Grand National Specials

After you have picked your win and each way bets, take a look at these Grand National specials for a further interest in the race.

Number of Finishers

The most popular Grand National novelty bet is to back how many horses will finish the race. This way you can cheer every horse as they jump each fence! The ground is key to the number of Grand National finishers as the chart below shows.

YEAR	GOING	RUNNERS	FINISHERS	% FINISHED
2009	Good/Soft	40	17	43%
2008	Good	40	15	38%
2007	Good	40	12	30%
2006	Good/Soft	40	9	23%
2005	Good/Soft	40	21	53%
2004	Good	39	11	28%
2003	Good	40	14	35%
2002	Good	40	11	28%
2001	Heavy	40	4	10%
2000	Good/Firm	40	17	43%
1999	Good	32	18	56%
1998	Heavy	37	6	16%
1997	Good	36	17	47%

The highest number of finishers was was 23 in 1984 and the lowest number was 2 in 1928
The going is key to the number of finishers with vast differences between heavy (10% and 16% of runners finished) and good (37% average from 6 races).

With 40 runners likely to make the start of the Grand National 2010 and the going likely to be good or good to soft, a figure of around 11-15 finishers looks most probable.

We suggest you back 11-15 finishers (inclusive). Last year this was priced at 9/4. Check out the latest odds with Betfair

First Fence Fallers

A bet which will be all over after the first fence - lets hope its not your horse that falls!

The fast pace the runners travel to the first fence often results in fallers
1998, 2000 and 2006 saw five fallers and 2002 saw nine fallers

We suggest you back 3 first fence fallers. Last year the odds on this were 4/1. Check out the latest odds this year with Ladbrokes

The Winning Distance

At least with this bet you are guaranteed an interest right until the end of the race! Winning distances have varied greatly over the last ten years with the average being around 10 lengths. Its a good idea to pay attention to the going with this novelty market as well.

The two heavy going races produced winning distances of 25 and 11 lengths.
Good/Soft goings have resulted in 14 and 6 lenghth winning margins.
Good/Firm and Good goings have produced wining distances of three lengths and under on three occassions.

YEAR	GOING	WINNING MARGIN
2009	Good/Soft	12
2008	Good	4
2007	Good	0.75
2006	Good/Soft	6
2005	Good/Soft	14
2004	Good	3
2003	Good	12
2002	Good	1.75
2001	Heavy	25
2000	Good/Firm	1.25
1999	Good	10
1998	Heavy	11
1997	Good	25