TIPS
Narrow down the field and look more closely at the horses with a realistic chance of winning.
GRAND NATIONAL 2027
The Grand National is the biggest racing event in the calendar, and in 2026, 34 runners will line up at Aintree to compete for the £1 million prize fund.
It was clear from the first running of the race 1839 that the ‘National’ was destined to become more than just another steeplechase.
The spectators who witnessed jockey Captain Becher fall at the fence, which now bears his name, could never have imagined that over 175 years later the country would still be gripped by the spectacle of the Grand National.
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GRAND NATIONAL COUNTDOWN
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BETTING GUIDE
A few years ago the queues outside the bookmakers would stretch down the high street on the day of the Grand National. Thankfully, today we can avoid the queues by using online bookmakers.
The bookmakers we feature are licensed, regulated. Plus when you sign-up you can also benefit from offers and promotions. They also have other gaming sections which often includes a no deposit casino, slots section, lottery games plus a huge range of sports betting markets.
BETFRED BENEFITS
You might ask ‘Who is the best bookmaker?‘ Well, it all depends on what type of bet you want to place, the size of the bet and other considerations like what bonus bet deals are being offered (if any).
For the average person, a bookmaker like Betfred is also going to be a good option. They are a British bookmaker that specialises in horse racing,
Secondly, their website is easy to use, joining only takes a minute and you can fund your account using a variety of different methods.
Plus, Betfred usually pays out enhanced places on each-way bets (please check the number of each-way places offered by your bookmaker).
GRAND NATIONAL 2027 FAVOURITE
Every year, at least one potential Grand National runner captures the attention of the public and goes off as the favourite to win the race.
Odds can be fickle and continuously change almost up until the minute the race goes off, but there is still always a favourite.
In 2026 I Am Maximus went off as favourite, despite carrying top weight, and the Willie Mullins trained chaser duly rewarded all of his fans by romping home, becoming the first winner, since Red Rum, to regain his crown.
For 2025, that race favourite was Iroko, who set off at odds of 13/2. He ultimately finished in 4th place.
In 2024 two horses went off on odds of 7/1 and they were I Am Maximus and Limerick Lace, both JP McManus owned horses.
The betting markets for 2027 are now open (ante-post), and it appears that I Am Maximus is the current favourite, although this is likely to change many times before the race.
Weights play a huge part, and those that are allocated under 11 stone by the BHA Handicapper traditionally do a lot better than those carrying more, although I Am Maximus did win, in 2026, carrying 11-12!
If he returns for 2027, he will have a lot of competition and already has some rivals in the betting markets.
There’s still time to go, and it’s anybody’s game.
GRAND NATIONAL WINNING TRENDS
Only one winner in the last ten Grand Nationals has carried top weight. In fact, just four winners carried more than 10st 13lbs. They were I Am Maximus in 2026, Nick Rockett in 2025, I Am Maximus in 2024, and Tiger Roll in 2019.
Since the turn of the century, only seven Grand National favourites have actually gone on to win the race. They are I Am Maximus (2026, 2024), Corach Rambler (2023), Tiger Roll (2019), Don’t Push It (2010), Comply Or Die (2008) and Hedgehunter (2005). Tiger Roll went off on the lowest odds of just 4/1.
Almost every recent Grand National winner has had at least three, but preferably four, seasonal runs before winning the big race.
This is a fact race, and it is incredibly difficult to win. Age and experience count for a lot. Since 2015, eight winners have been either 8 or 9, except for Noble Yeats, who was seven and the first of his age group to win since 1940, and I Am Maximus in 2026, who was 10 years old.