- Learn how to make a more informed decision as to which horse to back in the 2023 Grand National betting. Look for value, instead of just picking the name of horse you like or picking at random.
- We look at the race’s exciting recent history. A 50/1 winner in the Grand National betting, the 1st female jockey to win, the cancelled race, and back to back wins for Tiger Roll. And, that’s just the last 5 years! Plus, we have some interesting Grand National facts.
- We also give you our tips for this most famous of races.
- Start reading our guide to find out everything you could want to know about Grand National betting.
2023 Grand National betting
When is the 2023 Grand National?
2023’s edition of the world famous Grand National race at Aintree starts at 17:15 on Saturday 15th April. This is only a few weeks after the Cheltenham Festival and its famous Gold Cup).
Grand National 2023 tips
Our Tip (Win): Ain’t That A Shame
Our Tip (Each-Way): Galvin
May we also take this opportunity to warn you about a common betting tip scam?
How to decide which horse to back in the 2023 Grand National?
When considering betting on the Grand National, remember this is a handicap race. Horses carry different weights, so as the better horses have a disadvantage. You might want to consider the:
- Horse’s form (especially in handicap races, giving more weight to recent form)
- Jockey’s ability (and recent results)
- Expected ground conditions (how does your horse perform under these conditions)? Recent rain may lead to softer ground, whilst recent sunny or dry conditions may lead to harder ground.
- Weather at the time of the race – how might your horse perform if it is windy or raining.
- Fluctuation of odds. If odds on your potential horse are falling or rising see if you can find out why. For example, has the expected condition of the ground suddenly changed? Has the weather forecast changed? Have any other horses withdrawn? Does your horse have a potential injury, etc?
- Body language of horse prior to the race. You may be able to see this on course in person, or on television. The extended TV coverage events like the Grand National gets, helps with this.
- Starting position of the horse. You might be able to get an idea of this immediately prior to the race. Inside starts (i.e. close to the rail) mean less travelling distance. However, inside horses can be cut-off by faster outside horses.
About the Grand National
It’s been an interesting last few years…
- 50/1 winner in 2022: Noble Yeats had a starting price of 50/1 – the victorious jockey was Sam Waley-Cohen.
- Female jockey wins for the 1st time ever in 2021: Jockey Rachael Blackmore rode Minella Times to victory in 2021.
- Race cancelled in 2020: The usual race saw a cancellation due to the pandemic. Potters Corner won a televised virtual version.
- Back to back wins in 2019/2018 for the same horse/jockey/trainer. That was of course Tiger Roll (jockey: Davy Russell, trainer: Gordon Elliot).
30 obstacles, 4km (the longest National Hunt race in GB)
How the Grand National works
- The Grand National is a handicapped National Hunt steeplechase. If you are new to horse racing, let us explain what this means in practice.
- In handicap horse races, better horses compete with a disadvantage. Conversely, worse horses compete with an advantage. This happens by making the horses carry different weights.
- In National Hunt steeplechase races horses jump obstacles, such as open ditches, plain fences, or water jumps. But, it’s even tougher in the Grand National race, as the race is the longest National Hunt race in Great Britain, with a total distance of 4 miles 514 yards.
- Jockeys go round the course twice. There are 16 fences on each lap (each of which has some spruce obtained from the Lake District on top of them). Jockeys bypass the last 2 on the 2nd lap. So, horses jump a total of 30 obstacles to complete the course.
Famous Grand National fences
- 6 (and therefore, 22 as well), is Becher’s Brook. The jockey that fell there in the first ever Grand National in 1839, gives his name to this fence. He saved himself by staying in the tiny brook alongside the fence landing. Meanwhile, the other horses continued to jump over.
- 7 (and thus 23) is Foinavon in honour of the 1967 outsider who won at 100/1. The horse avoided a mess-up by others at this fence.
- 8 (and so also 24) is the Canal Turn. Immediately following this fence, horse and rider have to turn sharply.
- 9 (and so also 25) is Valentine’s Brook. Originally named the Second Brook. It was renamed after the horse Valentine is said to have jumped hind legs first over this obstacle.
- 15 is The Chair, and 16 is Water Jump. Jockeys jump over these on the first lap only.
Notable winners – 3 time winner Red Rum, a 100/1 winner in 2009, and more…
- The most famous horse to have competed is Red Rum, who finished 1st or 2nd for an amazing 5 years in a row. This famous thoroughbred won 3 times in the 1970s (in 1973 and 1974 as well as 1977). No other horse has ever won three times. In the 2 other years between Red Rum’s 2nd and 3rd wins, this legend of racing finished second both times.
- The biggest starting price of a winner in recent years was in 2009 when Mon Meme (jockey Liam Treadwell) won at 100/1.
- 13 mares have won, but the last was Nickel Coin in 1951.
- 3 different greys have won (1 of these won twice), with the last grey winner Neptune Collonges in 2012.
All tips above published on 14th April 2023 (and remain unchanged), but anything else in this article may be updated afterwards.