It goes without saying that the Aintree Grand National is one of the most prestigious and famous horse racing events in the world.
With excitement and anticipation building weeks in advance, betters from around the world begin their research and assessments before the first hoof even touches the grass.
Throughout this article, we’re going to discuss what odds, promotions, and offers you can expect when betting on the Grand National.
Grand National free bets still available for new customers
[Free bets will appear here in due course]Free Grand National sign-up offers
Bear in mind that many bookmakers will take down their sign-up offers around the time of the Grand National to deter “once-a-year” customers from joining and exploiting offers.
It’s an idea, therefore, to get your sign-up offers well in advance of the big day. Bookmakers such as Paddy Power, Bet365, SkyBet, and Coral, provide sign-up offers in the weeks leading up to the event, rather than on the day.
Ensure to read your prospective bookmaker’s terms and conditions before signing up, as some free bets and offers might be in the form of, for example, free matched bets. In this instance, if a person bets £30, then they will receive a free bet in return.
Remember to shop around and do your research before signing up for an account ahead of the Grand National to ensure you can get the very best deal.
Grand National offers and promotions
[OFFERS AND PROMOTIONS WILL APPEAR HERE IN DUE COURSE]Offers and promotions for returning customers
[OFFERS AND PROMOTIONS FOR RETURNING CUSTOMERS WILL APPEAR HERE IN DUE COURSE]Best odds guaranteed offers for the Grand National
Throughout the lead up to the Grand National, many leading bookmakers offer what is known as “best odds guaranteed”.
This is where a person places a bet at a given price before a race and if the price “drifts out”, or gets bigger”, then if you win, you will be paid out at the bigger price.
Ensure to check with the terms and conditions of any bookmaker first, however, as sometimes there are restraints on when best odds are guaranteed on particular days.
Sometimes this offer will only be in effect to bets placed before 9 am, for example.
The great part of best odds guaranteed offers is that they are often available to both new and returning customers,
Runners of the Grand National are announced two days before the big day, which is when many bookmakers will begin to promote their best prices.
Non-Runner, No Bet offers on the Grand National
With people turning their attention to the Grand National well in advance, in the weeks leading up to the event, you’re likely to see more and more “non-runner, no bet” offers.
This means that if your selected horse does not run on the Grand National (or any other selected race), your stake will be refunded.
If you are betting ante-post, however, ensure to check the terms and conditions of the bookmaker, as sometimes non-runner, no bet offers excluded.
A great advantage of a non-runner, no bet offer is that you can place it well in advance of the event, which is when the odds will be better.
This is especially risky when a non-runner, no bet offer is not in place, and even if it is, it can sometimes be the case that the odds are not much improved closer to the day.
Remember that every year, hundreds of horses compete to race within the Grand National, and only 40 are selected, so if you are looking to make an ante-post bet, remember that it is safer to do so with a non-runner, no bet offer.
Enhanced betting odds for the Grand National
Another popular offer you will find in the lead up to the Grand National is what’s known as an “enhanced betting odds” offer or “boost”.
Enhanced betting odds are more common towards the lead up to the race and you will generally find more on the day itself.
Some leading bookmakers will post special times where customers can find enhanced betting boosts. Occasionally, these are referred to as “happy hours”.
Extra place betting promotions during the Grand National
Bookmakers also tend to offer increased place terms, which is when bookmakers offer each-way betting terms to horses that finish right up to 10th place.
Generally, each-way betting terms only lead up to horses finishing in fourth, but due to the fact that 40 horses race during the Grand National, these standard terms are increased.
Remember that place terms will vary from bookmaker to bookmaker, so it is important to shop around so that you get the very best deal.
It’s also worth noting that the odds might get slightly reduced, so they might not be the best ones on offer.
This is because the bookmaker will have to pay out on up to eight or ten horses, so it will reduce the odds on the extra places.
Faller insurance offers during the Grand National
While non-runner, no bet offers deal with horses that do not run, faller insurance offers to return the money on horses that fall and do not complete the race during the Grand National.
No less than seven horses fell during the 2019 Grand National race, so faller insurance is a good way of protecting your betting money.
Read through the terms and conditions, however, as some faller insurance may only cover some of the overall bet, while others may only return money in the form of a free bet.
Betting sites for the Grand National
As you can imagine, every online betting site will want a place during the Grand National, so each one will be hosting a range of offers and promotions to new and returning customers.
If you don’t have an account with a bookmaker, ensure to take advantage of free sign up offers during the days and weeks before the event. Remember that many bookmakers withdraw this kind of offer on the big day.
If you already have accounts, lookout for some of the many offers and promotions as the Grand National approaches, including insurance offers, best odds guaranteed promotions, and non-runner no bet concessions.
[BETTING SITES WILL APPEAR HERE IN DUE COURSE]Grand National betting FAQs
Check out some of the most common and frequently asked questions about the Grand National.
When is the Grand National?
The Grand National takes place every April at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool.
How many horses run in the Grand National?
Unlike conventional races, 40 horses run in the Grand National over a distance of four miles and 2½ furlongs.
Where can I watch the Grand National?
As well as online, the Grand National is shown on ITV and both pubs and brick-and-mortar bookmakers show the build-up and the race for their customers.
Does the favourite horse always win the Grand National?
Surprisingly, it is quite rare when the winner of the Grand National is the favourite horse. For example, let’s look at the winners and their odds since 2010:
2021: TBA
2020: CANCELLED
2019: Tiger Roll
2018: Tiger Roll (14/1)
2017: One For Arthur (14/1)
2016: Rule The World (33/1)
2015: Many Clouds (33/1)
2014: Pineau De Re (25/1)
2013: Auroras Encore (66/1)
2012: Neptune Collonges (33/1)
2011: Ballabriggs (14/1)
2010: Don’t Push It (10/1 and joint-favourite)
What is an each-way bet?
Put simply, when you place an each-way bet, you place two bets. One bet goes on the horse to win, the other goes on the horse to finish in the first five positions.
When we talk about ‘places’ we mean that amount of places from first that the horse must finish in order for you to win.
What does NRNB mean?
Quite simply, this means “non-runner, no bet”, which means that if the horse doesn’t race, you get your money back. This is a common offer for ante-post betting.
What does BOG mean?
This term means “best odds guaranteed”, which means that you are guaranteed to get the best odds with your bet, even if they change for the worst later on.
What Does Ante-Post mean?
An ante-post bet is when you bet on a horse before the runners are announced. Generally, both the odds and the risks are higher for this type of bet.