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The Independent
05-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Grand National odds 2025: Latest Grand National betting odds and trends
Today's Grand National promises to capture the imagination of the entire nation and we're here to guide you through the leading horses in line for a crack at immortality, outlining the chances of the favourites as well as pinpointing some of the best Grand National outsiders. Check out all of the latest Grand National odds from the best Grand National betting sites before placing your bet online, while also look at the best National contenders for the 2025 iteration of the race against the trends of previous winners using the betting strategies outlined below. Latest Grand National Odds The 2025 Grand National odds recently altered dramatically when the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin was ruled out for the race having been installed as a red-hot favourite by most horse racing betting sites following his impressive success at the Festival. 2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus has seen his odds slashed into the favourite for the win as he aims to join Tiger Roll and Red Rum to triumph in successive years. Iroko, Stumptown and Hewick are also in the running, having seen their odds shorten ahead of the event. Grand National Favourites I Am Maximus Trainer: Willie Mullins Age: 9 Form: 311-P8 Previous Grand National results: 1st (2024) Back-to-back winners of the National are rare, albeit the legendary Tiger Roll managed it this century, so I Am Maximus will need to be a true gladiator to lift this prize again. In his defence, he has run in two races he couldn't win this term and is only nine years of age so he may be capable of defying an 8lb higher mark this year. However, Mullins' start to the Grand National Festival, with four-straight winners on day one, may have convinced punters to back the Irishman to secure a second-straight victory at the National joining Ginger McCain and Gordon Elliott. Iroko Irish contenders tend to dominate the Grand National betting odds, although the presence of the lightly-raced Iroko ensures there is a contender that flying the flag for the UK. Iroko caught the eye of most racegoers with a promising effort at Cheltenham in January, staying on well under tender handling over a trip short of his best. A recent spin at Kelso behind Grey Dawning was a career best over fences and this test should suit ideally. Stumptown Trainer: Gavin Cromwell Age: 8 Form: -U1111 Previous Grand National results: N/A Stumptown has taken to the Cross-Country course at Punchestown and Cheltenham and follows a similar route to the one employed by Tiger Roll's connections. He may not be the best handicapped, but he stays really strongly and won with plenty in hand at the Cheltenham Festival. His odds have steadily narrowed and given his performance at Cheltenham, bettors are fancying him to make another charge for a major crown, albeit against a talented field. Hewick Trainer: John Joseph Hanlon Age: 10 Form: F32571 Previous Grand National results: N/A Hewick has seen his odds cut dramatically after a fine performance at the Jimmy Neville Memorial Hurdle at Thurles. Shark Hanlon's charge has a strong pedigree and a Grade One win under his belt, triumphing in the King George VI Chase in 2023, beating out Bravemansgame and Allaho. His last performance at Aintree came in 2024 in the Liverpool Hurdle where he was well off the pace. He's not to be slept on at the peak of his powers, and if he and jockey Gavin Sheehan find their rhythm, history could beckon on Saturday. Vanillier Trainer: Gavin Cromwell Age: 10 Form: -P6913 Previous Grand National results: 2nd (2023), 14th (2024) Vanillier caught the eye behind his stablemate Stumptown at Cheltenham where his rider nearly took the wrong direction. He did remarkably well to finish third, but has had two tries at this race already and repeat triers historically struggle. Perceval Legallois Trainer: Gavin Cromwell Age: 8 Form: -286411 Previous Grand National results: N/A Perceval Legallois represents a stable with a strong hand in this race and he could well be a springer in the market given he is well weighted, the right age and has already won two huge field handicaps at Leopardstown this term, the last one over hurdles. Intense Raffles Intense Raffles has seen his Grand National odds drift. He was an early favourite after Cheltenham Festival with a price of 7/1, but his price has now been pushed out to 14s on betting sites. Intense Raffles looked a strong contender for the Aintree event after winning the Irish National on heavy ground last spring. Two hurdle outings and a promising effort behind Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase, a race favoured by Irish trainers when preparing for this race, should have put him spot on. His early favouritism should not be forgotten, but usually when odds drift ahead of the National, it's not the best of omens. Best Bets for the Grand National Grand National Best Pick: Perceval Legallois The fact that trainer Gavin Cromwell and owner JP McManus are happy to withdraw strong ante-post favourite Inothewayurthinkin from the National suggests they feel they may already combine to provide the perfect horse for the race. Perceval Legallois looks a staying chaser going places and marginally gains the nod ahead of in-form duo Iroko and Stumptown who also represent the duo but for differing connections. Grand National Each-Way Contender: Three Card Brag Three Card Brag chased home the likes of Corbetts Cross, Monty's Star and Spillane's Tower as a novice and has already shown himself a talented chaser this year. His latest run behind Better Days Ahead and Stellar Story also reads well so off a mark of 146 he could be very dangerous. Grand National Longshot: Senor Chief Senor Chief was sent off at 10/1 for the Irish National last spring, but his trainer feels he is a better horse going left handed, a view which was endorsed at Cheltenham in October when he bounced off the good ground to win gamely. Available at big prices in the National markets on most betting apps, he fits a lot of the trends required to win a National. Grand National Betting Strategies The Grand National presents bettors with the chance to wager on a number of different markets with betting sites offering bets on the age of the winner, the nationality of the winning trainer and how many horses will finish the race. Modifications to the fences and the smaller fields mean more and more horses are completing with 21, 17, 15 and 15 finishing in the last four renewals. A sound strategy is to back more than one horse in the Grand National given the complexities of the race. Anything can happen in the National as favourites can fall at the first and 100/1 outsiders can win it all, it can also be hugely deflating to see your sole bet end at the first fence. Check out the latest free bet offers as they can be ideal to use as supplementary plays on outsiders or lesser fancies. Always try to get the most places you can out of the race. Shop around to find the best horse racing free bets & offers as there will be a lot of competition for your wagers. The best betting sites will offer up to eight places on the National, giving you greater leeway on your each-way and place bets. Grand National Trends The last nine winners were rated between 146-160 Seven of the last nine winners were second season chasers 16 of the past 28 winners were priced at 14/1 or shorter in the market The past nine winners were aged nine or younger Only five of the last nine winners had failed to win over trips in excess of 3m1f. Five of the last six winners were trained in Ireland. Only four winners this century had not won over three miles. Noble Yeats became the first horse aged seven to win since Bogskar in 1940. 2024 I Am Maximus 8 11-6 W P Mullins P Townend 7/1JF 2023 Corach Rambler 9 10-5 L Russell D Fox 8/1F 2022 Noble Yeats 7 10-10 E Mullins S Waley-Cohen 50/1 2021 Minella Times 8 10-9 H De Bromhead R Blackmore 11/1 2019 Tiger Roll 8 11-05 G Elliott D Russell 4/1F 2018 Tiger Roll 8 10-13 G Elliott D Russell 10/1 2017 One For Arthur 8 10-11 L Russell D Fox 14/1 2016 Rule The World 9 10-07 M Morris D Mullins 30/1 2015 Many Clouds 8 11-9 O Sherwood L Aspell 25/1 Responsible Gambling It is important that punters remember to bet responsibly on the Grand National and during the 2025 National meeting, and utilise the multitude of safer gambling tools that gambling sites provide if needed. Whether you are using an online casino UK, slot sites, online bookmakers, or any other gambling medium, be sure to check out and utilise the safer gambling tools, such as deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion. These facilities can stop gambling from getting out of hand. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling-related problems, contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. The service is free of charge and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Alternatively, there are several UK charities and institutions that offer support, advice and information, with a few listed below: We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How to watch the Grand National 2025 for FREE: TV channel and live stream for Aintree race today
The world's greatest steeplechase is upon us as the 2025 Grand National takes centre stage at Aintree today. Last year's winner, I Am Maximus, is vying for back-to-back triumphs and is well-fancied in the market, though Iroko, Stumptown and Hewick all also have significant admirers. The field is 34-strong, down from 40 from 2023 as part of safety measures. That means only 16 trainers are represented in the race, which is a considerable reduction on years past. However, the number trainers from Britain make up half the field, a significant rise from last year's a huge field makes such an unpredictable race. Only three of the last 13 renewals have been won by the favourite, and in that time we've seen 50/1 Noble Yeats and 66/1 Auroras Encore shock Aintree. You can read our official tips here, and three more horses to watch here. TV channel: In the UK, the Grand National is being shown live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage of the afternoon's racing beginning at 12:45pm BST. Coverage of the National itself is from 3:15pm, with the race getting underway at 4pm. Live stream: The race will also be available to watch live and for free online via the ITVX app and website. Live blog: You can follow every race live from Grand National Day at Aintree with Standard Sport's rolling live blog.
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Nine-year-old hopes to be lucky charm for Grand National runner
A nine-year-old with a rare neurological condition is hoping to be the lucky charm for a Grand National runner. Joshua Duckworth, who lives in Aintree and has life-limiting condition 4H leukodystrophy, rubbed a 'lucky medal' on the nose of his favourite horse, Iroko, on a visit to his Cheshire stables last month. While visiting the yard, he also made the good luck gesture to horse Jagwar – who went on to win the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase at last month's Cheltenham Festival. Joshua said: 'I love horseracing and I love Iroko. It was great to meet him where he lives and I hope rubbing my lucky coin will help him win. I'll be cheering him on at Aintree.' Josh Guerriero, who is joint trainer of Iroko with Oliver Greenall, said: 'We've loved meeting Joshua and his family. It was brilliant having them on the yard, they had a great time watching horses on the gallops and seeing the facilities. 'You could see how much he enjoyed meeting Iroko and we hope that him rubbing his lucky coin will bring him as much fortune in the National as it did for Jagwar at Cheltenham.' The medal was given to Joshua after he met a member of Brentford Football Club's security team called Andy. His father Christopher said: 'Joshua melted his heart, and when he saw him again Andy gave Joshua a lucky medal from his Army days and said the medal always kept him safe and strong. 'He said it was lucky and wanted Joshua to have it to protect him and keep him safe and strong against his disease. 'Joshua wanted to take this medal to Josh and Olly's yard to wish Iroko luck and to keep Iroko safe and protect him in the race. Joshua will be bringing it to Aintree too.' Joshua has been named as the honorary 35th runner in the world-famous steeplechase, which takes place at 4pm on Saturday. The role was created for neuroblastoma campaigner Bradley Lowery in 2017, three months before his death, and has since been used to highlight youngsters and the work of Alder Hey Children's Hospital and charity. Joshua is being treated for his condition at Alder Hey and was at the Liverpool hospital on Friday to meet 2012 Grand National-winning horse Neptune Collonges and jockeys on their annual visit. Mr Duckworth added: 'It's a huge honour for Josh to be this year's 35th runner in a race like the Randox Grand National. The opportunities Aintree have given to Josh and us as a family have been amazing. 'He had a great time meeting Josh and Oliver at their yard and loved seeing the horses up close. We'll have everything crossed that Iroko can win the Grand National but it'll be a day we'll never forget whatever the result.'
The Guardian
04-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Iroko has perfect profile for Grand National as Gina Bryce makes history
The betting tells you all you really need to know about the 2025 Grand National at Aintree. Any one of at least half a dozen runners could end up favourite by 4pm on Saturday, and at least half of the 34-strong field are on offer at 33-1 or shorter, which in the context of such a competitive race is very much the price of a horse with a realistic chance. In other words, it is still the race that it was conceived to be almost two centuries ago: a celebration of semi-random uncertainty that even the most serious students of the form book can only ever hope to unravel with a fair slice of luck. It is also, in a sense, two races in one, with a mixture of experienced, proven stayers with form already in the book that makes them obvious contenders, and a host of rivals at the other end of their chasing careers, with more than enough scope for further improvement to make the most of a relatively light weight. Several leading names in the betting – including Hyland, Grangeclare West, Senior Chief and Three Card Brag – arrive at Aintree with just the official minimum of six starts in chases needed to qualify for a run. At the other end of the scale in terms of Aintree experience, last year's winner, I Am Maximus, has an excellent chance to register a repeat success, which would make him the first official top weight to win since Red Rum in 1974. Intense Raffles brings an Irish Grand National win to the table, as I Am Maximus did last year, while Stumptown has winning form under a big weight in the Cross Country at Cheltenham, which was a recent springboard to Aintree success for the dual winner, Tiger Roll. Having sifted through the field many times in recent weeks, though, a runner who scores highly in terms of both proven form and potential is Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero's Iroko. He has just seven starts over fences in the book, and only one win, but his overall career-path is that of a high-class chaser who is building towards a breakout performance. A Cheltenham festival winner over hurdles, Iroko finished four lengths behind Inothewayurthinkin, this season's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, in a Grade One novice event at last year's National meeting, and ran another high-class performer in Grey Dawning to less than three lengths at Kelso last time out. Saturday's race has been his target all season, seven is no longer too young for a National winner, and he has an excellent racing weight of 10st 11lb. At around 9-1, Iroko (4.00) is a very fair price to take the best chance in a Grand National he is ever likely to get. Aintree 1.20 The form of Gordon Elliott's stable remains a concern but Timmy Tuesday was a convincing winner on good ground just 19 days ago, posting an impressive winning time in the process. He looks sure to be suited by this step up to three miles and has form behind a subsequent Grade One winner earlier in the season. Aintree 1.55 Though he lost his unbeaten record, Lulamba posted a new career-best when he was mugged on the line in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and this move out of juvenile company makes sense with Nicky Henderson's gelding getting 10lb from the field. Chepstow 12.40 Laughing John 1.10 Timetoshine 1.40 Jet Of Dreams 2.15 Nothin To Ask 2.50 Keppel Queen 3.32 Zambezi Fix 4.38 Marco's Light Newcastle 12.55 Heather Honey 1.30 Maximum Offers 2.05 Regal And Royal 2.40 Choosethenews 3.25 Cuban Cigar 4.30 Jac Jumper 5.05 Japetus Aintree 1.20 Timmy Tuesday 1.55 Lulamba 2.30 Happygolucky (nb) 3.05 Home By The Lee 4.00 Iroko (nap) 5.00 L'Eau du Sud 5.35 Scope To Improve Yarmouth 3.40 Artificer 4.25 Regal Agenda 4.55 Palazzo Blu 5.30 Bobacious 6.05 Harry Did 6.35 Scarlet Lady 7.05 Private Island Wolverhampton 4.45 Pouting 5.15 Wine Dark Sea 5.45 Blue Empress 6.15 Invincible Melody 6.45 Desert Champion 7.15 Curtiz 7.45 Ziggy's Ariel 8.15 Zooks Aintree 2.30 Happygolucky took this race as a seven-year-old for Kim Bailey in 2021 after a big run at Cheltenham and looks ready for a repeat for his new trainer, Mel Rowley – off a 10lb lower mark - having stayed on in eye-catching fashion to finish fourth in the Ultima at the festival last month. Aintree 3.05 Joseph O'Brien's Home By The Lee had no luck at all in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, unseating JJ Slevin at the sixth when an opponent fell in front of him. His earlier form with Bob Olinger, the eventual winner of that race, reads well in the context of this contest, however, and he has also shown in the past that a sound surface is not a hindrance. The team of commentators for Saturday's Grand National will include a female race-caller for the first time in 73 years on Saturday, when Gina Bryce, a regular presenter on Sky Sports Racing, will commentate on the action between Valentine's Brook and the Melling Road crossing as part of Radio 5 Live's team at Aintree. Bryce will be part of a four-strong team of commentators on Radio 5 Live, alongside lead commentator John Hunt, who will cover the start and the run from Melling Road to the line on both circuits, and co-commentators Darren Owen and Gary O'Brien. 'Never in a million years did I think I'd get the opportunity to do something like this,' Bryce said on Friday. 'It's a first for me and very exciting, although slightly terrifying as you can imagine. 'I couldn't be in better hands, as I'll take over from Darren Owen and Gary O'Brien before passing it on to John Hunt. The first – and so far only – woman to commentate on the world's most famous steeplechase was the track's former owner, Mirabel Topham, in 1952. Topham appointed herself and a small group of friends to call the race following a dispute with the BBC over copyright issues, and their attempt to describe the action as it happened was widely criticised, with the most notable mistake being a claim that Teal had fallen at the first fence. Neville Crump's 10-year-old was in fact the eventual winner at odds of 100-7.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nine-year-old hopes to be lucky charm for Grand National runner
A nine-year-old with a rare neurological condition is hoping to be the lucky charm for a Grand National runner. Joshua Duckworth, who lives in Aintree and has life-limiting condition 4H leukodystrophy, rubbed a 'lucky medal' on the nose of his favourite horse, Iroko, on a visit to his Cheshire stables last month. While visiting the yard, he also made the good luck gesture to horse Jagwar – who went on to win the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase at last month's Cheltenham Festival. Nine-year-old Joshua Duckworth has been announced as the honorary 35th runner for the @RandoxHealth Grand National 🙌 Joshua is under the care of @AlderHey's Neurology team and has been visited by several famous racing faces 🤩 Read more 👉 — Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) January 29, 2025 Joshua said: 'I love horseracing and I love Iroko. It was great to meet him where he lives and I hope rubbing my lucky coin will help him win. I'll be cheering him on at Aintree.' Josh Guerriero, who is joint trainer of Iroko with Oliver Greenall, said: 'We've loved meeting Joshua and his family. It was brilliant having them on the yard, they had a great time watching horses on the gallops and seeing the facilities. 'You could see how much he enjoyed meeting Iroko and we hope that him rubbing his lucky coin will bring him as much fortune in the National as it did for Jagwar at Cheltenham.' The medal was given to Joshua after he met a member of Brentford Football Club's security team called Andy. His father Christopher said: 'Joshua melted his heart, and when he saw him again Andy gave Joshua a lucky medal from his Army days and said the medal always kept him safe and strong. 'He said it was lucky and wanted Joshua to have it to protect him and keep him safe and strong against his disease. 'Joshua wanted to take this medal to Josh and Olly's yard to wish Iroko luck and to keep Iroko safe and protect him in the race. Joshua will be bringing it to Aintree too.' Joshua has been named as the honorary 35th runner in the world-famous steeplechase, which takes place at 4pm on Saturday. The role was created for neuroblastoma campaigner Bradley Lowery in 2017, three months before his death, and has since been used to highlight youngsters and the work of Alder Hey Children's Hospital and charity. Joshua is being treated for his condition at Alder Hey and was at the Liverpool hospital on Friday to meet 2012 Grand National-winning horse Neptune Collonges and jockeys on their annual visit. Mr Duckworth added: 'It's a huge honour for Josh to be this year's 35th runner in a race like the Randox Grand National. The opportunities Aintree have given to Josh and us as a family have been amazing. 'He had a great time meeting Josh and Oliver at their yard and loved seeing the horses up close. We'll have everything crossed that Iroko can win the Grand National but it'll be a day we'll never forget whatever the result.'
