With over 10 million viewers tuning in each year and £300m bet on the big day in the UK alone, the Grand National is the premier event in the racing calendar.
Held at Aintree since 1839, the first race was won by the aptly named Lottery, with a time of 14 minutes 53 seconds, the slowest ever recorded. Punters are always on the lookout for value bets and regulars know it isn't always the favourites that end up taking the £1million prize home.
Minella Times won the Grand National last time out in 2021, starting the race at 11/1, but horses have won the Aintree main event at a whopping 100/1. This was achieved by Tipperary Tim (1928), Gregalach (1929), Caughoo (1947), Foinavon (1967) and Mon Mome (2009).
Read more: Grand National 2022: 'New mum' Snow Leopardess defying odds at 14/1 with three straight wins
Delta Work, Any Second Now and Snow Leopardess are currently the top three favourites at around 10/1 to 14/1 with most bookmakers, but Grand National prices are subject to frequent change due to betting trends.
How to place a bet online
If you are 18 years old or older, you can sign up to a reputable bookmaker such as Betfred. To place a bet on the Grand National, follow these simple steps:
- Make an account with a bookmaker. Almost every online bookie will be offering promotional deals over the course of the weekend, so it's worth shopping around for the best sign up offers
- If you are signing up through a promotional offer, make sure you read the terms and conditions of the offer you area claiming. This will also give instructions on how to claim your deal
- Register for an account by clicking 'sign up' or 'create account'. You will then have to enter personal information which may even include identification documents such as your driver's license or passport
- Fill in any personal details requested, then provide details for your preferred deposit method when prompted. You may need to deposit a certain amount to be eligible for the free bet or promotional offer
- Then find the Grand National page on your chosen site or app. Many brands will be displaying their betting options prominently on their homepage so it should not be hard to find
- If you're asked for a particular course or meeting for that day choose Saturday, 9 April, then select Aintree and the 5.15 meeting - the Grand National.
- You should then be able to select the horse you want to bet on. Click on the option you want and it will be added to your betting slip. Fill in the amount you would like to stake. If you'd like it to be an each-way (EW) bet, then tick the relevant box on the slip
- Click 'place bet' and that is you ready for the main event
Betting companies make the sign up process as easy as possible and Grand National betting options will be front and centre this week.
How to place a bet in-store
Though the transition to online betting has been rapid, hundreds of thousands of punters bet in-store, filling out a traditional betting slips with the famous tiny pens and pencils.
If you are 18 years old or older, you can walk into any high street bookmaker and place a bet without signing up.
- Once inside, locate a horse-racing betting slip, these will along the walls and on tables
- Write on the slip your selection of horse, the time of the meeting and where it is. For the Grand National, the time is 5.15pm and meeting is Aintree
- Then write down the horse's odds, your stake (the money to want to put on the bet) and whether it is 'to win' or each-way (EW). If you are in any doubt, you can simply ask the cashier to do it for you
- Once you have done that, give the cashier your slip, your stake, then that is you done
- Keep hold of your betting slip. You will need this to collect any potential winnings
What is an EW bet?
An EW bet stands for each-way. An each-way bet is effectively two bets; a bet to win and a bet that your horse will be placed. So if you bet £5 'each-way', remember that you will actually need to pay £10 - £5 for each bet.
'Placing' in a race depends on a number of factors, but in the Grand National, as there are up to 40 horses starting, bookies usually pay out on a horse placing up to 5th. Betting on a horse that eventually 'places', usually earns around a fifth of the amount you wagered on it to win.
Other than 'to win' bets, it is by far the most popular type of wager.
What does SP mean in horse racing?
SP stands for 'starting price' and is a popular type of bet in horse racing. An SP bet will mean you take the odds your chosen horse is at when the race starts. This could be higher or lower depending on the selection.
Claim your Grand National free bet
Simply register with Betfred, place a £10 wager on any race at Aintree and you will be credited with £60 in free bets and bonuses*!
*18+, new UK customers only, T&Cs apply.
