National fences before have an edge. The Becher Chase (run over the National course in December) is a key trial - runners who have placed in the Becher often outperform their odds in the National itself. Check whether your selection has completed the course before.
Fitness and Race Prep
Horses who have had 3 or more runs during the current season tend to be fitter for the National than those who've only had one or two outings. The National is a severe test of stamina and jumping, and match fitness matters. Check each horse's season form on Racing Post or At The Races before betting.
Price Range
Grand National winners at single-figure odds are relatively rare given the field size. The sweet spot for value is typically in the 14/1 to 33/1 range, where you're getting a decent price on a horse that has genuine credentials without being a total outsider.
From 19 January 2026, the UK Gambling Commission capped wagering requirements on bonuses at 10x the bonus value. If you claim a free bet from a Grand National promotion, the maximum wagering before withdrawal is 10x the bonus amount.
The Grand National Course
Aintree's Grand National course is unique in British racing. The 30 fences include some of the most famous obstacles in the sport:
- Becher's Brook (Fences 6 and 22) - The most famous fence, with a significant drop on the landing side. Catches out horses that jump too flat.
- The Chair (Fence 15) - The tallest fence on the course at 5 feet 2 inches, preceded by a 6-foot ditch. Only jumped once.
- Canal Turn (Fences 8 and 24) - A 90-degree left turn immediately after the fence. Positioning approaching this fence is critical.
- Valentine's (Fences 9 and 25) - Another fence with a significant drop, similar to Becher's but slightly less severe.
- Water Jump (Fence 16) - Only jumped once, marks the end of the first circuit.
Modifications in recent years have improved safety, making the fences more horse-friendly while keeping the challenge that makes the race unique. The spruce tops of the fences are now softer and more forgiving than the old solid birch, and the landing areas have been levelled at several fences including Becher's Brook. These changes have reduced the number of fallers without removing the spectacle. The course now attracts higher-quality horses than it did a decade ago, and completion rates have improved significantly.
Key Trial Races
Several races earlier in the season serve as Grand National trials. Watching these gives you an edge when the ante-post market opens:
- Becher Chase (December, Aintree) - Run over the National fences. The most direct trial.
- Welsh Grand National (December, Chepstow) - A stamina test over 3 miles 5 furlongs that tests similar attributes.
- Grand National Trial (February, Haydock) - Specifically designed as a National warm-up.
- Irish Grand National (Easter Monday, Fairyhouse) - Often produces dual-National winners.
- Cheltenham Festival races (March) - The Cross-Country Chase and staying handicaps highlight potential National contenders.
Recent Grand National Winners
Looking at recent winners confirms the trends in our tips section and shows what type of horse tends to land the race:
- 2025 - TBC (race not yet run)
- 2024 - I Am Maximus (trained by Willie Mullins, age 8, carried 11st 6lb)
- 2023 - Corach Rambler (trained by Lucinda Russell, age 9, carried 10st 13lb, had run over the National fences before)
- 2022 - Noble Yeats (trained by Emmet Mullins, age 7, carried 10st 2lb, won at 50/1 as the first 7-year-old winner in decades)
- 2021 - Minella Times (trained by Henry de Bromhead, age 8, carried 10st 7lb, ridden by Rachael Blackmore)
- 2019 - Tiger Roll (trained by Gordon Elliott, age 9, carried 11st 5lb, back-to-back winner)
Most recent winners were aged 8-9, carried under 11 stone, and had form over staying fences. Tiger Roll was the exception - carrying 11st 5lb as a dual winner - but he was a unique horse with exceptional Aintree form. The 2022 winner Noble Yeats was a 50/1 outsider, proving that the Grand National can still produce massive upsets. Each-way betting protects you in these scenarios - backing the winner each-way at 50/1 would have still returned handsomely even with a place-only finish.
How to Read the Form Guide
The Racing Post and At The Races publish detailed form guides for every Grand National runner. If you're not familiar with racing form, here's what to focus on:
- Recent finishing positions - Look for horses that have been completing races (finishing in the top 6) rather than falling or pulling up. Completion rate matters more in the National than in any other race.
- Course form - An "A" in the form figures means the horse has run at Aintree. Check how they performed - a placed finish over the National fences is a strong positive sign.
- Distance form - The Grand National is over 4 miles. Horses who have proven stamina over 3 miles+ in previous races are more likely to last the distance. A horse that fades after 3 miles in other races will struggle here.
- Ground preference - The going at Aintree varies year to year. Some horses prefer soft ground, others want good to firm. Check the weather forecast in the week before the race and match it to each runner's ground preference.
Grand National vs Other Major Races
The Grand National sits alongside the Cheltenham Festival as the peak of the National Hunt calendar. For year-round horse racing betting, our main racing page covers all UK and Irish meetings. Football betting dominates the rest of the season, but the National is the one day when racing outperforms every other sport for betting turnover.
Grand National Betting for Beginners
If you've never bet on the Grand National before, keep it simple. The best approach for first-time bettors is a small each-way bet on a horse you like. Each-way gives you two chances - a payout if your horse wins, and a smaller payout if it finishes in the places (typically top 4-6 depending on the bookmaker's promotion).
Don't overthink it. Pick a horse based on the tips section above (age 8-10, under 11 stone, previous Aintree form) and place a small each-way stake. The Grand National is one race, one day per year - there's no need to bet your entire month's budget. A few pounds each-way on two or three horses is plenty for an enjoyable afternoon. More experienced punters can look at forecast bets or spread their selections across the full Aintree card, but for your first National, one or two each-way bets is the right starting point.
Responsible Betting
The Grand National is a once-a-year event, and it's easy to get caught up in the excitement. Set a budget for your National bets before race day and stick to it. The race attracts many first-time bettors - if that's you, start with a simple each-way bet rather than complicated accumulators or forecasts.
All bookmakers on this site are UKGC licensed and offer deposit limits and self-exclusion. For support, contact GambleAware on 0808 8020 133 or visit GAMSTOP.
For mobile betting on race day, see our betting apps guide. For live race betting, check live betting sites. For accumulator betting across the Aintree card, see our acca guide. Browse all bookmaker reviews on the homepage or the full betting sites directory.
When is the Grand National?
The Grand National takes place in April each year at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. The race is usually held on the first or second Saturday of April and is broadcast live on ITV.
How many horses run in the Grand National?
Up to 40 horses can be entered, but the maximum field size is 34 runners after the final declaration stage. Horses can be balloted out if too many are entered, which is why ante-post betting carries risk.
What does each-way mean on the Grand National?
An each-way bet splits your stake into two bets: one for your horse to win and one for it to place. Standard terms are 1/4 odds for the first 4 places, but many bookmakers extend this to 5, 6, or even 8 places for the Grand National as a promotion.
What does ante-post mean in Grand National betting?
Ante-post means betting on the Grand National before the final declarations. Odds are longer because you take the risk that your horse might not run. If the horse is withdrawn, you lose your stake unless the bookmaker offers non-runner no bet (NRNB) terms.
What are the most famous fences in the Grand National?
The most famous fences are Becher's Brook (fences 6 and 22, known for its steep drop on landing), The Chair (fence 15, the tallest at 5 feet 2 inches with a ditch in front), and the Canal Turn (fences 8 and 24, which requires a sharp 90-degree left turn after jumping).
How do I pick a Grand National winner?
Look at weight (winners typically carry under 11 stone), age (8 to 10-year-olds win most often), previous Aintree form (especially the Becher Chase), and current season fitness (3 or more runs). The 14/1 to 33/1 price range has historically produced the most winners relative to odds.
What is the best type of bet for the Grand National?
Each-way betting is the most popular and practical bet for the Grand National. With up to 34 runners, the winner is hard to predict, so getting paid out for a place finish (top 4, 5, or 6 depending on the bookmaker) gives you a better chance of a return on your stake.









