Welcome to Racing Ahead’s 2025 Grand National Edition

The Festival cheers of Cheltenham are barely hushed and we’re headlong into the thrills of Aintree‘s Grand National meeting.

The Merseyside party is looking sure to jump up with I Am Maximus hunting a weight-defying follow-up National win for a second double to crown his Dublin big-race pair – and Inothewayurthinkin chasing a sensational Aintree-Cheltenham block-buster pair.

In this bumper issue our tipsters and shrewdies provide a wealth of information – with expert pointers, stars to follow and less-noted prospects to look out for.

Paul Ferguson and Ben Morgan lead the search for winners as our columnists brighten the scene with their views and we’ve form, facts, trends and figures to give you the tools to find the fun – and help fund your enjoyment.

There’s so much more to Aintree. Saddle legend turned top pundit Mick Fitzgerald reveals all about his lifelong fascination with the world’s favourite race – and the triumph he famously claimed was “better than sex” – in a brilliant sit-down with top interviewer Nick Townsend. We recall cancer survivor Bob Champion’s tear-jerking victory in a print version of an emotional Star Sports video.

There’s always plenty going on outside the Festival glare – and Jeremy Grayson keeps us right up with the action away from the high-jinks while Rolf Johnson pushes his sharpened pen into anything hinting at pomp or absurdity in the loftier racing echelons.

It is a packed issue with plenty for any racing fan. Be lucky!

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Editor: Alex Gifford

Photos: Tracy Roberts

Art Editor: Oliver Clements

Designers: Bethany Joel, Steven Dando and James Stewart

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EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Paul Ferguson, Robert Cooper, Nick Townsend, Paul Jacobs, Andrew Ayres, Graham Buddry, Jeremy Grayson, Ian Heitman, Andy Newton

Distribution: Intermedia

Printer: Mortons, Horncastle

Opinions in Racing Ahead are those of the contributors and not necessarily the views of The Racing Paper Ltd.

ISSN: 1743-551X