The Grand National is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, with a confirmed line-up of 34 horses ready to compete at Aintree. The jockeys will be announced in due course.
In a change from previous years, the number of horses participating in the Grand National was reduced from 40 to 34 in 2023. Last year's champion, I Am Maximus, ridden by Paul Townend, is once again in contention this year, despite the withdrawal of 11 other horses.
However, this year's initial favourite, Inothewayurthinkin, has been withdrawn from the Grand National this week following his Gold Cup victory at Cheltenham last week. The seven year old horse had been tipped to start at the shortest price ever in the Grand National at 2/1, before trainer Gavin Cromwell decided to pull him out.
Cromwell justified his decision, stating: "It was tempting, but I'm very happy with the decision not to go there. He's only a seven-year-old, we've worked hard on his jumping this season and it's progressed.", as reported by the Express.
"Keith Donoghue has been a big part of that as he rode him all season and has got the horse jumping really well. We're in a good place and I don't think it would be the right thing to do to go to the Grand National and potentially unravel that," reports Coventry Live.
With Inothewayurthinkin out of the picture, former Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles is now expected to be the favourite at odds of 6/1. The esteemed event is set to start on the Mildmay course at 4pm.
In other racing news, Galvin, who was pulled up in last week's Cheltenham Cross Country race, will not be running, nor will Gentlemansgame and Monty's Star, who secured third and fourth places respectively in the Gold Cup.
Furthermore, there's no room for Grade 1 champ Envoi Allen, with Git Maker, Gericault Roque, Trelawne, Limerick Lace, Pinkerton and The Real Whacker also being withdrawn from the race.
There has been another shake-up to the field, too, with seven scratchings made on Monday. L'Homme Presse has been withdrawn while Capodanno, Velvet Elvis, Minella Drama and Mr Incredible also taken out of the rac.
Quick Wave and Fontaine Collonges will not go either. This means that Horantzau D’Airy, Three Card Brag, Twig and Hyland take up a place in the top 34.
The confirmed line-up for the 2025 Grand National is as follows:
I Am Maximus
Royale Pagaille
Nick Rockett
Grangeclare West
Hewick
Minella Indo
Appreciate It
Minella Cocooner
Conflated
Stumptown
Hitman
Beauport
Bravemansgame
Chantry House
Threeunderthrufive
Perceval Legallois
Kandoo Kid
Iroko
Intense Raffles
Senior Chief
Idas Boy
Fil Dor
Broadway Boy
Coko Beach
Stay Away Fay
Meetingofthewaters
Monbeg Genius
Vanillier
Horantzau D’Airy
Hyland
Celebre D’Allen
Three Card Brag
Twig
Duffle Coat/Shakem Up'Arry/Roi Mage
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