A full field of 34 runners contest the 2025 Randox Grand National (17h00) at Aintree, Liverpool. Run over the marathon journey of 4-miles, two and a half furlongs, this Premier Handicap chase boasts jumps racing biggest prize with £500,000 going to the winning connections. Track conditions remain good to soft.
With all the prize money on offer there are many Irish raiders in the field, including from champion trainer Willie Mullins who will saddle six including last year’s winner, the nine-year-old I Am Maximus.
Aintree is all set to host this year’s Randox Grand National (Pic – Aintree Racecourse on FB)
An impressive winner last season, his campaign since has been all about a repeat. The racing public have only seen him twice since when unplaced at Group 1 level behind his star stablemate Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown earlier this year. On both occasions he was held up in rear, running his own race finishing unplaced. He will have been primed for this at home and cannot be dismissed under his big weight with ace Paul Townend staying aboard.
It doesn’t stop there in terms of likely winners from the Closutton yard. Minella Cocooner has improved with age and this nine-year-old who loves to race prominently finished third in the Irish National before winning the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
Minella Cocooner was beaten just over eight lengths on his final prep at Fairyhouse in February by another stablemate Nick Rockett.
Patrick Mullins rides this eight-year-old who has won the Thyestes and Bobbyjo on his last two runs, so he’s another worth considering.
The final Mullins horse of interest is Meetingofthewaters. Well fancied here last year when he finished seventh behind I Am Maximus. He was ridden wide throughout but was still in the mix two out, before fading late. Also racing in the green and gold striped silks, this eight-year-old comes in carrying bottom weight. The top-class Danny Mullins now rides and at around 25/1 he looks worth a flutter for those looking for a bigger priced runner.
After his Group 1 four-timer on the opening day of the festival, where is the opposition to Willie Mullins?
Perceval Legallois could be the first choice. A year younger than I Am Maximus, leading owner JP McManus also owns him.
A seven-length success in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, he followed up with an easy handicap victory at the Dublin Irish Festival. He’s in good form, receives 14lbs from the top-weight and has JP’s retained rider Mark Walsh once again in the saddle. Very noteworthy and he could be the one to provide his owner with the Gold Cup – Grand National double.
Stumptown is the best cross-country chaser in the field, winning his last four including the Glenfarclas at Cheltenham. He is trained like Perceval Legallois by the inform Gavin Cromwell with stable jock Keith Donoghue retaining the ride.
Fellow Irish raider and former Gold Cup hero Minello Indo, now a veteran at 12, finished third here last season. Now a pound better off with I Am Maximus he will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore.
Iroko looks the best of the British trained contenders. Another JP McManus owned runner, this seven-year-old is trained in partnership by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. He had a good prep when chasing home Grey Dawning at Kelso over a distance short of his best last month. An exciting young staying chaser, he comes here carrying a light weight.
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