Grand National 2025 tips: Prediction for the Aintree contest

I Am Maximus looks like he could take all the beating in this year's Grand National as he aims to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to carry top weight to victory in the race.

The nine-year-old was awesome when winning the 4m2½f contest 12 months ago under Paul Townend and reportedly arrives here in great form for Willie Mullins, who is aiming to win the race for a third time, having tasted his first success with Hedgehunter in 2005.

I Am Maximus' form figures for this season read PU (pulled up) in the Savills Chase and 8/10 in the Irish Gold Cup when he finished 17 lengths behind Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown.

However, he finished a similar distance behind his stablemate in the same race last year and there's no doubt that the National has been his main aim since he won the contest last year.

He is strongly fancied to go very close to retaining his crown off just six pounds higher than last year, with Irish runners expected to dominate the race once again.

Six of the first seven horses home last year were trained in Ireland and Vanillier is another who could run a big race for Gavin Cromwell once again.

He was second to Corach Rambler in the National two years ago and finished 14th in the 2024 renewal.

The 10-year-old would have been a lot closer to Stumptown at Cheltenham had he not nearly gone the wrong way under Sean Flanagan a few weeks ago and could be primed for another big run here.

He runs off the same weight as what he carried when second in 2023, which is six pounds lower than what he ran off last year.

Another horse we have to give a big mention to is Hewick.

Bought for just €850, the Shark Hanlon-trained runner looks set to have his favoured ground on Saturday and it would be one of the great National stories if he wins.

He already has King George, Galway Plate and American Grand National victories to his name and would be a very popular result with punters and racing fans in general.

There's no question regarding stamina and it could just be a fairytale story waiting to happen.

Intense Raffles won the Irish Grand National last year and is aiming to do what I Am Maximus did 12 months ago by following up the Fairyhouse victory with Aintree success.

He is another who has been campaigned entirely with the National in mind and looks set for a big run for Meath trainer Tom Gibney.

His last run was a good one when finishing three quarters of a length behind odds-on favourite Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February and that should have him spot on for today's race.

Grand National 2025 1-2-3-4 tips:

1st: I Am Maximus 11/1

2nd: Vanillier 10/1

3rd: Hewick 10/1

4th: Intense Raffles 10/1

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