Grand National Free Bets

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.

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!