The top 34 runners for the 2025 Grand National were all declared and jockeys submitted - who will win the big one at Aintree?
Each of the top 34 runners for the 2025 Grand National has been declared, so Duffle Coat is confirmed as last in at #34, with Shakem Up'Arry, Roi Mage, Favori De Champdou and Fantastic Lady as the reserves.
In terms of jockey bookings for the world's most famous race, Paul Townend retains the ride on I Am Maximus, with Patrick Mullins landing the gig on Nick Rockett.
Brian Hayes takes Grangeclare West, with Danny Mullins on Meetingofthewaters following Jonathan Burke being booked for Minella Cocooner earlier in the week. Rachael Blackmore has chosen to ride Minella Indo out of the Henry De Bromhead pair.
Make sure you check out all the best bookmaker offers for the week through oddschecker.
Betfred
- Huge range of regular promotions
- 24/7 live chat service
- PickYourPunt builder for custom bets
Grand National Runners Guide
Steve Ryder analyses the 34 runners currently in place to contest the 2025 Grand National on the final day of the Aintree Festival.
I Am Maximus
Secured victory in last year’s race with a rating of 159 and will compete this year with a mark just 8lb higher. Similar to last season, he placed poorly at Leopardstown in Grade 1 races over Christmas and at the Dublin Racing Festival. He missed his preparation run in the Bobbyjo Chase, which he won last year, due to a respiratory infection.
Royale Pagaille
Claimed his second Grade 1 Betfair Chase win this season on soft ground but has underperformed since. He’d likely prefer softer conditions than those expected on race day.
Nick Rockett
Matches many recent trends for the race (age, first-time entry, second-season chaser, fewer than 10 fence runs, won last outing, never fallen or unseated) and comes into the event in good shape. He triumphed in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January off a mark of 152, then won the Bobbyjo Chase last time out, a race his stablemate I Am Maximus won the previous year before taking this title.
Grangeclare West
A fragile nine-year-old with just 11 races under rules in his career. He won a Grade 1 Novice Chase at Leopardstown last season and performed well to take 2nd behind Galopin Des Champs in this year’s Irish Gold Cup. However, he disappointed when finishing last of five in the Grade 2 Webster Cup Chase at Navan last time.
Hewick
Took the 2023 King George VI Chase at Kempton and came a close 2nd at Down Royal in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase this season in November. He won over hurdles at Thurles last time on good ground; the firmer the surface, the better his prospects. Gavin Sheehan will ride him for the first time since that King George VI Chase triumph.
Minella Indo
A 12-year-old who won the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup and was runner-up the following year. He placed 2nd on his return at Punchestown but struggled at Navan, finishing 6th and beaten by 25 lengths over hurdles last time.
Appreciate It
An 11-year-old who won the 2021 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He notched his third win over fences last time at Thurles in the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase, outpacing two higher-rated stablemates under Sean O’Keefe.
Minella Cocooner
Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last season off a mark of 151 and will race here off a mark just 6lb higher. He was soundly beaten in Grade 1s on his first three outings this season behind horses like Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs, before finishing 4th, 8 ¼ lengths behind Nick Rockett, in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last time.
Conflated
An 11-year-old who won two Grade 1s in 2022. He finished a decent 8th in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival last time, despite a significant error at the second-last fence, but faces a tough task off the same mark.
Stumptown
This eight-year-old has been a revelation since switching to Cross Country chases and has been unfortunate not to win his last five races. He defied a rating of 157 to win by seven lengths at the Cheltenham Festival last time, wearing cheekpieces for the first time, and races here off the same mark.
Hitman
Needs to prove his stamina over this distance, having only won up to 2m5½f in his career. He’s finished 2nd in all three starts this season and tends to lack the finishing kick you’d hope for.
Beauport
Competes in the iconic colours of Corbiere, the 1983 winner of this race, and is trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has won it twice as a trainer. This nine-year-old won the Berkshire National at Ascot by 31 lengths earlier this season and has since placed in two Graded hurdles. Sam Twiston-Davies’ pick over stablemate Broadway Boy.
Bravemansgame
Paul Nicholls has secured James Reveley to ride this 2022 King George VI Chase winner. He last finished 3rd in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury and should relish the distinctive jumping challenge.
Chantry House
Stunned his team by winning at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day by 6½ lengths but was well beaten in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase next time out. This 11-year-old has two previous Grade 1 wins, but both owner and trainer seem to have stronger contenders.
Threeunderthrufive
Paul Nicholls has enlisted Harry Skelton to ride this 10-year-old, who nearly repeated his Swinley Chase success last time, finishing 2nd to Ascot specialist Victtorino. He performs better on firmer ground and will enjoy this unique jumping test.
Perceval Legallois
Another well-backed runner owned by JP McManus, he won over hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival after taking the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas. This eight-year-old has never raced outside Ireland but could be a top contender if he handles the journey.
Kandoo Kid
Harry Cobden’s choice among Paul Nicholls’ five runners in the race. He won the Coral Gold Cup on his return at Newbury in November off a mark of 145 and is now just 7lb higher. His last prep run at Newbury was over an unsuitable distance, and he aims to follow in Many Clouds’ footsteps, who won the Coral Gold Cup (formerly the Hennessy) before this race in 2015.
William Hill
- Solid in-play betting service
- Cash-in option to help increase profitability
- Excellent reputation within the UK betting-industry
Iroko
Another strong contender for JP McManus, earmarked for this race early this season. This seven-year-old won the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023 and was 2nd to the subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin at Aintree in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase last season. His longest win is over 2m4f, so stamina is a concern, as is his fall at Ascot earlier this season.
Intense Raffles
A progressive seven-year-old trained by Tom Gibney, he won the Irish Grand National on his final run last season. He struggled in his first two hurdle races this season before finishing 2nd, just ¾ length behind Nick Rockett, in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last time. He thrives on soft and heavy ground.
Senior Chief
Won at Cheltenham in October on his return before finishing 6th in the Coral Gold Cup behind Kandoo Kid. He was mid-pack over hurdles last time at Naas but could attract support.
Idas Boy
Once a top-class chaser for Gigginstown House Stud and Noel Meade, he showed little promise on his debut for new trainer Richard Phillips at Doncaster.
Fil Dor
Purchased for 620,000 euros at last year’s Caldwell dispersal sale, he’s only won once since—a match race at Thurles at odds of 1/40. He finished 3rd in the Grade 2 Webster Cup Chase at Navan last time over 2m4½f and must prove his stamina over this longer distance.
Broadway Boy
Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, this seven-year-old placed behind Senior Chief and Kandoo Kid earlier this season but has since disappointed at Cheltenham in his last two outings.
Coko Beach
A 10-year-old who has run in the last three editions of this race, with his best result being 8th, beaten by 66 lengths, in 2022. He finished 9th in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time and faces a tough challenge again this year.
Stay Away Fay
Won the 2023 Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and his first two fence races. With form figures of PPP0, he’s difficult to back.
Meetingofthewaters
Came 7th in this race last year off a mark of 147 and will run off a 1lb higher mark this time. He’s performed poorly in his three starts this season, including a race off a mark of just 112 over hurdles on his second-last outing.
Monbeg Genius
Finished 3rd behind Corach Rambler in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023. He won by five lengths at Uttoxeter last time off a mark of 142 and races here off a 5lb higher mark. Soft ground would suit him.
Vanillier
Was 2nd to Corach Rambler in this race in 2023, beaten by just 2 ¼ lengths off a mark of 147, before finishing 14th last season off 151. He races off 147 again this year and arrives in better form. He beat Coko Beach by 18 lengths in first-time blinkers in February and was 3rd behind Stumptown at the Cheltenham Festival, despite nearly veering off course.
Horantzau d’Airy
An eight-year-old formerly trained by Willie Mullins, bought for 50,000gns at an online auction, and now with Michael Keady. He’s finished mid-field at Leopardstown in his last two races after two solid runner-up efforts earlier this season.
Hyland
Won his first two races this season at Cheltenham before finishing behind The Jukebox Man in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He was a beaten favourite when 2nd at Kempton in February in the Ladbrokes Trophy. His best form is on good ground.
Celebre D'Allen
A 13-year-old who has completed the Becher Chase and Topham Chase courses twice and enters this race after winning at Bangor in November.
Three Card Brag
Chased home Corbetts Cross, Monty’s Star, and Spillane’s Tower as a novice chaser last season before winning a Beginners Chase at Navan in January. He was 3rd in a Grade 2 Novice Chase at Navan in February behind stablemates Better Days Ahead and Stellar Story, who both placed in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Twig
Finished 2nd in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season off a mark of 143 and races here off a 3lb higher mark. He ran over hurdles in his first three starts this season before finishing 7th in the Grimthorpe Chase last time back over fences.
Duffle Coat
Was 2nd in the Galway Plate earlier this season and was on course for a placing in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time when brought down at the second-last fence. He could exceed his long odds.
Grand National Tips
Stumptown (8%) and Vanillier (7.6) - Steve Ryder's ante-post selection - have been the most backed horses for the 2025 Grand National through oddschecker since the start of the week, while Perceval Legallois (6.1%) comes in third. Top weight defending champion I Am Maximus is squeezed out of the top five by Intense Raffles and Minella Cocooner, the biggest price of the top five at 14/1.
