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- Grand National 2027 at a glance
- New! Our Top 3:
- How to bet on the Grand National
- Best bet types for the Grand National
- Grand National sweepstake kit
- What do Grand National winners have in common?
- Grand National betting tips
- The Grand National Festival
- Grand National betting offers
- Where to bet on the Grand National
- Key points to remember
The Grand National is the one race of the year that the whole of Britain and Ireland bets on. Office sweepstakes, family bets and once-a-year punters all join in, alongside racing fans who have studied the form for months. The 2027 Grand National is run at Aintree on Saturday 10 April 2027, the final day of the three-day Grand National Festival. In this guide we explain how to bet on the National, which bet types make sense, what history tells us about the winners, and we give you a free sweepstake kit to run your own draw.
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Grand National 2027 at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Race date | Saturday 10 April 2027 |
| Festival | Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 April 2027 |
| Course | Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool |
| Distance | About four miles and two furlongs |
| Fences | 30 fences over two circuits |
| Maximum field | 34 runners |
| 2026 winner | I Am Maximus (Paul Townend, Willie Mullins), 9/2 favourite |
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The field was reduced from 40 to a maximum of 34 runners from 2024, as part of a series of changes to improve safety. The final field is confirmed a few days before the race, when the runners are declared.
How to bet on the Grand National
There are two main moments to place your Grand National bet:
- Ante-post: weeks or months before the race. Prices are often bigger, but if your horse does not run, your bet usually loses, unless the bookmaker offers non-runner no bet.
- Race week and race day: once the field is known. Odds are usually shorter for fancied horses, but bookmakers compete hard with extra places and offers.
Most UK bookmakers offer Best Odds Guaranteed on the National, so if you take a price and the starting price is bigger, you are paid at the bigger price.
Best bet types for the Grand National
| Bet type | How it works | Why it suits the National |
|---|---|---|
| Win | Your horse must win | Simple, but a big field makes it hard |
| Each way | A win bet plus a place bet | The most popular National bet |
| Extra places | Each way paying 5, 6, 7 or more places | Bookmaker offers for the National |
| Forecast and tricast | First two or three in order | Huge payouts, very hard to land |
| Lucky 15 | Four selections across the festival | Combine the National with other Aintree races |
Each way and extra places
With 34 runners and plenty of horses at big prices, each way is the natural bet for the National. Standard terms for a big handicap are four places at 1/4 odds, but many bookmakers pay five, six or even more places on National day. A 33/1 shot that finishes fifth can still give you a decent return. Use our each way calculator to see what your bet pays.
Grand National sweepstake kit
Running a sweepstake at work or with family? Use our free kit below. Add the names of everyone taking part and it randomly draws a runner number for each person. You can also print blank numbered slips to cut out and draw from a hat.
Grand National sweepstake kit
Enter the names of everyone taking part, one per line. The kit draws a random runner number for each person and creates slips you can print or share. Match the numbers to the official racecard once the final field is declared.
How to run a fair sweepstake
- Fix the entry fee first. £1 or £2 per horse is typical for an office sweep.
- Draw after declarations. The final field is known a few days before the race, so you know exactly which horses are running.
- Agree the prizes. A common split is 60% for the winner, 25% for second and 15% for third, or simply winner takes all.
- Decide what happens with non-runners. Agree in advance whether a player with a non-runner gets a refund or a redraw.
- Keep it small and friendly. A private sweepstake among friends or colleagues should stay a bit of fun.
What do Grand National winners have in common?
The National is famously unpredictable, but past winners do share some traits:
- Experience: most winners are seasoned staying chasers, often aged between eight and eleven.
- Stamina: the trip of over four miles rewards horses that have proven themselves over three and a half miles or more.
- Weight: as a handicap, the race gives top-rated horses more weight to carry. In recent years, classy horses near the top of the weights have won more often than in the past.
- Irish strength: Irish-trained horses, especially from the Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott yards, have won many recent Nationals.
- Jumping: a horse that jumps fluently and safely is far more likely to complete the course.
Recent Grand National winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | I Am Maximus | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2025 | Nick Rockett | Patrick Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 2024 | I Am Maximus | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
In 2026 I Am Maximus became one of the few horses to win the race twice, landing the prize as the 9/2 favourite.
Grand National betting tips
- Shop around for extra places. The difference between four and seven places can decide whether your each way bet pays.
- Take a price with BOG. Prices on popular horses can shorten heavily on race day, so taking an early price with Best Odds Guaranteed protects you.
- Watch for non-runner no bet offers. These make ante-post betting much less risky.
- Do not ignore the favourite. Favourites have won more often in recent years than the race's reputation suggests.
- Bet what you can afford. It is one race and anything can happen. Keep your stake to a fun amount.
The Grand National Festival
The National is the highlight of three days of top-class jump racing at Aintree. Thursday includes Grade 1 races such as the Aintree Bowl, Friday is traditionally Ladies Day, and Saturday features the Grand National itself alongside several other big races. Many punters build a Lucky 15 or a Yankee across the festival. For more on racing bets, read our horse racing betting guide.
Grand National betting offers
Every year, bookmakers launch their biggest racing offers for the National. Typical examples include extra places, money back if your horse finishes second, and enhanced odds for new customers. Since January 2026, UK rules limit wagering on free bets and bonuses and ban promotions that mix betting with casino offers, so the terms are simpler than they used to be. Always read the full terms before you bet.
Where to bet on the Grand National
Our pick: place your Grand National bet at Inky Bet, or compare odds and extra places at Tip-Top and Jackpot City. For more bookmakers, see our guide to the best UK betting sites.
Key points to remember
- The 2027 Grand National is on Saturday 10 April 2027 at Aintree.
- Up to 34 runners tackle 30 fences over about four miles and two furlongs.
- Each way with extra places is the most popular way to bet.
- Best Odds Guaranteed and non-runner no bet offers reduce your risk.
- Use our free sweepstake kit for a fair office or family draw.
The 2027 Grand National is on Saturday 10 April 2027 at Aintree, on the final day of the Grand National Festival, which runs from 8 to 10 April.
A maximum of 34 runners, reduced from 40 since 2024.
I Am Maximus, ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins, won as the 9/2 favourite. It was his second Grand National win after 2024.
Standard terms are four places at 1/4 odds, but many bookmakers pay five or more places on the National. Compare offers before you bet.
Collect an equal entry fee per horse, draw runner numbers at random once the field is declared and agree the prize split in advance. Our free sweepstake kit does the draw for you.