The Best Grand National Betting Sites

One of the most significant features of the British racing scene is the annual running of the Aintree Grand National. Not only is it one of Europe’s richest National Hunt fixtures, but it’s also a race that attracts enormous betting appeal.

With a massive field of runners heading to the start at Aintree and big feature jumps like Becher’s Brook and The Chair, the race is a tremendous spectacle.

We take a deep dive into the big race to help punters get a clear picture of how to bet on the Grand National.

So if you are looking for Grand National betting offers or what the leading Grand National betting sites are, then read on below.

The 2023 Grand National is scheduled for Saturday, April 15th.

The most common approach to selecting a pick in Grand National betting odds is to make a winning single selection. 

That is just an easy and accessible entry point for casual punters to get into Grand National betting.

The Aintree fixture is popular for ‘pin stickers” and for office sweepstakes.

But seasoned punters will likely take a more educated approach to Grand National betting odds. Statistics and form will come into play when sizing up the big race for selections.

Forty runners go to the start of the Grand National, out of sometimes hundreds of entries. As a result, Grand National Odds differ from one betting site to the next for the race with its huge field.

The big field means that betting odds on the runners may have discrepancies between bookies. So it is always worth looking around to see which Grand National betting sites you can pick up the best odds for your selections.

There may not be major differences regarding the shorter-priced runners towards the head of the horse racing market.

But wider variations could be found on longer-priced contenders. Think of those with an each-way appeal at larger double-figure odds for Grand National Betting.

Regardless of which horses you are looking at for betting on the big race, looking for the best value is critical.

Compare odds between different operators because the better the odds, the bigger the potential winnings will be.

Even seeing a quote of 5/2 on a selection at one Grand National betting site and then finding it at 3/1 elsewhere would boost returns on the pick.

Among some of our top recommendations for Grand National betting odds are 10bet and Ladbrokes. They are betting sites that consistently perform well in odds comparisons regarding the big race.

Grand National Betting Markets

There are different markets to explore for Grand National betting. It’s not quite just all about the race winner.

Here are some alternative Grand National Betting Markets.

• Outright - a selection of which horse you think will win the Grand National. That selection is backed with a single bet on them getting home first.
• Ante-post - looking at the Grand National odds well ahead of time means dipping into the ante-post market. Those are odds before the final line-up is declared. A feature of Grand National ante-post odds is that they generally offer larger prices than race day odds.
• Each-Way - an Each Way Grand National bet consists of two parts. It combines a Win, and a Place bet into one. If the backed selection wins, a full payout is received on both parts. However, if the horse you have backed only places, the Win part of the wager is lost.
• How Many Will Finish - The Grand National has 40 runners. There are 30 obstacles in the race. Fallers are common, and only a fraction of the field gets home. It is not unusual to see less than half of the starting field make the distance. An alternative angle for Grand National markets is betting on how many starters you think will complete.
• To Jump The First Fence - Another Grand National betting market offered by the likes of Ladbrokes offers odds on each runner to clear the first fence. It’s a mad rush to that first obstacle. Not everyone makes it over.
• UK or Irish Trained Winner - Another Grand National market is picking the nationality of the race’s winning trainer.

So whether you are looking at bet365, Ladbrokes, or any of our other highly recommended Grand National betting sites, there are plenty of markets to explore.

Now that we have examined some exciting betting markets, it is time to move on to Grand National betting tips.

Picking out the winner from a massive field of 40 is not the easiest of tasks in horse racing betting.

Here are some Grand National betting tips to help you cut through the field.

• Don’t ignore the ante-post - Grand National betting tips can be explored well ahead of race day. It is worth taking a look at the ante-post odds.

Even if you can’t narrow the field down, the larger odds afford extra meat on the bone for an each-way selection.

• Age - This is rarely a race in which a minimum-age runner rises to the occasion. Entries have to be at least seven years old to compete.

The 2022 winner Noble Yeats was the first seven-year-old to win the race since the 1940s. 

So the trend is to look towards experienced campaigners, who come good more often.

Examine the last six to ten winners for Grand National betting tips to determine the average age. This will shift. Between 2010 and 2014 included, it was all 10 or 11-year-old winners. Then for the following seven editions, the sweet spot was eight-year-old campaigners.

• Horse Form - This is a big one. It’s best to look for horses with proven stamina, ones that have consistently got in the frame overstaying chase distances during the season.

The unpredictable Grand National can throw form out of the window, so don’t rely solely on it. But look for promising Spring form ahead of the race.

• Chasing rating - Along with form, horse rating is another good angle for Grand National tips. Looking for high-rated horses with place finishes on trips over the fences of at least 3 miles.
• Key races - There are some key races to consider ahead of the Grand National. Look back at performances by entries like the Welsh National or a big chase at the Cheltenham Festival for Grand National form.
• Previous Grand National attempt - Experience at Aintree over the unusual course and fences is often vital. It may be worth considering runners who have had a crack at the National before. It’s why 7-year-old winners are rare.
• Jockey - This is another area that can be studied for Grand National tips. It is a hard race to win once, let alone on more than one occasion. Experience of previous rides can be helpful.
• Trainers/Owners - Yet another significant area to look for info to piece together Grand National tips. Between 2016 and 2019 inclusive, Gigginstown Stud won three out of four Grand Nationals, with trainer Gordon Elliott getting two.

So the Grand National tips information provided above could help you narrow the field for the next renewal of the famous Aintree race.

Taking a look ahead to the 2023 Grand National, we preview some of the potential big players.

The 2022 Grand National winner NOBLE YEATS is expected to return for another crack at the big event. Last year’s 50/1 surprise winner will be one to track through winter and spring.

Interestingly, his seasonal form before going to Aintree in 2022 was nothing spectacular. Now Noble Yeats will have much higher expectations on him. He should be among the 2023 Grand National Favourites.

➳ ANY SECOND NOW was the 2022 Grand National favourite and finished as runner-up. Returning as an 11-year-old for a 2023 bid would probably see him well-supported once again.

➳ GALVIN has a reasonable chase strike rate and was fourth in the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup. A credible effort in the 2022 Punchestown Gold Cup also gives him claims at Aintree.

➳ FAROUK D’ALENE is another with possibilities for the 2023 Grand National. With an excellent first season of chasing under his belt, the Gigginstown charge would likely be well-primed for a Grand National bid.

➳ STATTLER will pique plenty of interest if trainer Willie Mullins sends him to the National in 2023. However, after an impressive win in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, bigger things could be ahead for Stattler.

➳ DELTA WORK was third in last year’s Grand National. That was after winning the Glenfarclas Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

With the Aintree experience in his bank, Delta Work would offer plenty of interest for punters among Grand National Favourites.

You have narrowed your Grand National betting selections down. Now you want to place a wager on the big race in April.

But which are the best Grand National betting sites to focus on? Where are the best Grand National betting offers?

As always, we are here to help punters by guiding you to our top recommendations.

bet365

bet365 has fantastic racing offers like the 4/1 ITV/Feature Race Special. That is where they will give a risk-free bet for landing a winner at odds of at least 4/1. They also have a welcome bonus offer for new customers to collect.

We rate bet365 as one of the best for pricing up ante-post horse racing odds. They also have integrated racing stats on their cards, making life easy to study form and odds in one place.

The bet365 mobile app is also among the highest rated, making it easy to keep track of the latest Grand National odds. In addition, bet365 continues to offer fantastic services in all areas, including customer support.

The design of their site isn't the most eye-catching, but it's functional and supports a vast sportsbook. 

Coral

As one of the leading bookmakers in Britain, Coral packs a punch for horse racing. Out of their many excellent horse racing promos, their Beaten By A Length offer catches the eye.

For a racing pick from a selected meeting, get your lost stake refunded if your horse is beaten by a length or less! They also cover a lot with Best Odds Guaranteed on racing.

Coral bet runs an extensive horse racing betting section in their sportsbook. In addition, they provide good selections for Futures and Specials on the Sport of Kings. 

Tote horse racing betting like Totepool or Quadpot can also be done from their coupons. We also like that Coral gives fantastic form spotlights from the Racing Post for UK and Irish racing.

Ladbrokes

A bookmaker name that is synonymous with horse racing is Ladbrokes. To sign up with them, new customers can look at their Bet £5 Get £20 promotional bonus. 

A famous name in British bookmaking. From the High Street to online betting to their mobile app, there's a lot to enjoy about Ladbrokes.

Live racing streams are available on the site, Tote betting and other features like Best Odds Guaranteed. In addition, integrated horse racing info from the Racing Post is a significant feature of Ladbrokes racing.

Ladbrokes don't quite top the charts for horse racing promotions. As a result, they can be thin on the ground at times compared to other bookies. But their racing section is superb, and they always have reliably competitive odds.

888sport

The horse racing at 888Sport gives punters plenty to chew over. It's a complete pack of domestic and international horse racing cards they bring to the table.

The organisation of the 888Sport racing section is good. It's easy to search for horses at meetings or go straight to big ante-post markets.

One of the great features for racing betting at 888sport is their Betfinder. We find this useful. Plug in your search criteria, like Winner Last Time, Distance Winner and Trainer In Form and the search tool will do the work for you.

All of this is available on the 888sport mobile app, which is worthwhile downloading as it's easy to use. Racing stats fall a little short, but that doesn't take away from the overall great product and odds that 888sport provide.

So far in this guide, we have looked at tips, markets and even our best selections for the Grand National betting sites.

You will find racing odds at whichever bookmaker (or bookmakers!) you decide to roll with.

But what about horse racing features? What should you be looking for?

While Grand National betting offers are a significant area of focus, there are other areas that we recommend checking out.

Let’s get into it. ⤵

↪ Live Streams

This is a big one for us. Seeing a race unfold at the same place where the bet has been struck just rounds out an experience nicely.

The standard setup is that you have access to a live race stream once you have bet on that particular race. 

↪ Stats integration

Staring at a racecard that shows little more than basic form and the Grand National odds, for example, can be frustrating.

Integration of statistics from top sources like the Racing Post or Timeform within a horse racing betting card simplifies things for a punter.

↪ In-Play Betting

Yes, it exists for horse racing betting. It’s possible to dip into a live market while a race is being run. From there, you can make a selection. Some bookmakers also allow for horse racing cash-out options.

↪ Competitive Racing Odds

This is a no-brainer when looking at any race, not just Grand National betting odds. It’s easy to use an odds comparison tool to gauge different prices between bookmakers.

Do so often enough, and you’ll spot the bookies that consistently come up top of the list.

↪ Coverage

A key feature of horse racing markets at a bookmaker is coverage. So are you getting everything you want from UK and Irish racing and international scenes, like South Africa, the US, Japan and Australia?

↪ Virtual Racing

Nothing to do with real horse racing betting, Virtual Racing are games which can serve as an aside from regular betting. 

In Virtual Racing, which is commonly available at top sites like Coral and Ladbrokes, you make a pick on a computer-generated horse race.

A random number generator determines the outcome of Virtual races, so it’s a game of chance.

↪ Live streaming the Grand National

Live racing streams can commonly be found at online betting sites. So go and visit any of our top selections like bet365, Coral and Ladbrokes, and you will be able to watch live racing streams.

If you can’t manage to catch the live streams, a lot of bookmakers do make race replays freely available. But to get into the heart of the action at the running time, you will need to first bet on a race.

A small minimum wage, sometimes 50p, but more commonly £1, is enough to get access to a live racing stream.

What about Grand National live streams? You will be able to see whether a bookmaker is offering a live stream of the Grand National ahead of time. Just look for a “Live” icon on the card.

Using a betting app for the Grand National odds is super convenient. Most people have their mobile ready within reach. It’s just a quicker way to get into horse racing betting than getting onto a computer.

There are a lot of quality betting apps available for the Grand National and all horse racing. You should still see features like live streams and those all-important statistics integrated.

Any Grand National free bets should be readily available through a good betting app. Betting apps can be secured as well with phone security.

Among our top recommendations of the best betting apps for racing, check out Betuk, 10bet, 888sport and Boylesports.

There are a few key examples of Grand National betting offers to keep an eye out for. Of course, they come up in different shapes and sizes, depending on the bookmaker.

But don’t worry, we have it all covered. Read on below to see the kind of Grand National betting offers you may come across.

Grand National Free Bets

↪ Racing Specials

These are special bonuses that bookmakers offer for a particular race. That could be something like Paddy Power offering a refund on your stake if your selection finishes second in a specific race.

To find these types of Grand National free bets, check the promotional page at the bookmaker.

↪ Enhanced Places for Big Races

You will see a lot of extended place offers for Grand National offers. This is because horse racing has its rules, and depending on the number of runners in the race, there will be a set number of places.

Enhanced places for each-way bets means that the bookie offers extended coverage of Place finishes.

They will pay the Place portion of an each-way bet on a determined number of places beyond the standard. So, for example, it could be 6 places instead of the usual 1, 2, 3, 4.

↪ Price Boost Offers

Another Grand National offer could come in the form of a Price boost. That’s where the bookie offers a boosted price above the industry average on a selection. But, again, these are simple offers - it’s a regular bet only at better promotional odds.

↪ Extra Places at The Major Horse Racing Festivals

Again, this is more of the same, but it’s essential. Keep an eye out for bookies that offer enhanced odds - not just Grand National betting offers but other races at the Grand National Festival.

If each way betting in racing is your thing, this is the coverage you want. Getting as many races covered with enhanced odds, be it at the York Ebor Festival to the Cheltenham Festival, is a great way to go.

↪ Best Odds Guaranteed

This is something of a staple of horse racing betting. Best Odds Guaranteed means that if your early price on a selection is lower than the price it wins at, you’ll get paid out at the larger odds.

Grand National offers are spread out on a wide field. There’s a lot of variety, so punters should be able to find Grand National free bets that fit naturally into their betting.

There are other types of bonuses to watch for like Matched Deposit Offers, Reduced risk bets and Grand National free bets through Money Back Specials.

Whatever the racing offer is, don’t forget to check out the key Terms and Conditions thoroughly.

So far in this guide, we have given plenty of detail about Grand National betting offers, odds and tips.

That’s plenty of information for punters to take forward to help create a 2023 Grand National Betting plan.

But we are not done yet! Are you a newcomer to horse racing? Have you found some fancied selections through Grand National tips but have never bet before?

Then maybe you want to know How to Bet on the Grand National.

↪ Find a bookmaker

Look at any of the bookmaker recommendations we make. Our betting experts use their knowledge of horse racing betting to offer impartial, transparent ratings.

It’s not only the good that we look at in reviewing sites. However, we are realistic in understanding that not everything is always up to par.

Grand national betting sites that come up near the top of our lists like bet365, Ladbrokes and 888Sport, do so because they check many boxes.

They are strong on odds, promotions and customer service.

↪ Registration

After picking a betting site, the first step is registering with them. This should not be a complicated or drawn-out process at all. You should be able to complete registration at a betting site in about five minutes.

All that will be needed is the info for the account (username and password) and then plugging in personal details.

Verification is needed. It is possible that a bookie will ask for further documentation ahead of making the first withdrawal.

↪ Claim a welcome bonus

OK, so you have found a bookmaker and registered. Now what? The next step is to complete the welcome bonus. That’s if you want to, as you can pass on a sign-up bonus if you desire.

Check the Key T&Cs of any Grand National free bet offer. You need to make the qualifying bet if it’s something like Coral’s Bet £5, Get a £20 sign-up bonus. The key is to pay attention to the stake and minimum odds to trigger the bonus.

Different types of welcome bonuses will, of course, have varying T&Cs. Some of them may need a welcome bonus promo code entered.

You may also not be able to claim a welcome bonus if you use something like an e-wallet for the first deposit. Usually, debit cards are the best way to go.

↪ Deposit

You will probably have been asked for a funding source at the point of registration. If not, or you skipped it, do a secure login and visit your account management.

Enter your payment details and load funds to your account. Transactions should be completed instantly.

↪ Find the Racing Section

Most bookmakers have Horse Racing as a separate section from the main sportsbooks. Some integrate it.

Either way, find the horse racing section at your preferred betting site. Then, browse through the day’s meetings or ante post markets if you are planning further ahead.

Pick out your horse and add it to your slip.

↪ Create Multi-bet options

You can add several selections to your betting slip. Horse racing punters lean towards multi-bets like Lucky 15 or simple Acca wagers. 

Those types of bets can be created in the bet slip.

↪ Place the bet

Hit the ‘Bet Now’ button after double-checking your stake amount is correct, and strike your bet.

↪ Watch a live stream

You can watch a race if the bookmaker offers live racing streams. Then just before the off on a race you have bet on, the streams will become active for you to enjoy (usually a minute before).

In the section above, we touched on getting a new account funded. This is, of course, an essential step as you need money to bet with!

What are the most common and most popular deposit methods?

Let’s look through a few of them. First, note that most methods listed should immediately put funds into your betting account.

Also, it is possible to have more than one form of payment on your betting account if required.

When it comes to security, bookmakers will run encryption for secure transactions. Check out FAQs pages for specifics of what a particular bookie offers on that front.

One last thing before we get into the payment methods - all the bookmakers we mention, are fully licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission.

Debit Cards

The debit card is a pretty good option to roll with in our book. They are accepted everywhere, are secure and quick, and it’s easy to check transactions with your regular banking account management.

Debit cards are the form of payment most commonly accepted for bookmaker Welcome Bonus offers and Grand National betting offers.

Banking

Another method is to set up a deposit through online banking. Setting this up will allow you to select your bank from a list. This will then link to your banking gateway before returning to the bookmaker site to make the deposit.

Bank Transfer 

Betting sites will likely accept a Bank Transfer. You can issue it from your bank using the Bookmaker's supplied details. A Fast Bank Transfer, where available, will do the process quicker, but it could still take between 1-4 business days.

Online Wallets

E-Wallets like NETeller and Skrill can also be used to fund betting accounts. They are generally excluded from Welcome Bonus offers, however. Again, check T&Cs.

Paysafecard

The leading payment card for online transactions. This can easily be used for payments to a betting account without disclosing any personal data.

PayPal

Another quick and easy, secure online payment solution is PayPal. Instant deposits can be made without sharing card details. Some bookmakers also offer Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Fastest-paying betting sites: The best bookies for withdrawals

After collecting winnings from online betting, you want to get at them at some point. To get your betting winnings, you will need to make a withdrawal.

You want it quickly and for the withdrawal to be issued with no fuss. In most cases, it should be noted that withdrawals do take longer than deposits. They also need to go back to your funding source.

Not all deposit methods can accept withdrawals. This, then, means that the operator will likely settle on doing a bank transfer, which can take a while to reach you.

So that’s a consideration when picking a payment method. Deposits and withdrawals are linked that way.

For some top recommendations for bookies with good withdrawal practices, consider looking at 10bet, Fitzdares, SBK and Boylesports. None of them charges fees for withdrawals or payments.

There is a rich history surrounding the Grand National. The first edition was held in 1839. There are ongoing debates about precursor races.

But 1839 is really when the race came to the National level. It’s come a long way since then has the handicap steeplechase.

The Grand National is hosted at Aintree Racecourse on Merseyside. There are entry conditions such as runners being at least seven years old and rated at least 125.

The field of the Grand National is maxed out at 40 runners. There are two laps of the course with 16 fences, and all but two of those are jumped twice.

There are different obstacles, from a water jump to ditches and open ditches. At 5 feet 2 inches, The Chair is the highest fence in the race. The total distance of the race is 4 miles and 2½ furlongs.

Grand National Winners

Who won the Grand National 2022? That was seven-year-old Noble Yeats. From a big outsider 50/1 SP, he left a lot of punters frustrated.

There had been some well-supported big hitters at the head of the market like 2021 Champion Minella Times, Any Second Now, Snow Leopardess, Delta Work and Run Wild Fred.

The first fence claimed two victims, with Enjoy D'allen and Mount Ida going down. Fifteen horses had exited at the 2021 Grand National's halfway stage, with The Chair taking out three.

Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen rode Noble Yeats, the first amateur rider to win the race since 1990. In the end, Noble Yeats scoring by two and a quarter lengths was a comfortable win. He was the first seven-year-old horse to win The Grand National since 1940.

The 15/2 race favourite Any Second Now came home in second place. He was the only challenger anywhere near the winner.

Any Second Now finished 20 lengths ahead of third-placed finisher Delta Work with just 15 of the 40 runners completing the 2022 Grand National.

Last 10 Grand National Winners

• 2022 Noble Yeats, 7, 50/1
• 2021 Minella Times, 8, 11/1
• 2019 Tiger Roll, 9, 4/1F
• 2018 Tiger Roll, 8, 10/1
• 2017 One For Arthur, 8, 14/1
• 2016 Rule The World, 9 33/1
• 2015 Many Clouds 9, 25/1
• 2014 Pineau de Re, 11, 25/1
• 2013 Auroras Encore, 11, 66/1
• 2012 Neptune Collonges, 11, 33/1

The UK racing calendar fills out the entire calendar year - the top action doesn't stop.

That is why it remains a sport that punters take a great appeal in because there are so many options that crop up.

What about other top UK and International Horse races and Festivals along with the Grand National tips?

Cheltenham Festival

This is the UK's most important date on the National Hunt calendar. It's five wonderful days of racing, packed with top Grade fixtures. 

The pinnacle of the Cheltenham Festival is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, one of the most coveted racing prizes in the world.

Royal Ascot

The Ascot Festival, held in June, is a stunning spectacle. This flat racing festival features vast prize money for races like the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Gold Cup and the Commonwealth Cup. 

Glorious Goodwood

Another significant date on the calendar is Glorious Goodwood. This 5-day festival brings together the stars of flat racing for big races like the Goodwood Cup, the King George Stakes and the Stewards Cup.

York Ebor Festival

Hosted at York Racecourse, the Ebor Festival appears towards the end of the flat season in the UK. Big races include the Juddmonte Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and Nunthorpe Stakes.

British Champions Day 

The final day of the UK flat racing season is British Champions Day. It's the single richest day of UK horse racing, with the top performers of the season featuring.

British Classics

The 2000 Guineas, The Derby and St Leger, are the big prestigious British Classics that make up the Triple Crown of flat racing.

Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in the US is the race that grabs all the headlines from North America. But it's just one leg of the American Triple Crown, along with the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

Other famous races from the international racing scene include:

• Melbourne Cup
• Sheema Classic
• Prix de l’Arc de Tiro Home
• Dubai World Cup
• Breeders’ Cup Classic