Saturday afternoon sees Aintree Racecourse lay on one of the biggest spectacles of the early National Hunt season. Having been kept under wraps since Nick Rockett led home a Willie Mullins 1-2-3 in April, the Grand National fences stride into view once more.
Fans will flock to Merseyside to welcome back Becher’s Brook, The Chair, Valentines, and co. for the 2025 edition of the Grand Sefton Steeplechase. At 2m5f, the trip isn’t anywhere near as demanding as the 4m2f of its Grand National big brother, but the jumping challenge remains the same in this £85,000 contest.
Since making its debut in 2003, the Grand Sefton has grown to become one of the biggest betting heats of the opening months of the jumps campaign. With an each-way-friendly field of 17 confirmed, that trend looks set to continue in 2025. But who does the market suggest will come out on top over the most famous fences in the world?
Rhino Leads Betting Charge
With the clock ticking down towards the big race, the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero-trained White Rhino has made his way to the top of the market. Five wins from 12 hurdle outings saw the son of Doyen rise to a mark of 135 over the smaller obstacles. Four starts into his chase career, he is up to a rating of 141. He retains potential on only his third start in open handicap chase company but doesn’t exactly arrive on a high.
Having kicked off his chase career with back-to-back wins at Ayr and Haydock, he made it no further than the third when stepping up in class for the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Hurdle. His final outing of 2024/25 didn’t go much better, as he was pulled up three from the finish. White Rhino has yet to tackle these fences, but punters appear willing to overlook those blips and side with his undoubted potential.
In a strong race for the Greenall & Guerriero team, 2024 third Gaboriot provides a solid second string to the training duo’s bow. Three pounds lower in the handicap this year and proven over the fences, he seems likely to be a popular each-way option at a double-figure price.
King to Defend His Crown?
The David Pipe representative King Turgeon sits second in the market. Having ended 2024/25 with a pair of pulled-up efforts, the seven-year-old is looking to bounce back. Connections will hope a summer wind operation may fix whatever ailed him in those Musselburgh and Cheltenham outings.
One thing the mount of Jack Tudor does have on his side is form at the track. Jumping impeccably throughout in the 2024 edition of this, he asserted at the Elbow to power away for a 3¼l success. That came off a mark of 125. He then followed up off 133 in a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham and is only four pounds higher here, suggesting he could go close.
Jonjo, Jonjo, and Johnny the Winning Combination?
Jonjo O’Neill and JP McManus began well in this event, with the Jonjo-trained Dark Room carrying the green and gold silks to victory in the inaugural edition of 2003. However, neither O’Neill nor McManus has landed the prize since.
Bidding to put that right in 2025 is the Jonjo & A. J. O’Neill-trained, Jonjo O’Neill Jr-ridden, and John Patrick McManus-owned Johnnywho. A bit of a mouthful but a promising prospect. Tried at the highest level over hurdles, Johnnywho ran with credit behind the likes of Captain Teague and Stellar Story.
Since switching to fences, a Grade success has proven similarly elusive. However, he comes right into contention for this on the pick of his handicap form – most notably a neck second in the Fulke Walyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
Seddon into the Record Books?
In the 22-year history of the Grand Sefton, only four horses have defied a double-digit age to come home in front. The 11-year-olds Hakim (2005) and Gas Line Boy (2017) share the record as the oldest winners of the race. Hoping to set a new benchmark in 2025 is the John McConnell runner, Seddon.
Now fully 12 years old, the Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate runner has covered himself in glory with 11 career wins – headlined by a famous victory in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. His comeback in the Cesarewitch Handicap went about as well as his 66/1 odds suggested, but he may find this test more to his liking.
Others to note in a compelling renewal include Our Power, who represents 2022 winning trainer Sam Thomas, and Colonel Harry, from the in-form Jamie Snowden operation. Tune in at 2:40pm on Saturday to discover the first horse to conquer the formidable fences in the 2025/26 campaign.
