Date: Saturday 5th April 2025
The Grand National is now a very different puzzle to the one it was a decade or two ago and the modern profile of the winner is becoming clearer with every renewal.
Recent years have shown the importance of class, strong Irish staying handicap form and arriving here with the right sort of preparation. While some traditional trends still hold up, the race now tends to favour horses towards the top end of the market far more than it once did.
Using the core Turf Talk trends alongside ratings, current form and overall race profile, I have once again narrowed the field down to a shortlist of leading contenders.
TURF TALK RATINGS - LEADING CONTENDERS
| Horse | Turf Talk Rating |
|---|---|
| I Am Maximus | 226 |
| Iroko | 219 |
| Stumptown | 212 |
| Intense Raffles | 204 |
| Perceval Legallois | 196 |
| Hewick | 188 |
| Nick Rockett | 181 |
The ratings are built around a combination of traditional factors such as recent run, chase experience and big-field form, but with stronger emphasis now placed on class, Irish staying handicap form and the ability to cope with the tempo of the modern Grand National.
The betting also reflects the changing nature of the race, with many of the strongest profiles now found much closer to the head of the market than in years gone by.
MAIN SELECTION
I Am Maximus (13/2 available)
Last year’s winner comes out on top of the Turf Talk Ratings and it is easy to see why.
He has already proven himself in the race, comes from the right stable and has the class that now looks so important in modern renewals. While carrying plenty of weight would once have been seen as a major negative, recent Nationals suggest that top-class horses can now overcome that if the overall profile is strong enough.
He sets the standard and looks the most likely winner on paper.
BACKUP SELECTION 1
Iroko (8/1 available)
A very appealing profile and one that makes a lot of sense for this year’s race.
He has the right blend of class, stamina potential and unexposed chasing form, which is often a big positive in the modern National. He also fits the idea of a horse coming here with enough experience to cope, but still with further improvement in him.
He looks the most obvious danger to the main selection.
BACKUP SELECTION 2
Stumptown (17/2 available)
Another horse with a very solid profile who deserves respect near the top of the ratings.
He arrives with strong recent form, has the right sort of age profile and represents the powerful Irish challenge which has become such an important angle in this race. He may not have quite the same proven National form as the top pick, but there is plenty to like about his overall profile.
He looks more than capable of being involved at the finish.
SUMMARY
This year’s race looks another strong renewal and the modern shape of the Grand National is now very clear.
I Am Maximus tops the ratings and is taken as the main selection, with Iroko and Stumptown looking the strongest alternatives in a race that continues to favour class, preparation and strong Irish staying handicap form.
