Grand National 2023 Preview, Tips, Free Bets & Offers
The biggest individual race of the entire year, the Grand National, is here!
On Saturday 15th April at 5:15pm, the Grand National will take place, one loved by the public, whether you are a regular horse racing fan or a once-a-year punter.
Check out all the latest Grand National Free Bets offers, tips and info below, as we guide you through this special, and unique contest.
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Grand National Free Bets
Online bookies love the annual Aintree Grand National betting bash. The big race attracts more bets than any other sporting event on the calendar and creates massive Grand National betting turnover.
It should therefore come as no surprise that the major online sportsbooks fight over themselves to attract your business in a battle akin to a high-street price war.
Best Horse Racing Free Bet Offers
Here at Freebets.com, you will always find the freshest betting offers and promotions for Horse Racing from the best betting sites in the UK. Feel free to check out our horse racing free bets and promotions here every day, and we will have a lot more offers during the major horse racing festivals such as Cheltenham Festival Betting, Grand National free bets, Royal Ascot, Epsom Derby and many more.
Grand National Runners and Riders
The 2023 edition of the world’s most prestigious steeplechase will take place at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 15, with a 5.15pm start time. The final maximum field of 40 runners will be gradually whittled down from all the entries in the run up to the big day along with provisional jockey bookings.
We usually get to know the final 40 Grand National runners and riders in the week before the race but we already some of the main contenders expected to line up on Grand National Day.
Latest Grand National Odds
Here is a run down of some of the current market leaders, along with their best odds and recent form.
Corach Rambler
Corach Rambler recently won the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for the second consecutive year.
Trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell and ridden by usual pilot Derek Fox, Corach Rambler has been allotted a low weight of just 10st 5lb and is sure to have plenty of supporters.
Noble Yeats
Last year’s winner at 50/1, Noble Yeats was the first seven-year-old to win the great race since Bogskar back in 1940.
Sam Waley-Cohen, a now-retired amateur jockey, served as his rider for his 2022 success. This year he will be ridden by new regular partner Sean Bowen and will be one of the top-weights set to carry 11st 11lb.
Delta Work
The Gordon Elliott-trained Delta Work is another horse who has won back-to-back Cheltenham races after winning this year’s Cross Country Chase again.
The 9-year old has come in for some strong support to win this year’s Grand National on the back of that performance. He finished a creditable third in last year’s race in the hands of Jack Kennedy and should be there or thereabouts again this year.
Mr Incredible
Next up is the Willie Mullins trained Mr Incredible. A consistent sort, Mr Incredible has never been outside the first three over fences which included a third at Cheltenham in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
Gaillard Du Mesnil
Another Willie Mullins inmate, Gaillard Du Mesnil was a fortuitous winner of this year’s National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham after Mahler Mission’s fall while clear at the second-last. Despite winning that day he was not convincing and it appears that other horses are in better shape.
Any Second Now
Any Second Now, runner-up in the 2022 Grand National, is amongst the leading fancies. He will be carrying the top-weight of 11st 12lb in this year’s race, which must be taken into consideration especially if the ground comes up soft.
Longhouse Poet
Last year’s National sixth-place finisher Longhouse Poet is another coming back to the race this year. With his recent victory in the Bluegrass Stamm 30 Chase at Down Royal, he arrives at Aintree in fine shape.
Le Milos
The highly regarded stayer Le Milos looks a big player for the Skelton brothers having already won the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury earlier this season. Rated at double figures, he should give his supporters a good run for their money.
Randox Health Grand National Festival 2023 Schedule
Time | Day One, Thursday April 13 2023 | Distance | Prize |
---|---|---|---|
13.45 | Manifesto Novices’ Steeple Chase | 2m 4f | £100,000 |
14.20 | Doom Bar Anniversary 4YO Juvenile Hurdle | 2m 1f | £100,000 |
14.50 | Betway Bowl Steeple | 3m 1f | £200,000 |
15.25 | Betway Aintree Hurdle | 2m 4f | £250,000 |
16.05 | Randox Health Foxhunters’ Steeple Chase | 2m 5f | £45,000 |
16.40 | Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Steeple Chase | 2m | £90,000 |
17.15 | Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat | 2m 1f | £45,000 |
Time | Day Two, Friday April 14 2023 | Distance | Prize |
---|---|---|---|
13.45 | Orrell Park Handicap Hurdle | 2m 4f | £75,000 |
14.20 | Betway Top Novices’ Hurdle | 2m ½f | £100,000 |
14.50 | Betway Mildmay Novices’ Steeple Chase | 3m 1f | £100,000 |
15.25 | Marsh Steeple Chase | 2m 4f | £250,000 |
16.05 | Randox Health Topham Steeple Chase | 2m 5f | £140,000 |
16.40 | Doom Bar Sefton Novices’ Hurdle | 3m ½f | £100,000 |
17.15 | Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle | 2m 1f | £45,000 |
Day Three, Saturday April 15, 2023:
The Grand National will be the penultimate race of Saturday afternoon, and will see plenty getting stuck in to Grand National betting, but don’t forget, there’s plenty more to spend a Grand National bonus on too.
The full schedule for Saturday’s racing can be found below…
Time | Day Three, Saturday April 15 2023 | ||
---|---|---|---|
13.45 | Bridle Road Handicap Hurdle | 3m ½f | £75,000 |
14.25 | Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle | 2m 4f | £100,000 |
15.30 | Doom Bar Maghull Novices’ Steeple Chase | 2m | £100,000 |
15.40 | Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle | 3m ½f | £180,000 |
16.20 | Betway Handicap Steeple Chase | 3m 1f | £75,000 |
17.15 | Randox Grand National Steeple Chase | 4m 2½f | £1,000,000 |
18.2 | Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race | 2m ½f | £50,000 |
Grand National Betting Offers
Every year bookmakers come up with ever ingenious Grand National betting offers. As with the Cheltenham Festival they tend not to announce the details until the days leading up to the big race.
Therefore it would make a lot of sense to visit the ‘promotions page’ of Coral, Unibet, Betfred and all the other major bookies to find the very best concessions and offers on the 2023 Grand National.
One thing you should be aware of is the ‘closure’ of new customer offers by most online betting firms in the days leading up to the Aintree Grand National. That’s right, most ‘new customer sign-up offers’ will disappear as the Grand National draws closer.
Sadly those canny bookmakers have realized this race attracts countless ‘once-a-year’ customers who will never become the regular punters these offers are designed to attract.
Throwing out a free bet to such newbies would probably be a loss-making exercise for online sportsbooks and so they traditionally put a freeze on free bet offers for the first week of April.
So, if you want to get some free bets for the Grand National via the opening of a new account, be sure to do it long before race day. Beforehand, when looking for Grand National free bets you may need to familiarize yourself with some of the common betting terms such as ‘each way’…
Each Way Betting
An each-way bet is unquestionably the most popular of all Grand National betting offers as means your selection will earn you winnings if it finishes in-the-frame (first, second, third, or fourth) with half your bet stake going on the ‘place’ part of the bet (at a fraction of the win odds) and half going directly on the win part of the bet.
bet365 are currently offering the best each-way terms as a bet with them will see you paid if your selection finishes in the top 5!
But you can shop around for even better terms with some firms, like Paddy Power, offering places 1-2-3-4-5-6 on race day. As a rule of thumb a placed horse at 5/1 will see you have your entire bet stake returned.
A placed hose priced around 10/1 will give you a yield of around 50% on your investment while a placed selection around 14/1 or 16/1 will see you double your money. Naturally, if your selection was to win you will see a handsome return on your money.
Ante Post
An ‘ante-post’ bet is a bet placed on a race before the final field is known. You can get far bigger odds about a Grand National betting fancy if placing your wager ante-post but you will lose your stakes if it does not actually run.
It’s best to get confirmation from a trainer that he definitely plans to run his horse in the Grand National before placing an ante-post bet as almost two thirds of the original Grand National entries will ultimately not take part.
Non-Runner No-Bet (NRNB)
Naturally, with the race so far away, you will be worried that the horse won’t even make it that far. Don’t worry, in the run in there will be plenty of Non Runner No Bet opportunities for you to ensure you don’t lose out.
If you’re unsure of what a Non Runner No Bet offer is, it’s essentially a bet that means if your horse doesn’t race, then your bet will be null and void. Most of the UK’s leading bookmakers will offer this, and they’re well worth looking at if you’re betting well ahead of the race.
Grand National non runner no bet (NRNB) markets normally appear around two weeks before the Grand National race date at a time when most of the leading fancies have been confirmed as intended runners.
Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)
A great concession BOG offered by Betway and other major firms, ‘BOG’ means you will receive your Grand National winnings at the price you struck your bet or even better odds, its SP (starting price), if the SP is a bigger price than the Grand National betting odds you initially accepted.
It’s believed Ladbrokes were the first firm to offer BOG and, as the most familiar of all high street betting firms, that’s not a bad place to shop around for the best odds. BOG is genuinely the best of all bookmaking offers as the stats show the vast majority of horse winners traded at a bigger price than their SP prior to the off time.
Extra Place Special Offers
Definitely an offer to look out for as this will see your selection paid out as an each-way winner if finishing fifth (as is the current case with bet365) and/or even sixth. At the same time you might be able to find more favorable each-way terms such as 1/4 the odds instead of the more traditional 1/5 of the odds.
Faller Offers
Another great concession which is sure to be used as a promotion by online bookmakers is ‘faller offers’. This baby returns stakes, normally as free bets, on bet selections which fall at the first fence. It can also apply to other fences, particularly the final fence and it might see your stakes returned in full in cash as an alternative to a free bet.
Enhanced Odds
Pretty much meaning what is says, some firms will enhance the price of your Grand National betting selection. The bigger enhancements from the likes of Coral, Betfair and 888sport are usually reserved for new customers only, but there’s no saying what outstanding Grand National offers Paddy Power, Betway et-al will devise in 2023. Most definitely you will not see this offer until race day.
Tote Betting on the Grand National
There will be a full complement of Tote betting opportunities on the Grand National. From simple win bets to place bets, exactas, trifectas, swinger (first two in either order) and even superfecta (the first four home in correct order).
You can place tote bets with a number of online bookmakers. Totesport was the traditional home of betting into the UK tote pools via desktop and mobile devices but in recent years Betfair and bet365 have given their customers direct access to them and on Grand National day pools in all races at Aintree will be massive.
Choosing the Best Grand National Offer for you
Providing you don’t wait until the Wednesday before race day you should have a number of new and existing customers bet offers available to you. The big question is how to best take advantage of these concessions as each are genuine money making opportunities.
If you are simply eager to spin a profit we would certainly suggest blending in a free bet with an enhanced each-way offer. That’s because one is a ‘something for nothing’ and the other is a bet bonus.
But there is a lot of common sense involved in manipulating Grand National offers to best suit your wants, needs and selections habits. For example your horse could be a strong pulling type who has fallen at the first fence before (statistically an average of two horses fall at the first fence in Grand Nationals).
Any horse that gets booked by a popular jockey is certain to reduce in odds so be sure to secure the early odds – albeit there is no good reason not to take BOG about any Grand National bet. But ultimately it’s the free bet promotions that can be the most fruitful and using it on a horse to be placed, or each-way is your most likely path to profit.
Grand National Betting Markets
In addition to win and each-way bets there will be countless other betting markets come race day. Intrepid punters can place:
Forecasts – which needs you to select the first and second in correct order
Tricasts – requiring first-second and third
Potential returns from these bets could be huge but those that don’t possess a crystal ball and prefer a less speculative type of bet can choose to invest their money in ‘place only’ markets which are becoming more and more popular. The Betfair Betting Exchange and bet365 are great places to find these markets.
Another great way of enjoying the race is by placing bets in some of the numerous ‘Special Markets’ which will appear closer to Grand National day. These will include bet options on the ‘Number of Finishers’, the ‘Age of the Winner’, ‘an Irish Trained Winner’, a ‘Lady Jockey to Win’ and other such outcomes.
How to Get Grand National Free Bets
As the National Hunt season gets underway in the winter, you’ll be able to study the form ahead of early Spring.
Check our detailed ‘How to Bet’ guide to learn how to read the Grand national form.
As March draws in, it’s the perfect time to make the most of Grand National free bets.
Just like enhanced odds offers, the online bookies are fully aware of what a hectic day Grand National 2023 betting will be and they tend to suspend their traditional concessions, enhancements and, more importantly, New Customer Offers for those 24 hours.
Grand National Day will see a raft of new customers join countless sportsbooks and none of them are likely to benefit from the traditional free bets they can get during the rest of the year.
So, be prepared, meaning apply for bookmaking accounts early with the firms offering new customer free bet offers to receive a free bet you can use on the Grand National.
Be mindful that the Grand National free bet will usually not be credited to your new account until after your first bet has been placed and settled. So place that qualifying wager before a few days before the Grand National and have a free go on the biggest race of them all!
Grand National Betting Tips & Strategies
The record books, not the form books, is one of the best ways to identify who will win the Grand National…
- Age: Nine is the best age for Grand National winners. A quarter of all winners have been nine years old. Selecting a horse between 9 and 11 is definitely the only way to go. The last winner aged seven or under was in 1940 and there has only been one 12-year-old winner since 1995.
- Weight: Very few horses have managed to win the Grand National carrying big weights. Since Red Rum in 1977 only four horses have won carrying 11st 5lb or more.
- Recent Run & Stamina: A recent run is crucial. Only one Grand National winner since 1981 had its prep-run more than 50 days prior to lining up for the big race. Similarly all but one of the last 48 Grand National winners had winning form at three-miles or more.
Where Can I Find the Latest Grand National Betting Tips?
You’ll find all the very best Grand National betting tips right here as the big day gets ever closer.
Every week we provide you with some of the best horse racing tips on the market and come Grand National weekend our experts will bring you the complete lowdown on all the major meets.
We’ll bring you plenty of Grand National previews, analysing the season so far and what’s coming out of the owners and trainers ahead of the pinnacle of the National Hunt season.
Keep checking back for all the latest betting tips and Grand National free bets, come April 10, you’ll be glad you did!
What is the Grand National?
The Aintree Grand National is one of the biggest betting events of the entire horse racing year.
The 173rd renewal of the famous race will take place this year on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at its Merseyside home where, as every year, it will capture the hearts and imaginations of horse racing enthusiasts all the world over.
While some may be fortunate enough to travel to Aintree to watch the races take place in person, a whole host of people will be watching the race from the comfort of their own living rooms and will be searching around for some great Grand National offers.
Aintree has been the home of the Grand National since its first running in 1839. Ironically a horse named Lottery won the inaugural race and Captain Becher fell off his mount at the brook, hence the famous name – Becher’s Brook. In those days, horses jumped a stone wall, crossed ploughed land and finished over two hurdles.
Since those early days the course and fences have undergone many changes. Most recently in 2012 the wooden stakes at the core of the fences have been replaced with flexible plastic to reduce the risk to the horses and jockeys. The starting line has also moved further away from the main stand so as to get the horses away from the hullabaloo of the grandstands.
The race still remains one of the toughest tests of horse and rider in the world. A maximum field of 40 horses can line up at the start of which an average of 40% will go on to complete the race, which is four and a half miles long and has 30 fences to jump.
Finally, if you are feeling a little nostalgic then why not take a look back over the Grand National archives at some of most memorable races, horses, jockeys in our Grand National Top-5 series. You’ll be amazed by some of the National stories.
Grand National Course & Fences
Of the 16 fences which make up the Grand National course, five of the jumps have acquired famous names: Becher’s Brook, Valentines’ Brook, The Chair, Canal Turn and Foinavon are all names which make up part of the Aintree legend.
All fences bar the Water Jump are covered with spruce from evergreen coniferous trees and all, with the exception of The Chair and Water Jump are jumped twice during the race.
Many of the other fences can be described as relatively straightforward with the first (and 17th) being 4ft 6in high and 2ft 9in wide. The second and fourth are similar but the third (and 19th) is a big test as it features a 6ft ditch on its approach – as does the 11th (and 27th).
Many horsemen will tell you the Canal Turn is the place where the Grand National is most often won or lost. On landing over this small obstacle horses must quickly turn a full 90 degrees and with 30 or more horses often still in contention not every rider can find a clear passage and often encounter momentum stopping interference.
How to watch the Grand National online in the UK
Thousands upon thousands will be arriving in Liverpool for Grand National weekend which gets underway on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The big race itself will take place on the Saturday (April 15) and see the gates open at 5.15pm.
The Grand National will be live on ITV, so you’ll be able to catch all the buildup alongside other big meets taking place across the long weekend.
If you’re struggling to get to a TV at 5:15pm on the big day, don’t worry, there’s a simple solution. Grand National live streaming is available with most online bookmakers in the UK, which means you can enjoy the big race on the go via your mobile device or computer.
How to watch the Grand National live outside the UK
If you’re out of the UK then you should still be able to watch the Grand National live coverage via a betting stream. Some bookmakers have restricted access outside of the UK but it should be aired via the Betfair app depending on your location. Alternatives include downloading a VPN to change your IP address and watching ITV’s live coverage.
Best bookmakers to live stream the Grand National
The best bookmakers to watch Grand National 2023 live include Betfred, William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral. To gain access simply place a qualifying bet of at least £1 on the Grand National, watch online when the race gets underway and fingers crossed for a winner.
Once you’ve placed your qualifying bet you’ll be able to watch build up to the big race 10/15 minutes before it gets underway and enjoy live commentary throughout. Some bookmakers including SkyBet also show live coverage of the parade ring for the full experience.
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Grand National Betting Around Social Media
There’s always plenty of whispers and Grand National gossip flying about on Twitter and social media, not to mention the armchair Grand National tipsters.
Keeping an eye on the latest social media happenings can often provide some useful clues when deciding on your Grand National bets this year.
And it’s also a good place to get your hands on some Grand National free bets, price boosts and bonuses from the bookies…
Grand National 2022 Recap
The 2022 Grand National was a fairytale ending for a rider that had seen success over the big Aintree obstacles before, but not in the race.
Same Waley-Cohen, perhaps best known for his partnership with Long Run for Nicky Henderson, won the race on Noble Yeats.
The horse was bought by his dad, with the race in mind, because Sam was going to retire after the meeting, and he wanted to give him one last ride.
At 50/1, the pair flew home, winning the race in great style, and capping off an excellent amateur career for the rider.
Recent Grand National History
Most recent Grand National winners have gone off at handsome odds. Only two of the last 19 winners have gone off at a single-figure price (Comply Or Die in 2008 and Hedgehunter in 2005 – both 7/1), so backing a winner isn’t as straight-forward as it looks.
The winner’s age does throw out mixed signals. 2015 victor, Many Clouds, was the first 8-year-old to win the race since Bindaree in 2002. Seven of the last 21 winners, including Rule The World of 2016, have been 9-year-olds. You can safely ignore 12-year-olds with only one (Amberleigh House in 2004) winning since 1995. And you have to go back to 1923 to find the last 13-year-old winner.
Previous Grand National Winners & Jockeys:
- 2022 Noble Yeats / Sam Waley-Cohen / Emmet Mullins / 50/1
- 2021 Minella Times / Rachel Blackmore / Henry de Bromhead / 11/1
- 2020 Race cancelled due to Covid-19
- 2019 Tiger Roll / Jockey: Davy Russell / Trainer: Gordon Elliott / Odds: 4/1
- 2018 Tiger Roll / Davy Russell
- 2017 One For Arthur / Derek Fox
- 2016 Rule The World / David Mullins
- 2015 Many Clouds / Leighton Aspell
- 2014 Pineau De Re / Leighton Aspell
- 2013 Auroras Encore / Ryan Mania
- 2012 Neptunes Collonges / Daryl Jacob
- 2011 Ballabriggs / Jason Maguire
- 2010 Don’t Push It / Tony McCoy
- 2009 Mon Mome / Liam Treadwell
- 2008 Comply or Die / Timmy Murphy
- 2007 Silver Birch / Robbie Power
- 2006 Numbersixvalverde / Niall Madden
- 2005 Hedgehunter / Ruby Walsh
Grand National Most Successful Trainers
There have been just three Irish trained winners of the Grand National in the past decade. But all of the major stables have won this race in recent times including David Pipe, Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Jonjo O’Neill and Gordon Elliott.
The sport’s major owners have also monopolized the race with Trevor Hemmings winning it three times (2005, 2011, 2015), Gigginstown House Stud three times (2016 & 2018, 2019), JP McManus (2010, 2021) and the late David Johnson (2008).
Grand National Interesting Facts & Trends
Trainers & Owners
There have been just three Irish trained winners of the Grand National in the past decade. However, all of the major stables have won this race in recent times including David Pipe, Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Jonjo O’Neill and Gordon Elliott.
Female Jockey
Rachel Blackmore finally cracked this race for women, becoming the first woman to win the race when doing so in 2021. She arrived on the back of an excellent Cheltenham Festival, and has shown women the way to be a jockey at the very top level.
Her success will hopefully open the doors for more to come through, ride in this race, and win.
Runners
Beyond these facts it is hard to identify any clear Grand National betting trends. During the past decade five horses have carried 11st or more to victory and five have carried 10st-13lb or less.
Three 9-year-olds, three 11-year-olds, two 10-year-olds and two 8-year-olds have been victorious. There has been one winning favourite, Comply Or Die (7/1 in 2008) and the 2010 winner, Don’t Push It, was a 10/1 joint-favourite.
Jockeys
22 individual jockeys have won the race during the past 23 years with Leighton Aspell being the exception – he piloted Pineau De Re to victory in 2014 and followed-up in 2015 aboard Many Clouds.
Interesting Odds Facts
1. Horses beginning with the letter R have the best record in the race and the Grand National has been won five times by horses with ‘Red’ in its name.
2. if you love a grey horse do consider only three greys have ever won the Grand National.
Other Major Horse Racing
- Royal Ascot Betting
- Cheltenham Betting
Grand National FAQs
Do you get paid for 5th place in the Grand National?
Ante-post punters cannot avail of this extra-place bonus and will be lumbered with traditional 1-2-3-4 each-way betting terms but as race-day draws closer and the prices of all confirmed runners start to shorten, five-place each-way betting terms will become commonplace.
How much do you get for winning the Grand National?
Winning connections receive £500,000 for winning the Grand National and, to give riders every incentive to achieve the best possible finishing position, the prize-money goes back to tenth place (£5,000).
Do you win if your horse comes 4th in the Grand National?
Providing you have placed your bet each-way or in a ‘place only’ market you will get a return on your horse should it finish fourth.
How long does the Grand National last?
The Grand National is usually won in a time of around nine or ten minutes, depending on the ground conditions we have on the day
How do horses qualify for the Grand National?
Grand National entries are only accepted by horses which are aged 7 or older, have an official handicap rating of 120 or more and have been previously placed in a chase race with a distance of 3 miles or more.