The main event has arrived as a field of 34 horses will line up for the £1 million prize and £500,000 winners’ jackpot for the 2025 Grand National at Aintree
The 177th Randox Grand National at Aintree is upon us.
A total of 34 horses will compete for the £1 million prize, with half of that sum going to the first horse to cross the finish line in the famous old race.
Predicting the winner of the 4m2f race has become an annual tradition in homes across the country. For both seasoned punters and those who only place a bet once a year. Leading tipster Newsboy has shared his insights on the main event and analysed the supporting races on the final day of the three-day festival.
1.20 WILLIAM HILL TOP PRICE GUARANTEE HANDICAP HURDLE.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 BILL JOYCE, 2 DOUBLE POWERFUL, 3 CATCH HIM DERRYBILL JOYCE stands out as he makes his handicap debut and takes on three miles under Rules for the first time.
The six year old triumphed over this distance in his sole point-to-point outing at Lisronagh, Co Tipperary, in February 2023. After joining the Jackdaws Castle stable of Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, the son of Mahler secured two bumper wins and made an impressive start to his hurdling career with a comfortable victory at Carlisle in November.
Bill Joyce then stepped up to Grade 2 company at Sandown Park the following month, defeating Quebecois by five lengths.
My pick wasn’t disgraced when finishing third behind The New Lion in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury just after Christmas, and he performed at a similar level when coming third to Sixmilebridge in a Grade 2 contest on Cheltenham’s Trials Day card in January.
Bill Joyce’s previous runs over timber have all been over two and a half miles, but this additional distance could well bring about further improvement. His initial British Horseracing Authority rating of 136 seems reasonable.
Catch Him Derry, Act Of Authority and Double Powerful are all solid contenders for the top spots.
1.55 TURNERS MERSEY NOVICES’ HURDLE.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 HORACES PEARL, 2 LULAMBA, 3 FINGLE BRIDGE.
HORACES PEARL remains unbeaten and is set to challenge hot favourite Lulamba.
The Fergal O’Brien-trained Authorized offspring has already tasted victory on Grand National day, adding to his Wincanton wins by clinching the Grade 2 bumper on this card last year.
His one-length lead over stablemate Tripoli Flyer marked Horaces Pearl as a horse with great potential, and his subsequent performances over timber have only reinforced that impression.
When Connor Brace rode him in his first hurdles race at Huntingdon in November, the bookies were taking no chances – Horaces Pearl was the 1-5 favourite and comfortably beat Jackstell by six lengths.
He then carried a penalty to win at Newbury in late February, finishing five and a half lengths ahead of Lud’or, and there’s still more to come from him.
Lulamba, who was second only to Poniros in the Triumph Hurdle, is not to be dismissed lightly, while Fingle Bridge and Honesty Policy are also worth considering.
2.30 WILLIAM HILL HANDICAP CHASE.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 DOCPICKEDME, 2 DOCTOR KEN, 3 WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT.
DOCPICKEDME has been showing impressive form over fences this winter, and another strong performance seems likely.
Richard Hobson’s nine year old horse, while undoubtedly talented, hasn’t always been the most reliable. However, his second-place finish to Charlie Uberalles in a three-mile handicap chase at Doncaster 11 days before Christmas was hard to fault.
Six weeks later, Docpickedme and Charlie Maggas outdid themselves by winning the lucrative Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase over the same course and distance.
During that race, Docpickedme faced a challenge from Walking On Air, who fell at the final fence. This left him to beat The Changing Man, the subsequent winner of the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase, by two and a quarter lengths, with Erne River coming fourth and Frero Banbou sixth.
Considering his performance, a 4lb increase in the weights could have been much worse. Given the right conditions, Docpickedme has a lot going for him.
In what promises to be a competitive race, Doctor Ken, Peaky Boy and Weveallbeencaught are just three runners worth keeping an eye on. Will you be placing a bet on the Grand National?
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3.05 IVY LIVERPOOL HURDLE.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 HOME BY THE LEE, 2 TEAHUPOO, 3 KITZBUHELHOME BY THE LEE had a tough time at Cheltenham – but his luck may be about to turn.
The Stayers’ Hurdle saw the 13-2 third favourite, the 10 year old Home By The Lee trained by Joseph O’Brien, and jockey JJ Slevin part ways due to interference from Crambo’s fall at the sixth hurdle.
Despite his age, Home By The Lee had been performing exceptionally well during the winter season before this unfortunate incident.
After a six-month break, my pick demonstrated his prowess by outperforming Stayers’ Hurdle winner Bob Olinger by three and a half lengths in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan in November, leaving Jetara trailing in fifth place.
Home By The Lee then built on this victory with another top-level performance in the Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown just three days post-Christmas, repeating his triumph of two years prior with a six-length lead over the same competitor.
If he can replicate that form, this seasoned performer, who adapts well to all ground conditions, will be a strong contender.
Stayers’ Hurdle runner-up Teahupoo – with The Wallpark in third and Buddy One in fifth – is likely to pose the main challenge, followed by the promising Kitzbuhel and last year’s champion, Strong Leader.
4.00 RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3-4-5-6; 1 PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS, 2 I AM MAXIMUS, 3 DUFFLE COAT, 4 MINELLA COCOONER, 5 BEAUPORT, 6 HEWICK PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS is the ideal replacement for stablemate Inothewayurthinkin in today’s Randox Grand National.
Inothewayurthinkin was the 5-2 favourite for the world’s most renowned steeplechase immediately following his victory in last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Everyone had their bets on trainer Gavin Cromwell, owner JP McManus – who’s eyeing a record fourth National victory – and jockey Mark Walsh to steal the show at Aintree.
Despite Inothewayurthinkin taking a breather in his box at Cromwell’s Navan stables, the trio still have a shot at the winner’s podium.
Perhaps the decision to forgo the Gold Cup-National double wasn’t as tough as we all assumed, considering the impressive strides made by Perceval Legallois towards the most significant day of his career.
The secret to National success lies in impeccable timing – peaking exactly when it counts. And eight year old Perceval Legallois – named after a French film about the Knights of the Round Table – is heading to Aintree with an ideal track record.
Even though he only clinched one win out of four starts as a novice chaser last season – falling twice – Perceval Legallois seems to be hitting his stride now.
Despite being the beaten favourite in both the highly competitive Galway Plate (Galway) and the Kerry National (Listowel) earlier this season, my pick showed promise with a commendable fourth place in the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan in November.
He then doubled his wins over larger obstacles with a seven-length lead in a 27-runner handicap chase at Leopardstown just two days post-Christmas.
Given the commanding nature of that victory, an 11lb rise in the handicap was anticipated, and Walsh’s partner prepped for this afternoon with a win over hurdles back in South Dublin in February.
Perceval Legallois, with a British Horseracing Authority rating of 153, carries a manageable weight of 11st 12lb.
The gelding’s jumping issues seem to be behind him, and considering the less daunting fences of today, it’s easy to agree with Cromwell’s belief that despite being unraced beyond three miles, he is likely to endure the National’s four-mile, two-furlong and 74-yard distance.
As expected, with 34 runners at the starting line, the 2025 National presents a typically wide-open field.
Threats are present at every corner, with National Hunt racing’s powerhouse, Willie Mullins, fielding defending champion I Am Maximus among his six contenders.
Despite being 11lb heavier due to his seven-and-a-half-length victory last year, the nine year old isn’t in the same form but remains a formidable contender. Mullins’ other horses, Minella Cocooner, Meetingofthewaters and Grangeclare West, are also worth considering.
With five of the last six National winners hailing from Ireland, Intense Raffles, bargain purchase Hewick and Duffle Coat, despite longer odds, could perform well.
Vanillier and Stumptown, stablemates of Perceval Legallois, are also part of the race, with a slight preference for Vanillier who finished second to Corach Rambler two years ago and has seen a resurgence thanks to recent blinkers.
Irish contender Senior Chief needs to up his game in the jumping department, a sentiment that also applies to local favourite Broadway Boy. Beauport, another hopeful from Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable, is one to watch.
Iroko has potential but is already a popular choice in the betting market. Kandoo Kid and Hyland, with the latter aiming to secure Nicky Henderson’s first National win 46 years after Zongalero, his debut runner, came second to Rubstic in 1979, are more appealing at their current odds.
5.00 ROSCONN GROUP MAGHULL NOVICES’ CHASE.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 ONLY BY NIGHT, 2 L’EAU DU SUD, 3 KALIF DU BERLAISONLY BY NIGHT gets the nod to outdo her impressive second place in Cheltenham’s Arkle Challenge Trophy.
Gavin Cromwell’s mare had only one win from four hurdle attempts but has shown a new level of prowess since switching to novice chasing.
She made a winning start at Tipperary in November, followed by a victory in a Grade 2 event for mares at Cork the next month.
After defeating Kilbarry Saint by a length at Listed level at Exeter in February, Keith Donoghue’s partner defied her 25-1 Arkle odds with a three-quarter-length second to Jango Baie.
My pick finished just ahead of L’Eau Du Sud and there’s no reason why she can’t repeat that performance.
Kalif Du Berlais didn’t live up to expectations over two and a half miles at Sandown Park last time, but a shorter distance could see him clinch third place.
5.35 WEATHERBYS NHSTALLIONS.CO.UK STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 SCOPE TO IMPROVE, 2 LE LABO, 3 KILWAU
GHTERSCOPE TO IMPROVE has exactly that after a promising start among the professional ranks at Naas in December.
The son of Telescope made his first public appearance in a five-runner point-to-point at Necarne, Co Fermanagh, last May.
Scope To Improve scored by 12 lengths for trainer Pat Turley that day and, having joined Henry de Bromhead, went off the 100-30 favourite against 11 opponents in Co Kildare nine days before Christmas.
Given a confident ride by John Gleeson – Rachael Blackmore takes over the steering today – Scope To Improve came from the back to hold Ifallgoeswell by three and a quarter lengths.There is plenty more where that came from.
Le Labo, Mossy Fen Road and Kilwaughter are three unbeaten horses who can play a supporting role.