William Hill are offering a new £500,000 bonus to three traditional 'trial' winners who also go on to victory in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse next April.

The bookmakers will cough up the bonus to the connections of any horse who can win one of next month's Becher Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree, the Classic Chase at Warwick in January and the Grand National Trial at Haydock Park in February and then go on to take the world's greatest steeplechase itself on April 11 in the new year. The £500,000 bonus is on top of any existing prize money - potentially taking the full prize-fund at Aintree in April to £1million in total.

No horse has ever won the Becher Chase and the Grand National in the same season although Earth Summit, Amberleigh House and Silver Birch won both contests over the famous fences in different seasons. The last horse and only horse to win the Classic Chase and go on to Aintree glory was Lucinda Russell's One For Arthur in 2017.

In the Haydock Trial no horse has done the double in the same season although Freebooter, Sundew and legendary triple Grand National hero Red Rum have won both staying chases in separate campaigns. Grand National winner Neptune Collonges was a narrow runner-up at Haydock before his Aintree success in 2012.

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."

Mark Howarth, William Hill's director of racing, added: "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."