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The most-watched horse race in the UK. Around 12 million people tune in on ITV. An estimated £150-200 million goes through UK betting shops and online books on race day alone. For a single-race event, nothing else in UK sport comes close.
What follows is the working betting vocabulary for the National, aimed at once-a-year punters as much as regular racing bettors. For the underlying racing-odds vocabulary (Starting Price, BOG, ante-post mechanics), start with our horse racing odds explained.
When is the Grand National?
The first Saturday in April. At Aintree. The final day of the three-day Grand National Festival that runs Thursday through Saturday.
The 2026 race ran on 4 April. The race itself goes off at around 5:15pm UK time, with the full build-up on ITV running from the afternoon's earlier Aintree card. The Festival's other two days (Grand Opening Day and Ladies Day) carry their own high-quality racing, including the Aintree Hurdle and the Melling Chase, but Saturday and the National itself are the draw.
How long is the Grand National?
4 miles, 2 furlongs, 74 yards. Thirty fences. Two full laps of the Aintree course.
Field size is capped at 34 runners, down from the historic 40 following a programme of safety reforms. The race is the longest and most demanding major jumps race in the UK racing calendar. Stamina and jumping under pressure in a large field both matter enormously; horses that have shown form over 3 miles, 6 furlongs or more in preparation races tend to figure prominently.
Handicap weights range from 10 stone to the weight carried by the top rated horse (usually around 11 stone, 10 pounds). Unlike most handicaps, weights for the National are set months in advance and are the single most-studied number in UK jumps racing between January and March.
What are the iconic fences?
Thirty fences; a handful of them are famous.
Becher's Brook. The most famous fence on the course, jumped on both laps. A 4ft 10in fence with a significant drop on the landing side. The brook runs along the landing side of the fence, and the name comes from Captain Martin Becher, who fell there in the first Grand National in 1839 and sheltered from the other horses in the brook itself.
The Chair. The biggest fence on the course, 5ft 2in, jumped only on the first lap. Stands at the elbow of the course in front of the grandstand, which makes the jump visually dramatic.
Canal Turn. A sharp 90-degree left turn immediately after the fence. Horses that fail to make the turn often lose meaningful ground or unseat their rider.
Valentine's and Foinavon. Smaller named fences. Foinavon is named after the horse that won the 1967 National after a massive pile-up at that fence left him the only horse still standing.
The 2012 and 2023 safety reforms reshaped some of these fences (notably reducing the landing-side drop at Becher's) to lower injury risk while retaining the character that distinguishes the National from every other UK race.
What are the each-way place terms?
The Grand National has the most generous each-way place terms of any UK race.
Most UK-licensed bookmakers pay 5 places at 1/4 odds as standard for the National. Several books extend to 6 or 7 places on race day, which is a meaningful uplift when the favourite is beaten. A handful of smaller promotional books offer 8 places during race week on the back of marketing concessions.
Place terms are the single biggest differentiator between UK bookmakers for the National. A 25/1 each-way bet that finishes 6th pays at 6 places and doesn't pay at 4 places. Comparing place terms before placing an each-way bet matters as much as comparing win odds, and the better place-terms offers are usually advertised in the week before the race.
Does Non-Runner Money Back apply?
Yes, from a stated date before the race, usually the first week of March (roughly 4 weeks out).
Before that date, ante-post bets are not protected if the horse doesn't run. From the NRNB date onwards, ante-post bets on runners who are declared non-runners in the final field are refunded, usually as a free bet. Refund mechanics (cash vs free bet, expiry window) vary by bookmaker.
For the National, NRNB matters because the final 34-runner field is decided only 48 hours before the race. Horses that look probable from the original entry can fall out of the field through injury, owner decision, or trainer switching to a different race. Waiting for the NRNB window to open before placing an ante-post bet is a reasonable discipline for most casual punters.
Can I watch the Grand National live?
Yes. ITV holds the UK free-to-air rights and broadcasts the full Grand National Festival across all three days on ITV1 and ITVX.
Coverage on Saturday typically begins around 1:30pm, building through the afternoon's earlier Aintree card to the National itself at around 5:15pm. Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing also carry subscription coverage across the Festival. Most UK-licensed bookmakers stream the race to funded accounts on race day, usually with a small-stake qualifying bet required on the specific race.
For a broader view on legal UK live-sports access, see our guide to how to watch Premier League (the football equivalent walkthrough also covers how UK sports rights are split across providers).
What's the best way to bet for a first-time punter?
Each-way on a horse you've read something about.
The National's extended place terms (5 or 6 places at 1/4 odds) make each-way competitive even at long prices. A £2 each-way bet on a 25/1 shot costs £4 and pays £15 if the horse places. A £5 each-way bet on the same horse costs £10 and pays £37.50 for a place. That's the rhythm of the National: you're often paid not for picking the winner but for picking a horse that finishes in the frame.
Pick one horse. One bet. Place it on race morning. Watch the race. Collect (or don't) on Sunday. That's the right scale for a once-a-year punter and it avoids the reactive-bet-on-every-race pattern that eats most casual National budgets.
A few practical rules: set a budget before the race and stick to it; ignore the "Grand National sweepstake" at work or down the pub if it's getting you to bet beyond what you meant to; take the time to check your chosen bookmaker's place terms before placing each-way. Most of the Grand National value on offer to casual punters comes from the place side of the each-way bet, not the win side.
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View racingFrequently asked
When is the Grand National?
The Grand National is run on the first Saturday in April at Aintree, the final day of the three-day Grand National Festival. The 2026 race ran on 4 April. The race itself goes off at around 5:15pm GMT.
How long is the Grand National?
The Grand National is run over 4 miles, 2 furlongs and 74 yards, with 30 fences jumped across two laps of the Aintree course. It's the longest and most demanding major jumps race in the UK racing calendar. Field size is capped at 34 runners, down from the historic 40, following a programme of safety reforms.
What are the iconic fences on the Grand National course?
Becher's Brook is the most famous, a 4ft 10in fence with a significant drop on the landing side, jumped on both laps. The Chair is the biggest fence on the course at 5ft 2in. Canal Turn, Valentine's, and Foinavon are other named fences. The 2012 and 2023 reforms reshaped some of these fences to reduce injury risk while retaining their character.
What are the place terms for each-way on the Grand National?
The Grand National has the most generous each-way place terms of any UK race. Most UK-licensed bookmakers pay 5 places at 1/4 odds as standard. A handful of books offer 6 or even 7 places on race day. Place terms are the single biggest differentiator between bookmakers for the National, so price-comparing place terms matters as much as comparing win odds.
Does Non-Runner Money Back apply on Grand National bets?
Yes, from a stated date before the race (usually the first week of March, roughly 4 weeks out). Ante-post bets placed before the NRNB date are not protected if the horse doesn't run. Bets placed from the NRNB date onwards are refunded, usually as a free bet. Exact terms and dates vary by bookmaker, so check the live promotion terms before placing an ante-post bet.
Can I watch the Grand National live in the UK?
Yes. ITV holds the UK free-to-air rights and broadcasts the full Grand National Festival across all three days on ITV1 and ITVX. Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing also carry coverage for subscribers. Most UK-licensed bookmakers stream the race to funded accounts on race day.
What's the best way to bet for a first-time National punter?
Each-way on a horse you've read something about. The Grand National's extended place terms (5 or 6 places paid at 1/4 odds) make each-way genuinely competitive even at long prices. A £2 each-way bet on a 25/1 shot costs £4 and pays £15 if the horse places. Pick one horse, place the bet, watch the race. That's the right scale for a once-a-year punter.
