Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
One major reason why Grand National betting online matters is that about two-thirds of UK adults place wagers on the race. The Aintree showpiece and world-famous steeplechase really is that popular with the public. With a global TV audience of over 500,000,000 tuning in to watch it every year, knowing what Grand National betting places are out there is important way beyond the British Isles. These days, it is almost always all of the 40 horses involved in the handicap chase over four-and-a-quarter miles and 30 fences are trained in either the UK or Ireland. That doesn’t stop the international appeal of this race, however.
This is our dedicated page to Grand National betting online and that means you, our readers, need furnishing with certain information. The internet marketplace has a wealth of choice and options. We take the hassle of finding the best Grand National betting sites away by giving you a steer towards them. Here, you can take all of the helpful Grand National betting tips we offer you and turn them into a potential profit. Once you have found the best online sportsbooks to bet on Aintree with, there is then another important matter. That is sourcing Grand National betting offers for all, not just new customers bet everyone taking a punt on the race. That is more than simply about enhanced odds, but we’ll look at the different promotions available and how you can make them work for you. It follows that top Grand National betting sites will cater for the broadest range of punters. We also discuss the types of bet you can place on the big one at Aintree. You will be in no doubt as to where the best Grand National betting places are on the internet thanks to us. Let’s begin by highlighting those websites that meet with approval from our experts.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
As you can see, we have listed the top Grand National betting places in the opinion of our industry experts here so you can view them. These all have some common ground which is worth highlighting to you too. The best Grand National betting sites all treat this event seriously. They offer competitive prices and enhanced terms for punters placing each-way bets. We will come on to discuss the types of wager and related Grand National betting offers such as Best Odds Guaranteed and Non-Runner No Bet soon. These sportsbooks make sound commercial decisions to drum up business in and around the Festival at Aintree, because there are many people placing bets on the race who do not do so regularly.
With greater public attention on the Grand National, it makes sense to give all customers a fun, fair and above all enjoyable gambling experience. The tricky part is playing the bookmakers at their own game. There are many Grand National betting sites to choose from and the best should have a detailed racecard complete with runners’ silks, so you know what colours to look out for at Aintree. When jockey bookings are known, these should appear next to the name and odds of the horses. Keep your eyes open for specials too, as the best Grand National betting places may offer additional markets to the regular fixed odds book on the race. They may also have graphics and simulations of the event which support expert verdicts and analysis from tipsters. All this additional information sets certain Grand National betting sites apart from the competition as it helps you to reach a decision about who to back at Aintree and why.
What Grand National Betting Offers are There?
What about the Grand National betting offers available on the race? Any bookies with sense will have plenty of promotions that apply to this world-famous race. There are several that commonly come up in conjunction with Aintree. Keep your eyes peeled for these incentives relating to Grand National betting online this year:
Welcome Bonuses
All Grand National betting sites want new business in and around the main event. They may tailor their new customer offers specifically to the race, or simply allow the existing ones to apply to it. You will need to have never had an account before with a certain sportsbook, then sign up, enter your personal details and make a deposit via an accepted payment method. You will then need to place a qualifying bet to receive your bonus which may come in the form of tokens. Some bookies only issue the bonus once a qualifying bet has been settled and always remember there will be terms and conditions attached. These are well worth reading into as there may be minimum odds or rollover requirements.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
A common promotion for UK and Irish horse racing in general, but one of the Grand National betting offers too is Best Odds Guaranteed. The principle is simple: from a certain time, it may be when the race has its final declarations or on the day of a race at a specified time such as 8am or 9am, if you take a price and the odds drift so that the starting price is larger than the one you took, then you get paid out at the better odds. That is how simple BOG is. Some bookies refer to it as the Best Price Guaranteed instead. Whatever name this offer goes under, the idea is the same. You don’t miss out on better odds if you place your bets on Grand National day. That is a pro, but the downside is any ante post bets you have had on the race in advance are unlikely to be covered by this.
Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB)
Everybody wants a run for their money, so one of the most important Grand National betting offers protects you if your fancied horse doesn’t line-up at the start. Non-Runner No Bet terms should come into effect as soon as the final field of 40 runners at Aintree is known – a little over 48 hours ahead of the race. Some bookies may even provide this guarantee of money back if your horse doesn’t go to post earlier in the week. As with BOG, NRNB – sometimes called Non-Runner Money Back instead – doesn’t cover any ante post wagers you may have placed. Almost every bookie has for all UK and Irish horse racing, and the Grand National is no exception.
Extra Places
One promotion that has become more and more visible at Grand National betting places in recent years are enhanced terms for each-way bets. The race has 40 runners in it and the standard terms that apply to a handicap steeplechase of a quarter of outright win odds for the first four places just don’t seem adequate. Any bookmaker just offering you that is only giving you a 10 per cent chance of getting something back on your wager, not to mention how much of a lottery the Grand National is. Extra places, with a smaller fraction of a fifth of outright odds for the enhanced terms, always feels like a fair trade. This should extend to fifth and sixth place, and maybe even further down to seventh and eighth with some bookies. By taking advantage of extra places, you are increasing your chances of getting something back on the race. Sure, everyone wants to back the winner of the Grand National, but money can also be made by taking advantage of this offer.
Fallers Insurance
As Grand National betting offers go, this is another important one. Horses fall in the race. It’s inevitable with so many running and the extreme test of stamina being asked of them. If you can get your money back or a bonus token in the event the horse you back in the Grand National takes a tumble, then you are covering yourself against a very real risk. The downside is that Fallers Insurance bets will have an additional margin factored into them by betting traders, so you might not get as good odds as a standard bet. It may also not be compatible with other promotions such as BOG, so it is always worth your while to check the terms and conditions before taking Fallers Insurance. This will apply to horses that fall, unseat their rider of are brought down in the course of the race.
Fail to Finish
A broader offer relating to non-finishers, Fail to Finish covers everyone enjoying Grand National betting online if their horse doesn’t get round at Aintree. Unlike Fallers Insurance, this covers any reason for their horse not completing the race. It may be that it gets hampered by a faller and pulled up, is carried or runs out because other horses jump out in front of it or refuses at one of the obstacles. A Fail to Finish offer has you covered in all the weird and wonderful scenarios where you otherwise might lose your bet. Again, your stake can be returned to you as cash or in the form of a bonus token. Restrictions and time limits may apply to the latter, so always bear that in mind.
Money Back as Cash or Bonus Tokens
Getting your money back if your horse is beaten or a specific horse wins is sometimes off to feature races like the Grand National by the bookies. They may refund you in cash or bonus tokens. There will be a stake limit this applies to and in the event you have placed an each-way bet, it will likely only cover the win part. This type of promotion varies from one bookmaker to another, so it’s essential that you look on the sportsbook and know the precise terms and conditions before availing yourself of this and all of the Grand National betting offers listed here.
Types of Grand National Betting Online
What all Grand National betting places should offer you are various types of wager on the race. For most, this will be confined to fixed odds bets. These may list Fallers Insurance bets separately on the tabs relating to betting on the race. In addition to that, here are common betting types on offer with bookmakers:
Win Only
A straightforward outright bet on a horse to win the Grand National. It has to come first or you lose.
Place Betting
You can also bet on a horse finishing placed. This is traditionally the first four in a handicap chase like the Grand National, but as explained above place terms can and in this case should be altered.
Each-Way
Two bets in one where you back a horse for an outright win and then also to place. As noted above, keep your eyes peeled for extra places so you can receive a payout if your selection finishes fifth, sixth or even further down the field. Each-way bets really are the way to go if you’re getting involved in Grand National betting online.
Forecasts and Tricasts
You can combine two horses in the same race to finish first and second in a specific order. This is a Forecast. You can also place two bets and cover those horses finishing first and second in order. That is called a Reverse Forecast. It’s a very brave call to place this kind of bet on the Grand National, alongside Tricasts which involve three horses to finish first, second and third in a set order. This can also be reversed.
Combination Forecasts and Tricasts
In order to increase your chances of pulling off Forecasts and Tricasts, extra selections can be made so you have more of the field covered. These are known as Combination bets. For example, you could back five horses in a Tricast, but there are 60 possible permutations. You would be gambling 60x your unit stake in that scenario.
Exchange Betting
Certain bookmakers also have betting exchanges where you can back horses to win and lay others to lose. The exchange markets are particularly lively on the Grand National. The bookmaker will take a small percentage of any winnings as commission, but you are in effect taking other punters on here. This is different from fixed odds betting, however, and you should familiarise yourself with the rules of regulations of betting exchanges before gambling.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
Grand National Betting Places & Offers
You should now have everything you need to enjoy Grand National betting online in an informed way. We have provided you with a list of top Grand National betting sites and highlighted what these have to offer both new and existing customers. You also know more about the types of bets open to you. Using one of our recommended Grand National betting places to get your wagers on could make the difference between getting a return on the money you have invested or not. We have also shown you how it’s possible to take steps and mitigate potential losses through NRNB, Fallers Insurance and Fail to Finish promotions.
There are trade offs with these which should appeal to many punters. Armed with all this information, your Grand National betting online should be wiser than when you first clicked onto the page. Remember, every bookmaker provides something different. The Grand National betting offers available can change from one year to the next. We keep sportsbooks under constant review in light of that. This allows us to give you an accurate, up to date picture of what the top Grand National betting sites truly are. Aintree comes around just once a year, a bit like Christmas for horse racing fans. You can rest assured that we will always find the best Grand National betting places each and every season.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
New reg only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via ‘My Offers’ page within 30 days. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play, min odds 1/1 (2.0). Max. extra winnings £100. Once claimed, 30-day expiry. Cashed out, System & EW bets do not qualify. Other Promotional Play Restrictions Apply. T&Cs apply.
GET £30 IN FREE BETS+ 100 FREE SPINS When you bet £10
T&Cs apply
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18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds within 10 days of registration. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
Open Account Offer
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.
