The Grand National is a horse race that takes place annually in England. It is one of the most popular betting events of the year, and as such, many bookmakers offer sign-up deals, and free bet offers to new customers to entice them to bet on the race.
If you are considering betting on the Grand National, opening your betting accounts as far in advance as possible is well worth it s to ensure that you can take advantage of all the free bet offers available. Some betting sites do not offer betting offers or free bets on the day of the Grand National so to get the best free bets for the Grand National, it is advisable to sign up a few days before the event.
The Grand National is a hugely popular event, and bookmakers make a lot of money from it. However, plenty of deals and offers are still available if you know where to look. You can find great value bets by researching and shopping around.
Best Grand National Betting Offers
Free bets are an essential part of betting and a must for any serious gambler. We’ve compiled a list of the best Grand National free bet offers on the net, including enhanced odds and cash back.
18+ New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration requiredT&Cs Apply
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only, Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets).T&Cs Apply
New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply.T&Cs Apply
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned.T&Cs Apply
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 1x £20 free bet. Free bet available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions +T&Cs Apply
*New Customers only. Deposit and place a £5 qualifying bet at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of opening a new account; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 2x £10 Free Sports Bets, valid on set events only (1 at odds 2.00 or greater), expires in 7 days, plus a £10 Casino Bonus, expires in 7 days. Wager the Casino Bonus 40x to withdraw winnings. Credit or Debit card only. Geographical Restrictions. T&Cs Apply, See Below.T&Cs Apply
18+ Minimum odds per selection 1/5 or more. Free Bets will match the customers stake. Customers can receive a maximum of one Free Bet of up to £10 per week during the promotional period. Bets only on Football will count. Only 5 Folds or more will apply. Only selected league qualify. Please note system bets will not be considered as a qualifying bet.T&Cs Apply
18+ only. New customers only. Min. deposit of £/€10. Qualifying real money bet of £/€10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer credited within 48 hours. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.T&Cs Apply
#ad 18+ Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Bonus valid on selected Casino games only • Bonus wins capped at £500, excluding Jackpot wins • You must wager Bonus amount x40 – this requirement varies by game. www.begambleaware.orgT&Cs Apply
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply
New customers only. 18+, BeGambleAware.org. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus. Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), Casino 25x. Only one bonus can be used at a time, Sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the Casino, unless the bonus has been forfeited. Bonus will expire after 7 days of opt-in. Further T&C’s apply.T&Cs Apply
#ad 18+ Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Bonus valid on selected Casino games only • Bonus wins capped at £500, excluding Jackpot wins • You must wager Bonus amount x40 – this requirement varies by game. www.begambleaware.orgT&Cs Apply
New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms.T&Cs Apply
New customers only. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. Please Gamble Responsibly.T&Cs Apply
New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card, Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. Terms Apply-T&Cs Apply
*New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org 18+ T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply
18+ Key Terms: Wager the bonus amount 5x within 7 days on Sports to release your Bonus. Bonus equal to 200% of qualifying deposit – up to £200. Bonus credited in real money without wagering requirements. T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply
New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.T&Cs Apply
Please Gamble Responsibly.Place a £10 World Cup winner outright bet before your chosen team has played a match and get a free £10 fixed odds bet, free £10 spread bet and 30 free spins as well as an extra free £10 fixed odds bet and 10 free spins each time your selection wins! (includes ET & Penalties) T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers onlyT&Cs Apply
Tote – BET £5 GET £20 IN FREE BETS
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MIN ODDS 0
MIN DEPOSIT £5
New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £/€5 and win or lose you will receive £/€20 Tote Credit. £/€20 Tote Credit rewarded as £/€10 redeemable against racing bets only and £/€10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleaware.orgT&Cs Apply
New customers only. Deposit £20 using Debit Card or Trustly. Up to your first £20 of losses will be refunded as CASH within 24 hours of qualifying bet having been settled. T&Cs apply.T&Cs Apply
New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet – one-time stake of £30, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply.T&Cs Apply
Quinnbet – GET 50% BACK AS A FREE BET UP TO £35
+10 FREE SPINS
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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £5
If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day’s betting (23:59), we’ll refund 50% of your first day’s losses as a Free Bet up to £35 (normally £25) plus, you get 10 Free Spins on Reel Diamonds (minimum 3 bets required). Even if your account is up, you’re guaranteed a £5 Free Bet plus 10 Free Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at minimum odds evens (2.00) or greater. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.orgT&Cs Apply
The Pools – BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS
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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £5
18+, UK only. Deposit and place a minimum £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/1 or greater and we will give you 1 x £5 in free bets plus an extra 3 x £5 Free Bets the following day. Applies to first cash bet only. Free bets credited as 4 x £5 bets to use on 3x Any sport & 1x Virtuals. Cashed Out, Void or Draw No Bet wagers do not qualify for this promotion. 1 x £5 Free Bets are credited upon qualifying first bet settlement, other free bets credited by midday the day after your first bet settles. 7-day free bet expiry. Available once per customer. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply
Table Of Contents
What is the Grand National?
The Grand National is an annual steeplechase horse race at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. It was first run on 18 April 1839 and has been held annually. The race is currently sponsored by Randox Health.
What You Need to Know About the Aintree Festival
The Aintree Festival is a three day event that attracts over 170,000 visitors to the Aintree Racecourse as well as millions of viewers watching the event on TV. The race is run over an epic course with iconic scenery and is a real test of stamina for the horses.
The Grand National is a race that is part of the festival and is the biggest and most viewed horse race in the UK. The race is run over four miles, two furlongs, and 74 yards at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. The race is a handicap chase, meaning that every runner has an equal chance of winning.
Quick Facts
The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England.
First run in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over an official distance of 4 miles and 2 furlongs (6.907 km), with horses carrying a maximum weight of 11 st 10 lb (73.5 kg).
The race is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million in 2019.
An event that is prominent in British culture, the race is popular amongst many people who do not normally watch or bet on horse racing at other times of the year.
It has been broadcast live on free-to-air terrestrial television in the United Kingdom since 1960.
The Grand National is a race that has been running for over 150 years. The race is considered to be one of the most important horse races in the world. Multiple winners have made the race famous and popular beyond racing fans.
The Grand National features horses running over a distance of four and a half miles, with 30 fences to jump, some multiple twists and turns to keep spectators on their toes. Horses must be seven years old or older to compete in the Grand National and must have placed in a recognised chase over a distance of three miles or more before being allowed to enter the race.
The prize money for the 2022 Grand National was £1,000,000, with £561,300 going to the winner.
Previous Winning Horses
No Grand National Betting Guide would be complete without discussing previous winners of the race. Grand National horses are some of the most iconic horses in the world and have excellent records. The race is a great way to get involved in horse racing and to predict who you think will be the winner. Because so many horses compete, and each has a roughly equal chance of winning, punters can usually find double-digit odds on most runners.
Multiple winners are not uncommon in the Grand National. Five different horses have won the race after being given odds of 100/1 – making them the longest-priced winners in the history of the event.
Caughoo was the first horse to win at 100/1 back in 1947, followed by Gregalach in 1929. More recently, Mon Mome (2009), Foinavon (1990), and Thunder Snow (2006) have all accomplished the feat.
The most successful horse at the Grand National is Red Rum, who won the race three times. The first-ever winner, Lottery, had the slowest winning time. There is an average of 16 horses passing the final post each year.
There have been multiple winners of the race over the years, such as Red Rum and Tiger Roll, who have become household names outside of hardcore horse racing fans.
Recent winners include:
2021 – Minella Times
2020 – Race cancelled due to Covid-19
2019 – Tiger Roll
2018 – Tiger Roll
2017 – One For Arthur
2016 – Rule The World
2015 – Many Clouds
2014 – Pineau De Re
2013 – Auroras Encore
2012 – Neptunes Collonges
2011 – Ballabriggs
2010 – Don’t Push It
2009 – Mon Mome
2008 – Comply or Die
2007 – Silver Birch
2006 – Numbersixvalverde
2005 – Hedgehunter
Grand National Jockeys to Watch
Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to ride the winner on Minella Times in 2021. But previous winners include:
2021 – Rachel Blackmore
2020 Race cancelled due to Covid-19
2019 – Davy Russell
2018 – Davy Russell
2017 – Derek Fox
2016 – David Mullins
2015 – Leighton Aspell
2014 – Leighton Aspell
2013 – Ryan Mania
2012 – Daryl Jacob
2011 – Jason Maguire
2010 – ony McCoy
2009 – Liam Treadwell
2008 – Timmy Murphy
2007 – Robbie Power
2006 – Niall Madden
2005 – Ruby Walsh
As you can see, on more than one occasion, there have been Jockeys that have won the race back to back, with Leighton Aspell managing to do it on two different horses in 2014 (Pineau De Re) and 2015 (Many Clouds) and Davy Russell winning the race back to back on Tiger Roll.
Betting Markets
There are a variety of betting markets available throughout the festival, not just on the main event itself. Many types of Grand National bets can be placed, from backing a single horse to spreading your bets across multiple horses.
If you are looking to place a Grand National bet then some of the most popular types of bets include:
Outright Winner
Backing a horse to win the race outright is difficult to do because only 40% of the horses that enter finish the race.
Each Way Betting
The Grand National race is a great opportunity to place an each-way bet. This is because the number of runners is so many that there is a good chance of picking up a place at decent odds.
This will help you to find a good return on your horse racing investment and hopefully allow you to win some money!
Place
Backing a horse to finish in one of the placed positions is great for newcomers. Given that horses at 40/1 can finish in the placed positions at 1/4 odds, the bookmaker will pay out at 10/1. At any other horse racing event picking a 10/1 winner would be seen as a great bet, so it’s well worth considering, as your pick only has to finish in the top 4 to win.
When you consider that most bookmakers pay extra places as a promotional offer, you could find yourself getting a 10/1 payout on a horse finishing in 6th place or higher.
Forecast
Predicting the first and second finishers in the correct order is known as a forecast. Very hard to do at the Grand National, which is reflected in the bookmaker’s odds. Great returns if you manage to pull it off, though.
Tri Cast
Predicting the first, second and third horses home in the correct order is even more difficult but not impossible to do.
Statistics
An estimated 500 to 600 million people watch the Grand National in over 140 countries.
The race is run over a distance of 4 miles and 4 furlongs (8,848 metres), and during this time there are 30 fences to be jumped.
The Grand National is the most difficult horse race to complete, with a success rate of just over 40%.
Only three horses have ever won the Grand National more than once: Red Rum (1973, 1974, 1975), Aldaniti (1981, 1982) and Tiger Roll (2018, 2019).
The horse with the most Grand National wins is Red Rum, with three victories.
Grand National Tips
As the race attracts many casual bettors, many people only bet once a year on the Grand National, so you may be wondering what to look for when trying to pick out a potential winner.
Age
As a rule of thumb, horses should be picked between the ages of 9 and 11, as a quarter of all winners have been between those ages. Selecting a horse between the ages of 9 and 11 is definitely the best way to go. The last horse to win the Grand National aged seven or under was in 1940, and the last 12-year-old winner was in 1995.
Weight
It is rare for a horse to win the Grand National if it is carrying big weights. Since Red Rum won in 1977, only four horses have won with 11st 5lb or more on their back.
Form & Stamina
Having a recent run is crucial for a Grand National winner. Only one of the last 48 Grand National winners has run its preparation more than 50 days prior to the big race. Similarly, all but one of the last 48 Grand National winners have run winning form over three miles or more.
How To Use Free Bets on The Grand National
Follow these five simple steps containing all the information you need to know about using your free bets on the Grand National.
Step 1: Find a Bookmaker that Offers Free Bets
There are a few different things to look for if you want to find a bookmaker that is promoting a Grand National betting offer. Firstly, check for any welcome bonuses that might be available when signing up. These often include free bets on the race itself.
Secondly, look out for a Grand National offer with deposit boosts or other offers that might be available specifically for new customers. To get free bets on the Grand National, you will usually need to deposit or stake £10 with the bookmaker.
The free bets are often broken down into smaller amounts that can be used across the sportsbook or card, depending on the terms and conditions of the promotion.
Always read the terms and conditions of any promotion before placing any bets, as they may have different rules than usual.
Step 2: Create an Account with The Bookmaker
Use the Claim Bonus button at the top of the page next to the relevant bookmaker offer, as this will ensure you are redirected to the correct page in order to claim the right offer you are interested in.
Once you are on the bookmaker’s site, click sign up and fill in all the relevant details in order to open an account. You may need to enter a bonus code in order to claim the offer.
Step 3: Place a Bet on The Grand National
Before placing a bet, check out the Horse Racing section of the bookmaker’s website, which will contain all the odds and markets you can bet on.
Step 4: If Your Bet Wins, You Will Receive A Free Bet
Depending on the offer, if you place a bet and it wins, you will receive your winnings as normal, and the stake will be returned. If you’ve claimed a match deposit offer, a bet of £5 get x offer, or a bet of £10 get x offer, the free bet will be automatically added to your account.
You can then use the free bet to bet on upcoming events. The stake will not be returned with free bets, but any winnings will be credited as cash in your account.
Step 5: If Your Bet Loses, You Will Receive A Free Bet
The great thing about free bets promotions is, so long as you bet at minimum odds, using the stake declared in the offer, and you don’t use a restricted payment method, your free bet will be added to your account once the bet has settled, even if you lose the bet.
You cannot withdraw the free bet as cash, but you can use it to wager on other events. The free bet stake won’t be returned on free bets, but any winnings will be paid out in the usual way.
Conclusion
The Grand National is one of the most popular horse races in the world, and with good reason. It’s a thrilling event that always leaves punters on the edge of their seats. If you’re looking to get in on the action, be sure to check out our list of top UK bookmakers for free bets on the Grand National. Enhanced odds and sign up offers await you, so don’t miss out!
About Joe Kizlauskas
Joe is a seasoned iGaming copywriter and speaker who has been in the business since 2015. He's written more words on all elements of Casinos, Slots, Bingo & Sports Betting than he likes to remember, and he's contributed material to a number of well-known brands. Joe may be seen playing 5 a side, at the gym or playing games on his Playstation when he is not writing.