The Ultimate Guide to Betting on the Grand National in 2024

The Grand National 2022 horse race is coming, with plenty of betting opportunities. If you wish to know how to bet on the Grand National, what type of bet to place, and who to bet on, our guide provides everything you need to know about betting on the world’s most famous four-and-a-half mile steeplechase.

When’s the Grand National?

The Grand National—a three-day festival each year in April—is the most famous horse race in the UK. Traditionally, the race is held at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, with 40 horses battling for victory.

The festival will start on 7 April and culminate on 9 April 2022.

• Opening Day: Thursday, 7 April
• Ladies Day: Friday, 8 April
• Grand National Day: Saturday, 9 April

The most important event (the Grand National run) will take place on Saturday, 9 April, at 17:15.

How to Bet on the Grand National

As the date of the Grand National draws nearer, you probably would like to place a bet but may not know how to go about it. Our guide will help you through the process of placing a bet on the races.

When placing a Grand National bet, you need first to choose a bookmaker. Betting shops will be open on the day of the Grand National—so you can make your bet in-shop. But we recommend an online bookmaker for a better betting experience—you can shop around until you find a betting site you like.

Betting on the Grand National Online

If you decide to bet online, the following sites have great offers for the Grand National: Betfair, Coral, Skybet, and bet365. You just need to choose which site to bet on. (The process is nearly identical on all sites.) If you’ve never placed a bet online, our following step-by-step guide will help you through the process.

Step 1: Register for an Account

Enter your personal information and bonus code (if you have one), choose a deposit method, and enter your card details. (You can wait to make your deposit until the confirmation prompt.)

Step 2: Verify the Account

Before you place a bet on the Grand National online, you need to verify your account. You’ll receive an email verification, and then you’ll need to log into the site again.

Step 3: Navigate to the Grand National

If you’re placing a bet on the day of the race, there will probably be a banner on the site you can click, redirecting you to the Grand National betting page. If you don’t see this, choose ‘horse racing’ from the offered categories, and then find the ‘Aintree’ entry for the 17:15 race.

Step 4: Select a Bet Market

When you bet on the Grand National, you can choose either the win-only or each-way market.

Step 5: Choose a Selection

You’ll need to choose a horse to bet on, consider the odds (read more about betting odds here), then add your selection to the bet slip.

Step 6: Place Your Money

If you haven’t deposited money in your account, you can do it before you make your bet. Choose the sum you want to place, confirm the ticket, and that’s it.

Most betting sites have a welcome offer or bonus. So if you’re a novice, you’ll probably be entitled to a bonus that you can use when you place your bet on the Grand National online.

Types of Grand National Bets

Stats on gambling in the UK reveal that horse racing is the second most popular sport for placing bets, trailing behind football. Still, horse betting is more popular than betting on greyhound races.

You can place different bet types on the Grand National, but the two most common include win-only and each-way.

Win-Only Bet

Win-only is betting on one horse to win the race. When betting on the Grand National, keep in mind that it’s a big race, with 40 horses racing to win. If you bet win-only, you must pick only one horse and hope it’ll emerge as a winner. If the horse wins, you’ll be paid the full win price. You can consider multiple bets—such as the Lucky 15 bet—but these are more complicated and not recommended for beginners.

Each-Way Bet

Each-way bets—referred to as EW bets in betting lingo—are two-way bets. When you place an each-way bet, you’re placing two bets: one for the horse to win, and one for the horse to place, i.e., finish the race in one of the designated places. This is considered the best way to bet on the Grand National because if your horse won the race, you’d be withdrawing your winnings for both the win-bet and place-bet, and, if the horse finished in one of the top positions, you’d still see a return, even though you’d lose the place bet.

Non-Runner, No Bet

If the horse you’ve bet on doesn’t run in the race—which can happen for various reasons—the money you’ve wagered will be refunded to your account, and you’ll be able to use it for future bets. This is known as a Non-Runner, No Bet (NRNB), signifying that the bet is void.

Who to Bet on at the Grand National

Choosing a single horse can be challenging. The maximum number of runners in the Grand National is 40, with the final choices published on the first day of the event. So before making your final choice, consider the following matters.

Age

The horse’s age is essential because those under eight and over 13 typically don’t run in the Grand National race.

Activity

Horses that have previously participated in hurdled races tend to do well at the Grand National. On the other hand, horses that have been inactive for more than 50 days before the race tend to perform poorly.

Stamina

Before choosing a horse to bet for the Grand National, consider the horse’s stamina to see if it has the necessary strength for long races.

Past Results

Even though a horse’s past (races – winnings) aren’t guaranteed a win, it’s good to consider the horse’s race record to see how it previously performed.

What Are the Favourites for 2022?

While contemplating the above essentials, consider the next Grand National favorites for 2022.

1. Galvin

As the Welsh Grand National winner, Galvin is considered the top contender for the winning position. And the win at the Cheltenham Festival solidified his position as the favorite.

2. Run Wild Fred

When thinking about the Grand National and who to bet on, consider the second favorite: Run Wild Fred. This horse won the Navan race in November and is regarded as a favorite.

3. Any Second Now

With 19 races under his belt and finishing third at last year’s Grand National, Any Second Now has an excellent chance to win.

4. Snow Leopardess

This mare has regularly run races over three miles and managed to win some of them. Although it’s her Grand National debut, the race looks good for her.

5. Minella Times

Last year’s winner, Minnella Times, is still in top form, and many have their eyes set on her—those betting in the Grand National 2022 will bet on her again.

These are just the top five favorites, but this doesn’t mean that the other horses can’t surprise us and claim victory. And remember, never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Key Takeaways

Conclusion

The day of the most long-awaited race draws near, and with the help of our guide, you now know how to place a bet on the Grand National 2022. You also know what to look for when choosing a horse to bet on and who the favourites are. So you have more than luck on your side.