The National is a managerial game where you are a trainer in a stable with a collection of horses, and you race your horses in various races over a season with the aim to win The Derby, Grand National and to be Top Trainer of the Year. Starting on the main menu, you have various options that allow you to buy more horses, train your horses, hire jockeys, place bets, edit names, see the tables, seasons fixtures and see details about the next race. To train a horse you have to select one to race then either train it for the distance or the going. You are also able to put a horse into to stud to make money, and the more successful the horse is the more money you receive.

Each race shows you the prize money, distance, going and the form and odds of all the horses running. You have various options when placing bets on horses like win, place and you can pick a horse to finish higher than another horse. Once you are happy with your selections you then watch the race which is viewed from above and the horses which are numbers move vertically up the screen. Once the race is over you see the positions before going to the main menu to prepare for the next race.