So rude of me to typecast you as knowing nothing about racing. The good news is, neither do I, so with that in mind, here’s my rundown of the 2025 Grand National field.
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- I Am Maximus
Has seemingly had his vengeance in this life, having won this a year ago, so hopefully won’t need too much in the next. He’s a gelding, so won’t be father to a murdered son, but what he is is a history chaser. No horse has won this with saddlecloth no.1 since Red Rum in 1977. He will therefore emulate that legend in more ways than one if winning here and season has been totally geared around a repeat. 8lb higher in the handicap, concedes weight all-round, but relished this 12 months ago and should be a loyal servant for his backers.
GG Rating: 4/5
- Royale Pagaille
Since a second straight Betfair Chase was secured in November, this season has indeed been a Royal Mess, as dictated by his name (it’s French you see). It’s been 11 years since we had an 11-year-old winner, for fans of oddly specific, age-related omens, but for anyone who relies on anything sane, Venetia Williams’ charge is a highly risky proposition. Form at Haydock was outstanding until recently, but anywhere else has proven tricky, and his low-flying jumping style might be more of a behind-the-sofa watch.
GG Rating: 1/5
- Nick Rockett
This is a cool name, though not quite sure why the Rockett has an extra “t”. Maybe it stands for “turbo” because he certainly has an engine, winning the prestigious Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park and subsequently holding on in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase, won last year by stablemate I Am Maximus before he won this. His credentials are strong, but the handicapper hasn’t missed him on a mark of 163, which is very high for a horse who has never run in a Grade 1. Won’t be ridden by Neil Armstrong either, which is a shame.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Grangeclare West
Were owners Cheveley Park not based in Newmarket, it would be very smug of the Irish to win this with a horse trained in Ireland, ridden by an Irish jockey and named after a place in Ireland. This nine-year-old is a slightly fragile type, but talented, having finished ahead of Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin when second in the Irish equivalent in February. Since blew his top when last of five at Navan, so is unpredictable and not a guaranteed stayer. Just you wait for Grangeclare East though, and don’t get me started on Grangeclare North and South.
GG Rating: 2/5
- Hewick
Few racehorses have lived a life as exotic as Hewick, who has enjoyed sojourns to Paris, New York and, um, Sedgefield in his career to date. He has proven supremely successful for a little’un, winning the American Grand National, Bet365 Gold Cup and King George in his time. Is usually fairly reliable and has run to a decent standard again this year over hurdles and fences to suggest he could muscle in with the big boys once again. Trainer is known colloquially as “Shark”, so hopefully he’s more Great White than Greg Norman.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Minella Indo
One of the two Minellas who took over the racing world in 2021. He was the one who won the Gold Cup, while Times won the Grand National. Indo, ever the overachieving sibling, then tried to one-up Minellas past and present when finishing third in the 2024 Grand National, leading as late as the Elbow. He is 1lb lower in the handicap for this year’s race, carrying 3lb less weight overall and is the mount of Rachael Blackmore again. It’s 21 years since we had a 12-year-old winner, but no surprise if he retains enough ability to feature.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Appreciate It
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the shortest race at the Cheltenham Festival, so naturally it was won by this Grand National contender four years ago. The 11-year-old would probably have appreciated more runs over staying trips to prepare him for this: he has only raced over 3 miles on three occasions and his win over 2 miles 5 furlongs at Thurles last time was the first time he’d ever won beyond 2 miles over obstacles. Has ability when on his game, but is his champion trainer’s oldest contender among a host with younger legs.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Minella Cocooner
Another of the all-conquering Minellas, the Cocooner has not hidden away this season, taking in racing against the highest calibre of opposition, Even in his days as a sprightly young caterpillar, he won a Grade 1 novice hurdle, before beginning his silk-spinning over fences, landing last year’s Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. That is strong, staying handicap form and he was eye-catching enough behind Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase last time. Is this his time to become a butterfly?
GG Rating: 4/5
- Conflated
Conflating the two key requirements of a traditional Grand National winner would give you a strong stayer with a near-immaculate jumping record. Sadly, Conflated has neither, his stamina usually bottoming out beyond 3 miles, while he has fallen or unseated his rider on five occasions over fences. He somehow managed to do that in a bumper with no obstacles too, so sure-footedness is far from guaranteed with this veteran. Good jumping is no longer the biggest prerequisite of a Grand National contender, but recent form is against Gordon Elliott’s charge too.
GG Rating: 1/5
- Stumptown
If he had been stumped by the winning post in the past, winning just four of his first 20 races under rules, this cross country specialist has redefined himself over banks courses. Over such unique tests, he has won four on the bounce, including the Cheltenham Festival’s cross country contest, which should set him up perfectly for his tilt here. High enough in the weights compared to some classy rivals and might be confused that there are no strange mounds or brick walls in his way, but otherwise ticks plenty of boxes in the Tiger Roll mould.
GG Rating: 4/5
- Hitman
Might be the Hitman with the worst strike rate in history. If he took up that profession in real life, he’d be stood down quickly, hitting the target just four times in 26 career starts, while finishing second on no fewer than 11 occasions, including his last three starts. Strangely for such an outsider, he is reasonably handicapped and in decent enough nick, but he has never raced beyond 3 miles before, so stamina is hugely unproven. Even if he finds himself in contention, he will find a way to finish second. Or Devon Loch it.
GG Rating: 2/5
- Beauport
Wanted to jump into the stands when somehow winning the Midlands National in 2024. The good news is he can jump in almost any direction around Aintree as long as he goes left at the Canal Turn, though it will be interesting to see what happens if he doesn’t. Has seemed much more tractable to navigation this term, winning by 31 lengths on his only chase start, which earned him this lofty new handicap mark. He is a thorough stayer though who has been campaigned over hurdles since to keep the powder dry and would be unwise to discount.
GG Rating: 3/5
GG Jumps Journal – Predicting the 2025 Cheltenham Festival
Come on, we’ve seen this before, we all know what’s going to happen. Predicting the Cheltenham Festival from a betting perspective is nigh on impossible for everyone but the shrewdest punters. However, in truth, the Greatest Show On Turf gives us plenty of recurring storylines year on year. Often, it is why we love the…
Wed 05 Mar 2025- Bravemansgame
His name is pertinent to those actually backing him to win a race, as it certainly takes a brave man or woman to do that given he hasn’t won since his King George triumph in 2022, a sequence of 11 races. The romantics among you know how difficult it is to recover from heartbreak, and Paul Nicholls’ charge is still to do so after his runner-up to Galopin Des Champs in the 2023 Gold Cup, since when he’s not been the same. Could run his race off a generous handicap rating, but has never appealed as the hardiest type for this contest.
GG Rating: 2/5
- Chantry House
Had the look of a dour veteran even when he was a youngster, so really does embody the hardened old sage now aged 11. Would probably gallop forever if you let him, albeit on his own conditions and at his own pace, which is likely to be far too leisurely for this event. Won for the first time in nearly three years at Cheltenham in January, but has failed to complete on four of his 13 chase starts, and is far more likely to add to that tally than his admittedly impressive win column of seven.
GG Rating: 1/5
- Threeunderthrufive
Golfers will know that even if you are -3 through 5 holes, there is plenty of work left to be done; it would be like leading at Becher’s Brook then getting complacent. Harry Skelton is a useful jockey booking by Paul Nicholls, but this ten-year-old has only raced four times since the beginning of 2024, and all of those have been on right-handed tracks. Is effectively 2lb well-in with the handicapper after a second at Ascot, but despite getting off to a great start with his name, the suspicion is more bogeys than birdies await round the corner.
GG Rating: 2/5
- Perceval Legallois
Or Percy The Welshman for Franglais fans. I’m reliably informed by the internet that Perceval Le Gallois was a French film of the 1970s based on a 12th century tale of an Arthurian knight. Even if Gavin Cromwell’s charge has the ghosts of Gawain and the magic of Merlin on his side, it will probably pale in comparison to the financial and spiritual backing of owner JP McManus, who’s loaded. He is one of a few chances for McManus, arriving in superb form after two resounding handicap wins in Ireland and could be in good shape to deliver ultimately on long-held promise.
GG Rating: 4/5
- Kandoo Kid
Kandoo could do and you’ll definitely make this Kid out at the start. He’s a dark, dappled grey and one of those potentially unknown, up-and-coming quantities who could excel in this race. He won the Coral Gold Cup, which was formerly the Ladbrokes Trophy, which everyone in racing knows as “The Hennessy” in November, which is a contest that has historically tied in well with the National. Was third over the big fences in last year’s Topham too, but revelled over 3m2f earlier in the season and is his stable’s number one. Kandoo might just do.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Iroko
His arboricultural equivalent lives for 500 years, which might be a bit beyond the equine Iroko, but as a hardwood, iroko is, apparently, durable and resistant. The latest of McManus’s runners may well prove to possess those assets too, with his owner stating 12 long months ago that this would be his National horse for 2025. He is without a win this season, but has been campaigned at shorter trips despite stamina looking one of his best attributes as a novice last season. Durable and resistant then, but classy enough?
GG Rating: 3/5
- Intense Raffles
My grandma hates losing out at raffles, so I was a part of a few of these in my youth. The lottery nature of great Grand Nationals past would make him an equally fitting winner as the first ever National hero Lottery. He is yet another grey strutting his stuff in the 2025 race and already has one National prize in his cabinet, having won the Irish version of this race on April Fool’s Day 2024. That was no prank, as he was second in the Bobbyjo Chase last time, coming out best at the weights. Some rain would help, but hopes of connections will be deservedly intense.
GG Rating: 5/5
- Senior Chief
Ironically, he’ll be one of the junior members of this party at the age of eight, but that’s been the age of five of the last nine Grand National winners, so thank goodness he isn’t too senior yet. Is not Rachael Blackmore’s chosen one, but won well at Cheltenham earlier this campaign and been minded for this contest since. Did pull up in last year’s Irish National, but prefers his conditions on the springy side. If he remains nothing like his name, he could be involved.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Idas Boy
I’m sorry if you’re reading this and your name is Ida, or more aptly your mum’s name was Ida, but your boy looks to be swimming in deep waters here. Already 11 years old, but did win Ireland’s Midlands National at Kilbeggan last July, so might stay. Since then, it’s not looked good, and he joined a British trainer in January whose last chase success came in May 2024. Was tailed off over hurdles on only run so far for Richard Phillips and handicapper hasn’t left him alone because of former Irish form. Completion would be respectable.
GG Rating: 1/5
- Fil Dor
Gold Thread (if you want to know him in English too) is another grey head in the 2025 National. Was a golden boy in his youth, winning three races as a juvenile hurdler and has intermittently reached a high level over fences, though not often in victory. A mark of 150 roughly denotes a horse a little bit below the top level, so it is very fitting he is racing off that here, but it’s not impossible he defies it for some way, as he has often shaped like a latent stayer without having been tried at such trips. Has the tactical pace which could see him spin his thread round Aintree for four miles, and potentially more.
GG Rating: 4/5
- Broadway Boy
It’s been more am-dram than West End for Broadway Boy of late, promising much without quite being hired for the starring role. Was second in the Coral Gold Cup to Kandoo Kid, so his support act to the protagonist was worthy of praise from the critics, but has since merely been part of ensembles at Cheltenham. Usually stays and jumps well, though the latter has become a bit stickier of late and it’s arguable he has only run to his best on one of his last six starts. Next victory is likely to come at your local theatre than on Shaftesbury Avenue. Or Aintree.
GG Rating: 1/5
- Coko Beach
Has been more loco than Coko in this for the last three years, twice leading them along in a merry dance before fading when it actually became a horse race. Eighth in 2022 was his best effort, as he was pulled up in ‘23 and then 11th a year ago when ridden with more constraint. Loves an unusual test as a cross country regular who also ran in the Velka Pardubice last year, which is Czechia’s even wilder Grand National equivalent. Ran well in that for a long way, and expect to see his blinkered grey head thereabouts until the gallop increases.
GG Rating: 2/5
GG Jumps Journal – A Racing Chat With Samantha Martin
Continuing our interviews on young people in racing, the GG Jumps Journal was this week joined by journalist and Oxford University’s own Samantha Martin. We discussed her formative hero Smad Place, Taylor Swift’s will-she-won’t-she dilemma at Royal Ascot last year, and how jumps racing could be helped by school holiday freebies, easy access open days,…
Wed 26 Mar 2025- Stay Away Fay
I don’t know whether Fay is being warned or demanded to Stay Away, but as it happens, many jockeys have decided to stay clear of this former Albert Bartlett winner for this race. First Bryony Frost, then Jonathan Burke have rung up Paul Nicholls to accept and then politely decline. A year ago, he would have been a very tempting proposition for a National as an out-and-out stayer who was distinctly unexposed and in form. He has since pulled up three times in a row and was a distant 11th at Cheltenham off this mark and no real confidence that he’ll suddenly leave that behind him.
GG Rating: 1/5
- Meetingofthewaters
Oh it’s so poetic isn’t it? One can just imagine Meetingofthewaters swanning over Becher’s and Valentine’s Brooks, before clearing away for a romantic success. In reality… well it’s possible. Willie Mullins admitted his eye was drawn to the weight allotted this eight-year-old, who was seventh in the 2024 running. He is on the same handicap mark, but races with 1lb less weight and this will have been his season-ending aim, though his form is significantly weaker than it was last season. Not discounted from finding his feet again, but will need to and then some.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Monbeg Genius
If Monbeg Genius cannot better Monbeg Dude’s third in the 2015 renewal, then it will be a defeat for nerds everywhere. The Genius wasn’t even born then, but could have his sights set on a big run after winning for the first time in two years at Uttoxeter in February, which earned him a high enough mark to make this field. Some of his back form is very eyecatching and he has not often got to run on ground quicker than soft, which might suit. Be prepared for him to go full George McFly and butt Willie “Biff” Mullins in the face if victorious.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Vanillier
Yes well done, this translates as something to do with vanilla. Fortunately, this horse is a little quirkier than his name suggests, being a bright grey who was second in the 2023 Grand National when rattling home to close on Corach Rambler. Only 14th last season, but was in poor form and blinkers look to have revived him of late. He’s also just a little bit fruity, as he shaped to hare off in the wrong direction in Cheltenham’s Cross Country Chase last time, going from first to last. Incredibly, he then stayed on for third, and he is firmly back in calculations after that.
GG Rating: 5/5
- Horantzau d’Airy
Presumably named after the French equivalent of where Hairy Maclary was from, Horantzau was a decent enough handicap chaser for champion trainer Willie Mullins. He was second in both the Kerry and Munster Nationals earlier this term, but form fell off afterwards; perhaps his jumping wasn’t, ahem, airy enough. Has since transferred to a British trainer who has never had a winner over jumps, so would be some story if he breaks that duck here. But he won’t do unless he sets Hairy Maclary on the rest of the field.
GG Rating: 1/5
- Hyland
A name tangentially familiar to Modern Family fans, Sarah Hyland played eldest Dunphy daughter Hayley in that American sitcom. Nico De Boinville would have a tough choice given a ride of either (sorry) but my guess is he’d rather take part in the Grand National aboard Nicky Henderson’s charge, who is yet another grey in the race. His form over fences so far is progressive, with a second in a novice Grade 1 at Kempton the highlight before he bumped into one last time. Jumps well, may stay, and could be the one to break Henderson’s National duck.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Celebre d’Allen
Franglais’ Famous Allen will be the old boy of the line-up at the age of 13. What’s that? When was the last teenage horse to win the Grand National? Well, that would be Sergeant Murphy, all the way back in 1923. Vics Canvas and Bless The Wings have both been third since 2016 though, so there is at least precedent for a big run. Allen is on a career-high handicap mark here too, his form being surprisingly evergreen, and he has twice finished fourth over the National fences over shorter. Will surely weary earlier than most here before getting his nighty on to watch a replay in his stable.
GG Rating: 2/5
- Three Card Brag
What three cards does Gordon Elliott’s poker specialist hold? Does he possess a flush, a pair, a run…or will he be folding long before the dealer calls? Appropriately, he is one of the least known quantities in the 2025 Grand National, still being a maiden in his second season over fences, but having repeatedly run well against useful opposition. Has only been out of the first three once in chases and the British handicapper has not unduly taxed him. Has not always looked like staying 3m, but conditions here could allow him to flourish.
GG Rating: 4/5
- Twig
Even when he jumps well, this ten-year-old must go into existential crisis whenever a commentator utters that he “never touched a twig”. Fittingly, he rarely has, never having fallen or unseated in his career to date, which is an immediate plus point. His second in last season’s Ultima Handicap Chase reads well and hurdles runs this season have been more about maintaining his fitness, so while his recent chase effort at Doncaster was lacklustre, he could prove an interesting outsider with a bounce back possible.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Duffle Coat
Fell at the first in the 1977 Grand National, so you have to say he’s aged well. Takes part in this as a 57-year-old and no longer burdened by the presence of Red Rum or the size of the fences. Has gone into training with Gordon Elliott in his extraordinary twilight years and has also miraculously become a grey. Surprising that more stories haven’t focused on him, but maybe that’s because he’s a 100/1 shot again. Ran well enough in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham to suggest an outside chance of a place.
GG Rating: 3/5
- Shakem Up’arry (1st reserve)
Owned by Harry Redknapp, shakin’ ‘em up was presumably what Redknapp wanted to do to Thomas Tuchel before the England manager’s debut outings. He might have been better focusing on his champion horse, who was a Cheltenham Festival winner last year, but whose form has fallen off a cliff this season. 2lb wrong at the weights after finishing a distant 14th in his Cheltenham defence and also tailed off on his only go over these fences. Shaking up won’t be enough.
GG Rating: 1/5
- Roi Mage (2nd reserve)
King Mage ran as recently as Saturday, and that was over 3m6f, meaning if he makes the line-up, the 13-year-old would have galloped across 8 miles of turf at Aintree and Fontainebleau in the space of a week. He won a Listed Cross Country Chase at Craon as recently as September and performed with credit at the Cheltenham Festival equivalent without troubling Stumptown and co. Old stager will almost certainly get round, but he may not possess the magic to conjure up a challenge.
GG Rating: 2/5
- Favori De Champdou (3rd reserve)
This looks set to be the best translation of the lot, so here goes: Champdou’s Favourite. Disappointed? Because I know I am. The Gigginstown-owned ten-year-old is very good going right-handed, placing in both the Thyestes Chase and Punchestown Grand National Trial. In the past, that would make him an intriguing each-way prospect, but given the classier nature of the race nowadays, coupled with his career record of P548 going anti-clockwise (the 5 was a fifth of six, and 4 was a last of four finishers) he looks a long shot.
GG Rating: 1/5
- Fantastic Lady (4th reserve)
I’m sure there are many fantastic ladies reading this, but you can save yourselves the trouble. She’s the fourth reserve and will be running in the Topham on Friday barring a remarkable set of events leading to four above her pulling out of the race. If she does get in, she’ll have a fine old time for a while given she jumps for fun, but do not expect a fantastic finish.
GG Rating: 2/5