William Hill has announced the launch of the “William Hill Half a Mill” Randox Grand National bonus series, a new incentive offering £500,000 to the connections of any horse that wins both a key trial race and the Randox Grand National in the same season.
The bonus applies to winners of three William Hill-sponsored races: the Becher Chase at Aintree, the Classic Chase at Warwick, and the Grand National Trial at Haydock. Should a horse claim victory in one of those races and go on to win the Grand National on 11 April 2026, the connections will receive the additional £500,000, effectively doubling the prize money for the race to £1 million.
The initiative is designed to increase competitiveness among Grand National contenders and encourage participation in the lead-up races. It mirrors past successes such as One For Arthur, who won the Classic Chase before taking the Grand National title in 2017. William Hill has priced the chances of any horse achieving the double at 8/1.
In addition to launching the new bonus, William Hill has become an Official Betting Partner of The Jockey Club under a renewed agreement aimed at reinforcing its long-standing association with British horse racing. The partnership covers several major events, including the County Hurdle and Cheltenham’s Showcase Meeting, the Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle and Old Roan at Aintree, as well as selected fixtures at Newbury and key ARC events such as the Lincoln and Futurity Trophy.
Mark Howarth, William Hill’s Director of Racing, said: “We are thrilled to launch the William Hill Half A Mill bonus this season. 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.
“This prize injection is a real incentive for connections as they plot their route to Grand National glory and we can’t wait to celebrate and follow those who take on this challenge.
“It’s also incredibly exciting to see William Hill become an Official Betting Partner of The Jockey Club. Over recent years William Hill and The Jockey Club have worked together on a host of key race sponsorships and betting partnerships, and we’re excited to strengthen our relationship with the racecourse group behind some of Britain’s best racing festivals. This agreement further shows our commitment to British racing, and we are delighted to be working even more closely with The Jockey Club.”
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.
“William Hill have been a long-term supporter of The Jockey Club and we are pleased to add them to our suite of Official Betting Partners. This new partnership and bonus incentive highlight the ongoing commitment and investment into British racing from William Hill. We look forward to working with the William Hill team and potentially seeing our first winner of the William Hill Half A Mill in April 2026!”
