Best Grand National Betting Sites

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What to know before you place a bet on Grand National online

Amazingly, the Grand National was initially held way back in 1839. Since then, the steeplechase has transformed into one of the best-known sporting events on Earth. Over time, it has drawn a massive following. Here are interesting questions anyone keen to place a wager on the Grand National will arise.

When is the Grand National?

There’s no fixed date for the race, but it usually takes place on the first Saturday of April.

What time is the Grand National?

The race commences at 5.15 pm, although it’s important to remember that Grand National betting odds will continue to fluctuate after the horses have begun thundering around the course, providing opportunities for live bettors to make lucrative returns.

Where does the Grand National take place?

The Grand National takes place at Aintree Racecourse, just outside Liverpool. 

How long is the Grand National?

The steeplechase covers just over 4 miles and puts the runners and riders through their paces with 30 jumps required.

The first Grand National winner

The event that’s almost universally considered the first, official Grand National took place on 26 February 1839 at Aintree. Back then, it was called the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase and was won by a horse named Lottery. The jockey was James “Jem” Mason.

Grand National past winners

It’s one of the most often-asked questions in sport: “Who won the Grand National?” Here’s a list of the answers from the past two decades – not counting the cancelled 2025 race.

Year	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
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	Bellabriggs	Jason Maguire	Donald McCain Jr
2010	Don’t Push It	AP McCoy	Jonjo O’Neill
2009	Mon Mome	Liam Treadwell	Venetia Williams
2008	Comply Or Die	Timmy Murphy	David Pipe
2007	Silver Birch	Robbie Power	Gordon Elliott
2006	Numbersixvalverde	Niall Madden	Martin Brassil
2005	Hedgehunter	Ruby Walsh	Willie Mullins
2004	Amberleigh House	Graham Lee	Ginger McCain
2003	Monty’s Pass	Barry Geraghty	Jimmy Mangan
2002	Bindaree	Jim Culloty	Nigel Twiston-Davies
2001	Red Marauder	Richard Guest	Norman Mason
2000	Papillon	Ruby Walsh	Ted Walsh

Best Grand National betting sites

You won’t be short of options when you want to bet on Grand National online. So, how do you actually choose which bookie – or bookies – to sign up with? Here are some factors to consider.

Welcome bonuses and promotions

The UK’s top bookies will go out of their way to attract new punters – and that means welcome bonuses and on-going promotions will be on offer. An example is the matched deposit bonus, where the betting site will credit your account a certain percentage of your initial deposit, up to a maximum amount. So if they promise 100% up to £150, and you deposit £50, you’ll get an additional £50 to bet with. Grand National free bets may also be available as an extra promotion, so keep your eyes peeled for those.

Betting markets

The best sites will boast Grand National bet offers across a range of markets. This means you can do far more than just predict who the winner will be. Popular ways to place a bet on the Grand National include guessing how many horses will fall at the first fence, how many will actually finish the race, and what the winning distance will be. 

Banking methods

The top Grand National betting sites in the UK make it as easy as possible to deposit and withdraw funds. This means a wide range of banking methods, so you should be able to use your debit card, prepaid card, and e-wallets like PayPal and Neteller.

Best Grand National betting apps

You might not be home or by your computer when the race gets underway. But that’s no problem. You can bet on Grand National online wherever you are, using your smartphone or tablet. You can do this by either logging in via the web browser or downloading a standalone bookmaker app. The latter is a great option if you have storage space on your device, as it will have a speedy interface and you’ll be kept informed on the newest promotions through push notifications.

Grand National odds

Whenever this blockbuster event comes around, even the most casual punters – the kind of people who hardly ever bet on anything, ever – suddenly become keenly aware of the ins and outs of odds. The sheer popularity of the race means there’ll be a flurry of competing odds on offer, so it can be advantageous to sign up to a number of different betting sites and weigh up the options. 

One of the great things about the Grand National is that runners with long odds often end up winning. For example, Rule The World, which won in 2016, was a 33/1 outsider. Even Tiger Roll –winner in 2018– entered the 2019 race at 11/1, before going on to win for the second year in a row. Remember as well that Grand National betting odds will shift during the race itself, which can present extra opportunities to capitalise on swings in momentum.

Grand National tips

Horse racing wouldn’t be horse racing without tips, which have been with us since time immemorial. These days, tipsters crowd the Internet with hot takes, but you should always take advice with a hefty pinch of salt. Yes, Grand National betting tips can provide some helpful insights, but there’s no such thing as a sure thing. 

Grand National betting strategy

Let’s be real: betting on a horse race – especially one as frenetic and chaotic as the Grand National – is largely down to the fickle finger of fate. But that doesn’t mean you can’t put yourself in the best possible position before you put your money down. When it comes to how to bet on Grand National, you can make the wisest decision after doing your research. Look into the recent form of the horses, jockeys and trainers – how did they do at the Cheltenham Festival, for example? Which horses have a proven track record when it comes to steeplechases and Aintree in particular? Pay particular attention to Irish-trained or Irish-bred horses, as they’ve done very well in recent years. With the notoriously unpredictable Grand National, you might want to consider each way bets, which are safer as you’ll also get a return if your horse doesn’t win but does place in a certain position.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many fences are there in the Grand National?

  There are 16 fences on the course. All of these are jumped on the first lap, while only 14 are jumped on the second, making 30 jumps in total.

• Should I study the form guide?

  For many, reading the form guide is part and parcel of Grand National betting. And, as we mentioned above in the strategy section, doing your homework is always a good idea. But it’s fair to say form is less important in the Grand National compared to other major races, thanks to the frantic, free-for-all nature of the event, and all those jumps. This is why the Grand National attracts many casual punters who just want a bit of fun by putting money on horses with zany names and colours. 

• Which jockeys have the best Grand National records?

  A recent superstar of Aintree is Irishman Davy Russell, who won back-to-back Grand Nationals in 2018 and 2019 with the modern legend that is Tiger Roll. Some years before that, another Irish jockey – Leighton Aspell – also pulled off a double, winning the 2014 and 2015 Grand Nationals with different horses. An enduring name in the history of the Grand National is Brian Fletcher, the Englishman who the Grand National a whopping three times. The latter two triumphs, in 1973 and 1974, were with the iconic horse Red Rum. However, the most successful Grand National jockey of all time was George Stevens. The Cheltenham-born champion bagged a remarkable five wins in the Victorian era.

• Which trainers have the best Grand National records?

  Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has had reason to feel proud recently, having overseen the double-whammy of wins by Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019. These were actually his second and third Grand National victories, after a win in 2007 with Silver Birch. Going back into the mists of time, Fred Rimell earnt the nickname “Mr Grand National” for training four winning horses over two decades (1956, 1961, 1970, 1976). Another great 20th Century trainer, Ginger McCain, equalled Rimell’s four-win tally – his haul including Red Rum’s famous treble in the 1970s.