The Grand National field racing away from the crowded Aintree stands
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase which takes place over a distance of four miles and 856 yards (7,242m), containing thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course and is held on Saturday afternoons in early April.
It is the most valuable National Hunt event in Britain and offers a total prize purse of £950,000. The Grand National steeplechase is the centrepiece and feature race of a three-day meeting, one of four that are held at Aintree throughout the racing season.
The Grand National is one of the ten British sporting events listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, ensuring that it is broadcast live annually on free-to-air terrestrial television throughout the United Kingdom. The first radio commentary of the Grand National was broadcast in 1927 on the BBC, by Meyrick Good and George Allison. While the first televised broadcast of the National came in 1960, again by the BBC, who retained the rights until 2012. Each year an estimated 500-600 million viewers tune in to watch the Grand National all across the world.
The racecourse is triangular in shape, and contains sixteen fences, all except 'The Chair' and the Water Jump are jumped twice during the Grand National. Some of the fences and jumps are known for their severity, in particular 'Becher's Brook' and 'The Chair'. Most of the fences are between 4ft and 5ft tall, with most at the higher end of the scale, with many around the 4ft 6in or 7in mark.
The Grand National is the longest National Hunt race in Britain, notably including one of the longest run-ins from the final flight of any steeplechase, at 494 yards. Since its inception, only 13 mares and 2 seperate greys have won the event.
The maximum weight for the Handicap is 11st 10lb and only horses aged Six and up are eligible for qualification. There are numerous records held for the Grand National, most notable perhaps are the following
Leading Horse: Red Rum, for victories in 1973, 1974, 1977 and also second place finishes in 1975 and 1976.
Leading Jockey: George Stevens who has lead four horses to five seperate victories at the Grand National.
Lead Trainer: George Dockeray, Fred Rimell and Ginger McCain have all lead horses to four wins at the National.
Leading Owner: James Machell and Noel Le Mare have picked up three wins each, the latter owned Red Rum, three times champion.
FREE BETS FOR THE GRAND NATIONAL
Get free Grand National bets by registering with internet bookmakers to claim the best free bet offers available exclusively to new customers.
Three steps to get free bets for the Grand National
- Select your free bet offer(s); check the main terms and conditions for restrictions for qualifying for free bets and using free bets, then select the free bet offer(s) that best suit your needs. Best Free Bets has a list of free bet offers with all the main terms detailed.
- Sign up with an online bookmaker; Best Free Bets has reviewed the best online bookmakers who will all provide free bets to new customers, the bookmakers are recommended because they are trustworthy and reputable, just follow the links to bookmaker’s website and register your details.
- Deposit some funds and place a bet; in most instances deposit and bet as little as £5 to qualify for a free bet matching your first bet stake up to the maximum offered by the bookmaker.
Online bookmakers will normally credit the free bet to your account within 24-48 hours of meeting the qualifying requirements, which usually entails making a deposit and/or placing a bet.
REDEEMING FREE GRAND NATIONAL BETS
Normally, using your free bet is simply a matter of making your selection and indicating on the bet slip that you wish to use your free bet. Some bookmakers’ methods vary slightly, however their websites contain instructions on how to redeem your free bet.
There will be restrictions placed on the use of free bets which vary between bookmakers and is advisable to make yourself familiar with those restrictions before signing up.
The six most important facts about redeeming free bets on The Grand National
- Free bet stakes will not be included in returns
- Minimum Odds; expect the bookmaker to insist your free bet is placed on a selection with a minimum price, typically 1/5 (1.20) to evens (2.00)
- Bet Type restrictions; you may not be allowed to use your free bet for types of bets, however Singles are universally allowed and Accumulators are allowed by most bookmakers.
- Product restrictions; you won’t be able to invest free bets in Tote Pools and in many instances will be confined to using the free bets in the sportsbook rather than Casino, Poker and other gaming products.
- Rollover requirements; some online bookmakers insist customers bet their deposit and/or stake a number of times before making a withdrawal.
- Free Bet Expiry; if unused, the free bets will expire after a period of time, normally 7 to 30 days.
2012 Grand National Runners & Riders
| NO. |
Horse |
Form |
Jockey |
Trainer |
| 1 |
Synchronised |
P7311 |
AP McCoy |
Jonjo O’Neill |
| 2 |
Ballabriggs |
1121-4 |
J Maguire |
Donald McCain |
| 3 |
Weird Al |
8P-13P |
T Murphy |
Donald McCain |
| 4 |
Neptune Collonges |
6-P422 |
D Jacob |
Dessie Hughes |
| 5 |
Calgary Bay |
F-8511 |
D Elsworth |
Henrietta Knight |
| 6 |
Alfa Beat |
6741UP |
TBC |
John Hanlon |
| 7 |
Planet Of Sound |
35-23 |
R Johnson |
Philip Hobbs |
| 8 |
Black Apalachi |
U022/2 |
D O’Regan |
DT Hughes |
| 9 |
Deep Purple |
U34-1F |
J Moore |
Evan Williams |
| 10 |
Junior |
321-82 |
T Scudamore |
David Pipe |
| 11 |
Chicago Grey |
U3732 |
TBC |
Gordon Elliott |
| 12 |
Tatenen |
70-715 |
A Thornton |
Richard Rowe |
| 13 |
Seabass |
11111 |
Ms K Walsh |
TM Walsh |
| 14 |
Shakalakaboomboom |
7-1122 |
B Geraghty |
Nicky Henderson |
| 15 |
West End Rocker |
1PB-P1 |
W Hutchinson |
Alan King |
| 16 |
According To Pete |
37112 |
H Haynes |
Malcolm Jefferson |
| 17 |
On His Own |
4P1-B1 |
R Walsh |
WP Mullins |
| 18 |
Always Right |
13-1PP |
J Reveley |
John Wade |
| 19 |
Cappa Bleu |
2P/133 |
P Moloney |
Evan Williams |
| 20 |
Rare Bob |
345053 |
B Cooper |
DT Hughes |
| 21 |
Organised Confusion |
133F5 |
Ms N Carberry |
ALT Moore |
| 22 |
Treacle |
51423 |
AE Lynch |
TJ Taaffe |
| 23 |
The Midnight Club |
6-B439 |
TBC |
WP Mullins |
| 24 |
Mon Mome |
52PP0 |
A Coleman |
Venetia Williams |
| 25 |
Arbor Supreme |
P2F-60 |
TBC |
Jonjo O’Neill |
| 26 |
Sunnyhillboy |
37P91 |
R McLernon |
Jonjo O’Neill |
| 27 |
Killyglen |
030341 |
RM Power |
SRB Crawford |
| 28 |
Quiscover Fontaine |
F-4910 |
DJ Casey |
WP Mullins |
| 29 |
Tharawaat |
P13077 |
TBC |
Gordon Elliott |
| 30 |
Becauseicoudntsee |
63F22 |
TBC |
NF Glynn |
| 31 |
Le Beau Bai |
0P7113 |
TBC |
Richard Lee |
| 32 |
State Of Play |
4P3/4- |
N Fehily |
Evan Williams |
| 33 |
Always Waining |
84409 |
T O’Brien |
Peter Bowen |
| 34 |
Swing Bill |
313P20 |
C O’Farrell |
David Pipe |
| 35 |
Postmaster |
26611 |
TBC |
Tim Vaughan |
| 36 |
Giles Cross |
22-121 |
P Brennan |
Victor Dartnall |
| 37 |
Midnight Haze |
17P-16 |
S Quinlan |
Kim Bailey |
| 38 |
Vic Venturi |
B-2110 |
TBC |
DT Hughes |
| 39 |
In Compliance |
1U0-P3 |
L Aspell |
DT Hughes |
| 40 |
Viking Blond |
143P5 |
TBC |
Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 41 |
Hello Bud |
5U654 |
S Twiston-Davies |
Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 42 |
Neptune Equester |
315045 |
TBC |
Brian Ellison |
| 43 |
Any Currency |
2-3P47 |
AP Cawley |
Martin Keighley |
| 44 |
Our Island |
292658 |
TBC |
Tim Vaughan |
| 45 |
Abbeybraney |
P/FP33 |
R Mania |
George Bewley |
| 46 |
Smoking Aces |
341064 |
TBC |
TJ Taaffe |
| 47 |
Ballyvesey |
28P37 |
TBC |
Peter Bowen |
| 48 |
Saddlers Storm |
P2422P |
TBC |
AJ Martin |