Grand National Horse Tips
First up, the case of Tiger Roll. I simply don’t care what their outspoken owners say about threatening to pull the horse out of the Aintree spectacular especially when their esteemed trainer Gordon Elliott thinks that the 11-year has an appropriate mark for the big race.
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I actually think he is perhaps 4lbs or so too high when you bear in mind his recent runs, but his chance of emulating the immortal Red Rum seems to be diminishing by the day.
It is worth pin-pointing what kind of a horse you need to land the big race since the fences were modified and the distance reduced and I the ‘Tiger’ epitomises the perfect Aintree player.
Go and look through his two wins at Liverpool and you will readily see that the assets that allowed him to win were efficient jumping, a high-cruising speed and then at the back end of the race an ability to quicken when his deep staying rivals could only find, relatively speaking, the one pace.
That run style and ability on those fronts was seen to best effect in his 2018 success. He travelled into the race like a dream and then most importantly, quickened clear after the second last, a move exaggerated somewhat by the mistake at that penultimate fence of Pleasant Company.
But let’s make no bones about it, the great little horse was out on his feet in the last 250 yards and only just clung on from the fast finishing Mullins’ charge. Another stride and he would have been second.
The same scenario unfolded in 2019, but this time the pivotal moment came between the last two obstacles when Tiger Roll cruised upsides Magic of Light and once again quickened clear after the last.
Again, he had little left in the tank in the last 100 yards, but that ability to quicken on late on in this marathon contest combined with the inability of Magic of Light to change gear was ultimately crucial in deciding the outcome of the race.
Bar an injury to top weight Bristol de Mai, it looks almost certain that the shape of the weights will remain the same which is a huge help in picking an ante-post team to go forward with as is with Paddy Power’s non runner no bet offer.
Here are my 4 picks at this early stage.
THE CONDITIONAL (10st 6lbs)
Ever since I saw him firing home to finish a closing second to De Rasher Counter in the 2019 Ladbroke Trophy, I have thought that David Bridgwater’s charge was the perfect individual for the big race.
Following his win the 2020 Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival, that view has only been cemented further with another staying-on, placed effort in the Newbury feature followed by a closing second to Mister Malarky in the Silver Cup at Ascot.
He is only 3lbs higher for that last run and crucially comes into this year’s festivals a much fresher horse.
His trainer told me: “I think Aintree will suit him perfectly well. He will definitely stay and jumping has never been an issue. I have no problem running him at both Cheltenham and in the National with the four week break this year and he has a lovely racing weight.”
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DEISE ABA (9st 13lbs)
Following a cracking novice chase campaign, I had earmarked the Phillip Hobbs’ runner as a perfect Welsh National type, but his experienced handler had toreassess following two pulled up efforts at the back end of 2020.
However, following a break, the son of Mahler returned to form in fine style to land a class two handicap at Sandown Park off a mark of 137, showing that stamina was once again his strong suit as he battled on up the stiff Esher hill to beat Coo Star Sivola by over four lengths.
He made all on that last occasion, an advantage at Aintree, but seems flexible as far as tactics are concerned. If he sneaks in at the bottom of the weights I could see going off at half his current advertised odds.
CLOTH CAP (10st 5lbs)
A 12lbs penalty for running away with the Ladbrokes Trophy was the least that the assessor could give this old-fashioned staying chaser.
You could turn that around slightly by suggesting that it wasn’t the best strength-in-depth renewal of that Newbury contest, but he couldn’t have won it any easier.
Jonjo O’Neill knows knew he needed to protect his current mark, hence is inactivity since then. A warm up race on February 27th in the Close Brothers Handicap Chase at Kempton Park looks the most likely scenario before his Aintree challenge, but missing that valuable event wouldn’t be the end of the world in the knowledge that he runs best when fresh.
But perhaps the biggest factor in determining his chance at Aintree will be the weather and in turn the state of the going.
His Newbury win came on ‘Spring’ like ground and if the going is no slower than good to soft it is easy to see this progressive nine-year-old going off favourite for this year’s renewal. The current prices available looks well worth taking, particularly with Paddy Power’s non runner no bet offer.
BALKO DE FLOS (10st 9lbs)
Both Kimberlite Candy (soft ground reliant) and Burrows Saint will be well tipped up previews for the big race, but have already been well found in the market. So I am going to go out on a limb and suggest this Henry De Bromhead charge to complete our team.
Rated as high as 165 after running Kemboy to nine lengths at Aintree 2019, (169 the previous year), he has since run six times without really showing an awful lot, but deep ground on four of those runs would have been against him and five of those outings were in graded company.
Something had to give and the handicapper has erred slightly on the generous side in dropping him to a mark of 152, with a lovely racing weight to boot.
He is set to return to the scene of his greatest triumph, the 2018 Ryanair Chase, next month and a prominent run there could see him become a very interesting outsider for Aintree.
Cheltenham Festival 2021
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Why These Grand National Betting Sites?
Unsurprisingly, due to the popularity of the race, UK betting sites and others from across the world offer countless odds and markets on the Grand National. Using our tried and tested research strategy, the team at SBO.net has identified the best betting sites for the Grand National. We’ve done the hard work for you, so you don’t have to waste time on less than great sites.
In addition to finding you great offers and top Grand National betting odds, we also make sure the sites we recommend are safe and secure. Our criteria for selection includes:
Generous Promotions
No great offers, no dice. We scour all the best Grand National betting sites to bring you the absolute best deals on the market. Our recommended sites will typically offer you generous joining perks, including deposit match bonuses and free bets.
The Best Odds
We shortlist the best bookmakers through our odds comparison research. Using regularly updated data, we provide you with the best Grand National odds currently on the market, giving you a bigger bang for the same bet.
Markets and Other Sports
When we recommend horse racing betting sites to you, their ability to offer you a whole host of markets is key. All our sites offer everything from spread betting to faller offers. Plus, we examine the best betting sites for Grand National action that also offer sports markets with competitive offers.
Encrypted Sites
Last but not least, we check the security credentials of all potentially attractive Grand National online betting sites. We look into how sites store your personal information, in addition to checking the levels of encryption on selected sites.
How to Place a Bet at a Grand National Betting Site
If you’re new to Grand National online betting, don’t worry. We’ll show you how to place a bet, so you can relax and watch the excitement unfold.
Shop Around
Firstly, shop around our recommended best betting sites for Grand National wagers, as listed above. When you find a site you like, click on the open account or join here buttons.
Next, enter your standard personal registration details, and your card details if you’re making a deposit. If you’re new to any particular Grand National online betting site, they will usually offer you a free bet. Regardless, always look for the secure padlock icon whenever making a transaction on payment pages.
Make Your Stake
When you’re ready to rumble, click on the link to your chosen site’s Grand National page. You’ll now see all the runners, with the current odds beside each horse’s name. Simply select the odds you fancy, and your selection will be added to a betslip. Open your betslip, enter how much money you wish to stake and your bet type. Then simply confirm your bet and that’s it, you’re under starters’ orders!
Grand National Betting Tips
Good grand national betting tips don’t just mean getting some inside knowledge on a horse or jockey. We’ve outlined a few important things to consider before you bet on the event:
Choose Your Grand National Online Betting Site Early
Many bookmakers put the brakes on their new customer offers. So, we strongly recommend you open your new account with a bookmaker several weeks ahead of the Grand National in April. Now that the bookies don’t suspect you’re a one-time-wonder, you can tuck into their regular joining offers.
Spread Your Bets
The Grand National is a notoriously difficult race to win. There are upsets a plenty in the history of the race, but also some outstanding horses and jockey’s who have had incredible success. With so many variables out there, it makes sense to back more than one horse, so don’t be afraid to spread bet.
Don’t Discount Hold-Ups
Another helpful tip is don’t turn your nose up at hold-up horses. Remember One For Arthur in 2017? While its accepted wisdom to be up with the pace from the start, slower starters have shown that ‘tortoises’ can overcome ‘hares’.
Common Grand National Bets
If you’re not sure about different types of bets and what they mean, we’ve put together a few examples of common Grand National bets below.
Evens
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Evens are Grand National betting odds where your stake exactly equals your winnings, for example £25 at evens wins a further £25.
Each Way
An each way bet is where you bet on a horse to win and to finish in the top 4 or 5 (this is called a place bet). This means you effectively make 2 different wagers in the same bet. The win and the place.
For example:
- You bet £10 each way on Red Rum at odds of 10/1. This is a total wager of £20 because you are making 2 bets.
- If Red Rum wins you get £110 returned – £100 winnings plus your £10 stake.
- If Red Rum finishes 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th you get returned £30 for the place – £20 winnings plus your £10 stake. For place bets, bookmakers usually pay 1/5 or 20% of the winning odds. Red Rum was 10/1 to win, this is reduced to 2/1 to place.
Free Bets
As mentioned before, the best Grand National betting sites offer free bets to punters opening new accounts, but generally not on the day of the Grand National. Free bets mean after you have made a deposit, you get to place a bet that will usually be refunded if you lose.
Non-Runner, No Bet
A few weeks before the National, many online sites will offer Non-Runner, No Bet markets. This means if you place a bet and, for whatever reason your horse does not run, you will be refunded your stake.
Faller Offers
You can even bet on a negative outcome. Some Grand National betting sites will offer you a set amount (typically capped at £25) whereby should your horse unseat, fall or be brought down, you’ll get a free bet up to a set amount.
Placed Finish Refunds
Similar to the above, place a bet to win and even if your horse does not win, but places, you’ll be refunded your stake according to the offer’s set limit.
Ante-Post
Grand National Horse Tips 1x2
If you have a gut feeling about a certain horse, even if the runners for the Grand National haven’t been announced yet, you can bet on your dark horse in advance. This is called the Ante-Post market.
Boosters
Odds boosters can seriously enhance your Grand National betting odds. Online bookmakers offer many different offers during the race and just before it. Prices can be boosted by up to 20% and, although stake limits do apply, they offer great value.
The Benefits of Using Grand National Betting Sites
Since COVID-19, sports betting online is now not only the most convenient way to wager, it’s also the safest. For one, getting special offers from traditional high street bookmakers, or even those at the track, are very rare and Grand National betting odds are often extremely unfavourable. Betting online, from the comfort and security of your own home, is super-convenient and hassle-free.
Even more satisfying, you don’t have to wait in a queue for your bookmaker to cash in your winnings. When you bet online, winnings are automatically credited to your account.
How to Choose Your Horse for Grand National Betting
Picking a winning horse can be based on science, skill, intuition, luck or a combination of all four. We recommend making your own luck, by doing your homework beforehand.
Form Attention
Reading form is a great way to gauge how a horse is performing. Form is a series of numbers and letters next to each horse’s name. If you are seeing lots of 1s and 2s, you know you’re looking at a potential winner. Conversely, if 7s and 8s are more prevalent, you’re less likely to be looking at the next Red Rum. Also keep an eye out for C, indicating that a horse has won on that course before, or D, which means the horse has won over that distance before.
Talking Trainers
Only Ginger McCain has successfully defended a National title. In the last 30 years, only trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has more than one winner under his belt. By all means study the trainers, but remember, lightning doesn’t strike the same trainer twice in this event.
Stamina of a Warhorse
Stamina is vital for any horse to win the National. Twenty-four of the last 26 winners won a three-mile chase beforehand. Experience is also key. Young horses, with more speed than stamina, tend to struggle. Nine of the last 10 winners have been aged between nine and 11.
Fence Factor
A winning competitor must show confidence in jumping. Eighteen of the last 20 Aintree winners fell or unseated their riders at most just twice in their careers.
The History of the Aintree Grand National
Held in Liverpool since 1839, the Aintree Grand National is a hugely popular festival. The Grand National steeplechase itself, known as the ‘people’s race’ is where every single horse stands a chance of winning. This fairy-tale factor is why, for eight minutes, an estimated audience of up to 600 million tunes in.
National Treasures
In 1928, Tipperary Tim and amateur jockey William Dalton won everlasting fame by being the only horse and rider, out of 42 runners, to cross the finish line. In recent history, few will forget jockey Davy Russel winning both the 2018 and 2019 National on Tiger Roll. And when it comes to legends, trainer Ginger McCain and his 3-times winning horse Red Rum are household names.
Free Horse Tips
Formidable Fences
Becher’s Brook stands at 5ft with the landing side typically 6-10 inches lower. The Chair is the highest (5ft 3ins) and widest Grand National fence. Only jumped once, it is preceded by a 6ft-wide ditch and has a landing side 6ins higher than the take-off side. Standing at 5ft tall, Canal Turn is considered the trickiest fence, as horse and rider have to turn 90-degrees left immediately on landing.
Grand National Fun Facts
- Valentine’s Brook is a fence named after a horse that jumped the fence backwards.
- In 1855 Sam Darling fell and was knocked out. A horse then knocked him in the head, reviving him.
- On average 250,000 pints are sold during the three-day festival.
- Aintree gets its name from a Viking settlement, after Danes cut down all the trees but one.
- Foinavon fence is named after the 1967 winner who won at odds of 100/1.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a multitude of Grand National betting sites. We’ve cherry-picked the very best sites for you above.
You can find the betting odds for the favourite as soon as they are published on any of our recommended sites.
Yes, the betting sites we suggest for you include great offers on other sports markets.
Many of the sites we propose offer free bets, just be sure to join up a month or more before the race.