2025 Grand National Preview

When and Where is the Grand National?

The 177th Grand National will take place on Saturday, April 5th, 2025. As always, the race will be at Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside. It will get underway at 16.00 GMT.

The Grand National is the most famous horse race in the United Kingdom, but it’s not the only race at Aintree this weekend. The National is part of a three-day racing festival, including the following races (all are class one unless specified):

The Grand National 2025: Everything You Need to Know About This Race

Whether or not you’re a horse racing fan, you’ve probably heard of the Grand National. It’s the most iconic horse race in the UK and is enmeshed in British culture. As such, millions of people across the country place a Grand National bet each year.

If this is your first year betting on the National, here are the main race details you need to be aware of:

• Class: Premier Handicap

• Location: Aintree, Merseyside

• Distance: 4 miles, 514 yards

• Race type: Steeplechase

• Weight: Handicap up to 11 stone 12 pounds

• Surface: Turf

• Track: Left-handed

• Qualification: Seven years old and up (rated 125 or more by BHA). Entrants must also have placed in a recognised chase of at least 2 miles and 7.5 furlongs.

• Purse: £1,000,000

• Winning prize: £500,000

Grand National Previous Winners

Before we provide a preview of this year’s race and look at the favourites, below are the details of the last ten winners of the Grand National:

Grand National Preview 2025: Who Are the Favourites?

The 2024 Grand National Winner, I Am Maximus, has been confirmed as the top weight for this year’s race. While that doesn’t rule him out entirely, the top-weighted horse in this premier handicap race hasn’t won since Red Rum in 1974, so the likelihood of an I Am Maximus win again this year is low. He’s available at 10/1* at Parimatch.

This year’s 3/1* favourite for the Grand National is Inothewayurthinkin. He brilliantly denied Galopin Des Champs a third Gold Cup triumph in a row at Cheltenham in March, and he goes into the Grand National as the overwhelming favourite.

It was a massive win for Gavin Cromwell, and Mark Walsh in the saddle showed everyone his capabilities. That said, only one horse in history – Golden Miller in 1934 – has won the Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same season, so it will be incredible if Inothewayurthinkin manages it in 2025.

Intense Raffles is also intriguingly priced at 7/1* and will surely be there or thereabouts at the end of the National this April. After making a name for himself with impressive wins in France, Intense Raffles has taken a big step forward after being moved to Ireland.

He’s Thomas Gibney’s prized horse and was magnificent at Fairyhouse in the 2024 Irish Grand National, securing victory under JJ Slevin in a thrilling race. He certainly has what it takes to win at Aintree in April.

Grand National Betting Tips

Any horse can win the Grand National, as proven by the fact that five winners in the race’s long history have won with odds of 100/1. So, here are some betting tips that will help you pick a winner at Aintree this year:

• The last four winners of the race have won on their Grand National debut – I Am Maximus, Corach Rambler, Noble Yeats, and Minella Times. So, backing a first-time runner could be a good bet in 2025.

• Horses from Irish stables tend to do well at the Grand National. Since 2015, only Scottish-based Lucinda Russell has bucked the trend of Irish-trained Grand National winners.

• The last two winners of the Grand National entered the race as favourites – I Am Maximus (7/1 JF) and Corach Rambler (8/1 F). That said, the favourite has only won the Grand National five times this century. So, don’t assume that the favourite will automatically win, but don’t discount him either.

• Due to handicap weighting, back-to-back Grand National triumphs are uncommon. The last two back-to-back winners were Tiger Roll (2018 & 2019) and Red Rum (1973 & 1974).

Bet on the Grand National at Parimatch

You now have all the information you need to bet on the 2025 Grand National at Aintree. Create an account today at Parimatch by clicking the “Sign Up” button. Then, navigate to our offers page, make a deposit, and confirm your selections.

Please gamble responsibly when betting on the Grand National and only wager what you can afford to lose. Find out more by visiting our Safer Gambling Portal.

*Odds correct at the time of writing.