UK National Hunt Online Betting Guide 2024

National hunt racing is popular with many punters because of the repeated use of the same horses, some of which even become household names. In terms of online betting, National Hunt races are also well-served by bookies, and as such are the perfect place to start out in wagering on horse races. The shortlisted sites here offer you the best horse betting options in the UK, and all feature:

Betting on the various National Hunt stakes throughout the season Regular promotions like free bets and ACCA insurance on accumulators Fair betting odds guaranteed, with easy wagers via popular UK payment options

Racing's Biggest Stakesof the Season

Most of the National Hunt races are run in the winter and spring months when the ground is a bit softer, and therefore safer for the jumpers. You can find lots of racing events to keep you busy at this time of the year, but some of the most notable are the following:

The Basics Of Online Betting On National Hunt Races

Betting on National Hunt racing is so easy that you probably don't even need any help, but let's err on the side of caution! If you're looking for a few pointers, take a look at our helpful step by step guide below:

Start by opening an account with one of our recommended online betting sites and claiming your welcome bonus.
Deposit some real money to play with, using your preferred method of payment
Choose a stake from the list of National Hunt races available and then pick a horse with favourable odds
Double check your betslip at the side of the page, and make sure it is definitely correct before clicking the button to place your bet

If you take anything from our National Hunt betting guide, let it be this: don't ever leave the page without double checking your betslip is correct and that it has been confirmed. Imagine the excitement of your horse placing first, but then the disappointment of finding out that your bet didn't go through and you've missed out on all of that prize money.

National Hunt Betting Tips

Betting on National Hunt races is super easy, but we love to help you any way we can, so we have included a few tips to help improve your chances of picking a winner and going home with some real cash.

Keep an eye on horse racing news for insider info, take a look at ante post tips for upcoming events and listen out for any hints that a horse may be injured or not performing as well as usual so you can make a more informed choice when you pick your winner.
As the odds of winning on a horse race are lower than picking the outright winner of a football game,for instance, there is a higher risk involved. Always be sensible with your money and never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Especially with bigger races, consider backing a horse with higher odds. When there are so many running, it can be anyone's game.

If you're looking to employ a National Hunt betting system, or are chasing the most up to date ante post tips, just check out our tips widget.

Horse Betting Promos And Bonuses

You should never have to look too far for a bonus or promo on a National Hunt race bet. Bookies are always fighting to give away the best offers to attract the most customers. Dependent on the online betting site you're using these may differ considerably, but you can get an idea of what is on offer from the small selection below:

4/1 Offer

On certain races, if you back a winner at odds of 4/1 or greater you'll get a free bet on the next race.

Best Odds Guaranteed

If your horse wins, but the odds have deteriorated since you placed your bet, your payout will be at the better odds.

Free Bet

Usually for new customers only, the online bookmaker will match your first deposit as a free bet.

Price Boost

Improved odds on certain horses within certain races

National Hunt Betting Odds Guide

When betting on National Hunt races and other sports at an online bookies, there are several types of odds that you may come across. The most common are as follows:

Decimal - 1.4
Fractional - 3/5 or 2/1

If you have an odds system that you prefer, all of the top gambling sites give you the option to switch between each one. No matter which format you choose, though, all odds equal the same chance that a bet will win.

In the above examples for fractional odds, a successful bet of £5 on 3/5 odds would yield a real cash payout of £8 (£3 profit plus the £5 stake), while the same bet placed on 2/1 odds would yield £15 (£10 profit plus the original £5 stake).

Making National Hunt Chase Bets on Mobile

Whether you're out and about with mates, on your lunch break at work or comfortable on the sofa in the evening, no matter where you are, it's really very simple to dabble in horse race betting on mobile devices.

With the huge range of mobile apps and mobile friendly websites offered by online gambling sites in 2024, you can check your odds and pick your winner from wherever you feel is the luckiest.

The National Hunt Bets You'll See Available.

Using a single bet to pick your favourite horse from a line up is always a good place to start when it comes to betting on horse racing. If you want better odds or bigger wins, though, then you can consider lots of other types of bets too. These are just a few of the different ways you can try your luck:

Each Way

Accumulator

Treble

Forecast

Yankee

Betting On National Hunt Races In 2024

National Hunt races require the competitors to jump fences and ditches in a high-risk showdown where anything can happen. The horses that are used tend to be cheaper and often older than those used in flat races, with a few becoming beloved by fans in the UK and beyond if they're used for several years. Some of the most famous and well-loved horse racing meets are national hunt races, including the following events in 2024:

The Grand National

Familiar to everyone in Britain as well as across the horse racing world, The Grand National is a must see for every type of punter. With a long list of horse names to choose from, and everything to play for, it is an exciting race to bet on, especially for a first timer.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Cheltenham festival is a highlight of the National Hunt chase betting calendar. Held over 4 days, it pits some of the best British and Irish jumpers against each other, concluding on the fourth day with the illustrious Gold Cup race. With 22 fences to jump, this race offers a valuable prize fund and has had some very well-known winners over the years.

King George VI Chase

This race, another very prestigious event for the National Hunt calendar, is held every year at Kempton on Boxing Day. Run over three miles, it began in 1937 and was named after the monarch at the time. It is a unique course and has seen some horses win the title multiple times because of their ability to crack it - some National Hunt chase favourites crop up at every event for years!

Betfair Chase

A newcomer to the jumpers scene, the Betfair Chase was started in 2005 at Haydock Park, and is the first Grade One Event of the National Hunt season. It has 18 fences and is run over three miles, and gives a good hint at the potential outcome of the Cheltenham Gold Cup later in the season. This also influences ante post odds for various other races to follow.

Conclusion

With National Hunt races being some of the most popular in the United Kingdom, and with the range of bonuses available so vast, any of the horse races mentioned on this page is great for someone who wants to start betting online.

Take on board our tips and use our list of recommended websites to make the most of your betting experience and, hopefully, improve your odds of picking a winner!

FAQs

Still have some questions about betting on National Hunt races? So did lots of other people! We've compiled a list of the most common queries below

Most online betting sites let you bet on all UK National Hunt races, and a selection of overseas ones too, so you should be able to find any event that you might want to bet on.

Be sure to use our tried and recommended UK betting shortlist and you should never have any issues with trust, safety or payout speed. Every site we have scored is trustworthy and safe to use.

Betting sites offer lots of bonuses for horse racing, and are continually trying to out-do their competitors with the best offers. They are especially kind to new British customers, and often do lots of promotions on popular races too.

If you don't want to just place a single bet,you can mix it up and place an accumulator, a double, a bet each way, a tricast and a whole list of other combinations. Check your chosen online betting site to see what kinds of National Hunt chase betting they offer.

Use our shortlist of the best online betting sites and you can't go wrong with finding somewhere great to place your bet; you'll always get solid ante post tips, real-time updates and a helpful horse betting experience.