The Grand National is a race that often sees a very strange run-up, with some horses making a name for themselves and others keeping their powder dry to stay ahead of the handicapper.

Weights for the Grand National will be released next Tuesday, and any run after that will not affect the runners in any way, other than by imposing a penalty. It often means that trainers will wait to get their final preparations into their horses, to try and avoid any last-minute hikes in ratings.

But this year could be very different, thanks to William Hill and a huge Grand National bonus that they’ve unveiled as part of a sponsorship deal that has started this season.

The Haydock Grand National Trial, one of the big, recognised trial races ahead of the Aintree showpiece, will take place this Saturday, and is the last race eligible for the bonus.

Previously, we’ve seen the Becher Chase and Classic Chase be part of this bonus. Their winners have the chance to land it with a Grand National win.

The @WilliamHill Grand National Trial on 14 Feb is more than a race, it’s one of the final chances to qualify for the William Hill Half A Mill 🎉

🏆 £500,000 awaits the connections of any horse that can complete a famous Trial/Grand National double in the same season. pic.twitter.com/ZHNBaZggHu

— Haydock Park Races (@haydockraces) February 2, 2026

Half a million pounds is up for grabs. The winner of the Grand National Trial will be one of three runners that could land it, joining Twig (Becher Chase winner) and My Silver Lining (Classic Chase winner).

Winning it? Well, that’s not going to be easy. The Grand National is one of the toughest tests in racing, never mind landing one of these three trials, too.

Following in the Footsteps of Greatness

Four horses have previously won the Grand National Trial and then gone on to win the Grand National in the same year, so it’s not exactly an easy task.

Freebooter, Sundew, Red Rum and Party Politics are the four to have completed this, doing it at a time when the Grand National was worth far less, and this bonus wasn’t in place.

Now the stakes are higher than ever before, and the entries for the race on Saturday are showing it, with plenty of runners and plenty of National entries amongst the entered field.

Whoever wins will see changes to the Grand National declarations, new for 2026 at Aintree, should they go on to that race.

A Risk Worth Taking?

There is a flip side to this, of course, and while some will see the half a million bonus, plus huge Grand National prize money, of course, and see it as a no-brainer, others may resist temptation.

Why? Well, to give themselves more chance of winning the Grand National, in their opinion, by running after the National weights have been published.

A big win on Saturday may set someone up to bag themselves a fortune, should they win the Grand National. But if that means a rise in the weights, and a big one of 6lb+, then that could be the end of their chances to win the big one.

I know many will argue that the weights for a race like the Grand National are not an exact science anyway, due to the nature of the race, but this will have to be taken into consideration.

Prize money for the winner is huge, and while this is a massive cherry on top, it is exactly that, the cherry on top.

Intended runners look strong, though. Myretown is catching the eye of trainer Lucinda Russell, who knows what it takes to win the Grand National.

Elsewhere, I’m not surprised at all to see Deafening Silence in the race for Harry Skelton. Third in the Welsh Grand National, he looks a tailor-made runner for this type of race, but rated just 133 at the moment, he’ll probably need to be at least 6lbs higher to have a chance of getting into the race.

He’s one of the few runners who want a weight rise, instead of trying to hide from one, so I am sure he’ll be going all out to win this, and win it well, on Saturday.

Richmond Lake is another in that category, rated slightly higher at 136, but he probably needs a small amount to get in as well. Trained by Donald McCain, a man famous for his family’s Grand National exploits, it’s clear to see that the big guns are aiming at this big pot.