Bookmakers to offer a new £500,000 bonus to winners of the Becher Chase at Aintree, the Classic Chase at Warwick and the Grand National Trial at Haydock Park who also land the big one in April
11:53, 06 Nov 2025
Patrick Mullins aboard Nick Rockett after winning the 2025 Randox Grand National on day three of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 5 2025(Image: Mike Egerton/PA)
William Hill are offering a new £500,000 bonus to three traditional ‘trial’ winners who also go on to victory in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse next April.
The bookmakers will cough up the bonus to the connections of any horse who can win one of next month’s Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree, the Classic Chase at Warwick in January and the Grand National Trial at Haydock Park in February and then go on to take the world’s greatest steeplechase itself on April 11 in the new year. The £500,000 bonus is on top of any existing prize money – potentially taking the full prize-fund at Aintree in April to £1million in total.
No horse has ever won the Becher Chase and the Grand National in the same season although Earth Summit, Amberleigh House and Silver Birch won both contests over the famous fences in different seasons. The last horse and only horse to win the Classic Chase and go on to Aintree glory was Lucinda Russell’s One For Arthur in 2017.
In the Haydock Trial no horse has done the double in the same season although Freebooter, Sundew and legendary triple Grand National hero Red Rum have won both staying chases in separate campaigns. Grand National winner Neptune Collonges was a narrow runner-up at Haydock before his Aintree success in 2012.
Dickon White, regional director north west at the Jockey Club, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting William Hill with this fantastic initiative in the build up to the Randox Grand National.
“The introduction of the William Hill Half A Mill will generate a real excitement throughout the season and we hope to incentivise some of the leading Grand National contenders to try out their credentials in one of the three qualifying races.”
Mark Howarth, William Hill’s director of racing, added: “The Grand National has a special place in the British sporting calendar and we’re excited to further elevate the build-up, and to encourage as many Grand National hopes to run in some very recognised trials for the world’s greatest race.”
Cheshire trainer Oliver Greenall, who along with Josh Guerriero saddled Iroko to finish fourth in the Grand National last season, welcomed the initiative. Although the JP McManus-owned Iroko is unlikely to bid for the bonus before returning to Aintree for a second crack at the National in the spring.
Greenall said: “It’s a great initiative and the general public want to see their National contenders out and running before the National. For a horse like Iroko, though, you have to think about your mark and also running a horse consistently over a long distance, it is difficult to keep them at their peak.
“To go to their optimum trip before the big day is quite hard so I would expect with Iroko we wouldn’t look at these races and stick to shorter trips before getting him to peak on the day in April. But it could prove perfect for a horse like White Rhino who needs to build his profile and go up a few pounds to get in the race.”
