Betting events in the UK don’t come much bigger than the Grand National. Similar to the Melbourne Cup in Australia or the Kentucky Derby in the USA, this is a race which captures the imagination of the nation and is watched by millions of sports fans every year. I love betting on the Grand National and the excitement of seeing your horse battling for position in the closing stages is unrivalled. It’s one of the best sporting events on the calendar and continues to go from strength-to-strength.
Where and When
The Grand National is staged every April. Typically on the second weekend of the month. It is held at Aintree Racecourse which is located in Merseyside and it caps off a terrific three-day meeting at the track which also includes the Topham Chase and the Melling Chase.
It can be viewed on ITV in the UK but it is also broadcast around the world.
Why is the Grand National so Popular?
As the longest race in the UK, the Grand National is a feat of endurance and is always a terrific spectacle. It commands a field of 40-horses and there is always a significant amount of drama involved. Horse racing enthusiasts will be able to witness some of the greatest jumps stars in action with many of the runners having been seen during the course of the National Hunt season.
For infrequent bettors, it is a chance to browse the race-card and pick out names or silks which are visually appealing.
There a number of aspects which add to the appeal. There is always a terrific atmosphere and the beautiful surroundings of Aintree racecourse help bring the race to life. With a 40-strong field, big prices and generous odds are always available and it’s rare to see any horse going off shorter than around 5-1. This provides punters with a chance to grab some value.
Workplaces will often conduct sweepstakes ahead of the race and the biggest bookmakers will also offer superb enhancements or additional places to whet the appetite ahead of the race.
What Betting Opportunities are Available?
Loads! For big bettors like myself, it is a great chance to plan your bets advance and ante-post markets are generally available throughout the year.
For many part-time punters, it is a case of simply logging onto the sportsbook and picking out some horses who should run solidly.
Bookmakers will provide the standard race-market but additional offerings are also commonplace and it is now possible to have a bet on numerous outcomes (more of which later).
Popular Betting Markets
Race Winner – The simplest of all of the Grand National bets. This is simply a case of predicting which horse will finish first. In order to collect your winnings, this will require your chosen horse to beat every other competitor. This is a hugely rewarding way of betting and recent-ish winners such as 100/1 shot Mon Mome were victorious against the odds. If you are able to pick a big price runner and it comes home in front, it will be a massively lucrative afternoon.
Each-Way – This is a better option for anyone who is picking a big-priced selection. This will pay out if your chose horse finishing in the top five. Many online bookmakers will extend this to six or seven places for this race and it is considered to be a much safer way of playing. The odds will typically be divided by five in order to calculate your winning.
For example – 100/1 divided by 5 = 20/1
If your horse comes 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th, you will be paid out at odds of 20/1.
If your horse wins the race, you will be paid out at odds of 100/1 and the drinks will be on you!
Many punters will choose four or five bigger priced horses and bet each-way on them for this unpredictable race.
If you are betting each-way, your stake will be doubled. A £10 each-way bet on a 100/1 shot will cost you £20. £10 on the Win, £10 on the each-way market.
Forecast
This is a hugely ambitious way of punting on the Grand National and this will require punters to select the horses which occupy the first two places. A straight forecast will require the two horses to finish in the correct order whilst a reverse forecast will allow some flexibility and will pay out if your two horses finish in front (in any order).
Additional Markets
Over the past couple of years, I’ve enjoyed seeing the addition of new and exciting markets ahead of the Grand National. These can often be found on the bookmaker’s website and will typically be added once the field has been officially declared.
Where the Winner be Trained?
This is usually a 50/50 market with Ireland and the UK being the two options. Irish trainers such as Willie Mullins and Jessica Harrington typically send a strong hand over the sea to compete in the race and the 2018 renewal was won by Irish trainer Gordon Elliott. Punters must decide whether the race will throw up an Irish or UK winner. This is a great way of narrowing down the field but still keeping several runners on-side.
Winning Distance
The closing stages are often pretty congested and a number of runners are usually in with a chance. Some years have seen very few finishers and that has typically been caused by testing conditions at the track. Punters are able to wager on the gap between the winner and the remainder of the field. This will be measured in length and there usually a number of options including 1-4 lengths, 5-8 lengths etc.
Winning Owner
There are a number of owners who have multiple runners competing in the race and it is now possible to punt on whether the winner will be running in the JP McManus colours or will be representing Gigginstown.
Winner to be Trained by…
There are many trainers who send multiple representatives to the track and they will each compete in the race. Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins are just some of the trainers who are usually prominent and there are often markets for each of these trainers to achieve success in the iconic race. It is another way of slightly narrowing down the field although inferior prices are a sacrifice you must be willing to make.
All Horses to Clear the First Fence
Stamina is required in this race but agility is also key. Many of the competitors fail to complete the circuit and there are a number of iconic fences such as Bechers Brook and the Chair which will provide stiff obstacles for the runners. It is always a relief to see all of the horses getting beyond the first fence and there’s nothing worse than seeing your horse stumble in the opening stages. This bet will require every single horse to clear the first fence and continue their race.
Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the Grand National
1) Stamina is vitally important. Always looks for horses which have completed a race of some magnitude. You are looking for competitors who have successfully race over 3mile and 5furlongs or further
2) Course form is preferable. Any horse who have won or placed at Aintree should be noted.
3) Don’t opt for the top weight. The weight allowances have chances in recent years but it is still advisable to avoid picking any horse which is saddled with 11st or more. This weight is a huge ask to carry around the energy-sapping circuit. Very few horses carrying top weight have won in recent years.
4)Don’t be afraid to back an outsider. If a big-priced horse meets the criteria and is 66/1 or bigger. It’s worth an each-way bet.
5)Look out for Northern Raiders. A lot of focus can be placed upon Irish runners or those representing the likes of Nicky Henderson or Colin Tizzard. However, stables based in the North can often be used to testing conditions and smaller operations can often be worth following in this contest. Auroras Encore was a recent big priced winner who was based in the North of England.
Where to watch the Grand National in the UK
Horse racing coverage has flitted between broadcasters in the last couple of years but ITV currently hold the rights and they are likely to maintain the contract for a number of years. ITV1 will show the entire Aintree festival and the race is also available via bookmakers’ websites.
