Grand National Guide to Betting

If you're new to racing, this basic Guide to Betting on the Grand National should help answer some of the questions you might have. If you're not sure exactly what type of bet you want to have on the Grand National, here are some of the basics.

Don't forget though, having a little flutter on the horses should be fun and it doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes you're as likely to have a winner by just deciding you like the name or the colours of the jockey!

Here we explore some of the basics to help you understand betting:

Free £20 bets with BoylesportsBoylesports - Free £20 Grand National Bets
The Irish Bookmaker Boylesports are offering all new clients a fantastic free betting offer of upto £20 for the Grand National. Place a bet of £10 and they will provide you with a free £20 bet. Boylesports are also paying six places on the National this year!

Claim £20 in free bets at the Irish bookmaker Boylesports

What your investment will return

When placing a bet, your stake or investment is the amount of money you are willing to gamble - be it a cautious £1 or a rather more adventurous £100. If you're a winner, your winnings (also known as 'returns') are calculated according to your horse's odds.

So if you back a horse lets say Monty's Pass at 10/1, if you place £10 at 10/1 your winnings will be £100 and you will also get your £10 stake back, therefore in total your returns will be £110.

Free £25 bet with Stan JamesStan James - Free £25 National Bets
Stan James is a name that many people are familiar with and have an excellent Grand National free bet offer of £25. Just open an account with Stan James, deposit funds into your account and place your first bet and Stan James will match your first stake of up to £25.

Claim a free £25 Grand National Bet at Stan James - Click Here

Grand National Bet Types

Also remember your winnings are Tax Free.

For the Grand National it is probably a good idea to have each way bets as the odds of the horses are generally quite attractive, that is greater than 10/1.

Another additional point to consider is that for the Grand National, the Bookmakers are very keen to get you as a customer and you will find if you shop around online that a number of the Bookmakers offer each way for the first 5 horse home. This just gives you a slightly better chance of winning.

On the betting exchanges you can get odds for the place only. Unlike what is explained above the price reflects what another individual is prepared to offer. Therefore you will find that it will not exactly be ¼ the odds of the horses price.

Grand National Speciality Bets

As this is such a major betting race the Bookmakers do offer unusual bets some of which are

These are just a few of the different types of bets that you can have and we will cover these in greater detail under Grand National Speciality Bets.

Free £200 National Bet
Enter our free prize draw and win a free bet of £200 on the 2008 Aintree Grand National courtesy of our site sponsors Paddy Power.
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The Aintree course is nearly two and a quarter miles in circumference, there are 16 fences and a run in of 494 yards.

Grand National Fences
Grand National betting odds comparison from all the major bookmakers. Choose the biggest odds avilable with our simple to use odds comparison chart.

Grand National Betting Odds
Unlike the high street bookies, the irish bookmaker Boylesports are paying on six places for the Grand National. William Hill may not pay out on fifth and sixth places, but Boylesports will!

Grand National Each Way Betting Offer at Boylesports
If you have never placed an online bet before - our easy to follow guide will help you place this years Grand National bet from the comfort of your living room.

Online Betting Guide
For all the best information on the best way to go about finding the winner of the Grand National make sure you go to our special Grand National Tips advice section.

Grand National Tips
The Grand National entries for 2008 have now been named and will be cut down to 40 runners shortly before the race.

Grand National Runners
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