The Grand National remains a highlight of the UK sporting calendar and one of the most prestigious races in horse racing, which in turn makes it one of the biggest betting events of the year.
A whole range of people bet on the National, from novices to seasoned punters and everyone in between.
And ahead of the 2026 event, those looking to bet on the Grand National will be interested to know that several online bookmakers are running Grand National free bet offers.
Having examined a range of offers, we’ve compiled this guide to the best Grand National free bets, providing vital information on the offers themselves, how to access them and how to use them.
Best free Grand National bet offers for 2026
The table below shows our recommendations for the best Grand National free bet offers for 2026, with details relating to relevant offers and the bookies themselves.
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Rank
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Bookmaker
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Grand National Free Bets
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1
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Paddy Power
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Paddy Power will also give out £30 in free bets, but the qualifying stake is larger at £5. New customers can use promo code YSKAST when signing up, then place a min £5 bet on the sportsbook at odds of 1/1 or greater to get £30 in free bets. Free bet credits are valid for 30 days, so you can place your qualifying stake well in advance of the Grand National.
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2
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Betfair
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Betfair also have a bet £10 get £50 sign up offer for the Grand National. Place a £10 bet at minimum odds of evens and get £50 worth of free bet credit on bet settlement. However, there are some restrictions, as all five are £10 free bet tokens reserved for accumulators or bet builders, but they’re valid for 30 days.
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3
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PricedUp
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PricedUp’s Grand National sign up offer isn’t the best, as you have to bet £40 in order to get just £20 in free accumulator bets, but they make up for this shortfall in other areas. Once signed up, new and existing customers can benefit from PricedUp’s main speciality – Price Boosts. They’ll have several boosts on the National and other Aintree races.
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4
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Tote
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Tote have a bet £5 get £20 sign up offer for new customers. Simply place a sports bet of £5 or more – with odds of 1/1 or higher – and you’ll receive £10 in Tote Credit and a £10 free sports bet which can be used on the Grand National.
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5
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247Bet
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One of the best new betting sites, 247Bet are giving new customers up to £50 in a matched deposit on Grand National weekend. The minimum deposit is £20 and the bonus funds have x5 wagering requirements. If you don’t fancy their sign up offer, you’ll find enhanced odds, cash out options under their promotions section.
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6
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Grosvenor
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The Grosvenor sign up offer allows newcomers to double the odds of their first bet, even if that’s on the Grand National. The maximum bet is £10, but with long odds available on the race you’ll have hugely inflated odds whichever runner you pick.
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7
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NRG
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Sign up using promo code b20g10 to get a £10 free bet after placing your first bet of £20 or more. NRG are also one of the best new betting sites for price boosts with several options to choose from on the Grand National.
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8
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Bet365
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The Bet365 sign-up offer gives new users £30 in free bets – which can be used entirely on the Grand National – when they open an account, deposit £10 and stake £10 or more on any sports at odds of 1/5 or greater.
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9
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Quickbet
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QuickBet’s Grand National welcome offer is beginner friendly as you’ll get a £10 free bet when you sign up and bet £10 on the race.
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10
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BetTom
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BetTom have a stacked racing promotions section, including Best Odds Guaranteed, extra places (6 at 1/5 odds) and double result payout for amended results. New customers can get up to £25 back in free bets in first day losses.
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How to place a bet on the Grand National
Types of Grand National free bet offers
In this section, we’ve broken down the most common types of Grand National free bet offers that punters are likely to find in the build up to the race at Aintree.
Grand National sign-up offers
Grand National sign up offers are only available to new customers, but they can add to your betting bankroll via free bets or matched deposits.
However, those looking for a Grand National free bet via welcome offers should check if there are any restrictions placed upon the free bets and any winnings.
There are dozens of sign up offers that will be tailored to the Grand National around the time of the meeting, but as an example, Bet365 offer a bet £10, get £30 in free bets welcome offer in which the free bet tokens can be used to wager entirely on the Grand National if you please.
Bet and Get Offers
Bet and get offers from bookmakers reward punters for betting on a specific event, or wagering a certain amount of money.
Punters will need to meet the requirements set by the bookmaker to unlock the free bets, which may not be credited until any qualifying bets are settled.
There were plenty of examples of this type of offer during Cheltenham, such as when LiveScore Bet gave punters a free bet if they wagered on the opening racing of each day.
Money-Back Races
Money back races are a popular offer with horse racing betting sites and will be available for the Grand National.
There are often different conditions for money back races, such as a punter’s selection finishing 2nd or 3rd, falling at the final hurdle or losing to a horse that went off at certain odds.
Depending on the betting site, punters will receive their refunds either in the form of cash or free bets, so remember to check the offer terms.
For example, BetGoodwin will give punters up to £100 back as a free bet if your horse is leading but falls at the last fence.
Acca Free Bets
Some UK bookmakers reward bettors who regularly place accumulators with free bets.
These free bets can usually only be used for accumulators, but some bonuses can be spent however a punter wishes.
As an example, BoyleSports give users a £5 free acca bet for every five accumulators they place, so long as they wager £5 or more on a bet that has five or more selections and combined odds of 3/1 or greater.
Free Bet Clubs
Bettors can unlock Grand National free bets via free bet clubs, which are available at several bookmakers.
These promotions work by punters opting in and then wagering a certain amount to claim the free bets.
For example, Betway’s free bet club gives players £10 in free bets for the Grand National.
Just opt in to the promotion and wager £25 on multiples (three or more selections at combined odds of 2/1) to claim £10 in free bets each week.
Remember that other conditions may apply when it comes to unlocking a free Grand National bet, such as the minimum odds of the qualifying wagers, the sport qualifying bets are placed on, or the general type of bet.
How to claim and use Grand National free bets for 2026
The step-by-step guide below provides a general overview of how most Grand National sign up offers work.
Remember to check the terms and conditions for any specific demands that you may be required to meet.
- Step 1: Choose a bookmaker from the list above and check their Grand National free bet offer.
- Step 2: Sign up for an account and complete the verification process.
- Step 3: Make a qualifying deposit (if required) – remember to check the T&Cs for accepted payment methods.
- Step 4: Place a qualifying bet according to the offer terms.
- Step 5: Receive your free bet once the qualifying wager is settled.
- Step 6: Use the free bet on a Grand National market such as win or each-way.
Here’s a round up of alternative Grand National promo codes for the 2026 renewal, with all offers applying to new customers only.
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Bookie
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Cheltenham Promo Code
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Cheltenham offer
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Bet365
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INDY2026
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Bet £10 get £30 in bonus funds
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Betfair
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ZSKAOL
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Bet £10 get £50 in free multi bets
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Paddy Power
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YHRCHS
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Bet £10 get £50 in racing free bets
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Matchbook
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NEW30
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Bet £20 get £30 free bets
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LuckyMate
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LM10
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Bet £10 get £10 free bet
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Grand National betting news
UK bookmakers are bracing for one of the biggest betting events of the year ahead of Saturday’s Grand National, with William Hill estimating that more than £150 million will be wagered on the race.
The operator expects turnover to be more than six times higher than last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, underlining the National’s status as the most heavily backed race in the UK calendar.
From a liabilities perspective, Panic Attack has emerged as the standout concern for the bookies.
The Dan Skelton-trained mare has been heavily supported throughout the season, shortening dramatically from 66/1 to 7/1, and would make history as the first mare in 75 years to win the race.
Final Orders and Haiti Couleurs are also among the most significant results for the bookmaker heading into the weekend, according to William Hill.
Betting should only ever be considered a form of entertainment – it will never be a reliable way to make money.
Picking the winner of the Grand National is extremely difficult so if you are going to wager on the race, assume you’ll lose and therefore, only bet what you can afford.
Betting can also be addictive, so please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget.
Make sure you use the safer gambling tools offered by betting companies such as deposit limits, reality checks, loss limits, time-outs and self-exclusion.
The same applies if you’re gambling on casino sites, poker sites, bingo sites or any other type of betting site.
If you have gambling-related concerns, then seek independent help. There are several UK charities and institutions that offer support, advice and information, with a few listed below:
FAQs: Grand National free bets
Can I get a free bet for the Grand National?
Yes, there are plenty of free Grand National bets on offer from several gambling sites in days and hours leading up to the Grand National, from ‘bet and get’ offers to welcome promotions and more.
Do I need to deposit to claim a free bet?
In most cases – such as for benefitting from welcome offers – users will have to deposit certain amounts in order to claim an additional free bet. Be sure to check the offer terms and conditions before depositing and staking.
Can I use Grand National free bets on any market?
Usually, free bets for the Grand National are available to use on any market, such as the win or place market, specials or accumulators. However, some free bets will be tailored to certain markets or bet types, so be sure to check the terms before signing up.
Do Grand National free bets expire?
Free bets tailored to the race itself will likely expire once the race begins at 4pm, whereas general free bets will usually expire within seven days. However, some bookies place an expiry date of 30 days on their free bet credits.
When is the Grand National?
The 2026 Aintree Grand National takes place on Saturday 11 April at 4pm at Aintree Racecourse.
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