There’s no finer sight in horse racing than watching a grey galloping to glory, and in the 2025 Grand National there will be a number of grey horses taking their chance on Saturday 5th April in the world’s greatest steeplechase at Aintree.
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Only three greys have been victorious in the Grand National with The Lamb winning the race on two occasions in 1868 and 1871, while Nicolaus Silver bound to glory in the 1961 National. The most recent grey to claim glory was the Paul Nicholls-trained Neptune Collonges, who edged out Sunnyhillboy in a thrilling finish to the 2012, so can a fourth grey etch their name in Grand National history this weekend?
We take a look at the grey horses that are set to take their chance in the 2025 Grand National and assess their chances:
KANDOO KID
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
A fine third in the Topham Handicap Chase over the National fences last season, Kandoo Kid has continued to go from strength to strength over fences and grabbed his biggest prize to date when winning the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury at the start of the season. Given a notable 7lbs rise for that success, he failed to fire when down the field in the Greatwood Gold Cup at the same track in early March, but that race was just used as a springboard to this contest.
Verdict: Proven over the fences and in the form of his life, but will struggle off a career high mark and stamina could be a slight concern as well.
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INTENSE RAFFLES
Trainer: Thomas Gibney
Hugely progressive over fences last season, Intense Raffles ended his campaign in 2024 with a fine one-and-a-half length victory in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Having had to spins over hurdles at the start of this season, the Thomas Gibney-trained seven-year-old then ran a stormer when second to Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse at the end of February. He’s now 11lbs higher than that Irish National success, but is a horse that is still open to improvement and is well fancied in the betting.
Verdict: One of the leading Irish contenders in this year’s race, Intense Raffles has to be a major player, if he can replicate his Irish Grand National win. Still only seven, he’s entitled to improve yet again over fences and is one that ticks a lot of boxes.
COKO BEACH
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Set for a fourth run in the Grand National (8th in 2022, Pulled Up in 2023, 11th in 2024), Coko Beach is one of the veterans in the race and is a big price with the bookmakers to hand Gordon Elliott a fourth win in the race. The Cullentra House-based ten-year-old was second in a Cross Country Chase at Punchestown back in February, but failed to land a blow in the same sphere at the Cheltenham Festival when ninth in the Cross Country Handicap Chase last month. He is 11lbs lower in the handicap this year (ran off 161 last year), but it’s a tough ask for a horse that may have his better days behind him.
Verdict: Likely to be prominent through the early stages of the race, Coko Beach has shown he relishes the challenge of the unique fences used in this race, but he certainly lacks the class of a lot of this field and it’s hard to see him improving on his recent attempts in this event.
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FIL DOR
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Second in the Triumph Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, Fil Dor has certainly failed to kick on from that promising juvenile campaign and has only managed to get his head in front twice in over three years. Last seen running over 2m 4f 90y in a Grade 2 chase at Navan at the start of the month, Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old is set for only his second start over a distance of three miles or more, so stamina questions are sure to be there for the Cullentra House runner.
Verdict: A horse that is often the bridesmaid in his races and it’s hard to see Fil Dor playing a prominent role in the finish here. A decent horse in his own right, but the step up to 4m+ is sure to have him struggling in the closing stages of the race and the petrol gauge could be running very low even before they turn for home!
HYLAND
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Nicky Henderson will go in search of a first Grand National win on Saturday and he will saddle the grey Hyland, who is looking to become the first horse since Rule The World in 2016 to claim glory in the race. Not out the first four in his six career chase starts, Hyland was a classy runner-up in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, while he was a well beaten second in the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase at the same track in February. The eight-year-old will find this a whole new ball game when lining up on Saturday, but he could be one of interest and may not be fully in the handicapper’s grip yet.
Verdict: It’s astonishing that Nicky Henderson has never lifted the iconic Grand National trophy, but in Hyland he has a very smooth jumper, who could still be improving, and is one that could well outrun his odds. It’s a tough ask for a novice to claim this prize, but he certainly will head to Liverpool with a sporting chance.
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VANILLIER
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Beaten by Corach Rambler in the 2023 Grand National, Vanillier failed to build on that second placed finish when 14th in the race last year, but Gavin Cromwell’s ten-year-old will be hoping it’s third time lucky when he takes his chance this weekend. A winner of a Punchestown cross country chase in February, the veteran then ran a stormer when third in the Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month, so he heads to Merseyside in excellent form. He takes his chance off the same mark of 147 he finished second off two years ago, so providing he doesn’t fall to far behind in the early stages then he is another grey that has to be given the utmost respect.
Verdict: His backers in 2023 will still have memories of him staying on like a train to finish second, and if he can repeat that effort here then he has to be considered. However, on likely good ground on Saturday he could just find himself a bit far behind to play his part in the finish, although, he’s certainly a solid each-way play.
DUFFLE COAT
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Runner-up in the Galway Plate way back in July, Duffle Coat was then unable to figure in the Kerry National at Listowel when pulling up. Last seen competing in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, he was brought down that day, so Gordon Elliott will be hoping for a change of luck here. The eight-year-old will need a huge career best to figure here, but he is one that could enjoy the underfoot conditions and off a light weight could be an outside each-way chance.
Verdict: An irregular winner, it’s hard to see Duffle Coat being a key component of the finish here, but he’s one that could run well for a long way and does add a bit of depth to the Gordon Elliott charge.