2 days Ago By Evening Standard
The 2025 Grand National is now just days away and the field is taking clearer shape following the latest confirmation stage on Monday. Six horses were taken out of contention at the start of race week, including multiple Grade 1 winner L’Homme Presse, Capodanno and Velvet Elvis, but last year’s winner I Am Maximus remains on course to defend his crown. The Aintree meeting gets underway on Thursday and spans three days of high-class action, all building towards the National itself on Saturday afternoon.
In total, 57 horses remain entered in the race, but only 34 will run due to restrictions on the maximum field size, which was lowered from 40 runners between the 2023 and 2024 renewals. Final declarations will be made on Thursday, April 3, two days out from the world’s most famous steeplechase. Here are the 34 horses set to run as it stands.
.. 1.
I Am Maximus (FR) 9 11-12 Willie Mullins IRE Last year’s winner under Paul Townend, was sent off the 7/1 joint-favourite and galloped clear to win by almost eight lengths. Will have to shoulder top weight to defend his crown. 2.
Royale Pagaille (FR) 11 11-9 Venetia Williams The only horse form this year’s Gold Cup left in the race, having finished sixth at Cheltenham. Multiple Grade 1 winner but best known as a course and ground specialist at Haydock. 3.
Nick Rockett (IRE) 8 11-8 Willie Mullins IRE Slightly disappointing as a novice over fences last season, but has come to the boil this term with fine victories in the Thyestes and Bobby chases in Ireland. 4. Grangeclare West (IRE) 9 11-8 Willie Mullins IRE Talented individual but clearly difficult to keep right.
Chased Galopin Des Champs home in the Irish Gold Cup in February but then last of five stepping down in grade next time. 5. Hewick (IRE) 10 11-7 John Joseph Hanlan IRE Popular ten-year-old who was famously purchased for £800 and won King George in 2023.
A win over hurdles at Thurles in March looks to have set him up nicely. 6. Minella Indo (IRE) 12 11-3 Henry de Bromhead IRE Former Gold Cup-winning hero ran a fine race to finish third under Rachael Blackmore in this a year ago but is now a 12-year-old.
7. Appreciate It (IRE) 11 11-2 Willie Mullins IRE A Supreme winner in his novice hurdle days, scored for the first time in two years when getting his head in front at Thurles last time. Has never won beyond two-and-a-half miles, though, never mind this kind of trip.
8. Minella Cocooner (IRE) 9 11-2 Willie Mullins IRE Ran in the same Fairyhouse race as the aforementioned trio last time, finishing fourth. Has winning experience over marathon trips, landing the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last year.
9. Conflated (IRE) 11 11-2 Gordon Elliott IRE Shock Irish Gold Cup winner in 2022 and plenty more graded form in the years that followed but beyond his best now. Last seen finishing eighth in Cheltenham handicap.
10. Stumptown (IRE) 8 11-2 Gavin Cromwell IRE Left as trainer’s leading hope after Inothewayurthinkin withdrawal. Incredibly game in carrying top weight to land Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham and now follows the Tiger Roll route to Aintree.
11. Hitman (FR) 9 11-1 Paul Nicholls Perennial bridesmaid, finishing second on all three starts this season and without a win since November 2022. Unproven at the trip.
12. Beauport (IRE) 9 11-1 Nigel Twiston-Davies Dour stayer who has won the Midlands and Berkshire Nationals in the last 13 months. Campaigned over hurdles since the latter to protect handicap mark.
13. Bravemansgame (FR) 10 11 0 Paul Nicholls Among the highest-rated horses in training when following 2022 King George win with fine Gold Cup second. Has not won since, though, and looks to be going the wrong way.
14. Chantry House (IRE) 11 10 13 Nicky Henderson Former Cheltenham and Aintree festival winner, rolled back the years to land handicap at the former track on New Year’s Day but that run looks an anomaly on all other recent form. 15.
Threeunderthrufive (IRE) 10 10-12 Paul Nicholls Set to be partnered by Harry Skelton, has run well in defeat behind course specialist Victtorino at Ascot twice this year. Trainer fears he is well enough exposed, though, and sidestepped this race last year over trip concerns. 16.
Perceval Legallois (FR) 8 10-12 Gavin Cromwell IRE Another leading contender for the Cromwell team, disappointed as beaten favourite in Galway Plate and Kerry National early in the season. Has since landed pair of valuable Leopardstown handicaps, though, and is fancied. 17.
Kandoo Kid (FR) 9 10 11 Paul Nicholls Looks to be the leading Nicholls contender and choice of stable jockey Harry Cobden. Targeted at this race since finishing third in last year’s Topham and won Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November. 18.
Iroko (FR) 7 10 11 Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Owned by JP McManus and plotted for this race all season. Form of last year’s novice chase second to Inothewayurthinkin at same meeting now reads particularly well. Huge chance if getting the trip.
19. Intense Raffles (FR) 7 10-10 Tom Gibney IRE Last year’s Irish National winner was installed as the new antepost favourite following latest scratching stage. Beaten less than a length by Nick Rockett when giving away three pounds last time.
20. Senior Chief (GB) 8 10-10 Henry de Bromhead IRE Pulled up in last year’s Irish National but began the new campaign with some zest when staying on to win Cheltenham handicap. Sixth in the Coral Gold Cup and is no more than an outside chance.
21. Idas Boy (IRE) 11 10 10 Richard Phillips Another at a monster price, was bought for new owners with this day in mind after winning Irish Midlands National last year. 22.
Fil Dor (FR) 7 10-9 Gordon Elliott IRE Best known as a talented juvenile, proved just below top-class as a chaser. Still has plenty of graded form but has only once run beyond two-and-a-half miles. 23.
Broadway Boy (IRE) 7 10-9 Nigel Twiston-Davies Likeable, bold-jumping type who has always been considered a future contender for this kind of race. Pulled up in Ultimate at Cheltenham last time, though. 24.
Coko Beach (FR) 10 10-9 Gordon Elliott IRE Wonderful servant who has danced every dance in Irish handicap chases and more recently over cross country fences, but probably on the downgrade now. 25. Stay Away Fay (IRE) 8 10-9 Paul Nicholls Former Cheltenham Festival winner who even 18 months ago looked to have the potential to be top staying chaser.
Career has taken marked downturn since. 26. Meetingofthewaters (IRE) 8 10-7 Willie Mullins IRE Was well-fancied for this 12 months ago and finished a credible seventh at 11/1.
Form this season has been nothing to shout about but gets in off a similar mark and is still only eight. 27. Monbeg Genius (IRE) 9 10-6 Jonjo & AJ O’Neill Several placed efforts in good handicaps over the last few seasons before breaking winning drought at Uttoxeter in February.
28. Vanillier (FR) 10 10-6 Gavin Cromwell IRE Second in this race two years and has now slid back down the handicap to a similar mark. Roared back to life over cross country fences at Punchestown in February and ran a stormer for Cheltenham third after almost taking the wrong course.
29. Horantzau d’Airy (FR) 10-6 Michael Keady Runner-up in the Kerry and Munster Nationals before Christmas, has since left Willie Mullins to join Michael Keady, who is seeking his first winner over jumps after taking out training licence in December. 30.
Hyland (FR) 10-6 Nicky Henderson Grey has taken well to fences in encouraging novice campaign, and gets in towards the foot of the weights looking to break trainer’s long National duck. 31. Celebre D’Allen (FR) 10-6 Philip Hobbs and Johnson White Was fourth over the National fences in last year’s Topham but is a 13-year-old now and this is an almighty step up from winning at Bangor on sole start this season.
32. Three Card Brag (IRE) 10-5 Gordon Elliott Interesting runner off a lowly weight. Second-season novice has some good graded form going back to his hurdles days and has often shaped like this kind of trip may bring out more improvement.
33. Twig 10-5 Ben Pauling Hidden over hurdles for most of the season, having been aimed at this since finishing second in last year’s Ultima at Cheltenham. Disappointed on return to fences at Doncaster last time, though.
34. Duffle Coat (IRE) 10-4 Gordon Elliott Brought down when going well in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and will enjoy the ground..
