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Grand National: Stumptown to be re-equipped with blinkers, says Cromwell
By Andy Stephens
Last Updated: Mon 31 Mar 2025
Gavin Cromwell revealed on Monday that Randox Grand National favourite Stumptown will be re-equipped with blinkers at Aintree on Saturday to help him “keep up” with the opposition.
The eight-year-old is effectively unpenalised for his win in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival– he will run off the same rating this weekend – and is no bigger than 8-1 to give his trainer a famous double after scooping the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Inothewayurthinkin last month.
However, Cromwell is concerned whether Stumpton will have the speed to exploit his favourable handicap rating. As a consequence, he will be re-equipped with blinkers for the first time in almost a year, having not worn them on his past five starts (and only three times in his 24 races).
“Stumptown performed really well at Cheltenham, and if he can back that up, then he certainly has a chance,” Cromwell said in his William Hill blog late on Monday afternoon. “Whether it’s a favourite’s chance, though, I’m not too sure.
“He’ll certainly take to the fences well, and he dealt with better ground well at Cheltenham. That said, the pace of the Grand National will be a lot different, and I’d be slightly concerned as to whether he’ll be able to keep up.”
Cromwell will also be represented by Vanillier, runner-up in the National two years ago, and Perceval Legallois, who he suggested would be the ride of Mark Walsh, the retained rider of JP McManus. The former is 12-1, and latter 16-1.
He said: “We’ll have the blinkers on Stumptown, and they seemed to do the trick with Vanillier as well. He also ran well at Cheltenham, and he seems in good form. He’s off the same mark as he was when finishing second here a couple of years ago, which certainly gives us hope that he could run well.
“The short gap between their runs at Cheltenham and the National is always going to be a concern because you’re in unknown territory, really, and you’re taking a bit of a chance.”
By contrast, Perceval Legallois has not run since scoring over hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival in early February.
“Perceval Legallois has had a longer break than the rest of them,” said Cromwell. “He goes well fresh, so that is definitely a positive. He’s never run over this distance before, which brings a bit of an unknown element, but I don’t see any reason why he won’t stay. He’s been in good form at home.
“As far as I know, the plan is for Mark Walsh to ride him, with Paul Townend sticking with I Am Maximus.”
Thyestes Chase runner-up Velvet Elvis was withdrawn on Monday, when 57 horses were left in a £1 million race where a maximum field of 34 is allowed. “He wants ease in the ground, and he’ll be aimed at the Irish Grand National now,” Cromwell said.
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