By Callum Close
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The eyes of the world will focus on Merseyside in only four days’ time, when Britain’s most famous steeplechase comes under starters’ orders – the Grand National.
Watched by an estimated 600 million people worldwide, the race will see 30 horses battle for glory over two laps of the iconic Aintree Racecourse.
It is a chance for all involved to write themselves into the history books and to be remembered as one of those who defied 30 fences and the 4m2f trip.
The event is prominent in British culture with those who don’t bet or care for horse racing, taking an interest for one day only.
From the thunderous hooves to the roar of the crowd to the gathering of families around televisions and sweepstakes amongst colleagues, there really is nothing like the Grand National.
The Main Contenders
Current ante-post markets have Intense Raffles trading as the 7/1 favourite to win the 2025 Grand National.
The seven-year-old has yet to race on British shores, having been campaigned in Ireland since arriving from France in 2023, but has been described as “a dream” by trainer Tom Gibney.
He also won last year’s Irish Grand National, defeating twice placed national and 2019 KIm Muir winning horse Any Second Now.
Despite the fact that he is likely to encounter faster ground than before, he is certainly worth his place at the top of the market.
McManus Duo
A trio of horses are next in the betting, at 8/1, including last year’s winner ‘I am Maximus’.
The horse will look to be the first since Tiger Roll to win back-to-back Nationals when he arrives in Liverpool for renowned owner/trainer combination JP McManus and Willie Mullins.
Whilst the 2023 Martin Pipe winner Iroko is the other McManus owned horse trading at the same price, he has won only once since that Cheltenham Festival victory.
Stumptown
Despite being unexposed at the marathon trip and some good runs in defeat behind trainer Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning and Galopin Des Champs’ conqueror Inothewayurthinkin, it may pay dividends to follow this year’s Cross Country winner Stumptown.
Trainer Gavin Cromwell’s horse was given a confident ride by Keith Donoghue at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, where he ended up winning nicely.
The Irish challenger has won all three of his races this season – two of which were over marathon trips – and is undefeated since last year.
“He’s off the same mark as he was when finishing second here a couple of years ago, which certainly gives us hope that he could run well,” said Cromwell in his blog.
Hewick
John Hanlon-trained Hewick is another fancied horse in the market at 10/1.
Despite not hitting the highs of his 2023 King George VI victory, the gelding has run some good races in defeat – including behind Envoi Allen in the 2024 Ladbrokes Champion Chase.
His trainer opted to send him to Thurles instead of the Cheltenham Festival, where he beat Mullins-trained Asterion Forlonge.
“I think we’ll miss the Gold Cup, the National is the plan and has been for a while,” Hanlon claimed upon returning from a training ban.
Irish Domination
The Grand National is a race that has been dominated by Irish runners over recent years.
Since Many Clouds’ victory in 2015, six winners have come from over the Irish Sea.
Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell has been Britain’s sole representative in the winners enclosure, when she trained the 2017 and 2023 winners.
However, according to the market, she has no fancied runners in this year’s Grand National.
READ MORE: Max Factor – Ben Morgan’s Grand National 2025 Racing Tips
