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At Cash Out Betting Sites we not only point you in the right direction to find the best in cash out betting, we also like to think we can help you on your way to that winning bet, which is why we’ve put together this Beginners Guide to The Grand National, courtesy of Dave Moore our in house hot tipster.
Guide to the Randox Grand National
Aintree is home to the greatest and largest event of the horse racing calendar, the Grand National. The Grand National has been going since 1839 and is raced over a grueling 4 miles and 3 ½ furlongs, including over 30 testing fences. It is also the finale of the Grand National festival that starts earlier in the week, which due to it’s popularity is ideal for gamblers who like placepots.
Each fence has its’ own character with some reaching celebrity status in themselves. For instance, Bechers’ Brook takes its name from Captain Martin Becher who fell there in the first Grand National and took shelter in the small brook running along the landing side of the fence, while the remainder of the field thundered over. It is arguably the most feared fence in jump racing with the landing side having a larger drop than the jumping side.
How to Pick a Grand National Horse
This is where our beginners guide to the Grand National really comes in handy, as we talk you through the major points of making your selection. The first thing you’ll want to do is read our guide to National Hunt races, to trully understand what the Grand National Festival has to offer.
The Grand National is renowned for being a race that is tough to find the winner, with such a large field anything can happen including the possibility of the best horses in the race being taken out of the race through no fault of their own. Everything has to fall right for any horse to win or be placed in the race.
The runners for the Grand National are released fairly early, so you’ll want to research how to read a racecard, especially if you want to lock in the early price rather than betting the SP. Once you know who’s running and you’ve highlighted a few potentials, there are a few things you will need to consider, including;
Good Jumpers
Jumping is essential in the National therefore it is worth siding with horses that have not had a fall/many falls in their past races. If your horse struggles at courses like Hexham or Kelso then there is no chance they will be able to jump these larger obstacles. It is also worth looking at horses that have jumped the National fences or similar before (Topham Chase @ Aintree/Cross Country @ Cheltenham)
Age
Although not a trait that I normally take much notice of, the Grand National has not been won by a horse younger than 8 years old since Bogstar’s win in 1940. Therefore eliminating 7 year olds and younger is usually a good starting point.
Weight
It is pretty difficult to jump these fences let alone having a lot of weight on your back, in the previous 56 running’s of the National only Red Rum (twice) has won the race carrying more than 11 stone 5 pounds, therefore it is worthwhile eliminating horses with a heavier weight than that.
Handicap Rating
As a general rule horses rated by the British Handicap Authority at 135 or less are not capable of winning the National.
So there you have it, we hope our beginners guide to the Grand National give you a few pointers to picking your winning horse.
You will find these and other useful information in the form guide, so studying a form guide certainly helps to improve your chances picking a winner.
Try Our 2026 Grand National Random Horse Generator
If you’re not one for reading form guides and you want a quick and fun way to make a selection, this Grand National random horse generator gives you a simple starting point. With one click, the tool picks a runner at random and shows key details such as the horse’s age, weight, odds, and a short summary.
Our Grand National horse generator is not designed to replace proper race analysis, but it can add a bit of fun to your Grand National guide. It is useful if you want a lucky pick, need help narrowing down the field, or just want to explore the runners in a different way.
Remember that the Grand National line-up can change before the race, so always check the latest declarations and non-runners before placing any bets.
Grand National Random Horse Picker
Looking for a fun way to pick a horse? Tap the button below and get a random Grand National horse.
Your random horse will appear here.
Disclaimer: This tool is for entertainment and general guide purposes only. The list may include horses that do not make the final field, are withdrawn, or are confirmed non-runners. Always check the latest declarations before placing a bet.
Grand National Betting Sites
The Grand National is one of the biggest betting events in the UK racing calendar, which means bookmakers compete heavily to attract punters during the festival. Many platforms release special Grand National offers, including enhanced odds on leading contenders, extra place races, and free bet promotions.
Choosing the right bookmaker can make a difference when betting on such a competitive race. The strongest Grand National betting sites usually provide features such as Best Odds Guaranteed, competitive each-way terms, and strong racing promotions in the build-up to the race at Aintree.
If you want to compare bookmakers before placing your bet, see our guide to the best horse racing betting sites, where we review several bookies that consistently offer strong odds and promotions for major races like the Grand National.
It’s worth noting though that most bookmakers suspend their welcome bonuses during the festival, due to the influx of one off gamblers. So you’ll want to sign up early before the remove any bonuses. However, this does not affect any specific Grand National based existing customer promotions.
Grand National History
The biggest name in the races history is Red Rum who amazingly won the Grand National on a record 3 occasions, a feat which has not yet been matched.
The race has been famous for other things away from the actual race being won. Back in 1928 an astonishing 41 out of the 42 starters fell or unseated their riders which left a horse called Tipperary Tim to come home at a massive 100/1
Devon Loch is a name famous for clearing the final National fence leading by 5 lengths only to half jump in the air just before the finish line and land on his belly leaving those in his wake to come home ahead of him. Amazingly the horse was on course to complete the quickest time ever recorded in the National.
Foinavon’s 100/1 victory in 1967 was one of the most bizarre incidents to take place in the National, a horse called Popham Down who had unseated his rider at the first fence veered right across the leading group at the 23rd fence, resulting in a massive pile up of horses and jockeys which allowed Foinavon to come through from the back to record a huge shock.
1993 was the famous “Race that never was”. A major lack in communication at the start meant that 30 riders of the 39 didn’t realise the start had been declared void and began to race. Seven riders completed the whole course with Esha Ness coming home in front (2nd quickest time in National history) but it was in vein as the race was void.
The 1997 Grand National was postponed after bomb threats were received however the race was ran 48 hours later on the Monday.
Previous Grand National Winners
Looking at recent results can help spot patterns in the type of horse that performs well in the Grand National. Below is a breakdown of the last 10 Grand National winners, including the jockey, trainer, and the horses that finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
2025 – I Am Maximus
- Jockey: Paul Townend
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd: Vanillier
- 3rd: Minella Indo
- 4th: Noble Yeats
2024 – Corach Rambler
- Jockey: Derek Fox
- Trainer: Lucinda Russell
- 2nd: Vanillier
- 3rd: Gaillard Du Mesnil
- 4th: Noble Yeats
2023 – Corach Rambler
- Jockey: Derek Fox
- Trainer: Lucinda Russell
- 2nd: Vanillier
- 3rd: Gaillard Du Mesnil
- 4th: Noble Yeats
2022 – Noble Yeats
- Jockey: Sam Waley-Cohen
- Trainer: Emmet Mullins
- 2nd: Any Second Now
- 3rd: Delta Work
- 4th: Santini
2021 – Minella Times
- Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
- Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
- 2nd: Balko Des Flos
- 3rd: Any Second Now
- 4th: Burrows Saint
2019 – Tiger Roll
- Jockey: Davy Russell
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 2nd: Magic Of Light
- 3rd: Rathvinden
- 4th: Walk In The Mill
2018 – Tiger Roll
- Jockey: Davy Russell
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 2nd: Pleasant Company
- 3rd: Bless The Wings
- 4th: Anibale Fly
2017 – One For Arthur
- Jockey: Derek Fox
- Trainer: Lucinda Russell
- 2nd: Cause Of Causes
- 3rd: Saint Are
- 4th: Blaklion
2016 – Rule The World
- Jockey: David Mullins
- Trainer: Mouse Morris
- 2nd: The Last Samuri
- 3rd: Vics Canvas
- 4th: Gilgamboa
2015 – Many Clouds
- Jockey: Leighton Aspell
- Trainer: Oliver Sherwood
- 2nd: Saint Are
- 3rd: Monbeg Dude
- 4th: Alvarado
What Can We Learn from Recent Winners?
A few clear trends stand out when reviewing recent Grand National results:
- Many winners come from top Irish trainers, particularly Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott
- Horses with proven stamina over long-distance chases tend to perform well
- Previous experience over the Aintree fences can be a major advantage
- Well-handicapped runners often outperform shorter-priced favourites
Studying past results like these can help you build a stronger shortlist when placing bets with the best horse racing betting sites.