Grand National betting always ramps up in the weeks before the big race – but there’s more interest than ever at Aintree in 2025, as I Am Maximus targets the defence of his title won in glorious fashion last year.
I Am Maximus is one of the favourites heading into Aintree, having cantered to victory 12 months ago. He was the 7/1 joint favourite to win that day and will carry maximum weight this year.
Of course, I Am Maximus is not guaranteed to win – and there are plenty of runners to challenge the favourite.
There are also a lot of ways to bet on the Grand National and pluck a lucky winner from the sea of 34 horses running at Aintree. The race, which takes place in April, is ideal for sweepstakes and each way bets, as everyone from your work colleagues to your gran wants to have a dabble on the National.
Millions will again watch the action this year and Paddy Power is ready to welcome you to the party with a great horse racing offer.
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 simple Grand National bet, use this guide to make smarter choices today!
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Grand National Date 2025
The 2025 Grand National takes place on Saturday 5 April at Aintree Racecourse. The race will consist of 34 horses for the second year running, after a decision was made to reduce the field by six from previous years.
2025 Grand National start time
The 2025 Grand National starts at 4pm on Saturday 5 April. Last year the race was moved from its previous start time of 5:15pm to increase the likelihood of better ground for the horses. In 2024 just four horses unseated their riders, while seven pulled up.
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 – introduced in 2024 – means the race now gets underway when the second half of Saturday football games kick off across the country. We’re yet to hear of a football club showing the National on the big screen during a match!
2025 Grand National Ante-Post Betting
Betting on the Grand National early requires you to play on the ante-post markets. This is effectively the same as betting on race day, with a couple of differences. For a start, ante-post betting features unconfirmed horses for the event. We won’t know exactly who will run until a few days before the race.
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.
Now, by February each year the list of entries for the race is available. From here, the horses must effectively earn their place in the race. If you see a name at the top of the entry list – for example, Royale Pagaille – a few weeks out from the Grand National, then it’s likely they will run.
Why bet on the ante-post markets? Well, the racing odds are usually higher than on race day, because there’s no guarantee a horse will run. So, if you’re confident a horse will be included and plan to back it anyway, you might as well lock in a better price early!
This happened in 2024 when I Am Maximus was priced at 10/1 in the ante-post markets, only for his price to fall to 7/1 on Grand National day.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.
How to bet on the Grand National
If you want to place a Grand National bet, head to Paddy Power today and sign up for an account. You must be aged 18 or over to bet in the UK and Ireland. Place your first deposit (don’t forget to trigger a welcome offer!) and head to our Grand National betting page.
From here you can see all the latest odds on each runner. Select your horse, choose whether to bet on a win or each way, and enter your stake in the bet slip. Check you’re happy with the bet, then hit Place Bet to complete the process!
When is the Grand National race card confirmed?
The list of potential Grand National runners is revealed in the winter, which means you can bet on the futures markets. The 2025 Grand National entrees list has been revealed. However, if you’re willing to wait until the 34 final runners are decided, then you’ll have to hold your nerve until the week of the big race.
The confirmed Grand National runners’ list is announced on the Thursday before the 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 2025 Tips
You can be 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.
That’s the beauty of the Grand National – you can bet however you like!
Of course, we reckon the best method is somewhere in the middle. A mix of research and gut instinct. 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 2025 Grand National tips to get you thinking about your method:
Look at the going and your horse’s form – The Grand National is a four-mile race, so horses need to be exceptionally fit to compete here. It’s important you look at their form over the past six months to see how they have fared in long-distance National Hunt races. You also need to look at the course conditions on Grand National day, and see which horses have fared well in similar conditions. An in-form horse that has stamina and proved capable of handling the same conditions should be well positioned to challenge for the top places at Aintree.
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 betting focuses on 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. Willie Mullins has struck gold with I Am Maximus. But you should use famous trainers as the starting point when assessing the race card and 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 twice since 2015 has a horse won carrying more than 11st on its back (Tiger Roll, 11-3 in 2019; I Am Maximus, 11-6 in 2024). 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 below 11st. I Am Maximus won in 2024 carrying 11-6 – but that went against the general trend. He’ll carry maximum weight in 2025, while Royale Pagaille, Envoi Allen and Grangeclare West will all carry 11-9 and above.
Outside shots becoming rarer – The beauty of Grand National betting is the idea that any horse can win – even if they’re priced at 100/1. Well, in recent years the favourites have lived up to their name a little more than usual. favourites have won three of the last five Grand Nationals, and only once since 2016 has the winner been priced wider than 33/1 (Noble Yeats won in 2022 at odds of 50/1).
Going back to 2010, horses prices between 10/1 and 20/1 seem the most realistic option to win or challenge for places at the Grand National. If you’re stuck on who to pick then perhaps you can use this as a starting point.
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. Aintree Racecourse is basically one big festival for the day as 75,000 spectators rock up to this small corner of Liverpool – all of them looking to win big.
Here’s what you need to keep an eye on before, during and after the race:
Don’t get caught 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! If you can jump on a secure wifi from Aintree then go for it, or bet in advance at Paddy Power!
Remember there are fewer runners – The number of horses at the Grand National was reduced from 40 to 34 last year. The race in 2025 is no different. The decision was made to improve the welfare of horses and prevent bunch-ups, especially in the opening jumps of the race. Theoretically this should mean there’s less chance of a favourite falling.
First jump moved – The distance to the first fence was shortened by 60 yards last year 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 doesn’t happen anymore. Instead, we have a standing start at the Grand National, 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 is now reduced from 5ft to 4ft 10in. The landing site is also levelled to reduce the size of the drop. This is to improve horse and rider welfare.
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.
Reserve horses return – Aintree will also see a return to reserve horses for the Grand National. In the last few years, horses that withdrew in the hours before the race weren’t replaced. Reserves are back, meaning we should definitely have 34 runners this year.
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?