The Irish Grand National 2025 is approaching – and it won’t be long until the event, held at Fairyhouse Racecourse every year, is upon us. The event is one of the biggest races in the Irish racing calendar – and it attracts the best horses from all over Ireland, the UK and even overseas.
Although, as of right now, the official list of runners and odds hasn’t been released, based on some of the most recent performances and industry insights, here are some that are potentially worth a watch.
Notable Horses to Watch
If you are thinking of doing a bit of Irish Grand National betting, these are some of the horses that have done well in recent races and could well be worth watching…
1. I Am Maximus
I Am Maximum is trained by Willie Mullins, who is famous for doing well on the biggest stages. The horse, aged 9 years old, has been doing pretty well recently, managing to secure a comfortable victory in the previous year’s Grand National at Aintree – and he’s been a strong contender in the races that have followed.
Although he’ll be carrying the top weight in this handicap race, he has more than proven his stamina and jumping ability – and it definitely makes him a horse to watch.
2. Stumptown
Next, we have Stumptown, a horse that has been trained by Gavin Cromwell. Aged 8, he has recently been in excellent form – having won four consecutive races, including that incredible performance at Cheltenham.
This is a horse that is adaptable, dependent and consistently delivers a top performance, which has marked him out as a leading contender that could well cause waves in the Irish Grand Prix.
See also:
3. Hewick
Third on our list is Hewick, trained by John ‘Shark’ Hanlon. A little bit older than the previous two, he’s 10 years old and has plenty of experience under his belt.
He was bought for just £800, but has managed to defy all expectations by winning both the King George and the US Grand National. With his resilience and versatility, it’s unsurprising that he is now a huge fan favourite – and a very serious Irish Grand National competitor.
4. Perceval Legallois
Another horse trained byGavin Cromwell is 7-year-old Percival Legallois. In his most recent races, he’s done incredibly well – having enjoyed back-to-back wins at Leopardstown, including a very impressive handicap chase over Christmas.
This is a horse that is strong and consistent – and a very noteworthy contender.
5. Vanillier
Last, but by no means least, we have yet another Gavin Cromwell-trained horse. This one is 9 years old and has had some solid form recently.
He was a very commendable runner-up in the 2023 Grand National and, since then, has been attempting to reinvent himself as more of a cross-country horse. What with his recent form, he could be entering the race in even better condition than in previous years – and do even better.
What to Think About When Picking Your Winner
When deciding which horse to put your money on in the Irish Grand National, here are the things you need to think about:
- Recent Form: If the horse has been doing well in recent races, it’s probably going to be a strong contender.
- The Trainer and Jockey Experience: If the teaming of the trainer and jockey has a history of success in big races, they’ve a good chance of repeating this success.
- Race Conditions: The conditions of the Irish Grand National – including the track type and distance will probably favour certain horses.
- Weight Carried: Handicap weights given to the horses can have a massive impact on how well they do. If they’re carrying less weight, they’ll have an advantage.
The official lineup for the Irish Grand National 2025 might not have been officially announced, but there are still horses that have done well recently and are definitely noteworthy contenders. However, obviously, you need to make sure you keep an eye out for any official announcements and take all the latest information into account when placing those bets!
