Enjoy the Grand National betting offers 2020. The Grand National Betting 2020 is fixing to be the biggest yet! Let's turn our attention to some tips and Grand National betting offers. Grand National Betting 2020: Tips and Tricks. If Red Rum was still alive, our first tip would be to bet on him, since he won 3 times in all. Alas, Red Rum has. Nearer the time these bookmakers will have dedicated 2021 Grand National offers. But the experience of placing a Grand National bet online is exactly the same, no matter the bookmaker. See our recommended bookmakers to make a Grand National bet: Betfair Grand National Offers. Coral Grand National Offers. Sky Bet Grand National Offers.
Probably the most iconic horse race in the world! We think that the true test of a sporting event becoming iconic is when people who have no interest in the sport are able to identify that race. We'd guess that the majority of the UK public know or have heard of the Grand National and we'd also guess that this spreads much further than simply the UK.
One of the reasons why people are so romantically in love with Grand National is that it's the ultimate test for horses. They have to run a gruelling course over huge hurdles and the winner is often is the horse that is able to get over cleanest rather than the horse is necessarily the fastest on the day.
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About the Grand National
The first Grand National was run in 1839 and is held within the iconic Aintree racecourse in Liverpool. The race can include up to 40 horses and with it they need to navigate themselves around the 4m track and across no fewer than 30 fences just to get to the end of the race.
The racecourse is often as much as the spectacle as the race and the horses itself. The track is one of the toughest in the world and the fences that the horses have to jump over have become so formidable, many of them have been named. The likes of Becher's Brook, The Chair and Canal Turn are all iconic aspects of this special race, many of which have been named over fallen horses or jockey's from down the years.
But, the race does come with a little controversy attached to it, mainly from animal rights groups claiming that the course is too tough with horse fatalities often being part and parcel. Increased safety measures have been put in place over the years, but the argument is that it's meant to be the toughest test for these horses and the reality is that injuries or falls can happen in any race, whether it be over hurdles or even flat racing.
Previous Grand National Winners
| Winner | Year | Runners | Prize Money | Going | Price | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Roll | 2018 | 38 | £561,300 | Heavy (soft in places) | 10/1 | 8 |
| One For Arthur | 2017 | 40 | £561,300 | Good to soft | 14/1 | 8 |
| Rule The World | 2016 | 40 | £561,300 | Soft (heavy in places) | 33/1 | 9 |
| Many Clouds | 2015 | 39 | £561,300 | Good to soft | 25/1 | 8 |
| Pineau de Re | 2014 | 40 | £561,300 | Good to soft | 25/1 | 11 |
| Auroras Encore | 2013 | 40 | £547,258 | Good to Soft | 66/1 | 11 |
| Neptune Collonges | 2012 | 40 | £547,267 | Good | 33/1 | 11 |
| Ballabriggs | 2011 | 40 | £535,135 | Good | 14/1 | 10 |
The prize money is another aspect that make the race so iconic. With £1million being up for grabs in 2017, it makes it the most valuable jump race in Europe and one of the richest horses races in the world. The winner is set to take home a massive £561,300 from it, which is a life changing sum for anyone in the industry. Often you will find that the horses are owned as part of a syndicate, which often makes these days that little bit more special, due to the long odds that are often on offer.
A lot of people put the popularity of the race down to the fact that the BBC has continued to back the Grand National over the years. It's ben running on the BBC since 1960 and is now a Saturday afternoon feature in the first weekend of April. In 2013 the right were sold to that of Channel 4 and then later in 2017 to ITV, still allowing free-to-air viewing of the race. It's thought that around the world over 500 million people tune in to watch the race in over 140 countries. These numbers rival that of the Football World Cup and the Superbowl, just to put that into context.
From a betting point of view, the numbers continue to be impressive. Over £250 million is wagered on the race in the UK alone and the potential for a bookmaker to get a result wrong or not have their books cleared could be worth up to a £40million loss for them, such are the numbers. Again, just to put these figures into content, The same money is expected to be wagered on the whole of the Cheltenham Festival across the four days, compared to this one race.
History of the Race
It was William Lyn who was the founder of the Grand National, who in 1829 set out the course on rented land from William Molyneux, 2nd Earl of Sefton. But, there is contrasting stories about when the first Grand National race was actually run. A lot of the leading historians who have specialised in the subject now believe that the first race wasn't run until 1836.
The debate surrounds where the initial races were run, with some believing that early races were in fact held at Mughall, and not Aintree. But, there does seem to be evidence to suggest that these early races were in fact run at Aintree and whilst not everyone is convinced, we think that the information does stack up and well, it makes for a better story!
Some of the early races were won by the likes of The Duke, who actually won the first two races. Whilst not only is the horse iconic as the first winner of the race, but the jockey, Martin Becher, will also go down in Grand National history as the fence, Becher's Brook is named after him as he fell in the following years race.
In 1838 it was decided that more needed to be done to promote the meeting and with it a committee was formed to do exactly this. Two key points aided to the success of the meeting:
- In 1928 the introduction of the railway to Liverpool occurred allowing punters to travel from across the UK
- The Great St. Albans Chase was not renewed. Iconic because it was the major clash with the Grand national.
These points and the appointment of the committee led to the first official race, known as the Grand National to be run in 1838. The race continued to flourish throughout the 19th Century and into the 20th century. It was actually moved in World War to run at a racecourse near Gatwick, but these result are often omitted form Grand National past results, due the course not being anywhere near as tough as Aintree.
One of the strangest stories to evolve from the National occurred in 1928, a race that was won by Tipperary Tim. This year was iconic in that the horse was the only one from 42 starters to complete the race. The race was held in treacherous fog and heavy ground, which made the Aintree course almost unusable, but Tipperary Tim will always be known as the one horse race as a result, winning at a staggering 100/1 in the meantime.
The second World War forced a break of 4 years for the Grand national, and even though the race did still manage to be run in 1940, the Aintree racecourse was needed as a base for the military, so races from 1941-45 were all abandoned as a result.
After the war the Grand National really started to flourish and it was the first time that international fans and even horses were starting to become a firm fixture in the race. Some notable names in the 1950's were that of trainer Vincent O'Brien (3 winners) on horses such as Early Mist, Royal Tan and Quare Times.
Over the next 50 years or so, the race would take many twists and turns, serving up a plethora of hero stories and long shot winners in that time. One of the most bizarre and funniest stories comes from a horse owned but the Queen Mother, when Devon Loch was some 40 yards clear in the 1956 Grand National, before inadvertently jumping in the air after clearing all the fences to land flat on its belly.
Red Rum: The Greatest Horse to Run the Grand National
We can't go any further without talking about the greatest horse to ever run the Grand National, Red Rum. The horse dominated the 1970's in a time when the Grand National was probably at it's lowest ever point in terms of popularity, mainly due to the sale of the race course to property developer, Bill Davies. It was Davies who then tripled entry prices and is also the reason behind the lowest attendance at any Grand National in living memory.
Just when the sport and the race needed a hero, up stepped Red Rum! Red Rum was quickly becoming the horse to watch in the 1970's, with trainer Ginger McCain saying it was the best horse they had ever trained. The horse was bought in 1966 for just £420, but it was McCain who eventually paid the then handsome sum of £6,300, which little did he know was going to totally change his life.
Interestingly, it was just a couple of days after McCain started work on Red Rum that he noticed the horse was actually lame. He sued a technique of walking it through sea water to recover the horse, which clearly had a massive positive affect.
In 1973 the horse went on to win the Grand National for the first time. The next two victories were at the 1974 and 1977 races, respectively, and is still the only horse to have won the race on three spate occasions. What many people aren't aware of is that in the two years between Red Rum's second and third victory (1975 and 1976) the horse finished second in both of these races. So, over the space of 5 consecutive Grand Nationals, the horse's form read 11221, which is pretty incredible considering how competitive this race had become.
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Grand National Online Betting Offers Odds
Terms & Conditions: T&Cs Apply. Full terms apply.
Why These Grand National Betting Sites?
Unsurprisingly, due to the popularity of the race, UK betting sites and others from across the world offer countless odds and markets on the Grand National. Using our tried and tested research strategy, the team at SBO.net has identified the best betting sites for the Grand National. We've done the hard work for you, so you don't have to waste time on less than great sites.
In addition to finding you great offers and top Grand National betting odds, we also make sure the sites we recommend are safe and secure. Our criteria for selection includes:
Generous Promotions
No great offers, no dice. We scour all the best Grand National betting sites to bring you the absolute best deals on the market. Our recommended sites will typically offer you generous joining perks, including deposit match bonuses and free bets.
The Best Odds
We shortlist the best bookmakers through our odds comparison research. Using regularly updated data, we provide you with the best Grand National odds currently on the market, giving you a bigger bang for the same bet.
Markets and Other Sports
When we recommend horse racing betting sites to you, their ability to offer you a whole host of markets is key. All our sites offer everything from spread betting to faller offers. Plus, we examine the best betting sites for Grand National action that also offer sports markets with competitive offers.
Encrypted Sites
Last but not least, we check the security credentials of all potentially attractive Grand National online betting sites. We look into how sites store your personal information, in addition to checking the levels of encryption on selected sites.
How to Place a Bet at a Grand National Betting Site
If you're new to Grand National online betting, don't worry. We'll show you how to place a bet, so you can relax and watch the excitement unfold.
Shop Around
Firstly, shop around our recommended best betting sites for Grand National wagers, as listed above. When you find a site you like, click on the open account or join here buttons.
Next, enter your standard personal registration details, and your card details if you're making a deposit. If you're new to any particular Grand National online betting site, they will usually offer you a free bet. Regardless, always look for the secure padlock icon whenever making a transaction on payment pages.
Make Your Stake
When you're ready to rumble, click on the link to your chosen site's Grand National page. You'll now see all the runners, with the current odds beside each horse's name. Simply select the odds you fancy, and your selection will be added to a betslip. Open your betslip, enter how much money you wish to stake and your bet type. Then simply confirm your bet and that's it, you're under starters' orders!
Grand National Betting Tips
Good grand national betting tips don't just mean getting some inside knowledge on a horse or jockey. We've outlined a few important things to consider before you bet on the event:
Choose Your Grand National Online Betting Site Early
Many bookmakers put the brakes on their new customer offers. So, we strongly recommend you open your new account with a bookmaker several weeks ahead of the Grand National in April. Now that the bookies don't suspect you're a one-time-wonder, you can tuck into their regular joining offers.
Spread Your Bets
The Grand National is a notoriously difficult race to win. There are upsets a plenty in the history of the race, but also some outstanding horses and jockey's who have had incredible success. With so many variables out there, it makes sense to back more than one horse, so don't be afraid to spread bet.
Don't Discount Hold-Ups
Another helpful tip is don't turn your nose up at hold-up horses. Remember One For Arthur in 2017? While its accepted wisdom to be up with the pace from the start, slower starters have shown that ‘tortoises' can overcome ‘hares'.
Common Grand National Bets
If you're not sure about different types of bets and what they mean, we've put together a few examples of common Grand National bets below.
Evens
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Evens are Grand National betting odds where your stake exactly equals your winnings, for example £25 at evens wins a further £25.
Each Way
An each way bet is where you bet on a horse to win and to finish in the top 4 or 5 (this is called a place bet). This means you effectively make 2 different wagers in the same bet. The win and the place.
For example:
- You bet £10 each way on Red Rum at odds of 10/1. This is a total wager of £20 because you are making 2 bets.
- If Red Rum wins you get £110 returned – £100 winnings plus your £10 stake.
- If Red Rum finishes 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th you get returned £30 for the place – £20 winnings plus your £10 stake. For place bets, bookmakers usually pay 1/5 or 20% of the winning odds. Red Rum was 10/1 to win, this is reduced to 2/1 to place.
Free Bets
As mentioned before, the best Grand National betting sites offer free bets to punters opening new accounts, but generally not on the day of the Grand National. Free bets mean after you have made a deposit, you get to place a bet that will usually be refunded if you lose.
Non-Runner, No Bet
A few weeks before the National, many online sites will offer Non-Runner, No Bet markets. This means if you place a bet and, for whatever reason your horse does not run, you will be refunded your stake.
Faller Offers
You can even bet on a negative outcome. Some Grand National betting sites will offer you a set amount (typically capped at £25) whereby should your horse unseat, fall or be brought down, you'll get a free bet up to a set amount.
Placed Finish Refunds
Similar to the above, place a bet to win and even if your horse does not win, but places, you'll be refunded your stake according to the offer's set limit.
Ante-Post
If you have a gut feeling about a certain horse, even if the runners for the Grand National haven't been announced yet, you can bet on your dark horse in advance. This is called the Ante-Post market.
Boosters
Odds boosters can seriously enhance your Grand National betting odds. Online bookmakers offer many different offers during the race and just before it. Prices can be boosted by up to 20% and, although stake limits do apply, they offer great value.
The Benefits of Using Grand National Betting Sites
Since COVID-19, sports betting online is now not only the most convenient way to wager, it's also the safest. For one, getting special offers from traditional high street bookmakers, or even those at the track, are very rare and Grand National betting odds are often extremely unfavourable. Betting online, from the comfort and security of your own home, is super-convenient and hassle-free.
Even more satisfying, you don't have to wait in a queue for your bookmaker to cash in your winnings. When you bet online, winnings are automatically credited to your account.
How to Choose Your Horse for Grand National Betting
Picking a winning horse can be based on science, skill, intuition, luck or a combination of all four. We recommend making your own luck, by doing your homework beforehand.
Form Attention
Reading form is a great way to gauge how a horse is performing. Form is a series of numbers and letters next to each horse's name. If you are seeing lots of 1s and 2s, you know you're looking at a potential winner. Conversely, if 7s and 8s are more prevalent, you're less likely to be looking at the next Red Rum. Also keep an eye out for C, indicating that a horse has won on that course before, or D, which means the horse has won over that distance before.
Grand National Online Betting Offers Online
Talking Trainers
Only Ginger McCain has successfully defended a National title. In the last 30 years, only trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has more than one winner under his belt. By all means study the trainers, but remember, lightning doesn't strike the same trainer twice in this event.
Stamina of a Warhorse
Terms & Conditions: T&Cs Apply. Full terms apply.
Why These Grand National Betting Sites?
Unsurprisingly, due to the popularity of the race, UK betting sites and others from across the world offer countless odds and markets on the Grand National. Using our tried and tested research strategy, the team at SBO.net has identified the best betting sites for the Grand National. We've done the hard work for you, so you don't have to waste time on less than great sites.
In addition to finding you great offers and top Grand National betting odds, we also make sure the sites we recommend are safe and secure. Our criteria for selection includes:
Generous Promotions
No great offers, no dice. We scour all the best Grand National betting sites to bring you the absolute best deals on the market. Our recommended sites will typically offer you generous joining perks, including deposit match bonuses and free bets.
The Best Odds
We shortlist the best bookmakers through our odds comparison research. Using regularly updated data, we provide you with the best Grand National odds currently on the market, giving you a bigger bang for the same bet.
Markets and Other Sports
When we recommend horse racing betting sites to you, their ability to offer you a whole host of markets is key. All our sites offer everything from spread betting to faller offers. Plus, we examine the best betting sites for Grand National action that also offer sports markets with competitive offers.
Encrypted Sites
Last but not least, we check the security credentials of all potentially attractive Grand National online betting sites. We look into how sites store your personal information, in addition to checking the levels of encryption on selected sites.
How to Place a Bet at a Grand National Betting Site
If you're new to Grand National online betting, don't worry. We'll show you how to place a bet, so you can relax and watch the excitement unfold.
Shop Around
Firstly, shop around our recommended best betting sites for Grand National wagers, as listed above. When you find a site you like, click on the open account or join here buttons.
Next, enter your standard personal registration details, and your card details if you're making a deposit. If you're new to any particular Grand National online betting site, they will usually offer you a free bet. Regardless, always look for the secure padlock icon whenever making a transaction on payment pages.
Make Your Stake
When you're ready to rumble, click on the link to your chosen site's Grand National page. You'll now see all the runners, with the current odds beside each horse's name. Simply select the odds you fancy, and your selection will be added to a betslip. Open your betslip, enter how much money you wish to stake and your bet type. Then simply confirm your bet and that's it, you're under starters' orders!
Grand National Betting Tips
Good grand national betting tips don't just mean getting some inside knowledge on a horse or jockey. We've outlined a few important things to consider before you bet on the event:
Choose Your Grand National Online Betting Site Early
Many bookmakers put the brakes on their new customer offers. So, we strongly recommend you open your new account with a bookmaker several weeks ahead of the Grand National in April. Now that the bookies don't suspect you're a one-time-wonder, you can tuck into their regular joining offers.
Spread Your Bets
The Grand National is a notoriously difficult race to win. There are upsets a plenty in the history of the race, but also some outstanding horses and jockey's who have had incredible success. With so many variables out there, it makes sense to back more than one horse, so don't be afraid to spread bet.
Don't Discount Hold-Ups
Another helpful tip is don't turn your nose up at hold-up horses. Remember One For Arthur in 2017? While its accepted wisdom to be up with the pace from the start, slower starters have shown that ‘tortoises' can overcome ‘hares'.
Common Grand National Bets
If you're not sure about different types of bets and what they mean, we've put together a few examples of common Grand National bets below.
Evens
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Evens are Grand National betting odds where your stake exactly equals your winnings, for example £25 at evens wins a further £25.
Each Way
An each way bet is where you bet on a horse to win and to finish in the top 4 or 5 (this is called a place bet). This means you effectively make 2 different wagers in the same bet. The win and the place.
For example:
- You bet £10 each way on Red Rum at odds of 10/1. This is a total wager of £20 because you are making 2 bets.
- If Red Rum wins you get £110 returned – £100 winnings plus your £10 stake.
- If Red Rum finishes 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th you get returned £30 for the place – £20 winnings plus your £10 stake. For place bets, bookmakers usually pay 1/5 or 20% of the winning odds. Red Rum was 10/1 to win, this is reduced to 2/1 to place.
Free Bets
As mentioned before, the best Grand National betting sites offer free bets to punters opening new accounts, but generally not on the day of the Grand National. Free bets mean after you have made a deposit, you get to place a bet that will usually be refunded if you lose.
Non-Runner, No Bet
A few weeks before the National, many online sites will offer Non-Runner, No Bet markets. This means if you place a bet and, for whatever reason your horse does not run, you will be refunded your stake.
Faller Offers
You can even bet on a negative outcome. Some Grand National betting sites will offer you a set amount (typically capped at £25) whereby should your horse unseat, fall or be brought down, you'll get a free bet up to a set amount.
Placed Finish Refunds
Similar to the above, place a bet to win and even if your horse does not win, but places, you'll be refunded your stake according to the offer's set limit.
Ante-Post
If you have a gut feeling about a certain horse, even if the runners for the Grand National haven't been announced yet, you can bet on your dark horse in advance. This is called the Ante-Post market.
Boosters
Odds boosters can seriously enhance your Grand National betting odds. Online bookmakers offer many different offers during the race and just before it. Prices can be boosted by up to 20% and, although stake limits do apply, they offer great value.
The Benefits of Using Grand National Betting Sites
Since COVID-19, sports betting online is now not only the most convenient way to wager, it's also the safest. For one, getting special offers from traditional high street bookmakers, or even those at the track, are very rare and Grand National betting odds are often extremely unfavourable. Betting online, from the comfort and security of your own home, is super-convenient and hassle-free.
Even more satisfying, you don't have to wait in a queue for your bookmaker to cash in your winnings. When you bet online, winnings are automatically credited to your account.
How to Choose Your Horse for Grand National Betting
Picking a winning horse can be based on science, skill, intuition, luck or a combination of all four. We recommend making your own luck, by doing your homework beforehand.
Form Attention
Reading form is a great way to gauge how a horse is performing. Form is a series of numbers and letters next to each horse's name. If you are seeing lots of 1s and 2s, you know you're looking at a potential winner. Conversely, if 7s and 8s are more prevalent, you're less likely to be looking at the next Red Rum. Also keep an eye out for C, indicating that a horse has won on that course before, or D, which means the horse has won over that distance before.
Grand National Online Betting Offers Online
Talking Trainers
Only Ginger McCain has successfully defended a National title. In the last 30 years, only trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has more than one winner under his belt. By all means study the trainers, but remember, lightning doesn't strike the same trainer twice in this event.
Stamina of a Warhorse
Stamina is vital for any horse to win the National. Twenty-four of the last 26 winners won a three-mile chase beforehand. Experience is also key. Young horses, with more speed than stamina, tend to struggle. Nine of the last 10 winners have been aged between nine and 11.
Fence Factor
A winning competitor must show confidence in jumping. Eighteen of the last 20 Aintree winners fell or unseated their riders at most just twice in their careers.
The History of the Aintree Grand National
Held in Liverpool since 1839, the Aintree Grand National is a hugely popular festival. The Grand National steeplechase itself, known as the ‘people's race' is where every single horse stands a chance of winning. This fairy-tale factor is why, for eight minutes, an estimated audience of up to 600 million tunes in.
National Treasures
In 1928, Tipperary Tim and amateur jockey William Dalton won everlasting fame by being the only horse and rider, out of 42 runners, to cross the finish line. In recent history, few will forget jockey Davy Russel winning both the 2018 and 2019 National on Tiger Roll. And when it comes to legends, trainer Ginger McCain and his 3-times winning horse Red Rum are household names.
Formidable Fences
Becher's Brook stands at 5ft with the landing side typically 6-10 inches lower. The Chair is the highest (5ft 3ins) and widest Grand National fence. Only jumped once, it is preceded by a 6ft-wide ditch and has a landing side 6ins higher than the take-off side. Standing at 5ft tall, Canal Turn is considered the trickiest fence, as horse and rider have to turn 90-degrees left immediately on landing.
Grand National Fun Facts
- Valentine's Brook is a fence named after a horse that jumped the fence backwards.
- In 1855 Sam Darling fell and was knocked out. A horse then knocked him in the head, reviving him.
- On average 250,000 pints are sold during the three-day festival.
- Aintree gets its name from a Viking settlement, after Danes cut down all the trees but one.
- Foinavon fence is named after the 1967 winner who won at odds of 100/1.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a multitude of Grand National betting sites. We've cherry-picked the very best sites for you above.
You can find the betting odds for the favourite as soon as they are published on any of our recommended sites.
Yes, the betting sites we suggest for you include great offers on other sports markets.
Many of the sites we propose offer free bets, just be sure to join up a month or more before the race.
