How to Run a
Grand National
Sweepstake 2026

2026 Grand National — Key Facts

The final confirmed list of runners will be announced on Wednesday 8th April 2026. If you're running a sweepstake before then, you can draw from the full expected field and adjust for any late withdrawals.

What Is a Grand National Sweepstake?

A Grand National sweepstake is a simple way to make the race more exciting for a group of people. Each participant is randomly assigned one of the horses running in the race. If your horse wins — or places, depending on your rules — you win the prize pot.

Traditionally, sweepstakes involved writing horse names on pieces of paper and drawing them from a hat. Today, SquadGames makes the whole thing digital and instant — no paper, no spreadsheets, and no arguments about fairness.

How to Run a Grand National Sweepstake in 2026

Here's the simplest way to set up your sweepstake this year:

1. 1
   Download SquadGames (free) Available on iOS and Android. Takes about 30 seconds to sign up.
2. 2
   Create your squad Give it a name — your group chat name, your office team, whatever fits.
3. 3
   Invite your friends Share the invite link into your WhatsApp group, email it round the office, or add people directly from your contacts.
4. 4
   The horses are drawn automatically Once everyone has joined, SquadGames randomly assigns a horse to each person. No manual draw needed.
5. 5
   Watch the race and see who wins Follow the action on race day. The app shows everyone's horse so you can cheer each other on.

Set Up Your Sweepstake Now

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Why Use an App Instead of a Paper Draw?

The traditional paper-in-a-hat approach works fine if everyone's in the same room. But most sweepstakes today involve people spread across offices, family group chats, and friend circles who might be watching from different locations.

SquadGames solves the remote sweepstake problem: share one link, everyone joins from their phone, and the draw happens fairly and automatically. Nobody has to trust that the person running it didn't peek at the names.

It also means your sweepstake is saved — you can check who's got which horse at any point on race day without hunting for a crumpled piece of paper.

Grand National Sweepstake Rules

The standard sweepstake rules are simple:

• 🏆 First place — takes the majority of the prize pot (e.g. 70%)
• 🥈 Second place — takes a smaller share (e.g. 20%)
• 🥉 Third place — takes the remainder (e.g. 10%)

If you have more people than horses (the Grand National field is capped at 34), some participants can be assigned two horses each, or you can run a free sweepstake with no prize money at all — which is exactly what SquadGames is designed for.

2026 Grand National Runners

The 2026 Grand National is run over 4 miles 2½ furlongs at Aintree, with a maximum of 34 runners. Previous winner Nick Rockett is among the horses expected to feature, alongside other Irish-trained contenders who have dominated the race in recent years.

Office Sweepstakes for the Grand National

The Grand National is the most popular event for office sweepstakes in the UK. Even people who never bet on horse racing will join in for the National. Here's how to make it work in an office setting:

Option 1 — Free sweepstake, no money

Use SquadGames to draw horses for everyone in the office. The winner gets bragging rights and maybe a box of chocolates. No cash changes hands, no legal grey areas.

Option 2 — Small entry fee, prize pot

Collect £1–£5 per person before the race. Whoever has the winning horse takes the pot. Keep the amounts small and it stays a bit of fun. SquadGames handles the draw — you handle the money separately.

Frequently Asked Questions