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The Biggest-Priced Grand National Winners: When 100/1 Shocks Paid Out

admin July 13, 2026

Five horses have won the Grand National at odds of 100/1, the biggest starting price ever recorded for a winner of the world’s most famous steeplechase. Tipperary Tim set the benchmark in 1928, and Mon Mome matched it 81 years later in 2009, with Gregalach, Caughoo and Foinavon completing the list in between. This guide runs through every 100/1 shock in order, the near-misses at 66/1 and 50/1, and why Aintree keeps producing the biggest upsets in British racing.

The Five 100/1 Grand National Winners

1. Tipperary Tim (1928) – the first 100/1 winner and still the National’s most chaotic renewal. A friend told jockey William Dutton he’d only win “if all the others fall,” and 41 of the 42 runners duly fell or refused, leaving Tipperary Tim to cross the line essentially unopposed.
2. Gregalach (1929) – a second consecutive 100/1 winner, ridden home in front of a record 66-runner field, still the largest in Grand National history. Only nine horses completed the course, and Gregalach’s connections collected a prize fund of roughly £14,000, worth close to £780,000 today.
3. Caughoo (1947) – won by 20 lengths in thick fog, beating 56 rivals with such ease that rumours persisted for years he had missed a circuit of the course. Nothing was ever proven, and the result stands as one of the most dominant long-priced victories in the race’s history.
4. Foinavon (1967) – the most famous 100/1 winner of all. A pile-up at the 23rd fence brought down the entire leading pack, and Foinavon, running well behind the carnage, picked his way around the chaos to win unchallenged. The fence carries his name to this day.
5. Mon Mome (2009) – the most recent 100/1 winner, ridden by 23-year-old Liam Treadwell on his first National ride. Trained by Venetia Williams, Mon Mome beat defending champion Comply Or Die by 12 lengths, and Williams became only the second woman to train a Grand National winner.

Just Outside the 100/1 Club

Several other outsiders have gone close to matching the record, winning at odds long enough to produce five- and six-figure payouts for punters brave enough to back them.

• Ayala (66/1, 1963) – won at just seven years old, defying a lack of pre-race form.
• Russian Hero (66/1, 1949) – another long-priced shock in the years immediately following Caughoo’s win.
• Rubio (66/1, 1908) – one of the earliest recorded long-odds winners in the race’s history.
• Auroras Encore (66/1, 2013) – romped home by nine lengths under a clean round of jumping, the most recent horse to win at 66/1.
• Last Suspect (50/1, 1985) – a horse considered more trouble than talent, coming through late to claim victory.
• Noble Yeats (50/1, 2022) – a fairytale final ride for retiring amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen.

Why the Grand National Produces Bigger Shocks Than Any Other Race

No other race in British racing combines a field this large with fences this demanding. Up to 34 runners jump 30 fences across four miles two and a half furlongs, and attrition, not raw ability, decides the result more often than in any handicap over conventional obstacles. A horse simply completing the course with a clear round holds a genuine chance regardless of its official rating, since falls, unseated riders and exhausted finishers regularly remove market leaders before the race is decided. This structural unpredictability is precisely why the National has thrown up five 100/1 winners and at least six more at 50/1 or bigger, a shock rate no other British steeplechase comes close to matching.

What a 100/1 Shock Actually Pays

A £10 each-way bet on a 100/1 shot, at standard Grand National terms of a quarter the odds for the first four home, returns £1,010 for the win portion alone if the horse crosses the line first, plus a further £260 on the each-way place portion. Combined, a £20 total stake at 100/1 pays out £1,270 on a winning outsider, which explains why Grand National day consistently produces the biggest single payouts of the UK racing calendar for high-street bookmakers and online operators alike.

Backing the Next Outsider: Why Price Protection Matters

Long-priced Grand National runners move in the market more than any other horses in the field, often drifting from 100/1 on the morning of the race out to 150/1 or beyond by the off, only for a rival’s late withdrawal to shorten prices again within minutes. Punters who fix their price early lose that protection the moment the market moves against them, unless the bookmaker guarantees the better of the two prices. This is precisely where the Best Odds Guaranteed bookmakers in 2026 earn their reputation among National Hunt punters, since a guarantee that pays the bigger of the price taken or the starting price protects an each-way bet on a rank outsider from exactly the kind of late market swing that has defined Grand National betting for close to a century.

The Draw of the Long Shot

Five 100/1 winners in just under a century tells punters everything they need to know about the Grand National’s appetite for chaos. Tipperary Tim, Gregalach, Caughoo, Foinavon and Mon Mome each won a race that seasoned form students had already written off, and every fresh field of 30-plus runners lining up at Aintree carries at least one horse capable of doing it again. That unpredictability, more than any other factor, is what keeps the National the most heavily bet race on the British sporting calendar.

Silver Birch

admin June 3, 2026

Run on good going on April 14, 2007, the 2007 Grand National featutred a maximum 40 runners, including the winners from the past two years, Hedgehunter, trained by Willie Mullins, and Numbersixvalverde, trained by Martin Brassil. Co-favourites at the ‘off’ were Point Barrow, who fell at the very first fence, Monkerhostin, who refused at the seventh fence, ‘Foinavon’, on the first circuit, and Joe’s Edge, who was pulled up lame when well behind on the second.

In the absence of the market leaders, 16 horses were still standing turning for home, with at least half of them still in serious contention. Slim Pickings, ridden by Barry Geraghty, led over the second last, but was joined, and passed, at the final fence by Silver Birch, ridden by Robbie Power. Silver Birch took a clear lead, but approaching the famous ‘Elbow’, halfway up the run-in, Geraghty conjured a renewed effort from Slim Pickings, while Tom O’Brien produced his mount, McKelvey, with a withering run on the wide outside. The latter, who finished lame, was arguably unlucky, but Silver Birch passed the post three-quarters of a length to the good, with Slim Pickings a further length-and-a-quarter away in third place and 100/1 outsider Philson Run 15 lengths back in fourth.

Silver Birch had won the Becher Chase, over the Grand National fences, and the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in 2004, as a seven-year-old, when trained by Paul Nicholls. However, the Clearly Bust gelding arrived at Aintree winless in nine starts, including four since joining Gordon Elliott in Longwood, County Meath the previous December. He finished a creditable second in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but was sent off a largely unconsidered 33/1 chance for his second attempt in the Grand National. Nevertheless, he was a memorable winner for Elliott, who was still in his first season as a licensed trainer and had yet to saddle a winner in his native Ireland. Reflecting on his subsequent rise through the ranks, Elliott said, “I didn’t get one horse out of training Silver Birch. I got my name out after that, but I had to prove I could go and train winners.”

John and Thady Gosden’s best chances at Royal Ascot

admin May 28, 2026

John and Thady Gosden arrive at Royal Ascot in excellent fettle. The father-and-son training partnership were the meeting’s leading trainers in 2025, saddling five winners, including Trawlerman in the Gold Cup and Field Of Gold in the St James’s Palace Stakes, and they look well-equipped to defend that title this summer. For those looking to bet on horse racing at the Royal meeting, the Clarehaven team offer some of the most compelling options across the five days. Here are three of their leading ante-post entries.

Damysus: Queen Anne Stakes (5/1)

The Queen Anne Stakes is the traditional curtain-raiser on day one, and Damysus looks an exciting contender for the Gosdens in the opening Group 1 of the week. The Wathnan Racing-owned Frankel colt was placed in the Sandown Classic Trial and the Dante at York as a three-year-old, though a tilt at Derby glory proved a step too far as he finished last of 18 at Epsom. He showed his quality later in that campaign, however, dropping back from a mile and a half to win in Listed company in France before rounding off the season with victory over nine furlongs in the Darley Stakes in October.

He returned to action at the Craven meeting this spring, and he looks set to make his mark at the highest level, judged on a dominant comeback success in the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket. The Queen Anne is a step up in class and over a slightly shorter trip, but a horse with a Frankel pedigree operating at an official rating of 113 has every right to feature at 5/1, and connections clearly believe the straight mile at Ascot will play to his strengths.

Ombudsman: Prince of Wales’s Stakes (7/2)

If Damysus is the exciting prospect, Ombudsman is the proven commodity. The five-year-old Night of Thunder gelding won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot and the Juddmonte International at York in 2025, reaching an official rating of 128 and earning recognition as the world’s best racehorse. He found only Calandagan too good when bidding for a third Group 1 of the campaign in the Champion Stakes on Champions Day, but that was no disgrace against a horse in the form of his life.

He returned for his 2026 campaign in the Dubai Turf at Meydan, winning comfortably by a length and three-quarters, confirming that all is well heading into the summer. He holds entries for both the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the latter the obvious target given he is the defending champion.

Those browsing the Royal Ascot odds will note that 7/2 for the reigning winner of the race, who is arguably the best middle-distance horse in Europe, represents a fair rather than generous price, which tells you plenty about the quality of opposition he is likely to face. He remains the one to beat.

Trawlerman: Ascot Gold Cup (10/3)

The staying division belongs to Trawlerman. The Godolphin-owned eight-year-old made every yard of the running in the 2025 Gold Cup, drawing seven lengths clear of Illinois in an imperious display under William Buick, and he also won the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October 2025, his second victory in that race having also landed the 2023 renewal.

After his Gold Cup victory, John Gosden confirmed that Trawlerman would not be over-raced, hinting that the Henry II Stakes at Sandown could be his spring prep before another tilt at the two-and-a-half-mile feature. At 10/3, he is not the favourite, with the O’Brien-trained Scandinavia heading the market, but Trawlerman has a course record, proven stamina, and the ideal front-running tactics that have served him so well at Ascot. He is a formidable defending champion and one of the most reliable stayers in Europe over the past three seasons.

2027 Grand National Preview – First Thoughts

admin May 19, 2026

The 2027 Grand National is currently scheduled for Saturday, April 10th, 2017 at 16:00 BST. The weights for the world-famous steeplechase will not be published until February, but ante-post betting is already available and it is interesting to see what the leading bookmakers make of the second leg of the traditional ‘Spring Double’ at this early stage.

I Am Maximus, owned by John McManus and trained by Willie Mullins, has already won the Grand National twice, in 2024 and 2026, and finished runner-up to stable companion Nick Rockett in between times, so it is no surprise that the 10-year-old is the early ante-post favourite at a top-priced 12/1. I Am Maximus was already officially rated 168 for his second victory at Aintree, but the 5lb rise in the weights mooted by BHA handicapper Martin Greenwood hardly looks insurmountable and, granted an uninterrupted preparation, the Authorized gelding may yet make further history in 2027.

Next best in the current ante-post list, all at 16/1, come Iroko, Jordans and Soldier In Milan. The first-named is another owned by John McManus and has run creditably on both previous attempts in the Grand National, finishing fourth, when favourite, in 2025 and second, beaten two-and-a-half lengths, in 2026. All his wins, over hurdles and fences, have come at or around two-and-a-half miles, but joint-trainer Josh Guerriero expressed confidence in the eight-year-old, telling the ‘Racing Post’, “We’ll come back and win it next year.”

Jordans, trained by Joseph Patrick O’Brien, made a bold bid to make his first attempt in the Grand National a winning one, taking a clear lead turning for home, but being chased down by the McManus-owned pair in the closing stages. He has just one win over fences to his name, but was twice runner-up in Grade 1 novice chases and, as a seven-year-old, has time on his side as far as the Grand National is concerned.

Soldier In Milan, trained by Emmett Mullins, in another inexperienced seven-year-old, who was, nevertheless, a runaway, 16-length winner of the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in April 2026. His trainer clearly knows what is required to win the Grand National, having done so with the seven-year-old Noble Yeats in 2023, so his progress should be interesting to follow.

Where to Find the Best Kentucky Derby Odds in the UK

admin April 30, 2026

The Kentucky Derby does not feel like a normal American race dropped onto a UK betting page. It feels louder, stranger, and more chaotic. Churchill Downs has its own mood: dirt in the air, a packed grandstand, three-year-old horses still learning their trade, and a one-and-a-quarter-mile trip where a poor break can wreck even the best prepared campaign.

Part of the charm comes from its rich history. Aristides won the first Derby in 1875, but the race has never stayed frozen in old racing books. Secretariat turned it into legend.

American Pharoah brought back the Triple Crown dream. Justify followed with his unbeaten run. Then came newer stories, from Rich Strike’s shock win to Mage, Mystik Dan and Sovereignty adding fresh names to the roll of honour.

For UK racing fans, the Derby has a different edge. This is not Cheltenham with a later start time, or Epsom with American branding. Dirt racing has a sharper rhythm. The early speed can be brutal. The first turn can become a traffic jam. A horse with all the classes in the world still needs room, timing, and nerves.

Compare Kentucky Derby Betting Sites Before Race Week

A sensible starting point is a dedicated comparison of Kentucky Derby betting sites.The page brings together UK-facing bookmaker options, welcome offers, rating-style comparisons, odds notes, payment details, bet types and a useful glossary for Derby-specific language.

For the reader, the value of a comparison page is not only the headline free bet. It saves time. Instead of opening six accounts, scanning footer text, checking payment exclusions, then hunting for the international racing tab, you can see which sites are actually built for horse racing customers.

A decent racing book should make the Derby easy to find, price the main contenders promptly, support common payment options, and display offer terms without making you dig through three layers of small print.

Still, use comparisons as a launchpad, not a final verdict. Odds move. Promotions expire. Each-way terms change once the field firms up. Open the bookmaker, check out the live market, read the offer rules, then compare the exact same horse across a few brands before staking.

Why the Kentucky Derby Feels Different for UK bettors

British punters usually read races through turf form, trainer patterns, festival clues and familiar UK racecourses. The Kentucky Derby asks for another kind of eye. Pace matters earlier. Track position can decide more than reputation. The best horse on paper still has to survive the noise, the kickback and the squeeze into the first bend.

UK odds can also feel less deep earlier in the season. With a major domestic race, every leading bookmaker is usually awake from months out. With the Derby, some firms wait until the prep races sharpen the picture. Others price the market early, but with a wider margin because the final field still needs to settle.

This is why patience matters. An early fancy may look overpriced in February, then drift after a poor prep run. A closer may shorten once pace maps suggest a meltdown up front. A Japanese, European or lightly raced US contender can move quickly if the racing media latches onto a storyline. The best price often appears before the wider public has made up its mind.

What the “Best Odds” Really Means

The best odds sound simple but racing markets rarely work in one straight line. A 12/1 price may beat 10/1 if you only care about the win. For an each-way punter, 10/1 with better place terms may be stronger than 12/1 with a thin place offer. The shape of the bet matters as much as the number beside the runner.

Ante-post odds can look generous because you are taking extra risks. If your horse misses the race, most ante-post bets lose unless the bookmaker has added non-runner no bet terms. Those terms usually arrive closer to the event, once the field becomes clearer. In exchange for extra safety, the available price may be shorter.

Race-day odds bring a different benefit. More bookmakers are active, trading volume improves, and exchanges may give a clearer view of market confidence. You may lose the early fancy price but gain a more reliable sense of the final draw, track condition, jockey bookings, and late stable mood.

Where UK Punters Usually Find Derby Markets

Start with mainstream UK bookmakers with established horse racing products. Look under “Horse Racing,” then check out “International,” “USA,” or sometimes a dedicated “Kentucky Derby” event hub. Some books add the market months ahead, while others wait until the final prep-race cycle.

Betting exchanges will also help, especially closer to post time. A big number means very little if only a few pounds are available, but a liquid exchange market can reveal how serious money is reacting. Odds comparison tools are useful too. They are not perfect, and some markets lag, but they can reveal a clear outlier.

When one bookmaker is 16/1 and the pack sits at 10/1, you have found either a genuine opportunity or a stale price. Either way, it deserves a second look. And remember, when choosing a horse to bet on, consider the riding style, which can make a huge difference around the Kentucky Derby.

Bonuses Can Help, but the Terms Decide the Value

A free bet can improve the feel of a Derby wager, especially for a new account, but the offer only has value if the rules suit your plan.

Remember to check the minimum stake, minimum odds, eligible markets, expiry window, payment exclusions and whether free bet stakes are returned with winnings. Some horse racing offers look strong at first glance, then become less useful once you notice a short expiry or narrow qualifying rule.

The Gambling Commission advises British consumers to check the license status and review offer restrictions before transferring money into a gambling account. It also provides a public register for licensed gambling businesses.

For Kentucky Derby betting, this matters even more because some readers arrive through a once-a-year event rather than regular racing habits. Avoid any operator without clear licensing details, visible terms, responsible gambling tools and secure payment information. A slightly better price is not worth a weak account experience.