Grand National Favourites: Intense Raffles and Iroko lead the betting

Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles and 2024 Mildmay runner-up Iroko are amongst the current favourites to win the 2025 Grand National at Aintree on Saturday 5th April.

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Grand National Favourites To Win

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Grand National Favourites

Intense Raffles

The 2024 winner of the Irish Grand National is amongst the favourites for the Grand National at Aintree after Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin was scratched from the race.

Early season outings at Navan were underwhelming to say the least, but the performance shown when second in February's Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse was more like the form of last season.

Intense Raffles is yet to race in the UK but his wins on soft/heavy ground in early 2024 demonstrated his credentials to compete at the top level.

Iroko

Iroko has long been touted as a strong option for the Grand National by owner J.P McManus, along with trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

Last year's Mildmay runner-up has not tasted success since November 2023 but a number of solid performances have put him well and truly in the Grand National reckoning.

He was second in the Graduation Chase at Haydock in November before finishing as runner-up to Grey Dawning at Kelso in March.

I Am Maximus

I Am Maximus produced a wonderful display to take the honours in the 2024 Grand National.

Whilst he is again one of the Grand National favourites this time around, he will have to defy the top-weight allocated to him by the race handicapper.

No horse since the great Red Rum has won the Grand National when carrying the most weight, but there is no doubting the ability of Willie Mullins' horse.

Stumptown

The Gavin Cromwell-trained eight-year-old Stumptown will head into the Grand National with some of the best form on display.

After winning on his seasonal reappearance at Punchestown in November, Stumptown then triumphed in the Crystal Cup at Cheltenham a month later.

His scintillating display in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival was his fourth win in a row and it was a major statement of intent to the connections of the other leading Grand National contenders.

Grand National Dark Horses

Meetingofthewaters

The handicapper has been kind with Meetingofthewaters and he stands out as a Grand National dark horse.

Another of J.P McManus' Grand National horses, the eight-year-old was seventh in last year's race after finishing third in the Ultima at Cheltenham the previous month.

He has been off the pace in three outings at Leopardstown so far this season but Willie Mullins certainly sees Grand National credentials in this horse.

Bravemansgame

Paul Nicholls will be hoping that the former King George VI Chase winner has enough left in the tank to challenge at Aintree this April.

Whilst he hasn't enjoyed success since Boxing Day in 2022, a number of near misses suggest that Bravemansgame deserves to be amongst those considered to be Grand National dark horses.

Top three finishes in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase and the Betfair Chase were encouraging for anyone looking for a potentially shrewd alternative to one of the Grand National favourites.

L'Homme Presse

Carrying 11st 8lb is not ideal but that's the price that Venetia Williams has to pay for one of the highest quality horses in the race.

He is available at a big price despite a fine win in the Cotswold Chase at the start of 2025, although he was subsequently pulled up in the Ascot Chase.

With injuries hopefully now behind him, L'Homme Presse could just be a dark horse for the Grand National.