For National Hunt fans, the golden time of year is almost upon us. The mighty spectacle of the Cheltenham Festival edges ever closer, whilst barely a month later, we have the small matter of the biggest jumps contest on the planet.
We are, of course, referring to the magnificent Aintree Grand National, which lights up the Merseyside venue on Saturday, 5th of April.
April may still be a little way off, but this week brought one of the key dates in the lead-up to the 4m2½f marathon with the announcement of the Grand National weights. No sooner were they unveiled than punters and pundits began to pore over the field in search of betting opportunities.
Who comes out on top in 2025 remains to be seen, but punters and oddsmakers have concluded that the winning rider is most likely to be attired in green and gold.
McManus-Owned Trio Top the Market
First tasting Grand National success with the AP McCoy-ridden Don’t Push It in 2010, leading National Hunt owner JP McManus has since added further victories with Minella Times (2021) and I Am Maximus (2024).
One more win for McManus will see him move ahead of fellow three-time winning owners James Octavius Machell, Sir Charles Assheton-Smith, Noel Le Mare, Trevor Hemmings, and Gigginstown House Stud.
To claim this notoriously tough contest for a fourth time would represent an impressive achievement, but the market suggests that the 73-year-old has every chance. Of the 90 runners remaining in the Grand National at this stage, nine are owned by McManus. Some are among the rank outsiders and/or need a little luck to make the final field of 34. However, the following trio sit pretty at the head of the betting.
Inothewayurthinkin
- Trainer – Gavin Cromwell
- Sire – Walk In The Park
- Big Race Wins – Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (2024), Mildmay Novices’ Chase (2024)
Long held in high regard by connections, Inothewayurthinkin took a little while to find his stride in 2023/24 but exploded into life in the spring. One of the easiest winners at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, when cruising 8l clear in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup, he built on that effort to bag a first-career Grade 1 at the Grand National Meeting in April.
Inothewayurthinkin completes the Kim Muir-Mildmay double in good style for Mark Walsh, Gavin Cromwell & JP McManus
Fingers crossed Giovinci is OK pic.twitter.com/uVkH4MP4BH
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 12, 2024
So far, in 2024/25, the seven-year-old has trodden a similar path to last season, albeit in more elevated company. He was 36l adrift in the John Durkan Memorial Chase, going down by 15½l in the Savills Chase in December before finishing a 7¼l fourth in the Irish Gold Cup last time out.
Inothewayurthinkin has a Grand National mark of 160 and a racing weight of 11st5lb. When assessing the announcement of the weights, Cromwell stated:
“Inothewayurthinkin is rated 160, which is the same as his mark in Ireland. I wouldn’t say he’s a certain runner at this stage, and we’ll look at other options for him, including the Bowl at Aintree. He’ll also get an entry in the Irish National.”
The trainer’s quote appears to fall into the lukewarm category, but punters appear not to care. At 33/1 at the beginning of February, Inothewayurthinkin is now the clear Grand National favourite at a general 7/1.
I Am Maximus
- Trainer – Willie Mullins
- Sire – Authorized
- Big Race Wins – Irish Grand National (2023), Bobbyjo Chase (2024), Grand National (2024)
Second best in the market at a general price of 12/1 is the horse who has been to Aintree and got the Grand National T-shirt. Already a star thanks to his victory in the 2023 edition of the Irish Grand National, I Am Maximus was simply magnificent on Merseyside in 2024.
Sent off as the joint-favourite following a 14l romp in the Bobbyjo Chase, the mount of Paul Townend cruised into contention on the elbow before producing a turbo-charged finishing effort to score by 7½l.
That said, in common with Inothewayurthinkin, I Am Maximus has failed to hit the heights this season. Pulled up on his return in the Savills Chase, he then finished a 17l eighth in the Irish Gold Cup. A 2025 Grand National mark of 167 is 8lbs higher than last year and sees the nine-year-old saddled with top weight of 11st12lb. That makes life tougher, but he would surely have still gone close with an additional 8lbs on his back in 2024.
Iroko
- Trainer – Olver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
- Sire – Cokoriko
- Big Race Wins – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2023)
Exploding onto the scene with a win at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, Iroko has endured an unfortunate time with his health. However, he has shown enough in five outings since returning from injury to suggest that his best days may yet lie ahead.
Having rounded off 2023/24 with a solid second to Inothewayurthinkin in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase, he has posted two solid efforts in handicap company at Haydock and Cheltenham this season. The only blemish on his 2024/25 record came when falling at the first fence at Ascot.
Only seven years old, and with just one previous handicap chase outing to his name, he remains unexposed over staying trips and may be fairly treated off a rating of 152. Punters appear to agree with that assessment, with Iroko now into a general 12/1 from around 25/1 at the turn of the year.
Strong Chances, but Mullins Prefers Another
The above trio provide McManus with an enviable hand ahead of the punting event of the year, with some firms offering 50/1 that he saddles the first three home. Good luck if you plump for that one!
Selecting between the three is no easy task, particularly as Willie Mullins named an alternative JP McManus-owned runner, Meetingofthewaters, when asked his opinion on the weights:
“My eye was drawn to him when I saw his weight. Last year, he was looking almost like the winner coming to the second-last, he was certainly going well within himself. He’s a year older and stronger, and he has a lovely racing weight.”
As number 43 on the list, Meetingofthewaters needs a few to come out to make the final field but can be backed at a general 20/1.
