How to bet on the Grand National

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Want to bet on the Grand National? Check out our comprehensive guide to find out all the information you need to know ahead of the Aintree spectacular.

The types of Grand National bets explained

Betway offers a wide range of Grand National betting options, so you can tailor your betting experience for the biggest race of the year however you want. Here is a brief explanation for each of the common horse racing betting terms you will need to know ahead of the Grand National.

What is antepost betting?

Antepost betting refers to bets made well in advance of the Grand National. Betting on the Aintree spectacular is available all year round. When you bet on a horse race in an antepost market, if your horse doesn’t run in the race, the bet is settled as a loser, meaning you lose your money.

However, in many instances if you bet antepost, you can obtain bigger odds that would be available come raceday. The trick is to try and determine if the extra values outweighs the possible risk of your selection not making the race itself.

What is a win bet?

A win bet on the Grand National is placed on the selection to win the race. The horse you back must win the race to get a return from this type of bet.

How do each-way bets work?

The alternative is to place an each-way bet on the Grand National. In this case, you double your stake, as you are essentially placing two bets, one for the horse to win, and one to be placed.

If your selection wins, you are paid as a winner and on the place terms. Betway are currently offering FOUR places at 1/4 of the odds in the antepost market, so in this instance if your horse finishes second, third or fourth you will be paid on the place part of an each-way bet at 1/4 of the odds.

So if you backed a horse at odds of 40/1 a £5 win-only bet would return £205. In an each-way scenario, if the horse wins, that would increase to £260 (for a £10 stake), while if the horse was ‘placed’ only, your return would be £55.

Grand National odds explained

Betting odds are used by bookmakers as a way of presenting the likelihood of a specific outcome in the Aintree Grand National.  

The favourite is deemed to have the best chance of winning and is therefore the shortest odds. The odds lengthen from there, with each horse’s chance assessed numerically.

Most UK-based betting is done either fractionally (9/1) or via decimal odds (10.0) – in both instances a £10 win bet would return £100 if successful.

To find out how much your winning bets might return, take a look at our betting calculator.

Previous Grand National winners and their odds

Below is a list every winner of the Grand National since 2000 and their odds.

Grand National betting strategies

Everyone will have their own strategy for picking their Grand National fancy, that is what helps to make it the people’s race.

For most punters the form book is the place to start. Research on the past performances of the contenders is key to finding out if they may relish the Aintree examination.

This will include past trends, identifying age brackets, weights carried, course form, proven stamina and more factors that help to paint the picture of a would-be Grand National winner.

The records of certain trainers will also be considered, with Gordon Elliott and Lucinda Russell having each saddled two winners since 2017.

For others, there will be less certainty in the picking process as names and colours on the racecard that stand out are selected, while for many who wish to have an interest in the great race, the long-standing tradition of simply sticking a pin in the paper to pick a winner will be deployed.

There are no right and wrong strategies for the Grand National, whatever feels right probably is best. Good luck in making your selections for the big race at Aintree on Saturday 5 April.