The Grand National is the most famous horse race in the world and the single biggest betting event in Ireland across the year. Run at Aintree over four miles and two and a half furlongs with 30 distinctive fences, it generates more betting activity in Ireland on the day than any other sporting event. This guide covers everything to know for 2027: the date, how ante-post markets work, each-way terms and the strong history of Irish runners in the race.
Grand National 2027 Date
The Grand National traditionally takes place on the first Saturday of April at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. For 2027, the race is expected on Saturday 3 April 2027, subject to official confirmation by Aintree and The Jockey Club. The Grand National meeting runs from Thursday to Saturday, with the Topham Chase (over the National fences) and Aintree Hurdle on the preceding days.
Ante-post markets for the 2027 Grand National open immediately after the 2026 renewal. Significant liquidity builds through the winter as horses complete their National Hunt campaigns and are entered in the race’s entries and weights stage (typically released in February).
How Ante-Post Grand National Betting Works
Ante-post betting means placing a wager before final declarations. For the Grand National this matters particularly because the race has a ballot: up to 40 runners are accepted, and if more than 40 horses are entered and confirmed by the late-entry deadline, some are balloted out. Horses carry different weights based on handicap marks, and lighter-weighted horses are most vulnerable to being balloted out.
Standard ante-post bets are lose if the horse does not run. If your selection is balloted out, you lose your stake under standard terms. For this reason, many bettors look for non-runner no-bet (NRNB) markets, which refund your stake if the horse fails to start. NRNB is widely available on Grand National markets from most bookmakers, particularly closer to the event.
The ante-post market typically sees significant movement through the winter. A horse winning a Cheltenham trial or a Haydock or Leopardstown listed chase will shorten considerably in National ante-post markets. Taking a price in November on a horse you expect to improve through the winter is the classic ante-post approach; the risk is that the horse misses the race through injury or connections’ change of plan.
Each-Way Terms at the Grand National
The Grand National’s large field (up to 40 runners) and the genuine unpredictability of the race make each-way betting extremely popular. Standard each-way terms for the Grand National at most bookmakers are 1/4 odds, 5 places. This is significantly better than the typical each-way terms for a standard race (1/4, 3 places), reflecting the size of the field.
Some bookmakers offer enhanced each-way terms of 6 or 7 places for the Grand National. These offers are worth comparing carefully before placing. The difference between 5 and 6 places is meaningful in a 40-horse race: a horse finishing sixth collects the place part of an each-way bet under 6-place terms but nothing under 5-place terms.
For each-way betting on a 20/1 shot with 1/4 odds, 5 places: the win part pays 20/1; the place part pays (20/4) = 5/1 on your place stake. If the horse finishes in the first five, you collect the place part even if the horse does not win.
Irish Horses in the Grand National
Irish-trained horses have an outstanding record in the Grand National. Many of the race’s most celebrated winners in recent decades have come from Irish stables. The National Hunt scene in Ireland produces many of the staying chasers that suit the unique demands of Aintree: jumping ability, stamina and the temperament to handle a 40-runner field over unusual fences.
The key factors that make a horse suitable for the Grand National are distinct from those for a typical Grade 1 chase: jumping ability under pressure, the capacity to settle in a large field, stamina over the full distance, and a handicap mark that gives the horse a realistic chance of being in the first 40 at weights declaration. Many high-class chasers are simply not ideal National types; some mid-handicap Irish chasers are excellent National candidates.
Irish bettors typically follow the winter campaigns of leading National prospects through the Racing Post, At the Races and Irish racing media, building a picture of which horses are specifically targeted at the race. Trainer and owner comments about Aintree intentions are significant market movers in the ante-post market.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Grand National at Aintree traditionally takes place on the first Saturday of April. The 2027 Grand National is expected on Saturday 3 April 2027, subject to official confirmation. Check aintree.co.uk for confirmed dates and entries.
Most bookmakers offer each-way terms of 1/4 odds, 5 places for the Grand National. Some bookmakers offer enhanced terms of 6 or 7 places — always compare before placing. The difference between 5 and 6 places is meaningful in a 40-horse race.
The Grand National field is capped at 40 runners. With often more than 40 entries at the confirmation stage, some horses are eliminated by balloting. Lower-weighted horses are balloted out first.