It’s once a year, it is a British tradition, 70,000 people will watch it live and an estimated 600 million people will tune in around the world.  It is, of course, the Grand National which take’s place in early April at the famous Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. Our Betfinder Grand National Betting Guide has all you need to know for making the most of your Grand National bets.

Grand National Betting Help

The great race, with its famous 30 obstacles, 40 runners and gruelling 4-mile 2-furlong trip is the centrepiece of the three-day (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) Aintree Festival which incorporates ‘Liverpool Day’, ‘Ladies Day’ and ‘Grand National Day’.  Saturday’s Grand National, which will generate more than £250 million in bets, is supported by six races including the Liverpool Hurdle which has been won by some of the greatest ever staying hurdlers.

But it is the 21st and final race of the festival which will carry the hopes, dreams and money of a quarter of the UK’s adult population.  For the most part those millions of punters will be placing their one and only bet of the year, so online bookmakers make ‘bet placement’ as straightforward as possible.

A series of simple clicks will allow you to easily make your selections, choose your stakes and place your choice of bet.  But look out for some knockout Grand National betting offers amongst the bookmakers pages – online sportsbooks are like any other type of shop meaning they regularly feature sales, discounts, bonuses and even Grand National free bets.

2025 Grand National Weights

The Grand National 2025 is scheduled for April 5, 2025, at Aintree Racecourse. The official handicap weights will be announced on February 11, 2025.

In the Grand National, the top weight is typically set at 11st 10lbs, with other horses assigned weights relative to this benchmark.

As of now, I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins, is the early favorite with odds around 12/1. However, his participation is uncertain due to a recent poor performance in the Savills Chase. If he doesn’t compete, other contenders like Intense Raffles and Nick Rockett may become the new favorites.

The release of the official weights will significantly influence the betting landscape, as weight assignments can impact a horse’s performance over the demanding Aintree course.

Form Choice – Grand National Credentials

The Grand National betting bonanza sells newspaper aplenty as all the major red-top papers have a dedicated pull-out section featuring expert opinions, basic form guides and Grand National betting tips.  But Grand National betting guides can also be found at the major online bookmakers. They may not feature in-depth form analysis but they generally state a case for all the runners and highlight the credentials of the Grand National betting tips.

But the more informed Grand National punters will be analysing the form in-depth at one of the industry authority sites, in the Racing Post newspaper or via the better-known online bookmakers.

These are probably the best place to do your form study as many not only list race records and in-depth analysis of recent starts, they also offer video form guides – meaning you can do some visual schoolwork.

Grand National Betting Guide

Types of Grand National Bets

If you find the Grand National winner you are sure to be handsomely rewarded.  A field of 40 runners means even the race favourite is likely to be 7/1+ so, given the lottery-type nature of the historic race, most people tend to place each-way wagers.

It is well worth shopping around when placing your each-way Grand National bets as some firms will pay out additional place paying places.  Instead of the traditional first four places, some will give you a dividend on your each-way bet if your selection finishes fifth and even sixth.

As well as win bets and each-way wagers intrepid punters can place forecasts which needs you to select the first and second in correct order, and tricasts requiring first-second and third.  But those that don’t possess a crystal ball and prefer a less speculative type of bet can and will elect to invest their money in ‘place only’ markets.

Another way of making a return more likely is by placing wagers amongst some of the ‘special markets’ which are always bounded around at Grand National time.  These will allow you to place bets on the ‘number of finishers’, the ‘age of the winner’, ‘an Irish trained winner’ and other such outcomes.

Grand National Odds

The recent winners of the Grand National have all been big prices:  2017 winner, One For Arthur, and 2011 winner Ballabriggs were both 14/1 but they bookend winners priced 25/1, 33/1 and even 66/1.

For the uninitiated these prices represent what you will win to a £1 or one unit stake.  The first number in a price is always what you will win to a single unit stake and, in theory, the bigger the odds/price, the more remote the chances of the horse winning.  Of course horses don’t understand Grand National betting odds.

The term ‘favourite’ refers to the horse which is the shortest price in the Grand National betting and it earns that status by the weight of money placed on it by the betting public.

While Grand National favourites have not fared too well in recent years, there were five winning favourites between 1996 and 2010:  

  • Rough Quest (7/1 in 1996)
  • Earth Summit (7/1 in 1998)
  • Hedgehunter (7/1 in 2005)
  • Comply or Die (7/1 in 2008)
  • and Don’t Push It (10/1 in 2010)

How to Pick your Grand National Bets

Turning to the record books is one of the best ways to determine what names will be in them in the future.  You don’t really need a Grand National betting guide tipster to dissect the race’ history and use the form to narrow the field in this year’s race.

Age 

Nine is the best age for Grand National winners.  A quarter of all winners have been nine years old. Selecting a horse between 9 and 11 makes is prudent. The last winner aged seven or under was in 1940 and there has only been one 12-year-old winner since 1995 (Amberleigh House in 2004).

Weight

Very few horses have managed to win the Grand National carrying big weights.  Since Red Rum in 1977 only four horses have won carrying 11st 5lb or more.

Recent Run and Stamina

 A recent run is crucial.  Only one Grand National winner since 1981 had its prep-run more than 50 days prior to lining up for the big race.  Similarly all but one of the last 48 Grand National winners had winning form at three-miles or more.

Of course others will simply side with coincidences.  The last three winners to have featured people’s names are: Ben Nevis (1980), Bobbyjo (1999) and One For Arthur (2017).  Horses beginning with the letter R have the best record in the race and the Grand National has been won five times by horses with ‘Red’ in its name.  And if you love a grey horse do consider only three greys have ever won the Grand National.

Grand National Betting Guide – Tips & Tricks

Once you have made your Grand National betting selections you have to decide how and where to place your bets.  Here’s our advice…

Grand National Free Bets

Most online sportsbooks will give new customers a free bet for signing-up to them.  But, to use that wager as a Grand National free bet, you must place a qualifying bet beforehand.  Therein open your new accounts early in the week in order to receive and place your free bets on the Grand National.

Bet Early

At the 5.15pm race time approaches the prices of the majority of Grand National runners shrinks, so place your bets early in the day and be sure to ‘take’ an early/fixed price.

Shop Around

Make sure to shop round for the best possible betting deal.  That is, get the best price available about your selection and if you are betting each-way make sure to place your bets with one of the firms paying out on five or even 6 places.

Last Year’s Winner

The 2024 Grand National saw I Am Maximus storm to victory at Aintree, delivering a dominant performance under jockey Paul Townend for trainer Willie Mullins. Going off as the 7/1 joint favorite, I Am Maximus pulled clear to win by seven and a half lengths over Delta Work, with Minella Indo finishing third.

This marked a historic double for Townend, who also won the Cheltenham Gold Cup earlier in the season—becoming the first jockey to achieve this feat since 2002. For Willie Mullins, it was a second Grand National triumph, adding to his 2005 victory with Hedgehunter.

Defending champion Corach Rambler had a tough outing, unseating his rider at the first fence, dashing hopes of a back-to-back win. The race was also a major moment for owner JP McManus, securing his third Grand National title after previous wins with Don’t Push It (2010) and Minella Times (2021).

The 2024 edition was another thrilling chapter in Grand National history, and as we look ahead to 2025, all eyes will be on the weights, the key contenders, and who can rise to the challenge of Aintree’s famous fences.

Last 10 Grand National Winners

  • 2014 Pineau De Re – Leighton Aspell / Dr Richard Newland 25/1
  • 2015 Many Clouds – Leighton Aspell / Oliver Sherwood 25/1
  • 2016 Rule The World – David Mullins / Mouse Morris 33/1
  • 2017 One For Arthur – Derek Fox / Lucinda Russell 14/1
  • 2018 Tiger Roll – Davy Russell / Gordon Elliott 10/1
  • 2019 Tiger Roll – Davy Russell / Gordon Elliott  4/1 F
  • 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2021 Minella Times – Rachael Blackmore / Henry de Bromhead 11/1
  • 2022 Noble Yeats – Mr Sam Waley-Cohen / Emmet Mullins 50/1
  • 2023 Corach Rambler – Derek Fox / Lucinda Russell 8/1 F

Grand National Betting FAQ

When is the Grand National?
In 2025 the Grand National is due to start at 5pm on Saturday 5th April.
Where is Grand National staged?
As it has every year since 1839 (apart from 1916, 1917, 1918 when it was staged at Gatwick racecourse) the Grand National will be held at Aintree Racecourse five miles north of Liverpool city centre.
Where can I watch the Grand National?
The race will be broadcast live on ITV, in betting shops and with your online bookmakers – albeit you may need to place a small qualifying Grand National bet (normally £1 or more) to watch it online.
What is a Grand National ‘Fixed Odds’ bet?
Backing a Grand National runner at ‘fixed odds’ simply means you have a guaranteed rate of return (a set price). If you do not take a fixed-price your wager will be settled at SP (Starting Price).
What is a Starting Price?
An SP (Starting Price) is the odds that a horse is trading at when the race starts.  Every horse in every race will ultimately have an official SP.
How does an each-way bet work?
An ‘each-way’ bet is a two-part bet with your stakes divided evenly between winning and achieving a ‘place’ position.  If your horse wins, you will be paid out both parts of the bet. The odds of return on the place part of the bet is normally a quarter of the win odds meaning a 16/1 shot who is placed will be calculated as a 4/1 shot.  So, a £1 each-way bet (which will cost £2 to place) on a 16/1 shot that wins will return £16 for the win part of the bet and £4 for the place part of the wager.  Your stakes are also refunded meaning you will receive £22 back. If that horse is only placed, your return will be £5 (£1 at a quarter of 16/1).
Who is going to win the 2025 Grand National?
Predicting the winner of the 2025 Grand National is akin to predicting the British weather – a blend of optimism, educated guesswork, and the inevitable acceptance of unpredictability. With the final field yet to be announced and horse racing form as changeable as fashion trends, the only safe bet is on the great race ability to deliver drama, heartbreak, and the odd fairy-tale finish. Will it be the favorite, an underdog, or perhaps an outsider with big odds? Only time will tell.
When are the Grand National weights for 2025 announced?
The horses alloted weights for the Grand National 2025 are set be released on February 11th.

We hoped you found our Grand National Betting Guide page useful, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or require help with your Grand National bets.