This week is going to be massive. There’s midweek Premier League, Masters action from Augusta and, of course, the Grand National.
It’s the most famous jumps race on the planet. I’ll be having a bet, you’ll be having a bet. Even your Nan will be having a bet. It’s the time of the year where every man and his dog becomes a racing expert, so it’s only normal that you may have a few questions, and we’re here to answer them. We’ll get you clued up and ready for action in no time.
When is the 2017 Grand National?
The 2017 Grand National will start at 5.15pm on Saturday April 8th. It may be a couple of minutes delayed, what with the slightly mammoth task of getting 40 massive horses to the starting line, raring and ready to go to take on four and a half miles at Aintree.
If you want to sound knowledgeable, the start time was pushed back to 5.15 as of last year. It’s the latest start time in the history of the race. It was originally moved back to 4.10 to avoid clashing with the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005 and basically stayed in this slot until last year when it was decided viewing figures for the Grand National would benefit from a later start time. It’s all about hitting those KPI’s, folks.
Where can I watch the 2017 Grand National?
You can watch the race live on TV thanks to ITV, Racing UK and TV3. It is the first time ITV have ever broadcast the National, after they snapped up the racing TV rights from Channel 4.
Ed Chamberlin will host the coverage from Aintree from 2pm on ITV. He’ll be joined by AP McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald & Brian Gleeson.
The first race begins at 1.45pm over on Racing UK, the first race on ITV’s coverage is the 2.25pm, with TV3 following suit.
Where can I watch a Grand National live stream?
Out at a dreaded family meal? Need a sneaky spot to watch the race? Live streaming of the Grand National is available on PaddyPower.com via the website or all of the mobile apps and websites.
Simply place one bet of at least £/€1 on the race and you can watch a stream of the race from a couple of minutes before the off. You Beauty!
Who won the Grand National in 2016?
Rule The World won the Grand National last year, defying the odds and making Tears For Fears fans a few quid richer. He beat second-placed The Last Samurai by sixth lengths and 13-year-old Vics Canvas was eight lengths behind in third. Gilgamboa was in fourth, followed by Goonyella in fifth.
Last year, we paid five places each-way, but we’ve gone one better this year and will be paying six!
Who should I bet on in the Grand National?
In a race as large and unpredictable as this, it’s a bit like asking someone for the Lottery numbers. Here at the PP Blog, we will try and make picking a winner a little bit easier for you. We’ll have the expertise of two time Grand National winning jockey Ruby Walsh, alongside tips from Mick Fitzgerald, Timeform and Charlie Austin.
Where can I see the odds?
Grand National live odds are currently available on PaddyPower.com and the odds will continue to be updated during the course of the week as the picture becomes clearer and the field gets tighter.
The current favourite is Vieux Lion Rouge, but Definitly Red – surely a favourite in Liverpool? – is just behind, followed by Cause of Causes and One For Arthur.
Who are Randox Health?
No, not the shower gel. That’s Radox. Randox is one of the world’s top healthcare diagnostic companies and was founded in 2010. They took over the sponsorship from Crabbie’s and their five-year deal began in 2017.
What are the Grand National places?
With Paddy Power, we are offering a whopping SIX places on the Grand National this year, meaning if you have an each way bet and your horse finishes in the top six, you’ll get some dough.
To break Grand National betting into simple and slightly condescending terms, there are a handful of ways to bet on the race:
- Win only bet – you back the horse to win the Grand National. If the horse wins, you win. If the horse fails to win, you don’t.
- Place bet – you back your horse to be finish in the places (between 1st and 6th). If this happens, you win. If the horse wins, it’s basically the same as finishing 6th, which is why it’s not one of the more popular bets.
- Each way bet – This bet includes the win and place bets rolled into one. The ideal scenario is that your horse wins so you get paid out on the win part and you get paid out on the place part, but if the horse doesn’t win but finishes in the top six of the Grand National, the place part of the bet is a winner and you’ll get some moolah back.
These Grand National places are far from standard and lots of bookmakers will only pay out to four places which is the stingy minimum requirement according to the rules of racing. Paddy is doing you all a solid.