Irish horses dominate Grand National field at confirmation stage

By
avondhupress
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Photo by Philippe Oursel on Unsplash

At the confirmation stage of the Grand National, 18 of the 34 runners set to line up in the world’s most famous steeplechase are Irish-trained horses, meaning Ireland has a great chance of continuing its excellent record in the race.

The Irish runners include last year’s winner, I Am Maximus, who is of Irish and French breeding, six runners from Champion Trainer, Willie Mullins’ yard, and recent Cheltenham Festival winner Stumptown.

Big Hopes for Irish Grand National Winner Intense Raffles 

Ireland’s best chance of having the Grand National winner this year is with Intense Raffles. He is 9/1 in the Grand National 2025 odds. This race has been the plan for the seven-year-old ever since he prevailed in the 2024 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.

Intense Raffles finished just behind Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse on his latest run. Nick Rockett is 25/1 in the horse racing odds to prevail at Aintree and beat his rival once again.

Thomas Gibney’s chaser is the joint-youngest horse in the Grand National entries, but he is not short of experience. He has featured nine times over fences, winning three times. The grey horse has also shown he has the stamina for the tougher distances in the sport.

I Am Maximus Set for Return to Scene of Triumph

After prevailing by seven-and-a-half lengths in the race in 2024, I Am Maximus became the 5th Irish horse in the last six renewals to win the Grand National. In the colours of leading owner JP McManus, he completed a rare double, winning both the English and Irish Grand Nationals in back-to-back seasons.

I Am Maximus is set to return to Aintree to defend his crown. He will need to concede weight to all 33 of his rivals in the contest, as he has been handed top weight of 11st 12lb by the handicapper. 

Mullins’ chaser does need to reproduce the same form he showed last year, as he has failed to hit the placings in two outings this season. Those runs have come at the highest level in Grade One races due to his official rating of 167.

Elliott Set to Saddle Five Runners

Three-time Grand National winning trainer Gordon Elliott will saddle at least five runners in this year’s contest. One of those is Three Card Brag, who was a winner at Navan back in January. He finished third in a Grade Two novice chase on his latest outing.

Elliott trained Silver Birch (2007) and Tiger Roll (2018 and 2019) to victory in the 4m2½f contest. He has had another excellent season in Ireland, accumulating over €3 million in prize money and recording over 140 winners in the Irish Trainers’ Championship. His highest-rated runner in this year’s Grand National is Conflated. The 11-year-old finished second in the Melling Chase at the meeting in 2024.

The Irish trainer will be hoping Favori De Champdou also makes it into the final 34-runner field at the declaration stage. He is currently 37th on the list and will need three horses above him in the weights to be scratched from the contest to land a place.

This year’s Grand National will be 177th in history and it will be live on RTE at 16:00.

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