Experienced journalist and editor covering the sports and betting industry. A football, NFL and rugby specialist, he is a FWA member and judge at the Football Content Awards.
We speak to Ben Head, Director at BetGoodwin, as they get ready for this year’s Grand National.
BetGoodwin is the online arm of Goodwin Racing, which has been operating for nearly 30 years. The bookmaker has been a stand out for customer service, still running its popular, personal phone betting service today. It remains a big part of their racing offering and will play available to punters ahead of the big race.
OLBG: Does BetGoodwin have any specific plans ahead of the Grand National?
BH: We’re huge horse racing lovers and have a proud, longstanding association with the sport. We believe that our horse racing concessions are among the best in the business, so our punters are spoiled all year round.
OLBG: As the Grand National approaches, do you find there is a bit of a lull after Cheltenham? Or do punters’ attentions switch straight to Aintree as soon as Cheltenham finishes?
BH: This year there has definitely been a bit of a lull. I think that’s mainly down to the fact that there are not many big events going on between the two festivals, coupled with a gap in the Premier League football schedule, too. As a result the last week has definitely been a bit quiet. The other thing to factor in are the results at Cheltenham this year. Having so many bookie-friendly results during the week, I reckon the punters are probably still licking their wounds a bit.
OLBG: How does your planning for the Grand National compare to Cheltenham?
BH: Generally we have better customer retention through Cheltenham than the Grand National. We tend to see a lot of punters signing up for Cheltenham and then staying active on the site all year round, this varies to the National, which sees all of the "one bet per year" punters come out to play. It’s a bit of a cliché but it’s definitely still the case. Regardless, we're excited to see some big stakes, but hopefully not too many big returns.
OLBG: Is it easier for you as a bookmaker given the lottery type nature of the Grand National? Can you relax a bit more compared to other major festivals and meets?
BH: There’s probably a perception that that’s the case, but it doesn’t work quite like that to be honest. It's hard to relax whenever a big event like Cheltenham or the Grand National is on these days. The time of the lottery style Grand Nationals is diminishing year by year. The conditions of the race are ever changing and the quality of horses running in the race is constantly getting better and better – those prominent in the market are going to take some beating. If you take a look at the last few editions, five of the last six winners have had an SP of 11/1 or less, and the last two years has seen the favourite win on both occasions.
OLBG: A big part of your USP at BetGoodwin is your phone service, does that ramp up for the Grand National?
BH: It does. We love the Grand National over here at Goodwin Racing, and our staff do too. The customer is king at Goodwin Racing, and we believe the phone service offers a personal touch to our customers’ betting experience, which some of the other firms can't match, so it’s a win-win for our staff as much as our customers. The Grand National is the biggest day of the year for us by a country mile, and we really look forward to it and its buildup.
Best Pay by Phone Betting Sites
OLBG: Have you noticed any changes with how punters treat the Grand National over the last five or so years?
BH: With so many top class horses at the front end of the betting they tend to make up the majority of the market. As a result, our book is now as top heavy as it ever has been. Having said that, there's normally a few big prices that attract plenty of each way support, especially as we’re paying six places, and that of course means a big liability along with it, too. It was only a matter of days ago, but Cheltenham reminded everyone that there's still room for a long shot to take home glory.
OLBG: Casual punters will know about the Grand National, but what other races are worth highlighting from the festival this week?
BH: On the opening day there is The Foxhunters Chase, one for the amateur riders, and it’s a great spectacle over the National fences. Also, The Aintree Bowl attracts a top quality field with £250k prize money on offer – run just over three miles, it’s a must watch.
OLBG: From a personal perspective, what's your favourite Grand National memory?
BH: It has to be Tiger Roll winning back to back Nationals in 2018 and 2019. That’s absolutely from my own point of view because it cost the firm a right few quid. But that horse is such a legend sometimes you put those things aside, even for us bookmakers.
