Inothewayurthinkin has been taken out of the 2025 Grand National – Steve Ryder looks at the stats and picks his winner from the remaining runners.
Grand National 2025
The Grand National remains the most anticipated and iconic horse race of the year but since the recent changes, what it takes to win this race has altered slightly.
The fences have been modified, the field size and distance slightly reduced and the prize money increased which has led to higher class horses winning it more recently.
Let’s look into the recent winners and key trends after Inothewayurthinkin was taken out of the race, throwing the betting wide open. Before making your selections, remember to check out all the best Grand National free bets through oddschecker.
Grand National Winners, Trends & Stats
Although Tiger Roll was able to win back-to-back renewals in this race in 2018 & 2019, last year’s winner I Am Maximus has to defy a few trends if being able to repeat his triumph.
Only two of the previous 40 winners had won or placed in the race previously and of those at the top of the market, only Stumptown and Vanillier had run at the Cheltenham Festival prior to this race which eight of the previous 17 winners had done.
- 22 of the previous 30 winners were aged between eight and 10 but the previous nine were aged nine or younger.
- 14 of the previous 16 winners were having their first run in the race.
- 14 of the previous 19 winners had won over 3m1f or further
- 16 of the previous 28 winners returned at an SP of 14/1 or less
- Eight of the previous 13 winners had finished 1st or 2nd on their latest start
- Seven of the previous nine winners were second-season chasers
- Six of the previous nine winners had run less than 10 times over fences
- Five of the previous seven winners had won last time out
- Five of the previous seven winners wore a tongue-tie
- Zero of the previous 10 winners had fallen or unseated more than once, six had never done.
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Grand National Key Runners & Contenders
Intense Raffles
A seven-year-old who won the Irish Grand National last season for a small Irish trainer in Tom Gibney. No doubt targeted at this race since, he finished 2nd in the Bobbyjo Chase last time behind Nick Rockett when beaten only ¾ length.
Iroko
The last of the well fancied seven-year-olds this year who has caught the eye on all four of his runs this season. 2nd to Inothewayurthinkin in the Grade 1 Midmay Novices’ Chase last season at the meeting, he still looks well handicapped off a mark of 152. Stamina would be a concern given none of his four career victories have come over further than 2m4½f.
I Am Maximus
Last year’s impressive 7 ½ length winner who runs in it this year off an 8lb higher rating. Was set to run in the same races as last year but had to miss the Bobbyjo Chase with a respiratory infection.
Stumptown
Won the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival this year which is a well-trodden path with Tiger Roll winning it prior to his victories in the race and with the likes of Delta Work and Galvin having run in the contest prior to placing in the Grand National.
Nick Rockett
Won the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January before beating Intense Raffles in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February, a race that trainer Willie Mullins had won with I Am Maximus prior to winning this race last year. His odds will likely collapse if Paul Townend decides to ride him.
Perceval Legallois
Won the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas which both Minella Times (2021) and Noble Yeats (2022) did prior to their victories in this race. Won at the Dublin Racing Festival back over hurdles last time and arrives in good form.
Vanillier
Finished 2nd behind Corach Rambler in this race in 2023 before finishing 14th last season. The 10-year-old won at Punchestown in first-time blinkers in February before finishing 3rd in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival this year despite nearly taking the wrong course.
Kandoo Kid
Won the Coral Gold Cup on his reappearance which is a race that three of the previous 12 had run in. Was given a prep run at Newbury earlier this month and has the benefit of the Grand National fences having finished 3rd in the Topham at the meeting last season.
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Grand National Trainers, Jockeys & Owners to Watch
Gordon Elliott has the best recent record in this race with Tiger Roll successful in both 2018 and 2019 and both Delta Work and Galvin placing in the race last year.
I Am Maximus provided Willie Mullins with a second win in the race last year, 19 years after Hedgehunter gave him his first victory in the race.
Nigel Twiston-Davies has also won the race twice before with Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002) and he has two contenders with Beauport and Broadway Boy this year.
JP McManus has owned the winner of the Grand National three times with Don’t Push It (2010), Minella Times (2021) and I Am Maximus (2024) and the fact he has such a strong team this year means that jockey bookings of his runners will be interesting.
Paul Townend would be able to choose to ride I Am Maximus if he wishes but Willie Mullins also has an interesting contender in Nick Rockett.
Iroko has been exclusively partnered by Jonjo O’Neill Jnr since Mark Walsh rode him to finish 3rd in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle here in 2023 so Mark Walsh will likely be aboard Perceval Legallois now that connections of Inothewayurthinkin have decided not to run him.
Both Gigginstown House Stud- Rule The World (2016), Tiger Roll (2018 & 2019) and Trevor Hemmings- Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011), Many Clouds (2015) have good records in this race but the current shortest price runner from each set of owners is at 66/1.
Grand National Ground Conditions & Weather
Horse welfare has become an even more important factor in the race in recent years so the ground will never be allowed to be too quick.
The 2023 renewal was run on good to soft ground and last year on soft ground and with the long range forecast it appears that either one of those are likely on the day.
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Betting Insights for the Grand National 2025
With Inothewayurthinkin now missing the race, it is now a much more interesting market. Both Nick Rockett and Perceval Legallois look progressive eight-year-olds who have a good profile for the race but the fact that both Paul Townend and Mark Walsh are more likely to be riding stablemates in preference to them slightly puts me off.
At 16/1 they have the chance of shortening closer to the day and the same comments apply to Vanillier. He has looked revitalised by blinkers on his previous two starts and did brilliantly the finish 3rd in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival despite taking the wrong course. He is off the same rating of 147 which he finished 2nd in 2023 and he looks sure to be involved in the finish.
