Follow the Spotlight or Go With the Pros? Grand National Betting Statistics

Browse through some interesting betting statistics to be better informed before the Grand National on Saturday.

The Crabbie’s Grand National Festival 2014 takes place at Aintree Racecourse over this weekend until Saturday, 5th of April. This is the most important and highly-anticipated horse racing even on the UK calendar. The event attracts a wealth of stars and celebrities as well as common folk and, of course, most of them will be betting on the race at land-based and online sportsbooks in the United Kingdom.

While all the glamour and excitement of the race and the chance to show off the latest designer clothes may be appealing to certain portion of the Grand National visitors, betting is what the majority is after. Betting on Grand National has been a big thing ever since the first race back in 1839.

While the bookies have evolved somewhat over the centuries, the essence remains the same: it’s all about picking your horse and cheering it on. Let’s take a closer look at some of the statistics behind betting in previous years.

Grand National betting statistics

Grand National betting statistics in recent years

• Media buzz surrounding Monbeg Dude and Teaforthree will lure amateur bets
• Professional punters will put their money behind Long Run and Tidal Bay
• Betting is wide open at both land-based and online sportsbooks in the United Kingdom

During the last 20 years there have been only four favorites, who won the race, each of them was given odds of 7/1 before the start of the race. This time around those who want to bet on sports in the UK will not have such short odds for Saturday.

With less than two day to go until the race it’s far from clear which horse is the favorite. Majority of punters will place their money behind Monbeg Dude and Teaforthree.

As for the last twenty years average, the winner was at 22/1 odds. Bogus winner in this period averaged 40/1 odds taking the overall middle point over 23/1. The shortest as mentioned above were the four favorites at 7/1, and the longest was the famous 2009 success by Mon Mome at 100/1.

Seven winners were priced at 10/1, nine winners ranged from 11/1 to 20/1. And Auroras Encore, the last year’s champion was the second biggest priced winner. What’s even more interesting is the fact that the last favorite to win the race was back in 2008 – Comply or Die.

The majority of bets under British gambling laws will be made by casual and once-a-year bettors. And they are expected to favor the royal connection. Monbeg Dude in part belongs to Mike Tindall, husband of the Queen’s niece, Zara Phillips. Naturally, the media has already been focusing on the story, subsequently raising awareness and thus generating bets on this horse.

Punters who understand what they are doing have also been placing their money behind Monbeg Dude, due to the fact that the horse has demonstrated strong form in recent times.

The trainers

Interestingly enough, only there have been only two female trainers who managed to win the Grand National. Venetia Williams and Jenny Pitman. And this time around, Teaforthree is generating attention because the horse is trained by Rebecca Curtis. She has won three races at the recently held Cheltenham festival including one race with Teaforthree, making her a strong favorite for the upcoming Grand National.

Going further into trivia, there’s Nicky Henderson, a renowned trainer, who unfortunately hasn’t yet won the Grand National. Saturday will provide him with four chances to do so. One of those horses is Triolo D’Alene, who won the Hennessey Gold cup.

And then he has Long Run, a horse who’s looking to make the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National double this year. A treat, which hasn’t been repeated since L’Escargot did it back in 1975.

The biggest rival of Henderson, Paul Nicholls, has won the Grand National two years ago with Neptune Collonges. This year he’s putting his hopes behind Tidal Bay, if he does succeed the horse will become the fourth winner aged 13.

Both Long Run and Tidal Bay will probably be the choice of professional punters. However, all the media buzz surrounding Monbeg Dude and Teaforthree will be able to steal some professional money their way.

In any case we’re looking forward to the race on Saturday and wish all our punters the best of luck for the Grand National betting.