Grand National 2025 – Your Guide to the Famous Race
Here are the best Grand National bet types, a statistical form guide and details of how to watch the 2025 Rando Grand National.
Previous results could pinpoint 2025’s Grand National winner. © Getty Images
Key Facts:
- Six hundred million worldwide viewers are expected to watch the 2025 Grand National.
- The Aintree spectacle is a cornerstone of British sporting culture.
- Grand National’s betting volume is expected to be £250 million.
- Will 2025 produce only the fourth winning grey?
This Saturday, 05.04.2025, an estimated 600 million worldwide viewers will watch 34 runners set out on two laps of Aintree’s famous Grand National course. Following a four-and-a-quarter-mile gallop, negotiating 30 fences, 2025’s Randox Grand National winner will cross the line ahead to a rousing reception in a blaze of glory.
A financial interest in the Grand National is an enduring British household tradition. The famous race is embedded in the country’s psyche. It is a cornerstone of British sporting culture, the single event that generations have placed their once-a-year fun-sized wager and then enjoyed the unfolding spectacle.
Earlier this year, Entain, the owner of some of the UK’s top online gambling sites, declared that 82% of the bets it took on the 2024 Grand National were for £5 or less. Underling the Grand National’s status as ‘the people’s race,’ less than 1% of bets placed on the Aintree marathon was for more than £20.
Despite 50% of Grand National turnover originating from bets of £5 or less, it is estimated this year’s Aintree marathon will attract £250 million in bets globally. The National is the most gambled-on sporting event in the world.
Where Is Your Money Going?
So, what is the best way to make your Grand National selections? The record books, not the form books, could be one of the best ways to identify who will win Saturday’s big race.
Nine Is the Perfect Grand National Age
Nine is the best age for Grand National winners. A quarter of all winners have been nine-year-olds, producing nearly double the number of winners of any other age. Since World War II, there has been just one seven-year-old winner – Noble Yeats in 2022 – and only one 12-year-old winner since 1995.
Weight Has Been a Heavy Problem
Traditionally, very few horses have won the Grand National carrying big weights. Following Red Rum’s 1977 success, no horse shouldered more than 11-stone 5-pound to victory until Neptune Collonges scored in 2012.
However, I Am Maximus carried 11-stone 6-pound to victory in last year’s Grand National. Many Clouds defied 11-stone 9-pound in 2015, and Tiger Roll carried a hefty 11-stone 5-pound across the line when scoring in 2019.
Look for a Recent Run and Stamina
A recent run is crucial. Only two Grand National winners since 1981 had their prior start more than 50 days before lining up for the big race. Similarly, all but two of the last 52 Grand National winners had winning form over three miles or further.
Recent Grand National Winners and Their Jockeys
- 2024 – I Am Maximus – Paul Townend
- 2023 – Corach Rambler – Derek Fox
- 2022 – Noble Yeats – Sam Waley-Cohen
- 2021 – Minella Times – Rachael Blackmore
- 2020 – Cancelled
- 2019 – Tiger Roll – Davy Russell
- 2018 – Tiger Roll – Davy Russell
- 2017 – One For Arthur – Derek Fox
- 2016 – Rule The World – David Mullins
- 2015 – Many Clouds – Leighton Aspell
What’s in a National Name?
The last five Grand National winners that featured people’s names are Ben Nevis (1980), Bobbyjo (1999), One For Arthur (2017), Tiger Roll – as in ‘Tiger Woods’ – (2018 and 2019), and I Am Maximus (2024).
Only three greys have ever won the Grand National: The Lamb (1868 and 1871), Nicholas Silver (1961), and Neptune Collonges (2012). Grey horses are well represented in this year’s National, with Coko Beach, Fil Dor, Hyland, Intense Raffles, Kandoo Kid, and Vanillier all prominent in the early betting.
Fun Loving National Bookmakers
When it comes to preference, online bookmakers love the Grand National. Unsurprisingly, the major betting sites fight over the business of old and new customers by offering bonuses and incentives. Here are some of the things recreational punters should look for.
Non-Runner No-Bet (NRNB)
This term refers to a bet placed before the final field (or declarations) is known and means your bet stakes will be refunded if your selection does not race.
Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG)
A significant concession offered by the leading sports betting sites, BOG means you will receive your Grand National winnings at the price you struck your bet, or if the official Starting Price is bigger, you will receive the greater price.
Extra Place Special Offers
This is an offer all each-way punters should look for. Usually, horses finishing in the first four of a big-field handicap are declared as being ‘placed’, and people who have made an each-way bet will be paid out accordingly.
However, as a concession, some bookmakers will honour each-way bets on extra finishing positions such as fifth and sixth. This dramatically increases the chances of collecting or winning on the Grand National.
Faller Offers
Some bookmakers may offer ‘Faller Insurance’ on the Grand National. This concession sees stakes returned, normally as a free bet, if your selection falls at the first fence. It can also apply to other fences, particularly the final fence.
Enhanced and Boosted Odds
Some betting firms will take a stance on specific Grand National runners and offer odds better than the current industry prices.
Tote Odds Price Match
The best online betting sites give their customers access to Tote betting pools. The Tote has an excellent ongoing offer that guarantees to match the official starting price of horse racing winners.
Similar to ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ and with the return of a big-priced winner likely to outshine the official Starting Price, this is a ‘win-win’ scenario for punters.
When is the 2025 Grand National? How to Watch It?
The Grand National takes place on Saturday, April 4, and will start at the new earlier time of 4 pm. The world’s most famous steeplechase will be broadcast live on ITV and the Racing TV subscription channel.
