Virtual Grand National Odds, Runners & Favourites
- Written by David Bet
The Virtual Grand National is a virtual contest that has been held since 2017. The software, developed by Inspired, uses the latest CGI technology for a computer simulation of the race at Aintree, replicating it with winners and even fallers! Looking for this year's Virtual Grand National best odds? Check this page!
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2025 Virtual Grand National Betting Info
Gaming provider Inspired Entertainment has been chosen by UK Jockey Club for a seventh consecutive year to produce the Virtual Grand National (VGN) race and Virtual Grand National Race of Champions. The virtual races will be probably broadcast by ITV 4 at 21:15 BST on Friday April 4th (the day before the actual race is scheduled to run) as you would expect.
The second showing of the race could be on the main ITV channel at 1pm on Saturday 5th April.
In the previous years, in agreement with the UK Gambling commission, the race will be pre-recorded by production company Carm productions on behalf of ITV. Only a small number of people knew the outcome - all of who were be subject to strict confidentiality obligations. Meanwhile no horse racing betting sites and no licensed betting operator was party to the result in line with strict gambling regulations.
Like real horse racing, Virtual Grand National runners’ odds are close reflections to their actual chances with the real-life favourite getting more chance than an outsider.
Looking for the latest Virtual Grand National runners & odds? Take a look below!
2025 Virtual Grand National Runners
The 34 official runners and reserves of the real-life Grand National will be announced on Thursday 11th April. You can find here a list of all the entries, along with the opening odds, name, breeding, weight, age, trainer, and jockey.
Here's the official field:
(Number, Name, Country, Age, Weight, Owner, Trainer, Jockey, Rating)
- I Am Maximus (FR) 9-11-12 Mr JP McManus Willie Mullins (IRE) Paul Townend 167
- Royale Pagaille (FR) 11-11-9 Mrs S Ricci Venetia Williams Charlie Deustch 164
- Nick Rockett (IRE) 8-11-8 Stewart & Sadie Andrew Willie Mullins (IRE) 163
- Grangeclare West (IRE) 9-11-8 Cheveley Park Stud Willie Mullins (IRE) 163
- Hewick (IRE) 10-11-7 Mr TJ McDonald John Joseph Hanlon (IRE) Gavin Sheehan 162
- Minella Indo (IRE) 12-11-3 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead (IRE) 158
- Appreciate It (IRE) 11-11-2 Miss MA Masterson Willie Mullins (IRE) 157
- Minella Cocooner (IRE) 9-11-2 Mr David Bobbett Willie Mullins (IRE) 157
- Stumptown (IRE) 8-11-2 Furze Bush Syndicate Gavin Cromwell (IRE) Keith Donoghue 157
- Conflated (IRE) 11-11-2 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) 157
- Hitman (FR) 9-11-1 Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done Paul Nicholls Freddie Gingell 156
- Beauport (IRE) 9-11-1 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 156
- Bravemansgame (FR) 10-11-0 Bryan Drew Paul Nicholls James Reveley 155
- Chantry House (IRE) 11-10-13 Mr JP McManus Nicky Henderson 154
- Threeunderthrufive (IRE) 10-10-12 McNeill Family Paul Nicholls Harry Skelton 153
- Perceval Legallois (FR) 8-10-12 Mr JP McManus Gavin Cromwell (IRE) 153
- Kandoo Kid (FR) 9-10-11 Mr Michael Geoghegan Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 152
- Iroko (FR) 7-10-11 Mr JP McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero 152
- Intense Raffles (FR) 7-10-10 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede Thomas Gibney (IRE) 151
- Senior Chief (GB) 8-10-10 Lucky In Life Syndicate Henry de Bromhead (IRE) 151
- Idas Boy (IRE) 11-10-10 Dozen Dreamers Richard Phillips 151
- Fil Dor (FR) 7-10-9 Robcour Gordon Elliott (IRE) 150
- Broadway Boy (IRE) 7-109 Mr DM Proos Nigel Twiston-Davies Tom Bellamy 150
- Coko Beach (FR) 10-10-9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) 150
- Stay Away Fay (IRE) 8-10-9 Bell, Lyons, Hill Paul Nicholls Jonathan Burke 150
- Meetingofthewaters (IRE) 8-10-7 Mr JP McManus Willie Mullins (IRE) 148
- Monbeg Genius (IRE) 9-10-6 Martin Tedham & Wasdell Properties Ltd. Jonjo & AJ O'Neill Nick Scholfield 147
- Vanillier (FR) 10-10-6 Mrs HM Keaveney Gavin Cromwell (IRE) Sean Flanagan 147
- Horantzau d'Airy (FR) 8-10-6 Scea De Vallee Michael Keady Ciaran Gethings 147
- Hyland (FR) 8 10 6 The Ten From Seven Nicky Henderson 147
- Celebre d'Allen (FR) 13-10-6 Mr Allan Stennett Philip Hobbs & Johnson White 147
- Three Card Brag (IRE) 8-10-5 Patrick & Scott Bryceland, McNeill Family Gordon Elliott (IRE) 146
- Twig (GB) 10-10-5 Mrs G Morgan Ben Pauling 146
- Duffle Coat (IRE) 8-10-4 Mr Ray Stokes Gordon Elliott (IRE) 145
Reserves
- Shakem Up’Arry
- Roi Mage
- Favori De Champdou
- Fantastic Lady
Grand National Reserves
UPDATE: There were no changes to the final field, capped at 34 runners, with the Gordon Elliott-trained Duffle Coat the last one into the race. Four reserves have been nominated – Harry Redknapp's Shakem Up'Arry, veteran Roi Mage, Favori De Champdou and Fantastic Lady – with the deadline for non-runners to be replaced by these horses set at 1pm on Friday, the day before the National.Looking for a Virtual Grand National betting guide? Click below...
Virtual Grand National: Latest Odds
Last year’s Grade 3 Irish Grand National winner INTENSE RAFFLES leads the current ante-post market. He has since performed well to come second in the Bobbyjo Chase earlier this year, beaten three-quarters of a length behind Nick Rockett on soft ground that day.
STUMPTOWN defied top weight to land the Cross Country Chase - with plenty in hand - at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Prior to that he won on his seasonal reappearance at Punchestown in November, and then triumphed in the Crystal Cup at Cheltenham a month later.
IROKO is also prominent in the betting after delivering a decent trial for the Aintree feature in the Premier Chase at Kelso earlier this month. Two years ago, he won the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival. Carrying just 10st 11lbs, Iroko could still have plenty left in the tank.
I AM MAXIMUS powered his way to a seven and a half length success over Delta Work last year and will race this year off only an 8lb higher mark. No top weight has won the race since triple victor Red Rum in 1974. Moreover, he has finished down the field at Leopardstown in Grade 1s at Christmas and at the Dublin Racing Festival this season.
NICK ROCKETT finished seventh in the Irish Grand National and third in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last year, but has dramatically improved this season. He won the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January off a mark of 152 before winning the Bobbyjo Chase last time out.
HEWICK is another possible contender. Bought fro £800, won the 2023 King George as well as a US Grand National, a Bet365 Gold Cup and Galway Plate. He warmed up for this race with a victory over hurdles at Thurles.
You can find the odds for the 2025 Virtual Grand National runners below.
Virtual Grand National & Virtual Sports Sites
Looking for Virtual Horse Racing or the top Virtual Sports Betting Sites? We got you covered!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Virtual Grand National
The Virtual Grand National is a virtual contest that has been held since 2017. The software, developed by Inspired, uses the latest CGI technology for a computer simulation of the race at Aintree, replicating it with winners and even fallers!
What TV channel is the Virtual Grand National on?
This year's Virtual Grand National will be probably shown live on ITV 4 for viewers in the UK. Live streaming could be provided to subscribers via the ITV Hub website or app. Hence, you should be able to watch the Virtual Grand National free live stream via any compatible electronic device (smartphone, smart TV, computers, etc..) at 9:15pm on Friday 4th April 2025 as expected.
Is The Virtual Grand National A Pre-Recorded Race?
The Virtual Grand National usually is pre-recorded the day before the race and only a small number of people know the outcome - all of who are subject to strict confidentiality obligations.
Who won last year's Virtual Grand National?
The VGN was not contested in 2023 and 2024. Snow Leopardess was crowned champion in the Virtual Grand National 2022 two years ago while. This was not reflected in the actual race itself (50/1 outsider Noble Yeats won the real race), but the computer got 2nd and 3rd places spot on with Any Second Now and Delta Work respectively.
How accurate is the Virtual Grand National algorithm?
Simulating how such a complex race is run is no easy task, but special algorithms and random number generator take into account hundreds of variables and real sport factors (past form, ground conditions, weather conditions, etc..), trying to simulate almost identical circumstances of the real-life Grand National.
Anyway, the virtual winner usually performs very well in the real-life race.
In 2017, the algorithm came up with six of the top-10 finishers and the runner-up in the real race won The Virtual Grand National. In 2018, the simulated race selected six of only 12 finishers and the winner. The computer chose three of the top five finishers, including Tiger Roll, in 2019.
In 2021, Cloth Cap won the computer-generated race, while pulling up on the 28th fence in the real chase. This marked a rare blotch on the VGN's esteemed track record - the simulation has an impressively strong track record so far.
The VGN was not simulated last year. Snow Leopardess was crowned champion in the Virtual Grand National 2022 two years ago. This was not reflected in the actual race itself (50/1 outsider Noble Yeats won the real race), but the computer got 2nd and 3rd places spot on with Any Second Now and Delta Work respectively.
Do horses fall in the Virtual Grand National?
They do, but one of the great advantages of the Virtual Grand National is that neither horse nor jockey gets hurt if they do take a tumble. Horses can also refuse, be brought down, unseat their rider or be pulled up just like in the real event.
Will online bookies taking bets on the VGN?
All online bookmakers have not confirmed whether they will accept bets on this year's Virtual Grand National will not be capped.
Can I get a free bet on the Virtual Grand National 2025?
With all physical betting shops not accepting bets on the VGN, punters keen for a bet on the Virtual Grand National 2025 will need to exclusively rely upon online betting sites. Anyway, several online bookmakers will remove their welcome offer and free bets for the Virtual Grand National.
If you fancy getting a free bet ahead of the big race you can take a look at our hand-picked list of the best free bets.
What betting markets are available on the Virtual Grand National?
If "contested", you will be able to bet on the outright winner and place each-way bets on the Virtual Grand National.
Hence, the betting odds for the real-life race are a lot more diverse, as the best bookies will feature each-way Grand National betting, outright bets, and will also offering odds on forecast, tricast, system bets and many other types of wager on the signature race of jumps racing.
Is there any chance that a horse is a Non runner in the VGN?
Unlike real-life horse racing, in the virtual world all the Grand National Runners will take part into the most famous steeplechase race in the world over the big Aintree fences.
Which are the best bookmakers for the 2025 Virtual Grand National?
The Aintree Grand National is a much-anticipated highlight on the horse racing calendar in Great Britain and attracts a huge number of online wagers. The virtual race is also very popular as racing fans are excited to see how accurate the simulated race is in comparison to the real thing.
We have listed and ranked the top 10 Virtual Grand National betting sites below...
| RANK | BETTING SITE | VISIT THE BOOKIE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BET365 | Visit Bet365 |
| 2 | LADBROKES | Visit Ladbrokes |
| 3 | BETWAY | Visit Betway |
| 4 | WILLIAM HILL | Visit William Hill |
| 5 | LIVESCORE BET | Visit LiveScore Bet |
| 6 | BETFAIR | Visit Betfair |
| 7 | CORAL | Visit Coral |
| 8 | VIRGIN BET | Visit Virgin Bet |
| 9 | BOYLESPORTS | Visit Boylesports |
| 10 | QUINNBET | Visit QuinnBet |
