The biggest race of the year. The Grand National. Everyone has their own little traditions, their own ways to pick a winner and their own ways to watch the race around the world. This year, on this column, I aim to pick the National winner, just like last year and the year previous. Could we make it a hat-trick in the biggest race of the year?
Main Pick: Vanillier @ 14/1 (General)
The 2023 Grand National second is making the top of the list for me in this year’s race. Last year he was underwhelming finishing well behind in mid-division and his weight was not exactly perfect. Today, however, he returns to that same runner-up mark as 2023, 147. He also has form entering this contest. He won the P.P Hogan Memorial Cross-Country Chase at Punchestown before placing a good third behind stablemate Stumptown in the Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham last month.
He loves these types of races and with a low weight can go one better than his 2023 effort. Also he represents a trainer that, arguably, holds the strongest hand in this year’s race, Gavin Cromwell. He runs Perceval Legallois and Stumptown, but Vanillier’s experience over these National fences should not put him down the pecking order.
Runner-Up: Three Card Brag @ 22/1 (William Hill, Betfred)
Three Card Brag may seem an unusual type on form, but he looks an out-and-out Grand National horse. His wins have mainly come on soft or soft-heavy ground and may look unsuited on the ground for this race. But he fits the trends for winners of this race. He finished in the top three of a Grade Two Chase at Navan back in February, he’s rated between 143 and 150 (146) and carries less than 10-13 in the race (10-5).
He’s trained by a man who knows how to win this race, Gordon Elliott, even though he may have been out of form lately. He may be a mud slugger but the longer he stays the more chance he has of being up there at the finish. Also his trainer has no less than five entries and racks up a few marathon handicap chases in Ireland throughout the season.
Third-place: Nick Rockett @ 25/1 (Betfred)
Nick Rockett is third on the list of 34, which doesn’t make for great reading at first. But consider what he has won and the manner of which he has. He won the famous Irish Trial for this race, the Grade Three Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse, beating Intense Raffles by 0.75L that day. Prior to that race he won the ultra-competitive Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park for Willie Mullins back in mid-January.
He’s chasing a hat-trick and this race, will have been the plan from the moment he recorded a top-seven finish in the Irish Grand National last year and finishing fourth in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown after that. He’s another marathon runner who will appreciate the better ground and is not to be discounted with a certain Mr P W Mullins taking the ride.
An Outsider: Monbeg Genius @ 50/1 (General)
Do not write any outsiders off in the Grand National at all. Whilst it may a more concentrated field, 34 runners is still hard a minefield to predict a winner. Monbeg Genius was a very useful winner of a three-mile chase at Uttoxeter back in February and avoided all the hustle and bustle of minor National events and Cheltenham.
Earlier this season he finished second in a marathon chase on Betfair Chase day at Haydock, whilst finishing fourth in the chaotic Welsh Grand National as he fought his way through the mud and the fog just to finish. Looking back he finished third at the Cheltenham Festival and third in a Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. There’s no doubting he’s a stayer and maybe an extended three-mile chase, maybe even a four mile trip, will suit him perfectly. He will also have been hoping for better ground and will be looking for another top four finish in a big marathon contest.
The very best of luck to whoever you are back in the Grand National 2025.
