How to bet on the Grand National 2021 - how to place a bet online and get free bets

The Grand National is probably the best-known horse race in the UK. It takes place at Aintree Racecourse each year, and is run over four miles and two furlongs, with 40 horses and jockeys battling it out.

Running on Saturday, April 10 this year, the race starts at 5.15pm. The Grand National usually sees the most bets placed on it than any other race during the year. So if you are planning on having a flutter, here’s all you need to know.

Are the betting shops open?

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Betting shops have been closed during the third lockdown as they are classed as non-essential stores.

They will be able to reopen from April 12 alongside other non-essential shops such as clothes and homeware stores.

Therefore, the only way to place a bet on the Grand National 2021 is online.

How to bet on the Grand National 2021? How to place a bet online

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To place a bet on the Grand National, first you must choose a betting site. Apart from the quality of odds that a bookie offers, there are several other factors that you should consider when it comes to choosing a betting site. A good variety of payment options is a necessity. The provision of a good welcome offer, and promotional offers, is a good sign.

You must then register with the site you have chosen. This is found on the right-hand side of your screen. You'll be asked to enter personal identification details like your full name, email address, date of birth and place of residence, as well as to create a unique username and password. It's also where you'll go through and accept the betting site’s terms and conditions, privacy policy, and cookie policy.

You may be asked to upload documents to prove your identity. You cannot deposit funds into your account, or play at the betting site until the betting site has verified your documents. This usually takes between 24-48 hours.

Finally, you must deposit funds into your account using a number of payment method options.

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Once you have deposited your money you can proceed to placing your bet. Click on the Grand National betting market which should be on the site’s homepage. Choose the horse you would like to back. The minimum stake that you can place varies among betting sites and is generally in between £0.01, and £1. If you would like to add more selections to your bet slip, repeat the above-mentioned process.

Betting to win and each-way bets

Like all horse races, you can bet on a horse to win or you can bet on a horse each way. If you bet on a horse to win then you will only receive a return if your horse comes in first place and wins the Grand National.

If you bet on a horse each way then your stake (the amount of money that you bet) is doubled, half the money is placed on the horse to win, and the other half is placed on the horse to finish in the first three.

However it’s important to remember the rules of each-way betting. If your horse finishes first you win both the "win" and "each way" parts of your bet. If your horse comes second or third, you will only win the each-way part of your bet - which are a fifth of the odds of the horse coming in first place. As an example:

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If you bet £10 on a horse to win at 5/1 you will receive £60 (£50 winnings + your £10 stake).

If you bet £10 each way on a horse to win at 10/1 your total stake is £20 (10 on the horse to win, and 10 to finish in the top three). If the horse wins then you receive £110 (£100 winnings + your £10 stake). You also receive £20 more in profit (⅕ of 10/1 is 2/1) + your £10 stake for the each-way part of the bet - so a total of £140.

If you bet £10 each way on a horse to win at 10/1 and it only finishes third then you will only win the each-way part of the bet so a total of £30 (your £10 stake and the profit of £20).

Finally, as there is a much larger number of horses taking part in the Grand National, the each-way places will often be extended to four or maybe more which is why each-way betting on the Grand National is so popular.

Free bets for Grand National 2021

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The Grand National is one of the key betting meetings in the racing calendar, and so there are plenty of free bets and betting offers to make the most of.

Whether it’s professional punters or the first-time bettor, there’s many ways to join in. A list of free bet offers can be found here.

Who is going to win the Grand National? Who is the favourite?

When looking to pick a winner, it is important to study the form and age of the horse. Most Grand National winners are aged between 8 and 11 years of age.

That’s good news for big favourite Cloth Cap, who is nine.

Remember to gamble responsibly

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A responsible gambler is someone who sets time and monetary limits before playing. Other tips for gambling safely include: 

Play for fun, not just for money.

Bet only what you can afford to lose.

Never gamble when stressed, depressed, or in recovery.

Know when to quit; don't chase your losses.

For more advice and guidance on betting responsibly, visit Gamcare or Gamble Aware.