The big day has arrived with the 177th running of the Randox Grand National at Aintree and top tipster Newsboy has predicted his top six for the big race
Britain’s biggest betting day has arrived with the 177th staging of the Randox Grand National at Aintree. A field of 34 horses will line up for the £1 million prize of which £500,000 will go to the first past the post of the world famous race.
Finding the winner of the 4m2f race has become an annual ritual in households up and down the country and for regular punters and once-a-year bettors, leading tipster Newsboy has given his verdict on the big race plus analysis on the shoulder races on the last day of the three day festival.
READ MORE: Grand National 2025: Pick your perfect horse using our handy interactive toolREAD MORE: Grand National 2025: The champion trainer with the 46-year losing streak at Aintree
1.20 WILLIAM HILL TOP PRICE GUARANTEE HANDICAP HURDLE
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 BILL JOYCE, 2 DOUBLE POWERFUL, 3 CATCH HIM DERRYBILL JOYCE takes the eye, making his handicap debut with a first attempt – under Rules, at least – at three miles.
The six-year-old scored at the trip on his only outing in the point-to-point sphere at Lisronagh, Co Tipperary, in February 2023.Joining the Jackdaws Castle stable of Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, the son of Mahler won twice in bumpers and made the perfect start to his hurdling career with a cosy success at Carlisle in November.
Bill Joyce then took in Grade 2 company at Sandown Park the following month and beat Quebecois by five lengths.
My selection wasn’t discredited when third to The New Lion in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury three days after Christmas and performed to a similar level when third to Sixmilebridge in a Grade 2 contest on Cheltenham’s Trials Day card in January.
Each of Bill Joyce’s starts over timber has been over two and a half miles but this extra yardage should unlock further progress and an opening British Horseracing Authority mark of 136 looks fair.
Catch Him Derry, Act Of Authority and Double Powerful are all strong candidates for the podium.
1.55 TURNERS MERSEY NOVICES’ HURDLE
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 HORACES PEARL, 2 LULAMBA, 3 FINGLE BRIDGE
HORACES PEARL has yet to taste defeat and is put up against hot favourite Lulamba.
The Fergal O’Brien-saddled son of Authorized is no stranger to success on Grand National day – he added to victories in the sphere at Wincanton when landing the Grade 2 bumper on this card 12 months ago.
That one-length margin from stablemate Tripoli Flyer marked Horaces Pearl out as a horse of great promise, and he’s done nothing in two outings over timber to detract from that view.
The bookies took no chances when Connor Brace’s mount made his obstacles debut at Huntingdon in November – Horaces Pearl went off at 1-5 and duly beat Jackstell by an easy six lengths.
He carried a penalty to victory at Newbury at the end of February with a five-and-a-half-length call from Lud’or, and still has plenty more to give.
Lulamba found only Poniros too good in the Triumph Hurdle and isn’t passed over lightly, while Fingle Bridge and Honesty Policy are others to consider.
2.30 WILLIAM HILL HANDICAP CHASE
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 DOCPICKEDME, 2 DOCTOR KEN, 3 WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT
DOCPICKEDME has found his form with a vengeance over fences this winter – and another good account is on the cards.
Richard Hobson’s nine-year-old, whilst undeniably capable on his day, hasn’t always been a horse you could set your clocks by. But it was hard to pick holes in his 16-1 second to Charlie Uberalles in a three-mile handicap chase at Doncaster 11 days before Christmas.
And Docpickedme and Charlie Maggas went one better in the big-money Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase over the same course and distance six weeks later.
My selection faced a challenge from Walking On Air when that rival came down at the final fence, leaving him to beat The Changing Man, winner of the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase next time, by two and a quarter lengths, with Erne River fourth and Frero Banbou sixth.
Under the circumstances, a 4lb rise in the weights for that win could have been a lot worse and, under conditions that suit, Docpickedme has plenty going for him.
In an open heat, Doctor Ken, Peaky Boy and Weveallbeencaught are just three runners who merit a second glance.
3.05 IVY LIVERPOOL HURDLE
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 HOME BY THE LEE, 2 TEAHUPOO, 3 KITZBUHELHOME BY THE LEE found the fates against him at Cheltenham – but his luck may be about to change.
Sent off the 13-2 third favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle, the Joseph O’Brien-trained 10-year-old and JJ Slevin parted company when hampered by the fall of Crambo at the sixth flight.
Prior to that mishap, Home By The Lee, despite his advancing years, had been at the very top of his game during the winter.
Having his first start for six months, my selection proved three and a half lengths too strong for Stayers’ Hurdle winner Bob Olinger in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan in November, with Jetara back in fifth.
And Home By The Lee stepped forward from that success back at the top level for the Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown three days after Christmas, repeating his triumph of two years earlier with a six-length supremacy from the same rival.
A reproduction of that effort and this evergreen performer, to whom all types of ground come alike, will be in the firing line.
Stayers’ Hurdle second Teahupoo – The Wallpark was third and Buddy One back in fifth – rates the chief threat, ahead of the promising Kitzbuhel and last year’s winner, Strong Leader.
4.00 RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3-4-5-6; 1 PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS, 2 I AM MAXIMUS, 3 DUFFLE COAT, 4 MINELLA COCOONER, 5 BEAUPORT, 6 HEWICK PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS is the perfect stand-in for stablemate Inothewayurthinkin in today’s Randox Grand National.
Moments after his victory in last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, Inothewayurthinkin was the 5-2 favourite for the world’s most famous steeplechase.
Everyone thought trainer Gavin Cromwell, owner JP McManus – seeking a record fourth National triumph – and jockey Mark Walsh would come out on top at Aintree.
And the trio can still make the winner’s podium, even though Inothewayurthinkin is at rest in his box at Cromwell’s Navan stables.
Perhaps the decision not to pursue the Gold Cup-National double wasn’t as difficult as we all thought, given the progress of Perceval Legallois towards the biggest day of his life.
The key to National glory is timing – the knack of reaching your peak when it matters most. And the eight-year-old Perceval Legallois – the name comes from a French film about the Knights of the Round Table – travels to Aintree with the perfect profile.
Although he won just one of his four starts as a novice chaser last season – he fell twice – Perceval Legallois is putting it together now.
A beaten favourite for both the ultra-competitive Galway Plate (Galway) and the Kerry National (Listowel) earlier in this term, my selection took a step forward with a fine fourth in the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan in November.
He then doubled his tally over the larger obstacles with a seven-length supremacy in a 27-runner handicap chase at Leopardstown two days after Christmas.
Given the authoritative manner of that success, an 11lb rise in the handicap was to be expected, and Walsh’s partner warmed up for this afternoon with a score over hurdles back in South Dublin in February.
His British Horseracing Authority rating of 153 means Perceval Legallois carries 11st 12lb weight – a manageable weight.
His jumping issues appear a thing of the past – it’s worth pointing out the famous fences are not the formidable obstacles of yesteryear – and it’s not hard to share Cromwell’s view that, while he’s unraced at beyond three miles, the gelding is likely to last home over the National’s four-mile, two-furlong and 74-yard distance.
It’s no surprise that, with 34 runners facing the starter, the 2025 National has a familiar wide-open look to it.
Dangers lurk at every turn and Willie Mullins, National Hunt racing’s dominant force, saddles defending champion, I Am Maximus , among his six runners.
The nine-year-old is 11lb higher in the weights as a result of his seven-and-a-half-length winning margin 12 months ago and isn’t in the same form as last year.
But he’s still feared, while Closutton stable-companions Minella Cocooner , Meetingofthewaters and Grangeclare West are also worth throwing into the mix.
Five of the past six National winners have been trained in Ireland and Intense Raffles , bargain buy Hewick and, at bigger odds, Duffle Coat are capable of going well.
Vanillier and Stumptown , stablemates of Perceval Legallois, are also in the line-up, with preference for the former, second to Corach Rambler two years ago and revitalised by blinkers of late.
Fellow Irish challenger Senior Chief needs to brush up his jumping, a comment that also applies to home hope Broadway Boy , whose fellow Nigel Twiston-Davies trainee Beauport warrants respect.
Iroko holds claims but is short enough towards the head of the market and Kandoo Kid and Hyland – the latter bidding to give Nicky Henderson a first National victory 46 years after Zongalero, his first-ever runner, chased home Rubstic in 1979 – appeal more at their current odds.
5.00 ROSCONN GROUP MAGHULL NOVICES’ CHASE
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 ONLY BY NIGHT, 2 L’EAU DU SUD, 3 KALIF DU BERLAISONLY BY NIGHT gets the vote to better her fine second in Cheltenham’s Arkle Challenge Trophy.
Gavin Cromwell’s mare had a single victory to show from four attempts over hurdles but has been a different proposition since being sent novice chasing.
Having opened her account at the first time of asking at Tipperary in November, Only By Night then landed a Grade 2 event for her gender at Cork the following month.
After beating Kilbarry Saint by a length at Listed level at Exeter in February, Keith Donoghue’s partner belied her 25-1 Arkle odds with a three-quarter-length second to Jango Baie.
My selection finished a nose and three parts ahead of L’Eau Du Sud and there’s no reason why she shouldn’t confirm that form.
Kalif Du Berlais underperformed over two and a half miles at Sandown Park last time but, coming back in trip, can claim the bronze medal.
5.35 WEATHERBYS NHSTALLIONS.CO.UK STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3: 1 SCOPE TO IMPROVE, 2 LE LABO, 3 KILWAUGHTERSCOPE TO IMPROVE has exactly that after a promising start among the professional ranks at Naas in December.
The son of Telescope made his first public appearance in a five-runner point-to-point at Necarne, Co Fermanagh, last May.
Scope To Improve scored by 12 lengths for trainer Pat Turley that day and, having joined Henry de Bromhead, went off the 100-30 favourite against 11 opponents in Co Kildare nine days before Christmas.
Given a confident ride by John Gleeson – Rachael Blackmore takes over the steering today – Scope To Improve came from the back to hold Ifallgoeswell by three and a quarter lengths.There is plenty more where that came from.
Le Labo, Mossy Fen Road and Kilwaughter are three unbeaten horses who can play a supporting role.