Scottish Grand National Betting Guide 2023: Odds, Tips & Predictions

The 2023 iteration of the Scottish Grand National Festival begins on Friday, 21st April, in Ayr. This horse racing event guide is perfect for interested punters as it will cover the most popular races, share odds from top Irish bookies, and Lewis will offer his betting tips.

⚡ Top Scottish Grand National 2023 Betting Sites

Before I start to explore the confirmed runners for the 2023 Scottish Grand National, it’s important to understand the best best betting sites for wagering on this race. I’ve outlined six of the market leaders below and share what sets them apart from their rivals.

Scroll down to read a short preview of these bookmakers. We also have full reviews for each platform if you wish to know more information covering sections such as bonuses, payment methods, mobile betting, customer support, and other important features.

☘️ Best Grand National Betting Site:
🎁 Best Grand National Betting Offer:
📡 Best In-Play Betting Site:
💯 Best Grand National Betting Odds:
🥇 Best Grand National Betting Features:
⭐ Best Grand National Betting Markets:

✅ BoyleSports

No list of this type would be complete without Boylesports, which is a market leader in Ireland both on and offline. The brand is renowned for offering some of the most competitive odds across a number of sports categories, while it also delivers bespoke promotions ahead of high-profile races.

These include the Scottish Grand National, which will unlock BoyleSports’ popular ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ promotion. This allows you to wager at market leading ante post odds, and can help to optimise returns if you’re able to pick a winner!

As a new BoyleSports customer, you can also opt into a welcome offer that comprises up to €40 in free bets. To qualify, simply place a qualifying wager of €10 at minimum odds of 2.00 and wait for the free bets to be credited to your account!

• www.begambleaware.org

✅ Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes probably has more in common with BoyleSports than Luckster, especially when you consider its strong high street presence and popularity online. It’s also widely accepted that Ladbrokes is the market leading operator for Scottish Grand National betting odds, and I’d definitely encourage you to check out the site before wagering in 2023.

The operator is known to offer ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ on the Scottish Grand National, for example, which ensures that you’re wagering at the best value prices at any given time. Ladbrokes also regularly offers extra places on selected races, which means that your each-way bets will pay out up to fifth place instead of fourth.

If you place a qualifying wager of €5 or more as a new Ladbrokes customer, you can also earn up to €20 in free bets. This initial wager must be placed on outcomes with odds of 1.50 or higher, while the bonus comprises four distinct free bets worth €5 each.

• www.begambleaware.org

✅ William Hill

William Hill is another feature-laden betting site, and one that combines everything from unique promotions to immersive livestreaming. You can certainly enjoy a rewarding betting experience at William Hill, especially when wagering on events such as the Scottish Grand National.

One particularly interesting feature is the operator’s recurring ‘Non-Runner Money Back’ guarantee, which is usually rolled out ahead of significant races and refunds your stake in instances where you back horses that are subsequently withdrawn. This enables you to place ante post wagers with genuine peace of mind, usually at highly competitive odds too.

As for the William Hill Sports welcome offer, you can earn up to €40 in free bets when you make an initial deposit and qualifying wager of €10 (at minimum odds of 1.50). This offer comprises four €10 wagers, which can be deployed across your choice of Scottish Grand National betting markets.

• www.begambleaware.org

✅ Betway

Like BoyleSport, Betway is also a sports betting behemoth and one that has a strong presence in Ireland and Europe. Horse racing is central to its offering too, while you can currently opt in and join the site’s popular ‘Free Bet’ club.

Once you’ve signed up for an account, you can earn up to €10 in free bets each week as an Irish customer, simply by joining the Free Bet Club and wagering a minimum of €25 to qualify. You’ll also need to have place multiples or a bet builder with three or more selections, opening up an array of Scottish Grand National betting markets in the process!

As for the welcome offer, you can qualify for free bets worth up to €50 if your initial sports wager loses. Simply register for an account and deposit at least €5, before placing a qualifying bet on odds of 1.50 or greater. If this is unsuccessful, free bets equal to the value of your qualifying wager will be added to your account.

• www.begambleaware.org

✅ Mr Green

Mr Green is a truly outstanding sportsbook, and one that continued to evolve at a rapid rate since its acquisition by William Hill. Renowned as a market leader from the perspective of responsible gambling, it also offers competitive odds across a broad range of betting markets (including horse racing).

The site also tends to release its ante post prices for events like the Scottish Grand National relatively early, while the accessibility of Mr Green customer support (and its comprehensive FAQ section) is among the best on the market and ideal if you want to process queries and questions and quickly as possible.

Mr Green’s welcome offer rewards you with up to €50 in free bets, so long as you make an initial deposit worth €20 or more. The free bets will be paid as two separate wagers worth €25 each, while all qualifying wagers must be placed on outcomes with odds of 1.80 or greater.

• www.begambleaware.org

✅ Unibet

Increasingly, Unibet is becoming the punters’ choice for live betting, thanks to its huge selection of in-play odds and markets and extensive livestreaming platform. These elements combine to create a truly immersive wagering experience, and one that’s ideal when betting on huge races like the 2023 Scottish Grand National!

In-play betting with Unibet is also empowered by the site’s unique cash out feature, through which wagers can be closed out relatively early on in proceedings and enable you to recoup a higher percentage of your stake. This is especially useful when betting on unpredictable steeplechases such as the Scottish Grand National, which often produced surprise results and unexpected winners.

Unibet’s welcome offer is also noticeably competitive, with a single qualifying wager of €10 earning you up to €40 in free bets. These can be deployed as both ante post and in-play bets, so you can make the most of your experience while realising the best value live odds.

• www.begambleaware.org

🔮 Prediction for the Scottish Grand National 2023

1️⃣ My Top Pick

Ante post favourite Kittys Light can be backed at an average price of 4/1 to win the 2023 Scottish Grand National, and there’s no doubt that this exciting seven-year-old stayer will arrive at Ayr in tip-top form.

Kittys Light beat ‘The Galloping Bear’ by two-and-a-half lengths and edged a competitive field at the Class 2 Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle last time out, performing superbly over the four-mile course before romping home at a canter. What’s more, the Christian Williams-trained gelding placed second in last year’s Scottish Grand National, as he delivered an excellent display despite ultimately trailing stablemate ‘Win My Wings’ by seven lengths.

Make no mistake; Kittys Light has proven ability over the distance and performs particularly well in the type of good-soft going expected at Ayr. He also represents significant value as an outright or each-way wager, and my Scottish Grand National prediction is that he’ll win the 2023 iteration of this iconic race.

2️⃣ My Second Pick

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained gelding Monbeg Genius also offers exceptional value as an each-way bet, with the seven-year-old having placed third in the Class 1 Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and given recent Grand National winner Corach Rambler a run for their money in the process.

He also racked up three consecutive steeplechase wins at Chepstow (twice) and Newcastle between December and February, while he’s a smart stayer on the upgrade despite his lack of experience over four miles or more. Interestingly, Jonjo O’Neill has never won the Scottish Grand National, but Monbeg Genius has the form and ability to end this hoodoo in 2023.

3️⃣ My Outside Wager

If you’re in the market for an outside wager, look no further than Lucinda Russell’s Your Own Story. Russell trains the recent Aintree winner Corach Rambler and will be looking for a second Scottish National win in 2023. The seven-year-old also placed second in the Tim Molony Handicap Chase at Haydock last time out, while he’s currently priced at a market high of 9/1 with Luckster and Ladbrokes.

✨ Scottish Grand National Races 2023

📈 Scottish Grand National 2023 Betting Markets

I’ve already touched on outright and each-way betting, which remain the most popular wager types ahead of the Scottish Grand National. I’ll explore these markets and more in further detail below, so that you can start to get to grips with Scottish Grand National 2023 betting. Check out our betting guide page for more information.

📌 Outright and Straight Win Betting

Where else to start but with outright betting, which describes the easiest and most accessible horse racing betting market. With this type of wager, you’ll simply back one or more runners to win the 2023 Scottish Grand National, while you can only achieve success if one of your selections comes in first place. Ante post outright betting can be particularly rewarding, as prices tend to be at their most competitive when they’re initially released. Of course, outright betting also comes with considerable risk and no insurance, which can prove problematic in challenging and unpredictable races like the Scottish Grand National.

📌 Each Way Bets

Unlike outright wagers, each-way bets afford you a little insurance by splitting your stake between two potential outcomes. For example, if you decide to back Kittys Light each-way with a stake of €1, you’ll place €0.50 on the runner to win and remainder on them placing in the top four. Although you’ll bank a smaller return if Kittys Light wins the Scottish National, you’ll also recoup at least some of your stake if he places second, third or fourth in the race. Each-way betting is popular among casual and risk averse bettors, while it’s often combined with outright wagers in high-profile races like the National.

📌 Quinella Bets

While quinella bets also combine two different outcomes in a single wager, these must involve two different runners. Broadly speaking, a quinella bet requires you to identify the two runners who you believe will place in the top two, which in the case of the 2023 Scottish Grand National may well be Kittys Light and Monbeg Genius. However, you won’t have to stipulate in which order the two runners will finish, increasing your chances of banking a return on your stake. However, the bet still carries increased risk and rewards, while once again, this type of wager is best placed as early as possible.

Scottish Grand National 2023 Betting Odds

At the time of writing, there are 33 confirmed runners in the 2023 Scottish Grand National, including the early front-runner and recent Vertem Eider Handicap Chase winner Kittys Light. You’ll find the latest ante post Scottish Grand National betting odds listed below, many of which may be liable to drift and change ahead of the race at the weekend.

Runner
Kittys Light	4.50	5.50	5.00	5.00	4.00	5.00
Monbeg Genius	6.50	5.50	6.50	6.50	6.50	5.00
Your Own Story	9.00	9.00	10.00	8.00	8.00	9.00
Flower of Scotland	13.00	13.00	13.00	11.00	13.00	13.00
Malina Girl	13.00	13.00	11.00	15.00	13.00	13.00
Empire Steel	15.00	15.00	15.00	15.00	15.00	15.00
Gevrey	13.00	15.00	11.00	15.00	17.00	15.00
Dusart	15.00	15.00	15.00	17.00	11.00	15.00
Flash Collonges	17.00	21.00	17.00	21.00	21.00	21.00
Manothepeople	17.00	17.00	15.00	17.00	21.00	17.00
Threeunderthrufive	21.00	21.00	21.00	21.00	17.00	19.00
Notachance	21.00	21.00	21.00	21.00	21.00	21.00
Revels Hill	21.00	21.00	17.00	21.00	21.00	21.00
Elvis Mail	17.00	17.00	15.00	21.00	17.00	17.00
Magna Sam	21.00	21.00	21.00	26.00	26.00	21.00
Famous Bridge	26.00	26.00	21.00	26.00	21.00	26.00
Oscar Elite	21.00	26.00	17.00	26.00	26.00	26.00
Cap Du Nord	26.00	26.00	21.00	26.00	21.00	21.00
Coolvalla	21.00	21.00	21.00	26.00	21.00	21.00
Mighty Thunder	21.00	21.00	26.00	26.00	26.00	21.00
Coopers Cross	26.00	26.00	21.00	34.00	26.00	21.00
Our Jet	26.00	26.00	26.00	34.00	26.00	26.00
Ruthless Article	34.00	34.00	26.00	34.00	26.00	34.00
Sail Away	34.00	34.00	26.00	34.00	26.00	34.00
Flash de Touzaine	41.00	41.00	41.00	34.00	41.00	41.00
Lord Accord	34.00	34.00	34.00	41.00	34.00	34.00
Half Shot	41.00	51.00	34.00	34.00	41.00	51.00
Small Present	34.00	41.00	34.00	51.00	26.00	34.00
Waitnsee	34.00	51.00	41.00	51.00	41.00	41.00
Domaine de Lisle	41.00	51.00	34.00	67.00	41.00	41.00

⭐ Scottish Grand National 2023 Betting Tips

Regardless of whether you concur with my 2023 Scottish Grand National predictions or have a different perspective, understanding the best and most lucrative betting markets is key to your success as a punter. But how can you leverage such markets to your advantage? Here are a few Scottish Grand National betting tips for 2023!

Bet Early and Proactively on the Scottish Grand National

As I’ve already revealed, the ante post odds for races such as the Scottish Grand National tend to drift and shorten as the race draws closer. In fact, such prices are at their longest and most competitive when they’re initially released, so you’ll only have a relatively short window of time in which to realise the full value of outright and each-way bets. So, I’d recommend that you wager early and proactively on the 2023 Scottish Grand National, based on your knowledge of the runners and their recent form.

Study the Most Recent and Relevant Form

Studying form is central to all sports betting successes, but it’s particularly crucial in categories such as horse racing. However, it’s important to narrow your focus on the relevant form of competing runners, as you pay attention to hurdle and steeplechase outings over a similar distance. Also look at the grading of the races that runners have won or participated in, while seeing if they have a track record of performing well in specific going and conditions. These small details can help to inform your wagers and optimise your chances of success.

Make the Most of Free Bet Offers

As you can probably tell from some of the welcome offers referenced earlier in this 2023 Scottish Grand National preview, many sportsbooks are offering generous free bet offers or deposit matches ahead of the race. Such bonuses unlock free bets and bonus balances up to specified values, based on their unique T&Cs and the size of your first deposit or qualifying wagers. Additionally, some operators offer promotions that pay out additional places when you bet each-way on the Scottish National, meaning that you’ll recoup some of your stake if your runner finishes fifth. I’d definitely recommend that you review the full range of available bonuses and free bet offers before wagering, with the latter potentially opening up matched betting on the Scottish Grand National.

The Importance of Weight

Like its Irish and English counterparts, the Scottish Grand National is a handicap race. This means that the highest ranked runners have to carry the most weight, with this capped at 12 stone for the ablest competitors. This is a key consideration, especially for an event that runs over a challenging four-mile course complete with 27 challenging fences. Make no mistake; even the best horses can struggle at the optimal weight level, and it’s interesting to note that 12 of the 16 winners since 2005 were all carrying less than 11 stone in weight.

The Age of the Runners

Age is another key consideration, especially as National Hunt runners and Grand National competitors don’t usually develop the requisite stamina to compete consistently until they’re eight or nine years old. Conversely, most horses see their strength begin to wain when they reach the age of 12, with 14 of the 16 winners since 2005 between the ages of 8 and 11. In fact, just one 12-year-old has won the Scottish Grand National since the event moved to Ayr in 1966 (Willsford in 2012), while only two runners younger than eight have prevailed in the last 30 years (Godmejudge in 2013 and Vicente in 2016, who were both seven-years-old).

This can prove a great guide when picking potential winners, as you aim for runners within the relevant age range and solid experience over the hurdles.

Each Runner’s Track Record

Aside from weight and age, each runner’s track record over the hurdles and similar steeplechase races can also provide insight into a potential winner. In fact, this information can be even more invaluable than ante-post odds, with the majority of Scottish Grand National winners like to have enjoyed some level of success in challenging steeplechases and potentially won at least one Group 1 race.

The key is to measure performance over courses that are three miles in length or longer, while also prioritising venues that feature a big number of challenging jumps. You can analyse this data while studying form, as you focus on drawing out relevant information that may dictate how it pans out.

Analyse the Going

Last, but by no means least, we come to the ‘going’, which describes the conditions of the ground at the course at the time of racing. During April, we often see slightly colder and wetter weather, which may result in ‘soft’ or ‘heavy’ going depending on the extent of the rainfall. Heavy going can be particularly challenging, while such conditions tend to favour the out-and-out stayer rather than the speed merchants (who tend to thrive on firm ground). However, soft or heavy going can make steeplechases particularly challenging, while it can also be hard to call the outcome races in such conditions.

🎁 Top Betting Offers for the Scottish Grand National 2023

To make full use of the latest free bets and bonuses, you’ll need to first compare the best Scottish Grand National betting offers. In the table below, you’ll find six of the most competitive Scottish Grand National bookie offers at the time of writing!

Betting Site	Offer	Claim
	Get €20 in free bets when you wager €5	Visit Ladbrokes
	Get up to €30 in free bets	Visit Betway
	Get two €10 free bets and 100 Extra Spins	Visit Mr Green
	Bet €10 and earn €40 in free bets	Visit Unibet
	Bet €10 and get €40 in Free Bets	Visit BoyleSports
	Bet €10 and earn €30 in Free Bets	Visit William Hill

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📆 Scottish Grand National 2023 Schedule and Format

The two-day Scottish Grand National Festival will run between April 21st and April 22nd in 2023, with 15 races in total scheduled to be run during this period. Below, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of each day’s action, including each race and its scheduled start time!

1️⃣ Day One, Friday April 21st, 2023

2️⃣ Day Two, Saturday 22nd April, 2023

🏁 Scottish Grand National History

When this grade 3 race started out life as the West of Scotland Grand National in 1858, a select few unfortunate runners had to compete over 32 uncompromising stone walls jumps! The first official running of the Scottish Grand National took place in Irvine nine years later, while the Bogside course was extended to the current length of three miles and seven furlongs in 1880.

By the time the Scottish Grand National moved to Ayr in 1966 (after the closure of the Bogside Racecourse), it was already a staple of the national horse racing calendar, having evolved to feature 27 fences over the length of the course. This has seen the race become increasingly difficult to win and predict, with Couvrefeu the last man to claim three Scottish National wins way back in 1956.

Unsurprisingly, a number of iconic runners have also claimed the highly prized double of Scottish Grand National and the English Grand National. For example, the brilliant Red Rum won both races in 1974, while Earth Summit was the last runner to achieve this feat 29 years ago in 1994.

This year will also see Christian Williams bid to become the first trainer to coach successive Scottish Grand National winners since Paul Nicholls, who prevailed in 2016 and 2017 with Vicente.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About the Scottish Grand National 2023 Betting

At this stage, all that’s left is to tackle some of your most frequently asked questions, so that you can make more informed decisions when betting on the Scottish Grand National. These include:

✒️ Lewis Humphries – Horse Racing Betting Expert

Lewis Humphries is an experienced sports writer and tipster from the UK. He writes regularly about horse racing festivals, the Champions League, Premier League, Serie A, and other competitions, regularly delivering expert match predictions and betting insights. He also successfully predicted the winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while accurately forecasting the outcome of several group stage and knockout games.

Lewis doesn't just stick to sports; you can also find plenty of casino gaming content. He's reviewed some of the world's leading online casino platforms, while creating blog posts and landing page content for various sports betting brands.His content has also been featured on a number of different sites, including Life Hack, Investopedia, Yahoo Finance and Business Insider. He also pens regular sports features for sites including 90 Minutes, Think Football Ideas and Sportsblog.