How to Bet on the Grand National with Betfred

| Monday 15th December 2025, 15:36

Monday 15th December 2025, 15:36

The Grand National is the biggest horse race in the UK and it takes place at Aintree every April. It is the one race in the country that seemingly grabs everyone's attention each year. Most people stop what they are doing to tune in for the race to cheer on their selected horse.

If you are someone looking at putting a bet on for the next Grand National, we at Betfred Insights Education have put together this explainer on how to bet on the Grand National.

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Once you have logged in to or signed up for an account at Betfred - check out this handy guide here - you can head over to the horse racing page and depending on how far in advance you are looking for markets, you tend to find the Grand National on the antepost tab. This is if you are putting your bet on well in advance.

In the week leading up to the race, Betfred will likely have the Grand National front and centre on the website, so it will be easily accessible.

There you will find a list of all the horses with their prices next to them, as well as extra details such as their jockey, trainer and recent form.

When placing your bet you can opt for either a single or an each-way selection. The single means that your bet will only pay out if your horse wins the National.

Each-way, which is a popular method for the National, gives the bettor some added insurance. It is essentially two bets, one for the horse to win and the other for it to place. This appeals as Betfred tend to pay out seven places for the Grand National, which makes the outsiders at huge prices more attractive.

How to Pick Your Nose?

For avid racing fans, a lot of research will go into their decision making. They will look at the form of the horse in the build up to Aintree, as well as the success records of the jockey, trainer and owner.

J.P. McManus is an owner who has had three winners in the Grand National - the joint-most of any owner in the history of the iconic race. I Am Maximus was his latest victor in 2024.

Other factors worth looking into are the weather, some horses are better suited to soft ground after rainfall and others who perform better when it is firm.

But probably the most popular method in which people choose their horse for the Grand National is by taking a liking to the colour of the silks of the jockey or by the horse's name - whether it be for it's comedic value or if the bettor has a connection with a particular name based on a memory.

For more information on gambling on this sport, check out How to Bet on Horse Racing Online with Betfred.

Stay up to date with our latest Grand National Tips on our designated hub on Betfred Insights