The Grand National is one of the most bet-on horse races in the world, attracting millions of punters in the UK alone. Even if you don’t like horse racing, you might fancy a flutter on the Grand National.
But rather than circling a random horse and jockey in the newspaper, there are various things to consider if you want to pick the winner of the National.
This blog post reveals how seasoned bettors pick Grand National winners every year. We explain some trends and traits that could help you and show you how to bet on the 2025 Grand National at talkSPORT BET Sportsbook.
Tip 1: Consider Weight
The Grand National is a handicap race; every horse is weighted according to its ability and form. Therefore, the best horses carry the most weight, and the most unlikely winners carry the lowest.
This is one reason successive Grand National winners are so rare, as last year’s winner nearly always carries the top weight. For instance, ahead of the 2025 Grand National, it’s already been confirmed that the 2024 winner, I Am Maximus, will carry the top weight of 11st 12lb.
To put into perspective just how difficult it is for the top-weighted horse to win the National, the last horse to achieve this feat was Red Rum in 1974, when he carried 12st.
So, our first tip is to avoid the horse carrying the top weight, as it’s doubtful he will run to victory at Aintree.
Tip 2: Age is Key
Every Grand National since 2014 has been won by a seven, eight, or nine-year-old horse. The oldest horse to win this century was Amberleigh House in 2004 at the age of 12, becoming the first 12-year-old National winner since Royal Athlete in 1995.
Although the Grand National is open to horses of seven years old and up, only one seven-year-old has won the race this century – Noble Yeats in 2022.
So, seasoned bettors tend to favour eight- and nine-year-old runners who usually perform the best in the Grand National.
Tip 3: Look Beyond the Favourite
So many first-time bettors on the Grand National assume that the favourite is the best pick without further research. Sure, the favourite sometimes wins the Grand National, but there’s so much more to the race than picking the runner with the shortest odds.
To highlight this point, the Grand National favourite (or joint-favourite) has only won the race five times this century, including the last two outings (Corach Rambler in 2023 and I Am Maximus in 2024).
Mon Mome was the winner with the longest odds this century under Liam Treadwell in 2009, who ran to glory with ante-post odds of 100/1.
Ultimately, seasoned bettors acknowledge that the favourite is in with a chance. Still, they always look beyond the pricing, as backing the favourite is not a surefire way to guarantee Grand National success.
Tip 4: Know the Trainers
Seasoned bettors look further than the horse and the jockey when picking their Grand National winner. One of the key metrics when choosing a horse is its stable, so researching the trainer is vital.
Although Willie Mullins is one of the most successful horse trainers of all time, he won only his second Grand National in 2024 with I Am Maximus (his first came with Hedgehunter in 2005). This is partly because Mullins doesn’t always approach the National with the same vigour as the races at Cheltenham, where he’s the greatest trainer in the festival’s history.
In other words, trainers target different races, and it takes several years to prepare a horse for the Grand National. Though they tend to keep things quiet, you can read interviews with high-profile trainers for an insight into how they think their runners will perform at the National in the weeks and months leading up to the race.
More generally speaking, Irish trainers have performed particularly well at the Grand National in recent years. Since 2015, Lucinda Russell has been the only non-Irish trainer to have won the Grand National, so there could be good value in backing an Irish stable to triumph again in 2025.
Tip 5: Study a Horse’s Form & Previous Handicap Performances
Finally, you need to do your homework on the horse you plan to bet on. There’s no guaranteed way of picking a Grand National winner, but a few indicators can help to nudge you in the right direction.
Often, trainers use the Irish Grand National as the ideal preparatory race for the Grand National at Aintree. I Am Maximus won the 2024 Grand National at Aintree after an incredible win in the Irish Grand National in 2023. He became the fifth horse in history to win both the Irish and the English Grand Nationals.
Many punters like the look of Intense Raffles going into the 2025 Grand National, thanks largely to his exceptional performance at Fairyhouse earlier this year. If he wins at Aintree, he will become the first horse to win the double in the same season.
Aside from the Irish National, look at how Grand National horses have performed in other handicap races this and last season, as this should give you a decent idea of how they might perform at Aintree.
Bet on the Grand National Today at talkSPORT BET
Now that you’re armed with expert tips and recommendations from seasoned bettors, you’re ready to pick your winner of the 2025 Grand National.
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Visit our sportsbook today and click the “Sign Up” button. Then, complete the registration form, put these tips to good use, and bet on the Grand National this year for a chance of winning. Please gamble responsibly – visit our Safer Gambling Portal for more details.
