Intense Raffles the 2025 Grand National Favourite but can I Am Maximus win Again?
Intense Raffles looks set to start the 2025 Grand National as the favourite but all eyes will be on the 2024 Grand National winner, I Am Maximus as he looks to make history and win back-to-back Aintree Grand Nationals.
Last year’s winner is currently the third favourite for the race at 9/1. He will have to carry top weight to victory if he is to emulate the greats Red Rum and Tiger Roll in winning back-to-back Nationals, and it looks to be a competitive field this year.
The Grand National has been reduced to a field of 34 runners this year so there are still some final decisions to be made before we get the final list of runners in the race, but every horse up to number 34 are guaranteed a place if they wish to take it.
Following the latest declerations stage, Intense Raffles is the 15/2 favourite, and he will be a popular choice for punters because he is one of the grey horses running in the Grand National this year.
- Only four horses have ever won the Grand National back to back
- Intense Raffles is the 15/2 favourite
- I Am Maximus will have to defy top weight if he is to retain his crown
I Am Maximus’s Grand National Odds
Last year’s winner is 9/1 with bet365, Ladbrokes and William Hill to win the 2025 renewal of the Grand National and although he faces a tough task off top weight, the course is not as it once was with the fences now smaller and there only being 34 runners as opposed to 40.
Having said that, it looks a competitive renewal of the race this season with the likes of Cheltenham Festival Cross Country winner Stumptown and the well fancies Iroko set to line-up at Aintree on Saturday 5th March.
One positive for the other 33 runners in the race is that Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin will not take his chance in the Grand National with his trainer saying the following: “It was tempting, but I’m very happy with the decision not to go there. He’s only a seven-year-old, we’ve worked hard on his jumping this season and it’s progressed.”, as reported by the Express.
“Keith Donoghue has been a big part of that as he rode him all season and has got the horse jumping really well. We’re in a good place and I don’t think it would be the right thing to do to go to the Grand National and potentially unravel that.”
Grand National 2025 Weights
1 I Am Maximus 11st 12lb, 167
2 Royale Pagaille 11st 9lb, 164
3 Nick Rockett 11st 8lb, 163
4 L’Homme Presse, 11st 8lb, 163
5 Grangeclare West 11st 8lb, 163
6 Hewick 11st 7lb, 162
7 Minella Indo 11st 3lb, 158
8 Appreciate It 11st 2lb, 157
9 Capodanno 11st 2lb, 157
10 Minella Cocooner 11st 2lb, 157
11 Conflated 11st 2lb, 157
12 Stumptown 11st 2lb, 157
13 Hitman 11st 1lb, 156
14 Beauport 11st 1lb, 156
15 Bravemansgame 11st 0lb, 155
16 Chantry House 10st 13lb, 154
17 Threeunderthrufive 10st 12lb, 153
18 Perceval Legallois 10st 12lb, 153
19 Kandoo Kid 10st 11lb, 152
20 Iroko 10st 11lb, 152
21 Intense Raffles 10st 10lb, 151
22 Senior Chief 10st 10lb, 151
23 Idas Boy 10st 10lb, 151
24 Mr Incredible 10st 9lb, 150
25 Fil Dor 10st 9lb, 150
26 Broadway Boy 10st 9lb, 150
27 Coko Beach 10st 9lb, 150
28 Farouk D’Alene 10st 9lb, 150
29 Stay Away Fay 10st 9lb, 150
30 Velvet Elvis 10st 7lb, 148
31 Minella Drama, 10st 7lb, 148
32 Meetingofthewaters 10st 7lb, 148
33 Monbeg Genius 10st 6lb, 147
34 Vanillier 10st 6lb, 147
35 Horantzau D’Airy 10st 6lb, 147
36 Hyland 10st 6lb, 147
37 Celebre D’Allen 10st 6lb, 147
38 Fontaine Collonges 10st 6lb, 147
39 Three Card Brag 10st 5lb, 146
40 Minella Crooner 10st 5lb, 146
41 Twig 10st 5lb, 146
42 Quick Wave 10st 5lb, 146
43 Duffle Coat 10st 4lb, 145
44 Shakem Up’arry 10st 4lb, 145
45 Roi Mage 10st 4lb, 145
46 Favori De Champdou 10st 3lb, 144
47 Fantastic Lady 10st 3lb, 144
48 Yeah Man 10st 3lb, 144
49 Mr Vango 10st 2lb, 143
50 Macdermott 10st 2lb, 143
51 Mister Coffey 10st 2lb, 143
52 Chemical Energy 10st 2lb, 143
53 Desertmore House 10st 1lb, 142
54 Malina Girl 10st 1lb, 142
55 Richmond Lake 10st 1lb, 142
56 La Renommee 10st 0lb, 141
57 Stuzzikini 9st 13lb, 140
58 King Turgeon 9st 1l3b, 140
59 Surrey Quest 9st 12lb, 139
60 Cruz Control 9st 12lb, 139
61 Apple Away 9st 11lb, 138
62 Busselton 9st 11lb, 138
63 Spanish Harlem 9st 11lb, 138
64 Famous Bridge 9st 9lb, 136
65 Escaria Ten 9st 7lb, 134
66 Where It All Began 9st 7lb, 134
67 Pats Fancy 9st 3lb, 130
As things stand, Vanillier will be the 34th and final horse able to run in the race but if any of the horses above him pull out, the reserve runner will get their chance and of those not currently in the race, Hyland is of interest because he could be the first horse Nicky Henderson trains to win the Grand National. He would have a great chance if he got into the race by the final declarations.
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