With the Cheltenham Festival done and dusted as of March 19, 2025, race enthusiasts are already turning their attention to the Grand National set to unfold on April 5. Russell Palmer signals excitement surrounding contenders that made an impression at Cheltenham and are poised to shine at Aintree.
Leading the charge is Stumptown, a remarkable horse trained by Gavin Cromwell, who aims to follow in the legendary footsteps of Tiger Roll by winning both the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham and the Grand National in the same season. Stumptown was impressive at Cheltenham, clinching the Cross Country Chase by seven lengths, fulfilling his role as the 5/2 favorite and bringing his victory tally to four consecutive wins, nearly all in Cross Country contests. As he prepares for Aintree, Stumptown will be running off a mark of 157, a figure that appears manageable as he approaches the Grand National.
Another strong entry from Gavin Cromwell’s yard is Vanillier, who also performed notably during the Cheltenham Festival. Although he finished third in the Cross Country Chase, he was beaten by his stablemate Stumptown by eight-and-a-quarter lengths. Initially sent off as the 15/2 third favorite, Vanillier now stands as a 12/1 prospect for the Grand National following a run in last year’s event, where he finished 14th, and a second-place finish in 2023. Vanillier looks to improve upon his previous performances as he enters Aintree.
From a different stable, Broadway Boy trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, is seen as a dark horse at odds of 40/1. His recent outing in the Ultima at Cheltenham didn’t yield favorable results as he was pulled up early in the race. However, Broadway Boy does have some strong form that cannot be overlooked: he finished a solid second behind Kandoo Kid at the historic Hennessy contest in Newbury, a race in which he only lost by a narrow margin, giving away three pounds off a mark of 148. He heads to Aintree off a mark of 150, providing a fair basis to potentially surprise come race day.
Stay Away Fay, another candidate from Paul Nicholls' stable, has a steep challenge ahead at a price of 66/1. He also participated in the Ultima at Cheltenham but struggled, finishing 11th and failing to make a sustained impact during the race. After previously pulling up in the Scottish National, Stay Away Fay has dropped nine pounds from his best chase rating and seeks to leverage that into a solid return at Aintree, despite the odds being stacked against him.
At the far end of the odds spectrum, Conflated enters the Grand National as a 100/1 long shot, trained by Gordon Elliott. Though he finished eighth in the Plate at Cheltenham as a 40/1 chance, Conflated possesses a notable track record, boasting dual Grade 1 wins in the Irish Gold Cup and Savills Chase back in 2022. He has previously shown competitive spirit in Grade 1s at Aintree, finishing just behind Jonbon in the Melling Chase last year, and at 100/1, he could be a candidate to catch the eye should the race shape favorably.
These contenders, each with their unique stories and challenges, together set the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating Grand National. As fans and pundits alike analyze form and previous performances, it will be intriguing to see which horses can translate Cheltenham glory into Aintree success.
