Let’s be honest, most of us aren’t expecting to pick the Grand National winner. With 34 runners and 30 fences, it’s like throwing a dart at a moving dartboard.
That’s where the good old each-way bet comes in. It’s the safety net of the racing world – a way to cheer your horse home even if it doesn’t cross the line first.
But how does it work, and is it really worth it in a race like the Grand National? Let’s break it down in plain English — no jargon, just straight-up fun and facts.
Each Way bets are the most popular type of wager on the Grand National, accounting for around 74% of all horse racing bets placed on the race.
By the time the race goes off, the favourite is often priced up by the bookmakers at around 7/1. The odds then get increasingly bigger, the less chance the bookmaker thinks the horse has of winning the race.
That is why you also get some runners priced at 100/1. With generous horse racing odds like these, those of us who risk a few quid on small each-way bets can still win big, even if our horse doesn’t come first.
How The Bets Work
An each-way bet is basically two bets in one. You’re putting money on your horse to win the race and to finish in one of the top spots – usually the top 5 for the Grand National (some bookies even go 6 or 7 places).
So if your horse wins, you get paid out for both bets. If it doesn’t win but finishes, say, 3rd, you still get a return because it placed.
Let’s say you put £2 each-way on a horse – that’s £4 total (£2 to win, £2 to place). If your horse wins, happy days! You get paid for the win and the place.
But even if it finishes, say, 4th, you still get paid on the place part – usually at 1/5 of the odds.
It’s perfect for a race like the Grand National, where anything can happen, and your 100/1 outsider might just sneak into the top 5 and give you a nice little payout, even if it doesn’t grab the glory.
How To Make The Bet
On Course:
If you’re lucky enough to be at Aintree, just stroll up to a bookmaker’s stand, flash a smile, and say something like, “£2 each-way on [Horse Name], please.”
They’ll know exactly what you mean. You’ll get a printed slip — don’t lose it! If your horse places, that slip could be worth a few quid and a celebratory pint.
Betting Shop:
Your local betting shop is perfect if you like a bit of banter and a proper atmosphere. Head to the counter, say your bet clearly (“£5 each-way on [Horse Name] in the National”), and they’ll print your slip.
Staff are used to Grand National newbies, so don’t worry if you’ve never done it before — they’ll help you out.
Online:
Doing it online is nearly always the quickest way to do things these days, and betting each way is no exception.
So, for those staying cosy at home, betting online is easy. Choose your bookmaker site, find the Grand National market, click on your horse, and tick the little box that says “E/W” or “Each Way.”
Set your stake and hit confirm — job done! You’ll get a virtual slip, and if your horse places, your account will be credited automatically. Easy as that!
How You Win
Let’s say that you’ve placed a £5 each-way bet on a horse at 22/1 odds. That means your total stake is £10 (£5 on the win, £5 on the place).
If your horse wins, both parts of the bet pay out. Here’s how it works:
Win Part:
- Odds: 22/1
- Stake: £5
- Winnings: 22 x £5 = £110
- Plus your £5 stake back = £115
Let’s work out what happens when your £5 each-way bet on a horse at 22/1 finishes 4th – so it doesn’t win, but does place.
Your total stake is still £10 (£5 on the win, £5 on the place).
Win Part:
- Your horse didn’t win, so the win part loses = £0 return
Place Part (usually 1/5 of the odds):
- Odds: 1/5 of 22/1 = 4.4/1
- Stake: £5
- Winnings: 4.4 x £5 = £22
- Plus your £5 stake back = £27
Total Return:
- Win = £0
- Place = £27
- Total = £27
So, even though your horse didn’t win, a £5 each-way bet still gets you £27 back if it finishes 4th at 22/1.
That’s a £17 profit on a £10 total stake. Not bad at all for a near miss!
Please note that not all bookmakers payout on the 5th or 6th horse home in the Grand National so check the offer before you place your bet.
Payouts At A Glance
The table below is for both the Win and Each-Way (Place) returns, showing profit only, so no stake is included in either return.
All calculations assume a £5 stake, and each-way place returns are at 1/5 odds of the listed price.
| ODDS | STAKE | WIN PROFIT | EACH-WAY (PLACE PROFIT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 | £5 | £25.00 | £5.00 |
| 8/1 | £5 | £40.00 | £8.00 |
| 10/1 | £5 | £50.00 | £10.00 |
| 16/1 | £5 | £80.00 | £16.00 |
| 20/1 | £5 | £100.00 | £20.00 |
| 25/1 | £5 | £125.00 | £25.00 |
| 33/1 | £5 | £165.00 | £33.00 |
| 40/1 | £5 | £200.00 | £40.00 |
| 66/1 | £5 | £330.00 | £66.00 |
| 80/1 | £5 | £400.00 | £80.00 |
| 100/1 | £5 | £500.00 | £100.00 |
Why It’s Worth It
So, are each-way bets worth it for the Grand National? Absolutely, and the results from last year prove it.
In 2025, Nick Rockett won at odds of 33/1, Grangeclare West was 3rd at 33/1, and Meetingofthewaters was 5th at 20/1.
Anyone who had a small each-way bet on any of them would’ve walked away with a tidy profit. If you had backed Nick Rockett each way you would have bagged £165 from the win, plus £33 on the place part (assuming 1/5 odds), plus your £5 each way stake (£10 in total) back.
Your bet would have returned £208! Not bad at all! Grangeclare West would have returned £38 and Meetingofthewaters £25.
That’s the beauty of it – you don’t need to find the winner to get a return. With 34 horses thundering over 30 fences, picking the one that crosses the line first is hard.
But finding a horse that runs well and sneaks into the top 5? That’s much more doable and way more fun.
Each way bets give you something to cheer for all the way to the finish line, and when your longshot holds on for a place, you’ll be glad you didn’t just go win-only.
