Why the extra places matter
Look: most punters chase the win, the place, the show – but they miss the goldmine that lives in the back-room of the Grand National. Those extra places are the silent profit drivers that separate the casual bettor from the seasoned strategist.
What “extra places” actually are
Here is the deal: Aintree doesn’t just hand out the top three. Depending on the field size, you can snag a fourth, fifth, even sixth place payout. The rulebook says 10-15 runners get a fourth-place share, 8-12 a fifth, and if the field shrinks, a sixth shows up. That means more horses, more chances, more cash.
Spotting the undervalued runners
By the way, the horses that land those extra spots are rarely the headline makers. They’re the long-shot journeymen, the late-maturing stayers, the outsiders with a solid form behind them. You sniff out a horse that finished 5th in a handicap three weeks ago, and you’ve found a potential extra-place candidate.
Timing the bet
And here is why timing matters: the market shifts dramatically when the trainer’s comments leak out. A quick glance at the morning line, a glance at the horse’s recent trip, and you can out-maneuver the odds. Snap in a place bet early, then switch to a each-way when the price drops – that’s the play.
How to exploit the extra places
First, build a shortlist of ten horses that have a “running style” matching the Aintree track – front-runners who can settle and then hit the long stretch. Second, overlay a simple points system: form, distance, jockey, and weight. Third, overlay the extra-place odds on that sheet. The numbers will scream which horses are undervalued for the fourth or fifth place.
Real-world example
Take a look at last year’s data. The 7-year-old who finished 6th in the Cheltenham Chase ended up 5th at Aintree, cashing a place payout that most tipsters ignored. That horse’s odds were 18/1 for win, but the place payout was 2.5/1 – a massive upside.
Where to find the data
Stop scrolling endless forums. The official Aintree racing form provides the field size, the exact payout structure, and the historic finishing positions. Grab that PDF, run a quick spreadsheet, and you’ll see the extra-place pattern emerge like a neon sign.
Final actionable tip
Here’s the bottom line: before you place a bet on the Grand National, pull up the extra places at Aintree chart, pick the top three undervalued horses for the fourth and fifth slots, and lock in an each-way bet on them. That’s your edge. extra places at Aintree.