In the UK, the Grand National is known as the ‘People’s Race’ attracting betting interest from many once a year bettors. Millions of Brits who would otherwise not place a bet on horse racing bet on the winner of the Grand National. Bookmakers see this as an opportunity to attract new customers and they will do this by offering Grand National free bets and other promotional offers. They will also offer free Grand National bets related to the race which takes place in April, generally three weeks after the Cheltenham Festival and near Easter weekend but never over that weekend. There is a forum and blog about the race.
The Grand National is unique in terms of the race distance and the design of the fences. Some of the fences have names such as Becher’s Brook, the Canal Turn and the Chair. The race is run at a peak viewing time on Saturday afternoon on free-to-view television so is ideal for bookmakers offering Grand National free bets and other Grand National related promotional offers. The Grand National is a steeplechase over 4 miles, three and a half furlongs and last about nine minutes. The race gives bookmakers ample scope to promote Grand National free bets and free Grand National bets.
The BBC sports website features all the news about the Grand National leading up to the race in April. This will include running plans and the current odds so you can keep up to date with the latest horse racing news from the BBC.
Customers new to Ladbrokes can benefit from Grand National offers. New players must specify the bonus code MAXSPORT in order to take advantage of the current new customer offer and Grand National offers for 2018. Please follow this link to open an account with Ladbrokes and receive your new customer offer and view all current Grand National offers.
New customers can receive a £50 bonus bet when they open an account with Ladbrokes. This is a matched free bet equal to the stake of your first bet with Ladbrokes, with the initial bet at odds of 1/2 (1.50) or bigger after an initial deposit of at least £5.
Significant T&C: _ 18+. New customers only. Promo code ‘F50’ required. Certain deposit methods excluded. Min £/€5 on win or each-way bet excluding Tote or pools = match max £/€50 free bet. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Bet must be made within 14 days. Free bet valid for 4 days. Free bet stake not returned. Single bets only. Free bet cannot be used on certain markets. T&Cs apply
New customers at Betfair can receive a welcome bonus of up to £100. When you open an account with Betfair you can benefit from not only this great welcome offer but also Grand National offers and enhanced odds throughout the festival.
Place five £10 bets at odds of at least 1.50 within 30 days of opening your account and you will receive a £20 bonus bet. You can repeat this process five times to receive the full £100 in bonus bets.
“New customer offer. Place 5 x £10 or more bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. T&Cs apply.”
There will be many Grand National offers and promotions for the race in 2018. Customers new to Ladbrokes will be able to use their welcome bonus bet of up to £50 on the Grand National. New account holders with Betfair who are given the opportunity to earn up to £100 in bonus bets can use some of that bonus as Grand National free bets. All the major online and High Street bookmakers will offer free Grand National bets at the time of the race.
Grand National racing betting offers are more about marketing than trading. In some cases the odds on offer are increased several fold but small stakes only are allowed. Some bettors take advantage of their free Grand National bets by trading the race on Betfair which means they can’t lose regardless of the race outcome. The industry is aware of this practice but continue with the matched free Grand National bets as they can attract new business.
Several leading firms are also offering racing best odds guaranteed and non runner/non bet is now standard across the industry. The ongoing promotions are still running alongside the Grand National betting offers and free Grand National bets. The more experienced operators who know all about the concept of matching bets will benefit as a by-product of the mad dash for new customers. The Grand National brings lapsed punters out of the woodwork so there are inducements to start betting again.
Here are some special free bets and offers associated with the Grand National that will probably be offered for the Grand National in 2018:
More Grand National offers and updates will be announced on a blog nearer the time of the 2018 Grand National.
The Grand National is the highlight of the three day Grand National Meeting that takes place on a date early in April each year at Aintree. The meeting is the second most prestigious and lucrative after the Cheltenham Festival. Some horses run at both meetings, especially now there is a three week gap between the meetings. Cheltenham is an undulating track while Aintree is flat which means horses may be more suited to one or the other but rarely both.
Both tracks are right handed and in many other ways different. Some horses bypass Cheltenham and are targeted at Aintree due to the contrasting demands of each venue. Following form from Cheltenham at Aintree is not always the best policy especially when there are Grand National free bets on offer. In the past the Grand National meeting was mainly about the Grand National but there is now a high quality programme of racing for the best hurdlers and chasers. The meeting attracts large crowds from across the UK and from around the world. The results are reported in the racing and National Press.
Here are some interesting facts and figures about the Grand National:
In 2018 the three days of the Grand National Meeting are as follows:
Here is the race card guide for Thursday of the Grand National Meeting 2018:
The runners and riders updates and time for the races appear in the Press.
Here is the race card guide for Friday of the Grand National Meeting 2018:
The runners and riders updates and time for the races appear in the Press.
Here is the race card guide for Friday of the Grand National Meeting 2016: (Something similar is expected in 2017 and 2018):
The runners and riders updates and time for the races appear in the Press.
The 2017 renewal of the Aintree Grand National saw the emotional victory of Lucinda Russell’s One for Arthur, showing a tenacious attitude to fend off a series of challengers and bring the great race back to Scotland for the first time in 38 years.
Sadly the hero has suffered an injury and is not back to defend his crown in 2018, but plenty of those in behind will be returning, with perhaps the smooth travelling Blaklion the most dangerous if the ground conditions improve from the heavy conditions that sap his stamina at marathon trips.
Runner-up Cause of Causes saw things out typically strongly and is sure to be back in 2018 for another bid, despite disappointing in the Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival in March. His trainer Gordon Elliot knows what is required to win this prestigious prize, with Silver Birch winning at 33/1 in 2007 the one who first put him on the map as he set out on his meteoric training career.
After eight winners at Cheltenham in 2018 Elliot comes here with his tail up and his runners are entitled to huge respect, while arch rival Willie Mullins could risk his Cheltenham Gold Cup faller Total Recall if all is well after his unfortunate mishap (usually a sound jumper with proven stamina).
The Aintree management were delighted to see that 19 of the 40 strong field completed the course, with the safer and less demanding fences clearly taking less of a toll. With racing always under the spotlight with welfare issues, this move to limit fallers and carnage was surely a sensible one.
Winners list and results since 2007 (Year, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Owners and Winners Starting Price odds):
2017 | One For Arthur | Derek Fox | Lucinda Russell | The Two Golf Widows | 14/1 |
2016 | Rule The World | David Mullins | Mouse Morris | Gigginstown House Stud | 33/1 |
2015 | Many Clouds | Leighton Aspell | Oliver Sherwood | Trevor Hemmings | 25/1 |
2014 | Pineau de Re | Leighton Aspell | Richard Newland | John Proven | 25/1 |
2013 | Auroras Encore | Ryan Mania | Sue Smith | Douglas Pryde, Jim Beaumont & David P van der Hoeven | 66/1 |
2012 | Neptune Collonges | Daryl Jacob | Paul Nicholls | John Hales | 33/1 |
2011 | Ballabriggs | Jason Maguire | Donald McCain, Jr. | Trevor Hemmings | 14/1 |
2010 | Don't Push It | Tony McCoy | Jonjo O'Neill | J. P. McManus | 10/1 JF |
2009 | Mon Mome | Liam Treadwell | Venetia Williams | Vida Bingham | 100/1 |
2008 | Comply or Die | Timmy Murphy | David Pipe | David Johnson | 7/1 JF |
2007 | Silver Birch | Robbie Power | Gordon Elliott | Brian Walsh | 33/1 |
Red Rum – 3 wins (1973, 1974, 1977)
George Stevens – 5 wins (Freetrader, 1856; Emblem 1863; Emblematic, 1864; The Colonel, 1869, 1870)
Leading trainers:
George Dockeray – 4 wins (Lottery, 1839; Jerry, 1840; Gaylad, 1842; Miss Mowbray, 1852)
Fred Rimell – 4 wins (E.S.B., 1956; Nicolaus Silver, 1961; Gay Trip, 1970; Rag Trade, 1976)
Ginger McCain – 4 wins (Red Rum, 1973, 1974, 1977; Amberleigh House, 2004)
James Octavius Machell – 3 wins (Disturbance, 1873; Reugny, 1874; Regal, 1876)
Noel Le Mare – 3 wins (Red Rum, 1973, 1974, 1977)
Trevor Hemmings – 3 wins (Hedgehunter, 2005; Ballabriggs, 2011, Many Clouds, 2015)
Fastest winning time on winners list: Mr. Frisk (1990); 8 minutes 47.8 seconds
Oldest horse on winners list: Peter Simple (1853); aged 15
Youngest winning horse: Alcibiade (1865), Regal (1876), Austerlitz (1877), Empress (1880), Lutteur III (1909); all aged five
Oldest winning jockey: Dick Saunders (1982); aged 48
Youngest winning jockey: Bruce Hobbs (1938); aged 17
Longest odds winner: Tipperary Tim (1928), Gregalach (1929), Caughoo (1947), Foinavon (1967), Mon Mome (2009); all 100/1
Shortest odds winner: Poethlyn (1919); 11/4
Largest field: 66 runners (1929)
Smallest field: 10 runners (1883)
Most horses to finish: 23 (1984)
Fewest horses to finish: 2 (1928)
Most rides in the race: 20 (A. P. McCoy, 1995-2015), (Richard Johnson, 1997-2016)
Most rides without winning: 20 (Richard Johnson, 1997-2016)
Here are some trends for the winners list over the last 10 years which can be useful in identifying the horses to back using your Grand National free bets:
Tickets for the 2018 Grand National will go on sale after the 2017 running of the race. The three day meeting is usually sold out which means there are many touts selling tickets near the course. The Grand National is a great occasion for hospitality and many business entertain their clients and invite them to Aintree. There is a formal dress code.
The Grand National is very good for the local economy as there are visitors from other parts of the country and from around the world. The race provides good publicity for Liverpool and Merseyside and presents the city and area in a positive way on television and in pictures. Men and women must adhere to the dress code.
Many racing fans write comments on a Grand National blog. Many pictures of the meeting appear in the Press and are the meeting is covered on television.
The Grand National is the most watched race in the world on television. It is beamed live in TV pictures to more than 600,000 million people around the world. The race is by some distance the most watched in the UK and attracts a television audience of about 10 million people.
The Grand National is extensively covered in the specialist racing Press and in the National Press. The newspapers report on the race and the social element of the occasion. Betting companies promote their odds for months before the race and there is a big ante post market for the Grand National.
The race is also broadcast live on the radio and there are previews and a race commentary. The winning connections are interviewed after the race and the jockey becomes very familiar in the media. Newspapers and TV channels all around the world report on the Grand National and print pictures and the race is the most famous in the world.