Randox Grand National
Grade 3 Handicap, Aintree 16:00 £1,000,000 guaranteed 7yo plus, 4m 2f 74y, Class 1
Tweet Saturday 5th April 2025

Last year’s Grand National winner, I Am Maximus, has been assigned the top weight of 11st 12lb as he seeks to achieve consecutive victories. The Willie Mullins-trained horse secured a commanding 7 1/2 length victory over Delta Work in 2024, delivering a third Grand National win for owner JP McManus and a second for Mullins.

Rated 167, I Am Maximus is officially 8lbs higher for this year’s race and is currently the 11/1 second favourite on the Betfair Sportsbook, having won last year as a 7/1 joint-favourite.

Trainer Willie Mullins commented on the challenge ahead:

"It was huge to win it last year for the second time. I felt very spoilt winning a second Grand National. It's top weight and it's tough, but we had an idea that it would be tough. He likes the track (Aintree). Sometimes when horses go back a second time they don't like it, but he had a good experience last year, and I’m hoping that won’t be a problem."

Mullins’ Potential 11 Runners in the 2025 Renewal

Champion trainer Willie Mullins has 11 horses entered in this year’s race, though not all are expected to start. Among his notable entries:

• Grangeclare West  – Irish Gold Cup runner-up, 11st 8lb

• Nick Rockett  – Thyestes Handicap Chase winner, 11st 8lb

• Appreciate It  – 2021 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner, 11st 2lb

• Capodanno  – 2024 Grade 2 Cotswold Chase winner, 11st 2lb

A notable contender among the Mullins-trained runners is Meetingofthewaters, who finished seventh in the 2024 Grand National off 10st 8lb. He is now one pound higher at 10st 9lb but will need some withdrawals to make the final 34-runner field. Mullins noted:

"I think Meetingofthewaters has a lovely weight. He ran very well last year, and my eye was drawn to him when I saw his weight. He's one I like."

Irish National winner Intense Raffles is set for a campaign focused primarily on hurdles early in the season, with the ultimate goal being Aintree. Trained by Tom Gibney, the six-year-old captured the spotlight at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, in just his third race in Ireland. With an 11lb rise in his handicap mark, Gibney is intent on preserving this for the Grand National, a priority for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Intense Raffles was impressive at Fairyhouse but in a race that paid to be close to the front end, did JJ Slevin nick it?

Any Second Now completed the final four furlongs nearly a second quicker than Intense Raffles but he still held on:

🥇Intense Raffles: 106.88% FSP
🥈Any… pic.twitter.com/ruveXot4ys

— RaceiQ (@Race_iQ) April 2, 2024

“He’s in good form, training well, and causing no concerns. Most of our jumpers have been back in since the end of July, and we’re making good progress,” Gibney explained.

The main target is Aintree at season's end, with the plan to work backwards from there. They aim to start him somewhere in November, though the exact location is yet to be decided. To safeguard his chase mark, he’ll be competing mainly in hurdle races this season.

Paul Nicholls, who won the Grand National in 2012 with Neptune Collonges, has five entries for 2025. Having not had a runner since 2021, the Ditcheat trainer is back with strong contenders and stated:

"We haven't had anything suitable for a good few years, so it's nice to have some horses with nice chances. It's conceivable that they could all go there."

Rachael Blackmore, who made history in 2021 by winning the Grand National aboard Minella Times, could have multiple rides available from trainer Henry De Bromhead, who has four potential entries:

• Envoi Allen  – Rated 163, 11st 8lb

• Monty’s Star  – Rated 160, 11st 5lb

• Minella Indo – Rated 158, 11st 3lb

• Senior Chief  – Rated 151, 10st 10lb

However, De Bromhead is likely to run only two in the race, stating:

"Envoi is heading for the Ryanair Chase, and Monty’s Star is aiming for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. Minella Indo and Senior Chief are both aimed at the Grand National."

British Horseracing Authority Handicapper Martin Greenwood noted the high standard of this year’s entries:

*"There are 41 entries rated 150 or more, the most at this stage since 2020. The race is standing up well in terms of quality.

The 55th horse on the list got into the race last year, so I estimate you’ll need a rating of 145-147 to make the 2025 lineup.

I Am Maximus is on an 8lb higher mark than in 2024, running off a rating of 167. If successful, he will win off the highest mark seen in the 21st century."*

Randox Health Grand National
Grade 3, £1,000,000 guaranteed
7yo plus, 4m 2f 74y, Class 1
86 remaining entries
Going:

NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Feb 18)
1 311-P8 I Am Maximus 9 11-12 W P Mullins
2 1F-1P6 Royale Pagaille 11 11-9 Venetia Williams
3 224-1U Envoi Allen 11 11-8 Henry De Bromhead
4 11-P62 Grangeclare West 9 11-8 W P Mullins
5 24-31P L'Homme Presse 10 11-8 Venetia Williams
6 273-41 Nick Rockett 8 11-8 W P Mullins
7 323257 Hewick 10 11-7 Miss Tara Lee Cogan
8 P5-433 Gentlemansgame 9 11-5 M F Morris
9 11-754 Inothewayurthinkin 7 11-5 Gavin Cromwell
10 12-225 Monty's Star 8 11-5 Henry De Bromhead
11 P5-U14 The Real Whacker 9 11-4 Patrick Neville
12 443-26 Minella Indo 12 11-3 Henry De Bromhead
13 2-5351 Appreciate It 11 11-2 W P Mullins
14 40-8P4 Capodanno 9 11-2 W P Mullins
15 6U5870 Conflated 11 11-2 Gordon Elliott
16 62-504 Delta Work 12 11-2 Gordon Elliott
17 31-589 Minella Cocooner 9 11-2 W P Mullins
18 3-U111 Stumptown 8 11-2 Gavin Cromwell
19 1P-132 Beauport 9 11-1 Nigel Twiston-Davies
20 83-222 Hitman 9 11-1 Paul Nicholls
21 6-2383 Bravemansgame 10 11-0 Paul Nicholls
22 9-5515 Chantry House 11 10-13 Nicky Henderson
23 8544-2 Galvin 11 10-13 Gordon Elliott
24 286411 Perceval Legallois 8 10-12 Gavin Cromwell
25 210-32 Threeunderthrufive 10 10-12 Paul Nicholls
26 50-740 Fakir d'Oudairies 10 10-11 Joseph O'Brien
27 52-2F4 Iroko 7 10-11 Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
28 2P23-1 Kandoo Kid 9 10-11 Paul Nicholls
29 3F-144 Trelawne 9 10-11 Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls
30 -F0310 Idas Boy 11 10-10 Richard Phillips
31 111-90 Intense Raffles 7 10-10 Thomas Gibney
32 110-52 Limerick Lace 8 10-10 Gavin Cromwell
33 21P-16 Senior Chief 8 10-10 Henry De Bromhead
34 35-324 Broadway Boy 7 10-9 Nigel Twiston-Davies
35 3U5002 Coko Beach 10 10-9 Gordon Elliott
36 F52PP- Farouk d'Alene 10 10-9 Gary Brown
37 P21243 Fil Dor 7 10-9 Gordon Elliott
38 702165 French Dynamite 10 10-9 M F Morris
39 2UP-PR Mr Incredible 9 10-9 Sandy Thomson
40 13PP-P Stay Away Fay 8 10-9 Paul Nicholls
41 5-3254 Zanahiyr 8 10-9 Gordon Elliott
42 -11230 Pinkerton 9 10-8 Noel Meade
43 U37-00 Meetingofthewaters 8 10-7 W P Mullins
44 2P-1P9 Minella Drama 10 10-7 Donald McCain
45 /P1-02 Velvet Elvis 9 10-7 Gavin Cromwell
46 45U4-1 Celebre d'Allen 13 10-6 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
47 19-1PP Fontaine Collonges 10 10-6 Venetia Williams
48 F22999 Horantzau d'Airy 8 10-6 W P Mullins
49 -14112 Hyland 8 10-6 Nicky Henderson
50 5P-241 Monbeg Genius 9 10-6 Jonjo & A J O'Neill
51 0-P691 Vanillier 10 10-6 Gavin Cromwell
52 P-1P65 Minella Crooner 9 10-5 Gordon Elliott
53 1/1P1/ Quick Wave 12 10-5 Venetia Williams
54 -33713 Three Card Brag 8 10-5 Gordon Elliott
55 25-2P7 Twig 10 10-5 Ben Pauling
56 1352P4 Duffle Coat 8 10-4 Gordon Elliott
57 29-215 Roi Mage 13 10-4 Patrick Griffin
58 110-F5 Shakem Up'arry 11 10-4 Ben Pauling
59 61-423 Fantastic Lady 10 10-3 Nicky Henderson
60 4F1-83 Favori De Champdou 10 10-3 Gordon Elliott
61 19-34U Yeah Man 8 10-3 Gavin Cromwell
62 5P3P04 Chemical Energy 9 10-2 Gordon Elliott
63 11-P0U Macdermott 7 10-2 W P Mullins
64 263-22 Mister Coffey 10 10-2 Nicky Henderson
65 13P-11 Mr Vango 9 10-2 Mrs Sara V Bradstock
NR 4 Bronn 8 10-1 Thomas Gibney NON-RUNNER
67 -P4300 Desertmore House 10 10-1 Martin Brassil
68 7254-3 Malina Girl 8 10-1 Gavin Cromwell
69 0-4232 Richmond Lake 9 10-1 Donald McCain
70 41P314 La Renommee 7 10-0 Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole
71 -1113P King Turgeon 7 9-13 David Pipe
72 415310 Stuzzikini 7 9-13 Gordon Elliott
73 11-47P Cruz Control 8 9-12 Tom Lacey
74 02-2U3 Surrey Quest 8 9-12 Toby Lawes
75 1-4222 Apple Away 8 9-11 Lucinda Russell
76 P-0664 Busselton 8 9-11 Joseph O'Brien
77 PPP-09 Gevrey 9 9-11 Gordon Elliott
78 36-P07 Spanish Harlem 7 9-11 W P Mullins
79 P0P775 The Goffer 8 9-10 Gordon Elliott
80 U4-231 Famous Bridge 9 9-9 Nicky Richards
81 112214 Copperhead 11 9-7 Joe Tizzard
82 P0-P44 Escaria Ten 11 9-7 Martin Keighley
83 148-P0 Where It All Began 9 9-7 Gordon Elliott
84 623-04 Git Maker 9 9-6 Jamie Snowden
85 2/53/3 Gericault Roque 9 9-4 David Pipe
86 /0/6-6 Pats Fancy 10 9-3 Rebecca Curtis
87 -431O5 Placenet 8 9-3 D Cottin
NR Gerri Colombe 9 - Gordon Elliott NON-RUNNER
NR Your Own Story 9 - Lucinda Russell NON-RUNNER
NR Motu Fareone 9 - D Cottin NON-RUNNER