Live Grand National 2025 live: Latest updates from Aintree before today's big race

Telegraph

05-04-2025

12:14PM
What of the National favourite?
It will be a tough gig for last year's winner I Am Maximus. He might start favourite but this time he has to carry top weight, a feat not achieved since Red Rum, and his build-up has not been as smooth as it was a year ago. However, at this moment in time Willie Mullins can pretty much walk on water - that appears to be what the punters think at any rate.
The trainer runs six. Minella Cocooner bids to become only the second horse to win a National and a Bet365 Gold Cup but will relish the ground, Grangeclare West might have shown the handicapper his hand too soon when chasing home Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown before the weights came out while Nick Rockett comes into the race in the form of his life and cannot be ruled out of giving amateur Patrick Mullins the day of his life
12:09PM
An unlikely training duo
Prominent National contender Iroko is trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. Greenhall is the heir of a brewing dynasty while Guerriero is the son of a chef who came over to run an Italian restaurant in Penrith. The pair had two winners from just five runners at the Cheltenham Festival. Marcus Armytage tells their story here.
12:04PM
Punters are already through the gates at Aintree
11:53AM
Some notable non-runners
The enigmatic Jeriko Du Reponet will not run in the handicap hurdle at 1.20pm but the bigger news is that Lulamba does not go in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle.
The Nicky Henderson horse ran ever so well at Cheltenham but was pipped at the post in the Triumph. The ground is considered just too quick today, which is a shame for punters.
Severable notable non-runners at Aintree today including Lulamba. pic.twitter.com/FoOTuDfZkQ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 5, 2025
11:50AM
Our experts' tips
Looking for a steer in today's big race? Our racing experts have you covered as they name their National winner as well as a predicted first four home if you are looking for each-way chances. Click here to see who Marlborough, Charlie Brooks, Marcus Armytage and Tom Ward fancy.
11:48AM
Ground in Hyland's favour for the National but dozen or so in with chances
Good-ground horses have been increasingly marginalised in modern Grand Nationals as Aintree waters the track in an attempt to slow the race down but, with the going drying as fast as it can be irrigated this week, they will never get a better chance and Hyland can capitalise on that by winning the 177th edition of the world's greatest steeplechase.
The eight-year-old novice, one of seven greys in this year's line-up, has a lot going for him; a light weight, the best ground he is ever likely to get in a National, Grade One form having chased home arguably the leading staying novice in the country at Christmas, a solid warm-up for this at Kempton in February and, crucially, he comes in without having had a hard race at Cheltenham three weeks ago.
In the 'old days' running a novice in the National would have been considered foolhardy but Rule The World and Noble Yeats, both winners within the last 10 years, were novices, indeed Rule The World had not won a race over fences when he turned up at Aintree in 2016.
As such there is every possibility Hyland is still ahead of the handicapper, another box which needs to be ticked in order to win a modern National.
Much is made of his trainer Nicky Henderson's record, 43 runners since 1979 including nine first-fence fallers and no winners but in the early days Zongerlero, Classified, The Tsarevitch and Brown Windsor were all placed and his last runner, Mister Coffey, led the field over the Melling Road for the last time which will also have given Nico de Boinville a bit of confidence in the race.
But this National is nothing if not open and a dozen or more have good chances.
We'll be providing live updates from all the day's races, starting with the 17-runner William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle at 1.20pm.