Prize money at the Midlands Grand National has reached a new high, and the race’s place in the National Hunt calendar is clearer than ever. Here is what we know about the purse, who backs it, and how it compares to the sport’s biggest day.
The Midlands Grand National Now Offers a £160,000 Prize Fund
Uttoxeter Racecourse and the Arena Racing Company announced in January 2025 that the Midlands Grand National would be run as the Jenningsbet Midlands Grand National, with the prize fund increased to £160,000 for the first time. The race was run on Saturday 15 March 2025 and remains the feature of the season at the Staffordshire track. According to Uttoxeter’s executive director Brian Barrass, the increase and the new sponsor were a clear step forward for the race and for the course on its busiest day of the year.
Jenningsbet, the UK’s largest independent retail bookmaker with around 200 branches and a strong presence in the Midlands, took over as title sponsor from the previous partner. Greg Knight, CEO of Jenningsbet, said the deal fitted the firm’s expansion and its support for British horse racing, with ITV Racing coverage and a large on-course presence. The same season, British racing overall saw record prize money: the Racing Post reported that total prize money in Britain in 2025 rose by 3.5% to £194.7 million, so the Midlands Grand National’s £160,000 sits within a wider pattern of growth in the sport.
Where the Race Sits in the Calendar and Why the Purse Matters
The Midlands Grand National is a Class 1 handicap chase run over about four miles and two furlongs at Uttoxeter. It is widely recognised as the second-longest race in the Jump racing calendar after the Grand National at Aintree, and with 24 fences it is a major test of stamina. The race was first run in 1969 and has been won by horses such as Synchronised (2010), who went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and more recently by Mr Vango (2025, Jack Tudor, Sara Bradstock), Beauport (2024, Jordan Nailor, Nigel Twiston-Davies), and Major Dundee (2023, Rex Dingle, Alan King). The course is left-handed, just over a mile and two furlongs in circumference, and the track’s proximity to the crowd is part of what makes the day a popular draw.
On Midlands Grand National Day the card typically includes seven jump races. For the 2025 renewal, the BBC reported that thousands attended and that the day offered a record total prize pool of £386,500 across all races. That underlines the day’s importance to the course and to owners and trainers targeting a valuable long-distance handicap. Official place-by-place breakdowns for the £160,000 Midlands Grand National are published by the racecourse and in the Racing Post; for the exact distribution in any given year, those are the authoritative sources.
The race is run under handicap conditions, so horses carry weight according to their official rating. That gives a broad range of runners a chance and has produced surprise winners alongside fancied horses. In 2019 Potters Corner won at Uttoxeter before going on to win the Welsh Grand National; in 2010 Synchronised won the Midlands Grand National and later the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National at Aintree. The course layout at Uttoxeter, with its twists and a long home straight, tends to favour horses that stay and jump well, and the distance makes the race a recognised trial for staying chasers.
What This Actually Means
The £160,000 fund is a serious amount for a single race outside the very top tier. It does not match the Grand National’s £1 million at Aintree, but it confirms the Midlands Grand National as one of the most valuable long-distance chases in Britain and a clear target for staying handicappers. The Jenningsbet deal and the increase show that sponsors and the course are willing to invest in the race, and the record crowd and card prize money in 2025 support that. For anyone asking what we know about Midlands Grand National prize money: the total is £160,000, it was increased for the 2025 season, and the race is the centrepiece of a major day at Uttoxeter with a growing profile.
What Is the Midlands Grand National?
The Midlands Grand National is a Class 1 handicap steeplechase run every March at Uttoxeter Racecourse in Staffordshire, England. It is run over about four miles and two furlongs and 24 fences, making it the second-longest race in the British Jump calendar after the Grand National at Aintree. The race was first run in 1969; the first winner was Happy Spring, ridden by Ken White. The course is owned and operated as part of the Arena Racing Company (ARC) portfolio. The event is typically held on the Saturday after the Cheltenham Festival and is televised on ITV Racing. Uttoxeter is a National Hunt-only course and stages roughly 25 meetings a year, with the Midlands Grand National as its flagship race.
How Does Midlands Grand National Prize Money Compare to the Grand National?
The Grand National at Aintree offers a total prize fund of £1 million, with the winner receiving in the region of £561,000 and payouts down to tenth place. By contrast, the Midlands Grand National’s total fund is £160,000, so it is about one-sixth of Aintree’s purse. That still makes it one of the most valuable long-distance handicap chases in the country and a key target for connections of staying chasers who may also be aiming at Aintree or other marathon races. Prize money at both races is typically confirmed and published by the racecourses and in the racing press ahead of each running.
Where Can You Find the Latest Midlands Grand National Prize Money?
For the most up-to-date total and place-by-place breakdown, the best sources are the racecourse itself and the racing media. Uttoxeter Racecourse publishes news and race information on its website, including sponsor and prize-money announcements. The Racing Post carries full racecards and prize-money details for every British meeting, including the Midlands Grand National. For 2025, the figure to use is £160,000 as the total prize fund for the Jenningsbet Midlands Grand National; for 2026 and beyond, check the racecourse or the Racing Post once the fixture and conditions are announced. No single page holds a permanent list of historical payouts, but the racecourse and the sport’s governing body and press routinely report changes when they are made.
Sources
Uttoxeter Racecourse, Uttoxeter Racecourse – Midlands Grand National, Grand National Prize Money, Racing Post, BBC News