The 2025 Grand National: JP McManus holds the aces

This year’s Randox Grand National could well be a blur of green and gold.

Leading owner JP McManus, seeking to win the great race for a fourth time, has nine entries to juggle and none of his possible challengers are lower than 43 among the overall 87 who are engaged.

It means there is the prospect of him being responsible for a quarter of all the runners come the big day on April 5, with a maximum field of 34 allowed to take part.

Here’s a look at his potential squad. 

Age: 9. Trainer: Willie Mullins.  Weight: 11st 12lb (rating 167). Odds: 12-1. 

He was a commanding winner last year and is on course to defend his crown off an 8lb higher rating. Aged just 9, there is nothing to stop him becoming a regular in the race, although the last horse to carry top weight to victory was Red Rum in 1974. Like the legendary triple winner, I Am Maximus is blessed with deep reserves of stamina, but his jumping technique remains a niggle and he seemed to take little interest on his return this campaign. His latest effort, when beaten about 17 lengths in the Irish Gold Cup, was a step back in the right direction. 

What they say: Willie Mullins - “It was huge to win it last year for the second time. I felt very spoilt winning a second Grand National. It’s top weight and it’s tough but we had an idea that it would be tough. He’ll probably run in the Bobbyjo and we’ll see how he is.

“He likes the track (Aintree). Sometimes when horses go back a second time they don’t like it and we’ve got all that to take into account. Horses go round it once and the second time it can be different, but he had a good experience last year and I’m hoping that it won’t be a problem.”

Age: 7. Trainer: Gavin Cromwell. Weight: 11st 5lb (160). Odds: 12-1. 

Gavin Cromwell has played down the chances of him taking part but that has not stopped the bookmakers trimming his odds in recent weeks. The fact that he’s no longer engaged in the Cheltenham Gold Cup has led to many believing that the National is his primary objective. He has looked a strong stayer and last year, as a novice, won prestige prizes at Cheltenham and Aintree. This season he has continued to progress, putting up a PB when fourth to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup last time. 

What they say: Gavin Cromwell - “Inothewayurthinkin is on 160 which is the same as his mark in Ireland. I wouldn’t say he is a certain runner at this stage and we will look at other options for him, including the Bowl at Aintree. He will also get an entry in the Irish National as well."

Age: 7. Trainer: Greenall & Guerrero. Weight: 10st 11lb (152). Odds: 16-1. 

His sole victory over fences came in a five-runner novice chase over 2m 4f at Warwick 15 months ago but he’s shown a high level of form in defeat and is unexposed as a stayer. He chased home Inothewayurthinkin in a Grade One contest at the Grand National meeting last year – he will be 8lb better off here - and this term there has been more of a hint of connections preserving his mark, especially at Cheltenham last time when the stewards asked questions, but nothing more, about the way he was ridden. He's only run in six steeplechase races (the minimum number required to run in the race) and has never run beyond 3m. His French pedigree does not scream stamina, although his grandsire, Martaline, did help produce Vanillier, who was runner-up in the 2023 National. 

What they say: Josh Guerriero - “This season he’s obviously he’s been a bit unlucky in one run and then we’ve just been trying to keep him sharp over a short distance and get him some good race experience at a fast pace and try not to expose him too much so we go there with the best chance possible. Aintree would be one of our local tracks. It’s only an hour away where we train and we both love it there. I had a winner over the National fences back in 2008 in the amateur race and Oliver’s sort of grown up there with his dad having been chairman so it’s got a special place in both our hearts.”

Age: 8. Trainer: Gavin Cromwell. Weight: 10st 12lb (153). Odds: 25-1. 

Perceval Legallois has already won two valuable big-field handicaps this season and seems at the peak of his powers. He was an emphatic seven-length winner of the 27-runner Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and that form got quite a boost when Nick Rockett, who was fourth, subsequently landed the Thyesets Chase. Perceval Legallois then switched back to hurdles to beat 24 rivals at the Dublin Racing Festival last time, having also won at that meeting in 2023 and been an unlucky loser in 2024. He looks to have plenty of attributes needed for the race, although the British assessor has done him no favours. 

What they say: Gavin Cromwell - “Perceval Legallois I would say is a likely runner at this stage and I think we’ll be missing Cheltenham with him. He won the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and then a Listed handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival so is in really good form."

Age: 8. Trainer: Willie Mullins.  Weight: 10st 7lb (148). Odds: 50-1. 

The ante-post betting suggests he is way down the McManus pecking order, but I don’t see it that way. Meetingofthewaters travelled and jumped superbly for 95% of last year’s race, only to wilt in the closing stages. He ended up finishing seventh. It could be that he lacks the requisite stamina but, equally, you can argue that the soft ground played a part in his downfall and that a hard race at Cheltenham the previous month – after an already busyish season – had taken the edge off him. Meetingofthewaters has since had just one spin over fences and it looks like his masterful trainer is taking him much more seriously as a National candidate. He’s going to have a lovely racing weight and will be 7lb better off with I Am Maximus. 

What they say: Willie Mullins - “I think Meetingofthewaters has a lovely weight. He ran very well last year and I think my eye was drawn to him when I saw his weight. He’s one I like.”

Age: 9. Trainer: Willie Mullins. Weight: 11st 2lb (157). Odds: 66-1.

Pulled up in the 2023 National and trailed home sixteenth last year. Did manage to win the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in between but probably lacks the jumping prowess and stamina to be a leading player. 

What they say: Willie Mullins - “Capodanno was running a good race last year. The handicapper’s given him a chance and he jumps those fences no problem so I’m happy enough.”

Age: 11. Trainer: Nicky Henderson. Weight: 10st 13lb (154). Odds: 66-1. 

Smart performer in his prime who won nine of his first 12 races, but it’s been mostly downhill since his dour victory in the 2022 Cotswold Chase. Well held in the latest edition of that race after belatedly getting back to winning ways at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Nicky Henderson’s elusive quest for a National winner goes on. 

What they say: --

Age: 10. Trainer: Joseph O’Brien. Weight: 10st 11lb (152). Odds: 66-1. 

He’s got a cracking record at the Grand National meeting, finishing 2112 in Grade One contests since 2019. However, the two-time Melling Chase winner has still yet to win beyond 2m5f and his career has stalled since the start of last season. A spin over the. cross-country fences at Cheltenham in December did little to revive him. 

What they say: --

Age: 8. Trainer: Gavin Cromwell. Weight: 10st 10lb (151). Odds: 100-1. 

Inothewayurthinkin year older sister was the big gamble of the race last year, eventually going off 7-1 joint-favourite after Mark Walsh had chosen to ride her among the JP McManus contingent. However, events rather conspired against her and she did not convince with her stamina. She crossed the line tenth, being beaten an aggregate of about 30 lengths. Has the experience left a mark? You would have to say it possibly has given that she has run way below-par in her two races this campaign. Moreover, she’s also 4lb higher in the weights. 

What they say: Gavin Cromwell - “Limerick Lace was running a good race last year before she made a mistake, which effectively ended her chance. She has just been entered for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham again (which she won in 2024) and there is a chance she could go there and on to Aintree again. I am hoping that she is a spring horse as her two runs this season have not seen her at her best."