Vanillier: Profile, Record, Age & Best Races

Gavin Cromwell is billed as a 'trainer with a difference' and the Co Meath-based handler will be hoping that Vanillier can enjoy a big campaign after his win at Punchestown in February.

Cromwell has showcased his training talents with some big wins, including the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with Espoir D'allen in 2019, and he would have taken lots of confidence from watching his grey Vanillier finish second behind Corach Rambler at Aintree in 2023.

After eight runs without a win, Vanillier broke his duck in the Memorial Cross Country Chase in February and connections will hope for some more success before the end of the National Hunt season.

Name: Vanillier

Age: 10

Weight: 11-4

Trainer: Gavin Cromwell

Winnings: £341,753

Cheltenham Festival wins: 1

Vanillier race stats

Runs	1st	2nd	3rd
26	4	5	5

Vanillier Age

Vanillier is a 10-year-old, and made his debut under rules at Punchestown in October 2020.

Vanillier Weight

Vanillier last competed at a weight of 11-4 at Punchestown and has an official rating of 144 over fences.

Vanillier Record

Vanillier has four wins and 10 places from 26 outings under rules since October 2020.

After three point-to-point outings, Vanillier made his rules debut at Punchestown, finishing second of 16 to Crosshill.

Connections had to wait only three weeks for Vanillier's first win, which came in a maiden hurdle at Naas in November.

He was seen four more times at Limerick, Leopardstown, Cheltenham, and Punchestown, and he managed to win at Prestbury Park in March 2021.

Vanillier landed the spoils in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, winning by 11 lengths ahead of Oscar Elite.

At Punchestown, he finished fourth, with the race won by future Gold Cup star Galopin Des Champs.

Since that incredible 2020/21 campaign, Vanillier has won only twice, with both victories coming at Punchestown.

In November 2021, he won the Grade 2 Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase by 26 lengths, but that was his last win for four years.

During that time, he finished third in three successive graded races, and was second in the 2023 Grand National behind Corach Rambler.

Between December 2023 and April 2024, Vanillier finished in the top three only once, at Fairyhouse, before finishing 14th in the Grand National.

His recent win at Punchestown will give connections hope ahead of another crack at the Grand National at Aintree.

Vanillier Next Race

Vanillier is currently entered in three races in the next two months.

The 10-year-old is listed in the Ultima Handicap Chase and Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as well as the Grand National and connections are expected to focus on the longer distance outings.

Vanillier Owner and Cost

Vanillier is owned by Mrs H. M. Keaveney and was originally purchased for €46,000.

Vanillier Trainer

Vanillier is trained by Irish handler Gavin Cromwell, who has registered over 80 winners since taking out his training licence and will hope to land one of the biggest prizes of all at the 2025 Grand National.

Vanillier Official Rating

Vanillier remains one of the leading chasers on the National Hunt circuit with a rating of 144.

Cromwell's charge has raced off 152 in 2024, and he may return to those heights with another big performance this spring.

Vanillier Prize Money

Vanillier has won connections £341,753 in his career, with £85,441 of that coming from race wins.

His never-say-die attitude has allowed him to pick up some big place prize money and he could add to that in the coming months.

Vanillier News

Cromwell applied the blinkers to Vanillier at Punchestown in February and that seems to have brought about some improvement.

The Irish handler believes Vanillier has found a new lease of life and has improved his technique of late, and he has hinted that the preference would be to skip the Cross Country race at Cheltenham and head straight to Aintree for the Grand National.