I Am Maximus wins the 2024 Grand National.(Image: The Jockey Club/PA Wire.)

Grand National 2025: Full list of runners and riders for Aintree spectacular

by · Irish Mirror

Reigning champion I Am Maximus leads the pack of 34 declarations for this Saturday's Randox Grand National at Aintree.

The nine year old, trained by Willie Mullins, clinched victory by seven-and-a-half lengths last year. Despite carrying an extra 8lb this season and two underwhelming performances this year, he remains a top contender with jockey Paul Townend sticking by him.

Mullins is fielding six horses in total, including Nick Rockett, Grangeclare West and Meetingofthewaters. Fellow Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell also boasts a strong lineup with ante-post favourite Stumptown, Vanillier and Perceval Legallois.

Hewick, trained by Shark Hanlon, is another popular choice, while Iroko stands as the leading British hope, trained by Oliver Greenall and ridden by Josh Guerriero, having been targeted at this race all season.

Paul Nicholls is entering a team of five, led by Kandoo Kid. With no withdrawals from the top 34 horses confirmed on Monday, Duffle Coat, trained by Gordon Elliott, secures the final spot.

Shakem Up'Arry, Roi Mage, Favori de Champdou and Fantastic Lady are the four reserve runners on standby should any of the declared horses pull out before 1pm on Friday.

Irish trainers account for half of the field, with their 17 entries also featuring former ante-post favourite Intense Raffles.

Intense Raffles, formerly trained in France and now under the guidance of Tom Gibney since autumn 2023, has been making waves in the racing scene. After back-to-back novice wins at Fairyhouse, the seven year old horse returned to the County Meath track to secure a second Irish National victory for his trainer in April last year.

Now, just over a year later, a long-term plan could be about to pay off.

"The plan was pretty much hatched the day after he won the Irish National and he didn't run again over fences until after the weights (for Aintree) had come out (in February)," revealed Anthony Bromley, the racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

There were discussions about participating in the novice chase at the Punchestown Festival last year, but Bromley explained, "There was some talk of going for the novice chase at the Punchestown Festival (last year), but a good showing there would have affected our handicap mark, so we decided to set our stall out and target Aintree early."

Despite a disappointing performance in his first two starts this season over hurdles at Navan, Intense Raffles bounced back impressively when he returned to larger obstacles, pushing Nick Rockett to the limit in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

The Irish National has a history of producing subsequent Aintree champions, with Bobbyjo himself, Numbersixvalverde and I Am Maximus all achieving the double in the past three decades. Leading bloodstock agent Bromley is hopeful that Intense Raffles can join this illustrious list.

He further commented: "It might not work and it could all be in vain, but if the handicapper had to reassess him today and after his run in the Bobbyjo, he would be a good 6lb or 7lb higher, so we've done something right!".

"Unfortunately, there's four and a quarter miles, 30 fences and 33 other rivals before we find out how right, so we'll have to wait and see. We've done our job, it's now down to J J (Slevin, jockey) and the horse to do it on the track on the day."

Full list of runners and riders

  1. I Am Maximus Paul Townend
  2. Royale Pagaille Charlie Deutsch
  3. Nick Rockett Patrick Mullins
  4. Grangeclare West Brian Hayes
  5. Hewick Gavin Sheehan
  6. Minella Indo Rachael Blackmore
  7. Appreciate It Sean O’Keeffe
  8. Minella Cocooner Jonathan Burke
  9. Conflated Jockey TBC
  10. Stumptown Keith Donoghue
  11. Hitman Freddie Gingell
  12. Beauport Sam Twiston-Davies
  13. Bravemansgame James Reveley
  14. Chantry House James Bowen
  15. Threeunderthrufive Harry Skelton
  16. Perceval Legallois Mark Walsh
  17. Kandoo Kid Harry Cobden
  18. Iroko Jonjo O’Neill Jr
  19. Intense Raffles Jockey TBC
  20. Senior Chief Darragh O’Keeffe
  21. Idas Boy Harry Bannister
  22. Fil Dor Jockey TBC
  23. Broadway Boy Tom Bellamy
  24. Coko Beach Jockey TBC
  25. Stay Away Fay Paul O’Brien
  26. Meetingofthewaters Danny Mullins
  27. Monbeg Genius Nick Scholfield
  28. Vanillier Sean Flanagan
  29. Horantzau D’Airy Ciaran Gethings
  30. Hyland Nico de Boinville
  31. Celebre D’Allen Micheal Nolan
  32. ThreeCardBrag Sean Bowen
  33. Twig Beau Morgan
  34. DuffleCoat Jockey tbc

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