Grand National betting is up and running for another year and Paddy Power is ready to show you how it’s done! Below, our Grand National guide will take you through the intricacies of this mega race and point to some tips for first-time bettors.
The Grand National at Aintree is the big race that attracts viewers who aren’t usually interested in horse racing. Millions will be watching this year!
You might be one of the ‘occasional punters’ who enjoy horse racing betting once a year. Or you might be a pro bettor seeking some bonus tips. Well, whether you’re planning a sweepstake or want to place a smart each way Grand National bet, use this guide to make smarter choices today!
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Grand National Date 2024
The 2024 Grand National takes place on Saturday 13 April at Aintree Racecourse. The race will consist of 34 horses this year after a decision was made to reduce the field by six from previous years.
2024 Grand National start time
The 2024 Grand National starts at 4pm on Saturday 13 April. The race has been moved from its usual 5:15pm start time to increase the likelihood of better ground for the horses.
The Grand National has previously been raced between 3pm and 4:15pm at various points down the years. It was moved to 5:15pm in 2016 so as not to clash with the 3pm football fixtures, meaning more people could watch the action.
However, this new time of 4pm means the race will now kick off when the second half of Saturday league games get underway across the country.
2024 Grand National Ante-Post Betting
If you want to place an early bet on the Grand National then you’ll have to access the ante-post / futures markets. This is a market just like any other, where the horses are listed in order of their odds. However, ante-post betting displays the horses that are expected to race at Aintree, not those guaranteed to be on the racecard.
If you bet on the ante-post Grand National markets and your chosen horse doesn’t run then your stake isn’t refunded. The pay-off to this, though, is you will get bigger odds to cover that risk.
Shrewd bettors who expect certain horses to race usually bank on the ante-post markets to lock in higher prices. For example, a horse may be priced at 14/1 in the futures market, but come in to 7/1 when the race odds fully open.
Ante-post betting on the Grand National is particularly popular because the odds on most horses are just so high.
When is the Grand National order confirmed?
If you don’t want to bet on the futures markets then you can wait until the Grand National entries are confirmed for the race. Confirmation takes place on the Thursday before the big race at 10am.
Here, the top 34 horses and their weights will be crystallised and added to the race card. From here, any bets on horses that are subsequently withdrawn will be refunded.
Grand National 2024 Tips
You can bet as meticulous or as relaxed as you like when betting on the Grand National. Some bettors study the form for weeks, assessing each viable runner and digging into the stats to pick out their golden NAP.
Others won’t even bother looking at the race card until the day of the Grand National and stick a punt on whatever name stands out.
Of course, we reckon the best method is somewhere in the middle. There’s no point getting totally twisted in stats when betting on a 34-horse race covering four miles and 30 jumps. Equally, betting blind is a fairly pointless option if you’re serious about winning bets.
So, here are some quick 2024 Grand National tips to get you started:
Match going with form – Look at the conditions at Aintree on Grand National day and see which horses are most adept to them. If a horse runs well on soft ground and has completed races of three-miles or more before then they will probably fare well if the Aintree turf is a little soggy. Equally, a horse that is a strong jumper on firm ground will be best placed if the sun is shining on Liverpool.
Choose a trainer, not a horse – The Grand National is far more democratic than Cheltenham when it comes to which trainers win races. Whereas Cheltenham Festival is dominated by the very best trainers, the National offers a chance for smaller stables to taste glory.
Of course, the likes of Henry de Bromhead, Paul Nicholls and Gordon Elliott have picked up wins at Aintree and their horses are usually worth looking at. Use famous trainers as the starting point when assessing the race card but don’t be frightened to look at less well-known options too.
Check the weight – Handicappers add weights to all horses ahead of the Grand National in order to level out the field. A horse can carry a maximum 11st 10lbs when running, while the minimum weight is 10st. Only once since 2015 has a horse won carrying more than 11st on its back (Tiger Roll, 11st 3lbs, 2019). The lower the weight, the better the chance a horse has of completing the race.
Therefore, a quick Grand National tip is to seek horses carrying between 10st and 10-7. Any more and the weight could start to become an issue.
Click here for plenty more Grand National tips!
Things to look for at the Grand National
If you’re new to the Grand National then there are plenty of weird and wonderful things to discover about this event. It’s not only about the horses but also the thousands of race-goers who pack the stands at Aintree. Here’s what you need to keep an eye on before, during and after the race:
Data scrambling – Grand National betting is obviously big business at Aintree but getting to a bookmaker on race day isn’t easy, especially when the odds open for the big one! With 70,000 fans at the racecourse, many turn to mobile betting in order to get their stakes placed on time. Cue thousands of punters scrambling to get enough phone reception to lock in their bets before the race begins!
Fewer runners – The number of horses at the Grand National is reduced from 40 to 34 this year. The decision was made to improve the welfare of horses and prevent bunch-ups, especially in the opening jumps of the race.
First jump moved – The distance to the first fence has been shortened by 60 yards to improve the welfare of the horses. A shorter distance means the runners won’t be at full speed heading to the opening jump, so they can more safely execute the vault.
Standing start – In previous years horses have trotted up to the rope and released to start the race at a canter. This won’t happen from 2024 onwards. Instead, there will be a standing start, with the aim of reducing false starts and general turmoil at the beginning of the race.
Reduced fence height – The open ditch at Fence 11 and 27 will be reduced from 5ft to to 4ft 10in. The landing site will also be levelled to reduce the size of the drop. This is to improve horse and rider welfare.
New toe boards – All fences will have foam and rubber toe boards that will help horses vault more clearly.
Live streaming – You can live stream the Grand National at Paddy Power this year simply by betting on the race! Click here to join Paddy Power and get started.
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Read more:
- Why are there false starts in horse races like the Grand National?
- How many horses are there in the Grand National?
- Grand National prize money: How much does the Grand National winner get?
- 9 things to consider when picking a Grand National winner
- Grand National fence names and the stories behind every Aintree jump
- How high are Grand National fences at Aintree Racecourse?
- What are Grand National fences made of at Aintree Racecourse?
- Grand National fences: Order of jumps, total and which are taken twice
- Grand National weights: Why do horses carry different weights at Aintree?
- How many people usually attend the Grand National? What is Aintree’s capacity?
- What is the distance of the Grand National? How far do the horses run?
- How does a horse qualify for the Grand National?
- When did a horse last win the Grand National carrying top weight?