Best Grand National Betting Sites

Best Bookmakers for the Grand National (2024)

On this page, we will go through everything that UK racing fans could possibly need to know about all the best bookmakers for the Grand National, as anticipation begins to grow for the race.

Although the Cheltenham Festival might be more beloved by horse racing purists all over the country, there is no doubting the Grand National is something absolutely unique and special.

The Aintree race is one of the most important dates on the sporting calendar each year, with even people who have little interest in horse racing usually tuning in to see what happens.

In 2024, the Grand National is set to take place on April 9, the closing day of the Aintree meet. Thousands of people will head to the Merseyside racecourse over the course of the event.

The Grand National is a historic race and, as such, has a massive profile both in the UK and across the planet. It is also one of the biggest betting events in the world every single year.

Introduction to the Grand National

The Grand National was first run all the way back in 1839, so the race has almost 200 years of history to call upon. The National is known for its length, ensuring it is a great test of stamina.

Most of the UK's National Hunt tracks also have smaller fences for the horses and jockeys to jump, so the Grand National offers something different. Run over about four miles, the horses will have to navigate over some 30 fences over two laps in order to make it to the finish line.

It is estimated that more than 500 million people watch the Grand National on television every year - ITV currently has the UK broadcast rights. This means it is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world, comparable to something like the final of the FIFA World Cup.

The Grand National is particularly famous for its unpredictability. This means a lot of big horse racing fans avoid betting on the race, but the chance to scoop big money from a small bet on an outsider is one of the reasons why it is so compelling. Foinavon was a surprise winner at odds of 100/1 in the 1967 Grand National when many runners and riders were caught in a melee, while Red Rum became the most successful racehorse in Grand National history in the 70s.

The recent history of the Grand National includes the 2020 race being held virtually as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, while just a year later the talented Irish rider Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National, coming home first on Minella Times.

So why is it important to pick the right bookie to bet on the Grand National? Well, choosing the wrong online bookmaker means people are risking getting bad value from their bet, while they might also be missing out on the chance to claim a wide range of Grand National promotions.

How we Choose the Best Bookmakers for the Grand National

Choosing the best bookmakers for the Grand National involves taking into account a wide range of factors. Here are some of the things we look at when assessing Grand National bookies:

Grand National Free Bets/Betting Offers

As one of the biggest betting events on the sporting calendar, our first port of call has to be Grand National free bets and betting offers. Almost every big UK betting site will have Grand National promotions up for grabs in the build-up to the event. New customers who sign up for an account are likely to be given Grand National free bets if they make a deposit and place a qualifying wager. We check out the terms and conditions - including going through the small print - to see what Grand National betting offers are the best.

Extra Places

With the Grand National seeing so many horses involved, one of the key things to look at is how many extra places are up for grabs. It is often the case that bookies will pay out as many as six places on the Grand National for each way bets. However, it is key to check out whether the odds that are paid on the each-way portion is cut as a result of paying extra places. While paying 12 places on the Grand National might be eye-catching, people might prefer to take a bet on 10 places if the each-way odds are more appealing on a major UK betting site.

Enhanced Odds

Many UK bookmakers will offer enhanced odds for the Grand National. While it is usually the case that enhanced odds are for the favourite in a race, the National is always so open that enhanced odds could be offered on a horse that is not the clear favourite to win.

Price Boosts

A similar type of Grand National betting offer is a price boost. This does exactly what it says on the tin, boosting the price of a particular bet that is offered for the National. An example of a price boost for the Grand National might be offering enhanced odds on a particular horse to finish in the top three or the top five, with betting brands trying to tempt users into a bet.

Grand National Live Streaming

While the UK's broadcast rights for the Grand National are currently held by ITV, not everyone will be able to sit down in front of the television for the big race on April 9. This is why it is so important for the UK's best Grand National bookmakers to offer live streaming of the race. Most top UK betting brands have live streaming of all UK and Irish races these days.

Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)

One of the most important Grand National betting offers is Best Odds Guaranteed, which is often called BOG for short. As the name of this Grand National promotion suggests, bookies offering BOG will pay out the top starting price for winning wagers. So if a customer placed a wager on a horse at 20/1 and it won the Grand National but had a starting price of 25/1 elsewhere, then the bet would be paid out at 25/1 by a BOG bookmaker.

The Most Ante-post Bets

Lots of people pick their horses for the Grand National on the day of the race and might just make a selection based on the name of the horse, or the jockey colours. Many people place ante-post bets on the Grand National well in advance of the race, though, trying to take advantage of better odds weeks before the Aintree meet takes place. We check out how many ante-post bets are offered for the Grand National in advance of the Aintree meeting.

No Runner No Bet

A popular type of ante-post bet for the Grand National is a non runner no bet wager. As the name suggests here, this means a bet will be deemed to be null and void in the event of a selection not starting the race. Ahead of the Grand National, it is often the case that some horses that were expected to take part do not make it to the starting gun. When this happens, those who backed a wager with no runner no bet terms will be paid out a refund.

Faller Insurance

With the Grand National known for being an extremely gruelling race - both due to its length and a high number of large fences - many entrants do not make it to the finish line. Using a British betting brand offering faller insurance could be a good idea for horse racing fans who want the chance to get a refund in the event of their selection for the race not finishing.