Final Selections for 2025

If you've read every page in this blog, thanks for taking the time to do so and I hope it provides you with some useful insights into this years Grand National.

If you haven't (and I know who you are!), then the rest of the blog explained how to apply several pointers which (I hope!) will point us towards a prototype National winner.   

• Prefer Irish trained horses given recent results✔️
• Career top two finish in a key trial✔️
• Posted a win this season / each-way return in past two runs ✔️
• Aged 7-9 ✔️
• Under 14 Career Starts ✔️
• 2nd or 3rd Season Chaser ✔️
• Raced in the past 84 days ✔️

If we focus solely on the all important factors of proven stamina and recent form, 13/34 runners tick the boxes. They are...

3. Nick Rockett

5. Hewick
6. Minella Indo
10. Stumpdown

12. Beauport
13. Bravemansgame
15. Threeunderthrufive
16. Perceval Legallois
17. Kandoo Kid
19. Intense Raffles
24. Coko Beach
27. Monbeg Genius
28. Vanillier

There are highly notable exceptions. In fact the top two in the betting are gone!

Last years winner I Am Maximus may go well around Aintree again but a lack of form this season means he's out. Highly fancied 7 year old Iroko also fails to make the trends cut given his lack of exposure in a key trial. 

By applying the trends more stringently, using more arbitrary measures  based on age, experience and preparation I've whittled that long list down to just five.  

The final shortlist...

• Nick Rockett 28/1
• Perceval Legallois 12/1
• Kandoo Kid 20/1
• Intense Raffles 14/1
• Monbeg Genius 50/1

This list includes a few well fancied runners near the top of the betting, and a couple of tempting long shots.

My Four Against The Field

It remains to be seen if the profile of National winner we've seen emerging in recent years will hold up again. Only time will tell!

The shortlist has again thrown up horses with proven stamina in top graded racing at the top of the handicap, and a good few who have the profile and form lines to win if they stay the trip. 

The ground looks to be good to soft, meaning weight is unlikely to be a consideration. 

For my first pick, I'll go with Intense Raffles. The winner of last years' Irish National. Only doubt would be he's mainly raced on softer ground in Ireland, but if he takes to the Aintree challenge he has a serious chance of following the same path to victory as last years winner I Am Maximus.

Next up I'll take Nick Rockett, a horse who has really come to the fore with victories in the Theystes Chase and the Bobbyjo Chase this season.

Perceval Legallois was an impressive winner of the Paddy Power Chase in Ireland over Christmas, a similar route taken by 2021 winner Minella Times.

With two British trained horses left to choose from in the shortlist I'll go for the big price of Monbeg Genius, who has placed in the Coral Cup and Welsh National and won on his last outing in February.

I hope you enjoyed this read and best of luck whoever you're on!