Get £40 in free bets for day two of the Grand National Festival with Sky Bet

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With the Grand National Festival well underway, Sky Bet are running a standout betting offer for day two at Aintree, giving fans the chance to get involved with up to £40 in Free Bets for Ladies' Day.

New customers can grab this Grand National betting offer by signing up through any of the links on this page and placing a qualifying bet during the festival at Aintree Racecourse.

Sky Bet Grand National Festival day two offer: bag up to £40 in free bets

Sky Bet is offering an enticing welcome bonus for the Grand National, with new users able to claim £40 in Free Bets by placing a minimum £10 qualifying bet during one of the biggest weeks in the racing calendar.

After you've placed your first bet, you'll be eligible for £40 in Free Bets to use on any event after, making it a flexible option whether you're backing favourites or searching for value in the field.

How to claim your Sky Bet Grand National Festival betting offer:

Follow the steps below to claim Sky Bet's Grand National Festival welcome offer:

1. Head on over to Sky Bet via any of the links in this article 
2. Register for a new account with your details 
3. Deposit at least £10 using a qualifying payment method 
4. Place a £10 qualifying bet on any Grand National Festival race (minimum odds apply) 
5. Get £40 in Free Bets once the requirements are met 

Sky Bet Grand National Festival £40 free bet terms and conditions:

Before placing your bet, it’s worth reading through the main conditions attached to this promotion:

1. This offer is available to new customers only. 
2. Your first bet must be a single, each-way, or multiple bet at odds of 1/1 or greater. 
3. Free Bets will be credited as four £10 tokens. 
4. Free Bet stakes are not included in returns. 
5. Free Bets are for Horse Racing multiples only. 
6. Free Bets expire after 14 days. 
7. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 

At the Racing Post, we have rounded up all of the best Grand National Festival free bets and betting offers in one place. Across the Festival, you can claim £2,000+ in bookmaker bonuses, including offers available on each day of the Grand National Festival 2026.

Aintree Festival day 2 preview

The William Hill Handicap Hurdle opens up day two, before the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' Chase, the first top-level contest of the day. Won by Caldwell Potter last year and subsequent Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin the year before, the race usually attracts a strong field.

The Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle follows, a race that has been dominated by Mullins in each of the past two years with Mystical Power and Salvator Mundi. Sober Glory, who finished a close second to Old Park Star in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, looks likely to line up in this contest. 

The Grade 1 Melling Chase has gone the way of Jonbon in the past two years, but he is unlikely to feature again with a step up in trip all but guaranteed. Heart Wood, who won the Ryanair Chase, could come here for Henry de Bromhead, while it could also be on the radar for Fact To File, who was declared a late non-runner at Cheltenham because of the quick ground. 

The Randox Topham Handicap Chase is run over the National fences and is likely to attract a maximum field of 30. Madara, trained by Dan Skelton, was one of the stand-out winners at this month’s Cheltenham Festival in the Plate Handicap Chase, and he is the market leader to follow up at Aintree. Gentleman De Mee and Firefox are also prominent in the betting and could feature for Mullins and Gordon Elliott respectively.

The Grade 1 Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle, won by Jamie Snowden with Julius Des Pictons last year, also takes place on day two, before the card concludes with the Debenhams Handicap Hurdle

Day 2 Tip

Coming Up Easy in the Topham Handicap Chase

Henry de Bromhead has several entries, but Coming Up Easy makes the most appeal.

He remains unexposed over fences after just six starts and had won all three of his previous handicap chases before disappointing when pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on soft ground, where he was sent off a 13-2 joint-third favourite.

Freshened up since then, a return to better ground could see him bounce back, and he looks capable of getting his career firmly back on track.

Grand National Festival 2026 day two race schedule

Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race

Friday, April 10, 2026

• 1.45 - William Hill Handicap Hurdle 
• 2.20 - Mildmay Novices' Chase 
• 2.55 - Thatprizeguy Top Novices' Hurdle 
• 3.30 - JCB Melling Chase
• 4.05 - Randox Topham Handicap Chase 
• 4.40 - Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle 
• 5.15 - Debenhams Handicap Hurdle 

Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race

Grand National Festival 2026 FAQs

When is the Grand National Festival 2026? 

The festival takes place over three days, April 9-11, 2026:

• Day one: Opening day and Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase 
• Day two: Ladies' Day
• Day three: Grand National day

How do I bet on the Grand National online? 

Sign up with a bookmaker, deposit funds, pick your horse and place your bet. Mobile betting apps are widely available.

How many horses run in the Grand National?

The maximum field is 34 runners, although the number may vary depending on entries.

Remember to gamble responsibly

Gambling can be an enjoyable and exciting form of entertainment, but it can also be a serious risk if not done responsibly. It is important to understand the risks associated with gambling and to take steps to minimise them. You can always call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit www.gamstop.co.uk if you need extra help or advice.

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