Best Each Way Bets for the Grand National 2026
It’s all eyes on Aintree on Saturday afternoon for the biggest betting race on British soil. That’s right, this is the time of year when the postman, the milkman, and your great aunt Ethel ready themselves for their once-a-year punt; office sweeps spread like wildfire; and seasoned punters brace themselves to explain the concept of each way betting…
4m2½f is the trip for the Merseyside marvel that is the Grand National, with a maximum field of 34 set to go to post – not quite the 40-runners of yesteryear, but still more than enough to create one of the most iconic spectacles in the sport. With Becher’s Brook, The Chair, Valentine’s and co ready to step into the spotlight, here at newbettingoffers.co.uk, we attempt to answer the same question as everyone else, “What’s going to win?”.
Turning to the Trends for Assistance
With a field of 34 to wade through, it always helps to have a stat or two on our side. Thankfully, when looking at the past ten renewals of the April spectacular, several notable trends emerge:
- Seven or fewer starts in a handicap chase - 9 of the last 10 winners
- Top 4 finish last time out - 9 of the last 10 winners
- Previously Competed at Grade 2 level or above - 8 of the last 10 winners
- Previous win over 3m or further - 8 of the last 10 winners
- 8 or 9 years of age - 9 of the last 10 winners
Applying the above trends to this year’s field helps to trim the field significantly. Of those that remain, the following trio earn our each way vote:
Johnny to Strike for Jonjo
Having won the race for a third time in 2024, J. P. McManus sits in a six-way tie as the most successful owner in Grand National history. With six runners set to carry the famous green and gold silks in 2026, there is a fair chance McManus will win the race to four victories. McManus’s 2024 champ, I Am Maximus, currently heads the market and has plenty in his favour. However, taking a single figure price about a horse saddled with top weight makes minimal appeal. Nevertheless, two McManus runners do make our staking plan, headed by a horse who arrives on the back of a career best success at the Cheltenham Festival.
Step forward, Johnnywho, who showed marked improvement on his first start since a wind-op to land the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Corach Rambler and Pineau De Re backed up Ultima success with Grand National glory and we like Johnnywho’s chance of doing the same. Doing all his best work late in that 3m1f event, he is 6lb well-in at the weights and is our number one pick.
- Recommended Bet - Johnnywho each way @ 12/1 with bet365
Oscar Winning Performance from the King Brothers
The Grand National has a habit of producing a memorable storyline - from Bob Champion and Aldaniti bouncing back from health woes in 1981 to Sam Waley Cohen partnering Noble Yeats on his final ride in 2022 and plenty more in between. This year, one of the biggest fairytales centres around another of the J. P. McManus runners, Oscars Brother.
Initially purchased by Richard King for a bargain €8,000 in 2021, the nine-year-old is in training at the two-horse Tipperary yard of his son, Connor King. Continuing the family affair, the man in the saddle is Daniel King, son of Richard and brother to Connor. Aside from making a fine story, Oscars Brother ticks all of our key trend’s boxes. He also scores top marks for consistency, having finished in the first four in each of his six starts over fences. Catching the eye when staying on to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, he looks like the sort who may relish this step up in trip.
- Recommended Bet - Oscars Brother each way @ 16/1 with Betfred
Stellar to Outstay Them All
Thanks to the shock success of Rule The World in 2016 and the back-to-back triumphs of Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019, Gigginstown House Stud also have three Grand National victories to their name. The owners behind the maroon silks with the white star will be represented by Favori De Champdou, Quai De Bourbon, and Stellar Story in 2026.
Each of the above trio has something to recommend them, but the best fit on our trends is the nine-year-old Stellar Story. Hailing from the yard of three-time Grand National winner Gordon Elliott, this Shantou gelding is without a win since 2024. However, that run of defeats incudes three top three finishes in Grade 1 company.
In a race which demands bottomless reserves of stamina, the performance that stands out on the Stellar Story CV is his 2024 victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle. Always one of the most arduous events at the Cheltenham Festival, that heavy ground edition was a truly gruelling affair. Charging home in the straight that day, he got up to deny The Jukebox Man on the line, with a host of talented sorts, including Johnnywho, left trailing in his wake.
- Recommended Bet - Stellar Story each way @ 28/1 with PricedUp
Top 20 Betting Offers
|
18+ | New players only. Opt-in. Min deposit is £20. Offer: Place a £20 sports cash bet at minimum odds of 3/4 (1.75) or higher and receive a £20 Free Bet. Free bet credited upon settlement of all qualifying bets. Free Bet can be redeemed on selected sports & markets and used on single or accumulator bets (min. 3 selections). Free Bet must be used at minimum odds of 4/5 (1.80). Free Bet stake is not returned with winnings. Winnings are credited as withdrawable cash. Maximum odds of 10.00 may apply. Free Bet must be used within 7 days of being credited. Affordability checks may apply. Full terms apply. | BeGambleAware.org. |
|||||
|
18+. New customers only. Opt in required. Minimum bet of £20 on any selections. Min odds of evens (2.00). Pre-game only. Free bet awarded upon settlement. Free bet split into 4 x £5. Free bet on accumulators only. Free bet expiry 24 hours. Other free bet terms apply. Maximum pay-outs apply. GamCare.org.uk | UK only. Full T&Cs apply. #ad |
|||||
|
New customers. Bet £40+ at odds 2.0 (evens) or greater, with code BET40GET20, get 2×£10 Free Bets. Free Bets must be placed at min odds 4/1 (5.0) or greater, paid after settlement and 24h later, expire in 24h. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org |
|||||
|
18+ | New UK customers only. Place a £20+ bet with minimum 3 legs, min 2/1 and receive a £10 Free Bet. The Free Bet will be credited once your qualifying bet settles. Free Bet expires 7 days after being awarded. BeGambleAware.org | T&Cs & Maximum Payouts apply. |
|||||
|
New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
18+ New UK + ROI customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £/€5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stakes not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New customers online only. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. Bet a min £/€10 at odds of 1/1 (2.0) across sports or racing within 7 days of registration. Receive £/€20 Tote Credit, £/€10 Free Sports Bet and 2 x £/€5 Bet Builder within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to bet slip. Voided/non-runner bets will not qualify; subsequent bet will be qualifying bet. 7-day expiry. 18+. One per customer. Selected customers only. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New customers only. Min £20 bet at odds 2.00+. Max reward: One £10 Free Bet and two £5 Combo Free Bets. £10 Free Bet min odds 1/1 (2.00). £5 Combo Free Bets min odds 2/1 (3.0). Free Bets expire 7 days after credit. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. |
|||||
|
*New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. Virtuals) 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
|||||
|
18+ New customers only. Opt in deposit and bet min £10 (max £30) on any sports (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. Get your initial stake (up to £30) credited in Free Bets. Free Bets to be used on selected markets and expire in 7 days. Scroll Down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
|||||
|
New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. virtuals) at 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accepted in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs + deposit exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ |
|||||
|
Place a £10 fixed odds Outright winner cash bet on a nation to win the World Cup. Once the bet is placed, receive 1 x free £10 fixed odds bet, 1 x free £10 football Total Goals spread bet and 1 x free £10 football Supremacy spread bet. Then receive a further free £10 fixed odds bet for every match your chosen nation wins during the World Cup, to a maximum of 7 wins. Offer expires at 9pm on Tues 23rd June 2026. 18+ www.gambleaware.org. |
|||||
|
New customers only. Place a min £10 bet at min odds of 2.0. £40 worth of Free Bet Tokens awarded on bet settlement plus additional £20 Free Bet tokens will be credited on the 11th June. 6 x £10 each with betting restrictions. 7 day expiry. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). 18+ GambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way Full Terms apply |
|||||
|
New sportsbook customers only. Place £10 first bet at min odds 1/2 to get £20 Free Bet. Stake not returned. Free Bet valid 7 days, min odds 1/2. Settled bets only. One welcome offer per customer (not with 50% Net Loss Refund). 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
|
New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org. |
|||||
|
Offer valid for new Betgoodwin customers aged 18 years and over. Min qualifying stake £10 at odds of 6/4+. Excludes horse & greyhound racing. Min 4 legs at odds of 2/5+ for £10 free acca. Full Terms apply. begambleaware |
|||||
|
18+| GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Opt in. Deposit and Bet £10+ on sports at min odds of 2.0+ (1/1) for £30 in Free Bets within 7 days. Debit cards or instant bank transfers only. Free bets expire within 7 days of issue. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply.#AD |
|||||
|
New customers only. Min £20 bet at odds 2.00+. Max reward: One £10 Free Bet and two £5 Combo Free Bets. £10 Free Bet min odds 1/1 (2.00). £5 Combo Free Bets min odds 2/1 (3.0). Free Bets expire 7 days after credit. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. |
