Welcome to your unofficial guide to the Aintree Grand National.
The Grand National 2025 will take place on 5th April, at 4pm, and we’ll have everything you need in one place, with our Grand National guide, confirmed runners, betting odds, offers & free bets. Our site contains all you need to know about the English Grand National, including how and where to place your Grand National bets.
The 4½ mile steeplechase captures the imagination of 150,000 spectators at Aintree, plus an estimated worldwide TV audience of 600 million across over 140 countries, while tickets for the 2025 Grand National will surely prove as popular as ever. Racing begins on Thursday 10th April, followed by Ladies Day on Friday, before the year’s biggest race is expected to start at it’s new earlier time of 4pm, as the centrepiece of Grand National Day on Saturday 5th April 2025.
Grand National betting
The popular Corach Rambler was the Grand National betting favourite in the weeks before the 2024 running, but Irish runner I Am Maximus drew support on race day and was at the head of the market when the race went off. Both runners feature prominently on the Grand National favourites list for 2025.
New safety measures were introduced during the most recent Grand National. There was a standing start, and the first fence was moved closer to the start. Both measures helped to slow the early pace. The Grand National runners limit was reduced from 40 to 34, although the late withdrawal of Chambard and Run Wild Fred meant only 32 horses tackled the energy-sapping Aintree course.
The Grand National isn’t just a battle on the course though, as the best betting sites also tussle to try and attract the attention of the betting public. We’ve got the best Grand National offers and free bets, alongside details of place terms for your each-way bets.
Grand National odds
The Grand National weight and jockey announcements can provide massive insight into which runners you should back. The going at Aintree during the festival is another factor that influences the Grand National betting odds leading up to the race. Good, soft or heavy conditions will suit certain horses more than others. Horses that run well at the Cheltenham Festival tend to find their Grand National odds cut in the race build-up. Corach Rambler’s odds for last year’s Grand National dropped after his impressive 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup run.
Former Grand National winners are always popular with punters, meaning their odds can be shorter than they should be. However, there have been some repeat Grand National performers in recent years. Tiger Roll became a two-time champion in 2019, while Noble Yeats followed up his 2022 victory with a brave fourth place in 2023. Corach Rambler was among the favourites for last year’s National after his 2023 victory, but fell at the first hurdle, demonstrating that not every returning runner will run well.
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Aintree Grand National course
For those wanting to see the English Grand National races live, we have all of the information you’ll need to make the most of your visit to Aintree, including information on getting to the racecourse, ticket details, and a summary of all of the enclosures and facilities, many of which have been significantly upgraded in recent seasons.
Grand National previous winners and past results
The Grand National invariably delivers a memorable story, and it did so again in 2024. Recall all the drama and the Grand National 2024 results with the link below.
Image via Alamy.com
Upcoming major horse racing events
The Grand National may be the most watched and wagered-on race in the UK annually, but around the world, other races catch the public’s imagination similarly.
In Australia, the Melbourne Cup is known as the Race that Stops a Nation. The build-up to the most recent Melbourne Cup centred around Willie Mullins’ attempt to add to his already lengthy honour roll. Mullins sent Vauban and Absurde down under to take on the best horses from Australia. Ultimately, both came up short, leaving Mark Zahra to secure his second Melbourne Cup victory in as many years.
Races like the Welsh Grand National and the Irish Grand National significantly impact the Aintree Grand National betting odds. The victory of I Am Maximus in the Irish Grand National is a perfect example of how similar races can serve as excellent preparation for Aintree. The action at the Cheltenham Festival in March also affects the Grand National odds.
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