Aintree hosts three days of National Hunt racing every April, building towards the Grand National on the Saturday. Around 150,000 people pass through the gates across the meeting, and an estimated 500 million worldwide watch the big race on television. The betting turnover across the three days dwarfs any other jump racing fixture in the calendar. For punters, the meeting brings together high-class Grade 1 action, fiercely competitive handicaps, and the unique challenge of a four-mile-plus steeplechase over 30 fences. This guide covers the specific betting angles that apply to Aintree. It breaks down how the two courses shape the racing, what the ground conditions mean for selections, where the trainer and jockey trends point, and how to get the most from each-way betting during the meeting. If you are new to racing, our how betting works guide covers the fundamentals. For a broader look at the venue itself, the Aintree complete guide has everything from travel to facilities.
How Aintree's Two Courses Shape the Betting
Aintree is unusual among British racecourses because it operates two entirely separate circuits, each with its own characteristics. Understanding the difference between them is the starting point for any bet at the meeting. The Grand National Course is the larger of the two. It measures roughly two miles per circuit, and the National itself covers just over four miles and two and a half furlongs. Runners jump 30 fences across two laps, with 16 unique obstacles (14 jumped twice). These fences are distinctive. They are spruce-topped, and many have drops on the landing side. Becher's Brook has a drop of around six inches on the landing side following modifications in recent decades, and The Chair stands at five feet two inches with a six-foot ditch in front of it. The course is left-handed with long straights and sweeping turns. Stamina is the primary requirement. A horse that lacks the constitution to gallop for nine-plus minutes over these obstacles has no business being backed in the National, regardless of how short its price. The Mildmay Course is a tighter, more conventional National Hunt track used for all non-National races at the meeting. It sits inside the Grand National course and is around one mile and three furlongs per circuit. Fences are standard regulation size. The track is also left-handed but sharper in its bends, and races tend to be run at a stronger gallop throughout. Speed and jumping accuracy are rewarded here, whereas the National course places a premium on stamina and the ability to negotiate irregular obstacles. For bettors, the practical point is this: form on the Mildmay Course translates reasonably well from other sharp, left-handed tracks like Cheltenham's New Course or Sandown. Form in the Grand National is much harder to translate from anywhere else. A horse can be a high-class performer on conventional courses and still come unstuck at Becher's Brook or the Canal Turn. That is why previous course experience, or at the very least experience over large fences at tracks like Haydock's Grand National Trial course, matters so much in the big race. Horses running on the Mildmay Course during the Thursday and Friday of the meeting do not need to prove they can handle the National fences. You can assess them on standard form metrics: ratings, recent course form, ground preference, and class. The Saturday card mixes both courses, so you need to shift your thinking between races depending on which track is being used.
Grand National Betting Strategy
The Grand National is a handicap steeplechase with a maximum field of 40 runners (reduced to 34 from 2024). It carries a rating band typically between 120 and around 175, meaning the field includes everything from out-and-out staying chasers to well-handicapped novices having their first crack at the unique fences.
Each-Way Value
Each-way betting is where the Grand National comes alive for punters. Most bookmakers offer enhanced place terms for the race: typically quarter the odds for four or five places, though during ante-post periods and on the day itself, some firms push to six or even eight places. These extended place terms create real each-way value, especially for horses in the 20/1 to 50/1 range. A 33/1 shot that places at quarter the odds returns 33/4 (roughly 8/1) on the place part alone. Our each-way guide explains how place terms work and how to calculate returns. The key is to compare place terms across bookmakers before committing. The difference between four places and six places on a 40-runner handicap is significant. Even a small difference in the fraction (quarter odds versus fifth odds) changes the maths. Shopping around is not optional for this race.
Weight Analysis
Historically, the Grand National has favoured horses carrying between 10st 0lb and 11st 2lb. Top weights have a poor record. Since 2000, no horse carrying more than 11st 10lb has won the race, and winners carrying 11st 5lb or above are rare. The 2024 winner I Am Maximus carried 11st 7lb, which was an exception, and that horse was an exceptionally talented chaser rated 170 at the time. The weight range sweet spot means that well-handicapped horses in the middle of the weights often represent the best value. Look for horses rated between 140 and 155 that are well treated by the assessor. A horse on a mark of 145 carrying around 10st 7lb is in the historical profile of winners far more than a class horse lugging 11st 12lb.
Age Trends
The ideal age for a Grand National winner is between eight and eleven years old. Ten-year-olds have the strongest recent record, with several winners this century including Tiger Roll (2018 and 2019) and Many Clouds (2015, aged eight). Horses younger than seven lack the experience needed for the unique fences. Horses older than twelve can win but do so rarely. Amberleigh House won at twelve in 2004, but that is the exception rather than the pattern.
Trainer Records
Certain trainers have built their operations around the Grand National. Lucinda Russell, who trained One For Arthur (2017), has been a consistent supplier of placed horses. Gordon Elliott has a superb record in the race, with Tiger Roll providing back-to-back wins. In Britain, Nigel Twiston-Davies has won the race twice (Earth Summit, 1998; Bindaree, 2002), and his runners consistently go well in the big staying chases. Paul Nicholls has won the National once (Neptune Collonges, 2012) but his general Aintree Festival record is much stronger on the Mildmay Course. When you are narrowing down a National shortlist, cross-reference the trainer's record in the race specifically. Trainers who target the race deliberately, bringing horses through the Becher Chase at Aintree in December and the Grand National Trial at Haydock, tend to produce better results than those who treat the National as an afterthought.
The Prep Race Angle
Horses that ran in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival three weeks earlier have a solid record in the National. The Ultima is run over three miles and one furlong and tests similar attributes: stamina, handicap form, and the ability to handle big fields. Cross Stitch, who ran in the 2024 Ultima, went on to finish in the frame at Aintree. If a horse has run a race full of effort at Cheltenham and comes out of it well, it is fit, battle-hardened, and used to the pressure of a major meeting.
Going and Ground Conditions
Aintree's meeting takes place in the second week of April, and the ground at that time of year is typically in the good to soft range. Soft ground is not uncommon, especially if the spring has been wet, but properly heavy ground is rare. Good ground appears roughly one year in three.
How Ground Affects National Runners
The going has a major impact on the Grand National. On softer ground, the race becomes an even greater test of stamina. Horses that get the trip well on good ground can struggle when conditions are testing, and faller rates have historically been higher on faster ground when the field travels at greater pace into the fences. The 2023 running on good to soft ground produced a clean race with a low faller rate. For bettors, the ground should influence which horses you back. Proven soft-ground performers are at an advantage when conditions are testing. Conversely, if the going is good or faster, look for horses with speed in their pedigree and those that have shown they can travel and jump at pace. The ground forecast in the week before the race is critical. If you have backed a horse ante-post at big odds and the ground comes up wrong, you may want to hedge with a saver bet on a different type.
Drainage and Course Preparation
Aintree invested heavily in drainage across the Grand National course in the 2000s. The course drains better than it used to, meaning the official going description can sometimes understate how much grip is in the ground. Walk the course if you can get access, or pay attention to the pre-race reports from jockeys and trainers on the Thursday and Friday. Runners on those days give you live information about how the ground is riding, and that can be more useful than the official going stick reading. The Mildmay Course tends to ride a fraction quicker than the National course. Races there on Thursday and Friday can cut up the ground on the inner, so by Saturday the Mildmay track can be chewed up in places. For horses running on the Mildmay Course on Saturday, recent rain plus two days of racing can produce patches of softer going, especially on the bends.
Draw and Course Bias
National Hunt racing does not use stalls, so there is no draw in the traditional Flat racing sense. Horses line up across the course and break from a tape or flag start. In the Grand National, the field of up to 34 runners spreads across the full width of the course at the start.
Rail Position and Racing Line
The starting position does not directly determine outcome, but where a horse races in the early stages matters. At the first fence, horses on the outer have more room but cover extra ground. Horses tight to the inner rail save distance but risk being squeezed into the first few obstacles by the sheer volume of runners. At Becher's Brook and the Canal Turn, the inside rail offers the shortest route. The Canal Turn is a 90-degree left-hand bend, and horses that jump it on the inside gain several lengths over those on the outside. Jockeys who know the course well tend to angle towards the inner approaching these two fences. This is one reason why previous course experience, or at least a jockey who has ridden the course before, is so important. Rachael Blackmore, who won the 2021 National on Minella Times, rode the inside line through the Canal Turn perfectly.
Mildmay Course Bias
On the Mildmay Course, there is no strong bias towards either rail under normal conditions. On softer ground, the rail can become an advantage as the wider ground cuts up. In handicap hurdles over two miles, prominently-ridden horses have a slight edge because the track is sharp enough that getting behind a wall of horses on the bends costs position. For chases on the Mildmay track, jumping accuracy matters more than tactical position because the fences come up quickly on the shorter circuit.
Trainer and Jockey Trends
The three-day Aintree meeting attracts the best trainers and jockeys from Britain and Ireland. Knowing which operations target the fixture heavily can help you spot live runners on the card.
Key Trainers
Willie Mullins has become the dominant force at the Aintree Festival in recent years. His team regularly ships 20 or more runners across the Irish Sea, and his record in Grade 1 races at the meeting is outstanding. Between 2015 and 2025, Mullins won multiple Champion Chase and Hurdle races at Aintree, and his ability to place horses in the right grade and distance is unmatched. If a Mullins horse is 3/1 or shorter in a Grade 1, the market usually has it about right. The value with Mullins often lies in his second-string runners in handicaps, horses that are well handicapped but under the radar. Gordon Elliott has a similarly strong record at Aintree, particularly in the bigger handicaps and the National itself. His runners tend to be forward-going types that jump well and travel. In handicap chases at the Festival, Elliott's horses are always worth a second look. In Britain, Paul Nicholls dominates the Mildmay Course races. His record in the Melling Chase and the Aintree Hurdle is strong, and he often brings his Cheltenham Festival runners back for another crack three weeks later. Nicky Henderson has been a major force at Aintree for decades, with particular strength in the Aintree Hurdle and the novice races. Dan Skelton has emerged as a consistent supplier of placed horses in competitive handicaps across the meeting.
Jockey Records
Jockey selection matters at Aintree, especially in the National. Davy Russell, who retired in 2023, had an extraordinary record around the course. Paul Townend, as Mullins' retained rider, picks up a disproportionate share of the Grade 1 winners. In Britain, Harry Cobden (Nicholls' number one) and Nico de Boinville (Henderson's) are the riders to follow in the bigger races. For the Grand National itself, experience over the fences counts for a great deal. Amateur riders used to feature prominently in the National, but the professional era has shifted the balance. Look for jockeys who have completed the course before, especially those who have placed in the race. A jockey who has negotiated all 30 fences and knows where to save ground at the Canal Turn and how to manage their horse's energy between the Melling Road crossing and the elbow in the run-in has a tangible edge.
Irish Raiders
The strength of Irish racing at Aintree cannot be overstated. At the 2024 Festival meeting, Irish-trained runners won more races than their British counterparts. The cross-channel form lines are generally reliable. A horse rated 145 in Ireland is broadly equivalent to a horse rated 145 in Britain, and the Irish handicapper and British handicapper work closely together on cross-border ratings. When assessing Irish runners, pay attention to the ground they have been racing on at home. If an Irish horse has been running on soft or heavy ground at Leopardstown or Fairyhouse through the winter, and Aintree comes up good to soft, the faster surface may suit or hinder them depending on their running style. Fast-travelling Irish chasers often improve on better ground at Aintree.
Each-Way Betting at Aintree
Each-way betting is central to the punting experience at Aintree, and the meeting offers some of the best each-way opportunities in the racing calendar. Understanding how to use it properly across the three days can make the difference between a profitable meeting and an expensive one.
Enhanced Place Terms for the National
For the Grand National, bookmakers typically extend their place terms well beyond the standard for a handicap chase. A normal handicap with 16 or more runners pays out on four places at quarter the odds. For the National, you will commonly see five, six, or even eight places offered, particularly in the ante-post market. Some bookmakers use fifth-the-odds instead of quarter-the-odds for six or more places, so you need to do the arithmetic before assuming more places equals a better deal. Six places at one-fifth the odds is not always better than four places at one-quarter the odds, depending on the price of your selection. The each-way guide breaks this down with worked examples, but the rule of thumb is: work out the expected return on the place part of your bet under each set of terms, and go with the bookmaker offering the higher figure.
Each-Way in Supporting Races
Outside the National, each-way betting at Aintree works best in the big-field handicaps. The Topham Chase, the Foxhunters, and the handicap hurdles often have fields of 15 or more, triggering four-place each-way terms. Grade 1 races like the Melling Chase and the Aintree Hurdle typically have smaller fields of six to ten runners, and some bookmakers pay only two places. In these races, each-way betting is less attractive unless you can find a bookmaker paying three places on a short-priced favourite's race.
Comparing Bookmaker Offers
During the Aintree meeting, bookmakers compete aggressively on terms. Some offer extra places on every race, not just the National. Others offer money-back specials if your horse falls at a named fence. The key is to have accounts with at least three or four bookmakers and check terms before every race. Five minutes of comparison can turn a losing day into a break-even one. The price you get matters less than the overall expected value of the bet, and place terms are a major part of that calculation.
Dutching and Coverage Strategies
In the Grand National, some punters prefer to back two or three horses each-way rather than going all-in on one selection. With enhanced place terms, this approach can work well. If you back three horses at 25/1, 33/1, and 40/1 each-way, and one of them places, the place returns from one horse can cover or exceed the outlay on all three. This is not a guaranteed profit strategy, but it reduces the variance of a single-selection approach in a race where the favourite wins around one year in five.
The Supporting Card
The Grand National dominates the headlines, but the three-day meeting features some of the best National Hunt races outside Cheltenham. The supporting card offers strong betting opportunities with more predictable form lines than the National itself.
Melling Chase (Friday, Grade 1)
The Melling Chase is run over two miles and four furlongs on the Mildmay Course and regularly attracts top-class chasers fresh from the Cheltenham Festival. The 2024 renewal featured several Cheltenham winners stepping back up three weeks later. This race often produces short-priced favourites, and the record of market leaders is strong. If you are looking for a banker bet on the Friday card, the Melling Chase is usually the race with the most formful outcome. Horses that finish second or third in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham have an excellent record in the Melling. The step down from three miles to two miles four furlongs suits horses that may have found the Ryanair trip stretching their stamina.
Aintree Hurdle (Thursday, Grade 1)
The Aintree Hurdle is run over two miles and four furlongs on the Mildmay Course. It attracts Champion Hurdle runners from Cheltenham along with horses that contested the Stayers' Hurdle. The in-between trip often suits horses that were either stretching for the Champion Hurdle's speed or that found three miles at Cheltenham just too far. Beaten Cheltenham Festival horses at rewarding each-way odds have a good record in this race.
Topham Chase (Thursday)
The Topham Chase is a handicap run over two miles and six furlongs over the Grand National fences. It is a brilliant betting race because it tests jumping ability over the unique Aintree obstacles but over a much shorter trip than the National itself. Speed and clean jumping are essential. Horses that have completed the Becher Chase over the same fences in December have a significant form advantage, and proven course form in this race is a strong positive. The Topham regularly throws up big-priced winners, making it an ideal race for each-way punters.
Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Friday, Grade 1)
The Sefton Novices' Hurdle over three miles and one furlong is the staying novice hurdle championship at Aintree. Runners from the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham often reappear here. This race tends to favour out-and-out stayers that handle cut in the ground. Novice hurdlers from the Mullins and Elliott yards have had a strong record in recent years.
Handicap Opportunities
The Thursday and Friday cards feature several competitive handicap hurdles and chases with fields of 15 to 20 runners. These races are bread-and-butter for each-way punters. Course form at Aintree's Mildmay Course is less of a factor than at quirky tracks like Cheltenham, because the Mildmay Course is a straightforward left-handed galloping track. Focus on recent form, going preference, and whether the horse has shown it handles big-field competitive handicaps. Horses with Cheltenham Festival handicap form often run well at Aintree three weeks later.
Ante-Post vs Day-of Betting
The Grand National ante-post market opens months before the race and offers some of the biggest prices you will find on any horse race. Getting the balance right between ante-post value and day-of flexibility is an important part of your Aintree strategy.
When to Back Ante-Post
The best ante-post value in the Grand National market tends to appear in three windows. The first is when the weights are published in February. Horses that look well handicapped based on their recent form sometimes trade at 40/1 or 50/1 before the public money arrives. The second window is immediately after the Cheltenham Festival, when horses that have run well or poorly at Cheltenham see their National odds move sharply. The third window is the Monday of Grand National week, when final declarations are made and the market adjusts to the confirmed field.
Non-Runner Rules
Ante-post bets are traditionally stakes-lost if your horse does not run. This is the single biggest risk of ante-post betting on the Grand National. Horses can be removed from the race at the final declaration stage, can fail to make the cut from the reserve list, or can be withdrawn on the morning of the race. Some bookmakers now offer non-runner, no-bet terms on National ante-post bets at slightly shorter prices. If you are betting weeks in advance, the NRNB option is worth the small price sacrifice. Losing your stake to a non-runner is a poor outcome that you can avoid.
Market Moves on the Day
On Grand National morning, the market moves quickly based on ground conditions, stable confidence, and jockey bookings. Horses that have drifted to 50/1 ante-post can shorten to 25/1 on the day if conditions suit them. Equally, horses that have been heavily backed ante-post can drift if the ground goes against them. Watching the market from 10am on Saturday morning gives you information about where the stable money is going. Significant shortening of a horse from 33/1 to 16/1 usually reflects informed confidence rather than public sentiment. Public money tends to arrive later, closer to the off. If you already hold an ante-post bet, the day-of market gives you the option to hedge. If your 50/1 ante-post pick has shortened to 20/1, you can lay it on a betting exchange to guarantee a profit regardless of the result, or you can let it run and hope for the full return.
FAQ
How many places do bookmakers pay on the Grand National? Most bookmakers pay four or five places at quarter the odds for the Grand National. During promotional periods, some extend to six or eight places, though the fraction may drop to one-fifth the odds. Always check the specific terms before placing your bet, as they vary between bookmakers and between ante-post and day-of markets. What is the best type of bet for the Grand National? Each-way betting is the most popular and often the most profitable approach. The extended place terms mean you can profit even if your horse does not win. Backing two or three selections each-way at bigger prices (20/1 and upward) spreads your risk across the large field. The each-way guide explains how returns are calculated. Do favourites win the Grand National? The market leader wins the Grand National around once every five years on average. The favourite has a poor win record compared to most other races, which reflects the unpredictable nature of a 30-fence, four-mile handicap with a large field. This is precisely why each-way betting at bigger prices tends to produce better long-term returns than backing short-priced horses. When should I place my Grand National bet? Ante-post betting offers the biggest prices but carries the risk of losing your stake if the horse does not run. The best windows are after the weights are published in February and after the Cheltenham Festival in March. If you prefer security, wait for the final declarations on the Monday of Grand National week or bet on the morning of the race when the full picture of ground, market moves, and jockey bookings is available. Is previous Grand National experience important? Yes. Horses that have completed the course before have a stronger record than those tackling the fences for the first time. The unique nature of the obstacles means that experience over the National fences is difficult to replicate elsewhere. Horses that have run in the Becher Chase or the Topham Chase over the same fences also benefit from that familiarity. For more on the race itself, see the Grand National guide. To compare place terms and each-way promotions across the major bookmakers, see our best bookmakers for horse racing guide.
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