See what the profitable tipsters at OLBG are backing for the Aintree Grand National meeting including Grand National tips.
After the predictions, you will see a full Grand National racecourse betting guide full of hints and tips to help you back more winners at the national meeting. For today's racing tips from all courses please head to the main page for horse racing tips.
The home of the world-famous Grand National Aintree has been holding race meetings since the 1800s. The Grand National is regarded as the ultimate test for jumpers with the fences some of the stiffest on a UK track and most infamous.
The Chair, Valentines, Becher's Brook are etched into racegoers subconscious with many a wager going west at those infamous fences.
The Grand National is a British institution where all the family gathered around the TV to watch 40 seasoned handicappers negotiating the 4-mile test.
Aintree solely races over jumps with around 7 meetings a year.
Type of Racing: National Hunt Only.
Highlights: The big meeting is the three day Grand National festival in early April, major races include the Randox Health Grand National, Manifesto Novices Chase, Betway Bowl, Mildmay Novices' Chase, Melling Chase, Sefton Novices Hurdle, Mersey Novices Hurdle, Maghull Novices Chase and Ryanair Stayers Hurdle.
Old Roan Chase Day takes place in October and The Becher Handicap Chase staged in December over the national fences is usually a good pointer and prep for Grand National contenders.
TV Channel: Racing TV & ITV (Grand National Meeting)
* All statistics below are based on the previous five years at Aintree
Grand National Course: Left handed and flat, the fences command plenty of respect although have been modified in recent years for safety reasons. Suits galloping types who travel, jump well and have the stamina to see out the distance with the long run in after jumping the last fence.
Mildmay Course (chase & hurdles): Left handed and flat, very sharp in nature and can suit front runners and strong travelling types as long as the jockey gets the pace fractions right and does not use up too much energy too quick. The chase course obstacles need plenty of respect as races here are generally run at a fast pace which does test the fencing of seasoned handicappers. A short run in after the last fence leaves little margin for error at the final obstacle.
Racecourse Address: Ormskirk Rd, Aintree, Liverpool L9 5AS
Racecourse Telephone Number: 0151 523 2600
To buy tickets for a race day at Aintree, head over to their official ticket booking webpage
N J Henderson is the leading trainer here at Aintree with twenty winners but you would have recorded a loss if you backed all of their runners whilst following Daniel Skelton would have returned the most winners (eighteen) from a profitable trainer. If you are looking for a trainer to follow in the eachway market then it is C L Tizzard who leads the way at Aintree, they have has a total of twenty-nine placings which includes fourteen winners over the previous five years for an eachway LSP of +29.78. The trainer with the worst record at Aintree based on LSP is P F Nicholls who has only a 10% strike rate with twelve winners from one hundred twenty-one runners which have returned an LSP of -54.50.
Focusing only on jockeys who show a profit when backing all of their rides, top of the pile at Aintree for the number of winners is Harry Skelton who has produced a total of seventeen winners in return of an LSP of +54.05. When looking at jockeys and looking for some eachway value at Aintree, then the jockey who shows the best eachway profit is R M Power, that LSP is +27.95 which has been accumulated by a total of fifteen placings which includes eight winners. A total of two winners from fifty-four rides at Aintree has T J O'Brien at the wrong end of the jockeys' list with their 4% strike rate and worst LSP of -45.50.
Here are the best trainer and jockey combinations here at Aintree based on the number of winners:
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Skelton | 125-18-47 | +38.85 | +14.24 |
| C L Tizzard | 71-14-29 | +78.32 | +29.78 |
| T R George | 74-10-23 | +7.33 | +0.91 |
| Harry Fry | 40-8-11 | +8.73 | -4.16 |
| Ian Williams | 34-4-7 | +12.00 | -1.22 |
| Henry De Bromhead | 33-4-10 | +1.50 | -6.12 |
| T Lacey | 23-3-11 | +8.00 | +2.25 |
| A J Honeyball | 11-3-6 | +10.00 | +3.86 |
| Katy Price | 11-3-7 | +9.50 | +5.05 |
| N W Alexander | 9-3-4 | +25.00 | +14.38 |
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Skelton | 108-17-44 | +54.05 | +25.76 |
| R M Power | 25-8-15 | +49.00 | +27.95 |
| A P Heskin | 40-5-13 | +9.50 | +9.08 |
| Harry Cobden | 34-4-13 | +41.00 | +15.89 |
| Gavin Sheehan | 29-4-10 | +9.75 | -0.05 |
| P Townend | 20-4-8 | +17.45 | +7.42 |
| Tom J Cannon | 16-4-7 | +11.58 | +5.42 |
| D N Russell | 18-3-7 | +2.00 | -3.19 |
| R T Dunne | 15-3-5 | +22.50 | +8.30 |
| Ben J Poste | 11-3-5 | +9.50 | +3.85 |
The 2021 Grand National will take place on Saturday 10th April at Aintree racecourse with the race due off at 5.15 pm (TBC).
On the day of the race, you will be able to find out the best bets for the grand national above. The race itself is the most valuable jump race in Europe.
The prize fund is £1,000,000 with £500,000 of that going to the winner. On the day of the race, you can read of our tipster's preview and analysis for the grand national.
The race has undergone changes in recent years. Previously run over 4m4f, in 2013 the trip was reduced to 4m2f (74yds).
Also changes to the fences themselves to make them safer for the horses. During the race, the runners will have to contend with thirty fences.
These include the likes of the famous Becher's Brook, Foinavon, Canal Turn, Valentines and The Chair so when considering the Grand National predictions, you need a good jumper.
The field will consist of no more than forty runners. Because of this is it worth shopping around, many bookies will be paying extra places.
So consider this when looking for good each-way bets for the grand national from our racing tipsters.
On the evening prior to the running of the 2021 Grand National and also on the day itself, you will see the Grand National race listed above, look for the 5.15 (tbc) Aintree.
The best bet for the grand national will be listed, this will be the runner which has received the most tips from our racing tipsters.
To view more Grand National predictions, click on the race name. On the event page, listed at the top are the most popular tips for the Grand National.
Also, our best tipsters tip for the Grand National. This is the tipster who has tipped on the race and shows the best twelve months profit.
All forty Grand National runners will be listed. Meaning, you can see how many of our tipsters predict each runner to win.
If you are looking for good each way bets for the Grand National then take note of the EW tips.
Each runner will have comments which are left by our racing tipsters, these are preview and analysis for the Grand National.
They give you an insight into why the tipsters believe they are top bets for the Grand National.
Things to consider when looking at the Grand National predictions. Five of the last seven winners carried under eleven stone to success. Do the top bets for the Grand National pick out these runners?
Eight of the last ten winners had run within the past thirty-five days is another factor to consider when looking at the Grand National predictions.
Another factor to consider when looking at the best bets for the Grand National is seasonal runs. You need a runner who has seen a racecourse a few times this season.
Those who had no more than two starts that season prior to the Grand National has not produced a winner from two hundred and eight runners since 1997.
If you are looking for good each way bets for the Grand National then focusing on the predictions for 8yo to 10yo runners is a good start.
These have filled 68 places over 23 races. While those carrying under eleven stone have produced 66 places over 23 races.
Check the dedicated Grand National Guide website for all the key statistics on the big race.
Visit the OLBG horse racing tips pages to view the tips and comments by the top horse racing tipsters.
On the OLBG forum, there is a whole section specifically for the Grand National where horse racing tipsters discuss their selections.
Because the grand national course at Aintree is a fair course you do not get so many “unlucky in running horses”. It is wide enough for horses to have enough room and not crowd each other, leading to truly run races. The best horse at Aintree does generally run well.
You should really treat the Grand National meeting (early April) as a one-off. The meeting is so prestigious that trainers make plans all season and target particular runners for these three days.
For the rest of the season’s meetings look for well-balanced horses whose jumping is sound, give a wide berth to horses that have fallen at other tracks, Aintree may be a too much of a test for those animals that do not jump perfectly.
Donald McCain Jnr is the son of Aintree legend Ginger McCain who won the Grand National four times, including three wins by the greatest national horse of all time Red Rum. Because of this connection look out for any horses entered at Aintree by Donald McCain Jnr.
With the Grand National meeting normally a maximum of a month after Cheltenham trainers whose horses ran well but didn’t win at Prestbury Park often look to improve on their Cotswold run with a win at Liverpool. In 2019 there were 14 Aintree winners who had run at Cheltenham the previous month.
With so much history at Aintree the race trends are worth noting, trainer Jonjo O’Neill, for example, has a great record over the national fences with 5 wins and 10 places from 68 runners, one of his patrons is the businessman JP McManus, horses running in his gold and green colours should always be noted at Aintree.
Look for extra place offers on big handicaps at Aintree, the bookmakers know horse racing tipsters like betting at Aintree and go out of their way to attract punters. Bet Victor, Paddy Power and William Hill often offer enhanced place terms on these big handicaps, check out the OLBG Bookmakers Guide for latest offers and promotions.
If you are going racing at Aintree today then be sure to download the OLBG App for all the up to the minute Aintree tips from OLBG horse racing tipsters.
Here are the past 10 winners of the Grand National. Each row details the year of the race, the horse which won along with the age & weight of the horse. The trainer of the horse at the time of winning the Grand National as well as the jockey is also displayed along with the starting price the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tiger Roll
9yo 11-5 4/1F |
Davy Russell
Gordon Elliott |
| 2018 | Tiger Roll
8yo 10-13 10/1 |
Davy Russell
Gordon Elliott |
| 2017 | One For Arthur
8yo 10-11 14/1 |
Derek Fox
Lucinda Russell |
| 2016 | Rule The World
9yo 10-7 33/1 |
David Mullins
M F Morris |
| 2015 | Many Clouds
8yo 11-9 25/1 |
Leighton Aspell
Oliver Sherwood |
| 2014 | Pineau De Re
11yo 10-6 25/1 |
Leighton Aspell
Dr Richard Newland |
| 2013 | Auroras Encore
11yo 10-3 66/1 |
Ryan Mania
Sue Smith |
| 2012 | Neptune Collonges
11yo 11-6 33/1 |
Daryl Jacob
Paul Nicholls |
| 2011 | Ballabriggs
10yo 11-0 14/1 |
Jason Maguire
Donald McCain |
| 2010 | Dont Push It
10yo 11-5 10/1F |
A P McCoy
Jonjo ONeill |
Gordon Elliott has trained three Aintree Grand National winners, his first ever runner in the race Silver Birch won back in 2007 and Tiger Roll won back to back Grand Nationals in 2018 and 2019, the first horse to do so since Red Rum in 1973 & 1974. Gordon has also had two placed from a total of 27 runners.
The other trainer to have recorded two Grand National victories since 1997 is Nigel Twiston-Davies with Earth Summit in 1998 and Bindaree in 2002, Nigel has also had two runners place from 45 runners.
Willie Mullins has managed one winner (Hedgehunter in 2005) and four places from 40 runners and Paul Nicholls has had one winner (Neptune Collonges in 2012) and three placed from 72 runners.
Jonjo O'Neill has had the most placed with six in total which also includes one winner, Don't Push It in 2010 (A P McCoy).
Welsh trainer Evan Williams hasn't managed a winner but has had five places from ten runners.
Despite Nicky Henderson's good record at the Aintree Grand National meeting as a whole, he hasn't had much joy in the Grand National itself with no wins or places from 23 runners since 1997.
Philip Hobbs has had no winners and three placed from 27 runners, Alan King no wins or places from 11 runners and Kim Bailey (1990 Grand National winner with Mr Frisk) no wins and one place from 15 runners since 1997.
Here are the Grand National trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals for trainers who have entries in the 2020 renewal, those not listed have not had a runner. (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Elliott | 27-3-5 | +23.00 | +13.38 |
| Paul Nicholls | 66-1-4 | -32.00 | -35.62 |
| W P Mullins | 40-1-5 | -32.00 | -25.86 |
| Nigel Twiston-Davies | 39-1-2 | -18.00 | -24.00 |
| David Pipe | 34-1-2 | -26.00 | -26.37 |
| Venetia Williams | 20-1-1 | +81.00 | +43.50 |
| Sue Smith | 14-1-1 | +53.00 | +28.25 |
| T M Walsh | 10-1-3 | +1.00 | +1.00 |
| Lucinda Russell | 4-1-1 | +11.00 | +5.75 |
| Nicky Henderson | 21-0-0 | -21.00 | -21.00 |
| Alan King | 11-0-0 | -11.00 | -11.00 |
| Tom George | 10-0-2 | -10.00 | -2.74 |
| A J Martin | 9-0-1 | -9.00 | -7.25 |
| Rebecca Curtis | 7-0-1 | -7.00 | -5.25 |
| Noel Meade | 7-0-0 | -7.00 | -7.00 |
| Henry Daly | 5-0-0 | -5.00 | -5.00 |
| Henry De Bromhead | 5-0-0 | -5.00 | -5.00 |
*Places include winners factored into the number
Leighton Aspell (now retired) rode back to back Grand National winners with Pineau De Re (2014) and Many Clouds (2015) and has had another place from ten mounts since 1997. Leighton's victories were all the more significant as he retired from race riding in 2007 but returned to the saddle two years later.
Davy Russell has won the last two Grand National's on Tiger Roll, Davy has also had one place from his 15 mounts.
Barry Geraghty has also had six hit the frame in the same period including winner Monty's Pass in 2003.
D J Mullins first ride in the Grand National was a winning one on Rule The World in 2016, he very nearly followed up with his third Grand National mount when beaten a neck on Pleasant Company in 2018.
Current champion jockey Richard Johnson has not had much joy in the Grand National with just two places and no wins from 21 mounts since 1997.
Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen has had two places from just eight mounts in the same period.
Here are some of the top Grand National jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Rides, W = Winners, P = Places including winners):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davy Russell | 15-2-3 | +1.00 | -0.62 |
| Barry Geraghty | 18-1-6 | -1.00 | +5.88 |
| Timmy Murphy | 14-1-4 | -6.00 | -1.12 |
| Robbie Power | 12-1-2 | +22.00 | +13.63 |
| Daryl Jacob | 11-1-2 | +23.00 | +23.63 |
| Graham Lee | 8-1-2 | +9.00 | +7.63 |
| Niall P Madden | 6-1-1 | +6.00 | +1.88 |
| David Mullins | 4-1-2 | +30.00 | +21.26 |
| Liam Treadwell | 3-1-2 | +98.00 | +66.00 |
| Ryan Mania | 2-1-1 | +65.00 | +40.25 |
| Derek Fox | 2-1-1 | +13.00 | +7.75 |
| Richard Johnson | 18-0-2 | -18.00 | -14.00 |
| Tom Scudamore | 18-0-0 | -18.00 | -18.00 |
| Aidan Coleman | 12-0-0 | -12.00 | -12.00 |
| Paddy Brennan | 11-0-1 | -11.00 | -7.37 |
*Places include winners factored into the number
Experts are OLBG tipsters with high strike rates, current month or 6 month profitability for a particular sport
