Grand National 2021 Betting Guide

For the very first time in decades, the Grand National was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lots of people were, of course, really disappointed by this but it was a necessary decision that did a lot of good. 2021, on the other hand, is set to be very different as the Grand National is making its return and it is every bit as exciting as fans of horse racing have been anticipating.

What Is the Grand National?

The Grand National is simply the culmination of the famous Grand National festival, one of the most popular horse racing events on the planet full of exciting historical feats. It is a Grade 3 Handicap Chase run over a total of 4 miles and 2 furlongs with 30 obstacles – all this action takes place at the two and a quarter mile Aintree racecourse. Each race involves a whopping 40 runners making the Grand National the most fun-filled horse race in existence. Nothing even comes close.

Considering the massive scale of the three-day racing festival it is no surprise that it also happens to be one of the biggest betting races on the planet. Many of the horse racing enthusiasts or lovers are also avid sports bettors who are always looking to cash in while enjoying their favorite sport. Thankfully, there are lots of bookmakers like the ones seen on Vegas Odds that offer the best horse racing odds on these games.

When Is The 2021 Grand National?

This year’s leg of the Grand National will be the 173rd run of the festival will kick off on Thursday, April 8, and run until Saturday, April 10 when the great race will be held. To honor the health service heroes who gave their all to work on the frontlines during the pandemic, the first day has this year been renamed to Liverpool’s NHS Day. The second day, Friday, April 9, will still be Lady’s Day as it has always been.

As it stands, tickets are not yet available for the 2021 Grand National and this is probably due to the pandemic. However, this does not mean that no one will be attending the races. According to Jockey Club, fans who already had tickets from the canceled 2020 festival were given the chance to transfer them over to this year’s event. An extra 10,000 tickets have also been set aside for the NHS staff and volunteers for the first day of the festival.

The Entries and Favorites

There is usually no limit to the number of initial entries that can enter the festival – any horse that meets the entry criteria will be allowed to join. However, on the final day, only 40 horses can run. This time, there are a total of 106 entries for the festival.

Naturally, nearly all bettors will be most interested in the horses that are likely to win as those are the ones that they will be placing their money on. The odds will vary from one bookmaker to the next but generally speaking, some horses are fancied more than others. For instance, according to popular Vegas sportsbooks, the latest Vegas odds on the Grand National are as follows:

  • Tiger Roll – 16/1
  • Any Second Now – 20/1
  • Burrows Saint – 20/1
  • Cloth Cap – 20/1
  • Presenting Percy – 20/1
  • Secret Reprieve – 20/1
  • Elegant Escape – 25/1
  • Kimberlite Candy – 25/1
  • Magic of Light – 25/1
  • Santini – 25/1
  • The Conditional – 25/1
  • Potters Corner – 33/1
  • Yala Enki – 33/1
  • Easysland – 33/1
  • Anibale Fly – 33/1
  • Lake View Lad – 33/1
  • Ajas – 33/1
  • Brahma Bull – 33/1
  • Others 40/1 or more

How to Choose a Winning Horse

The odds listed above are not cast in stone and may change in the future. However, you can opt not to stick to these and instead look for a winning horse on your own. Needless to say, you will need to do some digging and some research to ensure that you are making the right choice. Some of the most important things to consider during your search include:

The horses’ career. – While there is no set career path for the contenders, it would be wise to steer clear of horses from certain races. Ideally, you should consider a horse whose career is nearing its peak. These could even be the ones that are performing quite well but are not getting too much recognition.

The contender’s age. – No horse younger than 8 has won the race since 1940 and if history is anything to go by, the best contenders are usually between the ages of 8 and 11. Age can be a factor but it should not be the only reason you chose to bet on a given horse.

Weight. – Today, the classier horses that top the weights usually stand a better chance of winning.

Where to Place Your Bets

There are lots of bookmakers that are allowing you to bet on the Grand National festival already. As expected, the online bookmakers are attracting the most attention thanks to the amazing offers they have in store for both new and existing customers.