I Am Maximus Aims To Defend Title In Grand National

The 177th iteration of the Grand National takes place at Aintree on Saturday, April 5, 2025, with 34 horses set to navigate the challenging 4m 2½f course featuring 30 fences. This prestigious event, known as one of the most significant steeplechases in the world, is gearing up for an exciting race day as last year's champion, I Am Maximus, aims to defend his title.

I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins, is currently among the favorites to win again, having triumphed in the previous year by seven and a half lengths under jockey Paul Townend. The nine-year-old horse will carry a top weight of 11st 12lb as he seeks to become only the second horse since the legendary Red Rum in the 1970s to win back-to-back Grand Nationals.

As anticipation builds, many enthusiasts are preparing to participate in office sweepstakes, which add an extra layer of excitement to the event. The Liverpool ECHO has provided a free, easy-to-use sweepstake kit featuring the 34 likely runners. The suggested price for a ticket is £2.50, creating a prize pool of £85. The sweepstake winner will take home £45, while second place earns £22.50, third place gets £12.50, and the fourth-place finisher receives £5.

The race has seen significant entries, with I Am Maximus leading the list of 57 entries at the five-day declaration stage. He will face tough competition from horses like Intense Raffles, who won the Irish Grand National last season and is currently listed at 9-1 odds. Tom Gibney, the trainer of Intense Raffles, expressed confidence in his horse, stating, "It's so far, so good with him. We think he's got a good chance given his last run anyway."

In addition to I Am Maximus and Intense Raffles, other notable entries include former King George winner Hewick and 2021 Gold Cup hero Minella Indo. Paul Nicholls, a prominent trainer, has five contenders in the race: Kandoo Kid, Bravemansgame, Threeunderthrufive, Hitman, and Stay Away Fay, as he seeks to add to his legacy in this iconic event.

As the race day approaches, the lineup may still change, with nine horses having been withdrawn since the last scratchings' stage. The horses that will not be participating include L'Homme Presse, Capodanno, Mr Incredible, Farouk d'Alene, Velvet Elvis, Minella Drama, Minella Crooner, Fontaine Collonges, and Quick Wave. This leaves a maximum of 34 runners for the Grand National.

For those participating in the sweepstakes, it's interesting to note the historical performance of various horse numbers in the Grand National. For instance, number 13 has been particularly lucky, achieving eight top-four finishes in the last 30 Grand Nationals, including a victory in 2018. This year, Paul Nicholls' Hitman will don number 13 as he aims to continue that trend.

Horse number 10 is another one to watch, having won the Grand National three times since 1993 and scoring a total of 43 points in the scoring system used for the event. Minella Cocooner, assigned number 10 this year, is priced around 25/1, making him an intriguing option for bettors.

Conversely, numbers 20 and 25 have struggled in recent years, failing to secure a top-four finish in the last 30 Grand Nationals. Number 20's best finish was a sixth-place in 2010, while number 25's highest placement was seventh in 2007. This year, Iroko will race as number 20, hoping to change that narrative.

As the excitement builds, numbers 15 and 26 have shown promising form, completing the last four renewals of the race. Number 15 has a record of 3rd, 9th, 10th, and 20th, while number 26 aims to continue its impressive streak of finishes. On the other hand, numbers eight and 12 are looking to end a poor run, with neither finishing the race since 2017.

Race coverage will begin on ITV1 from 3:15 PM on Saturday, leading up to the Grand National, which starts at the earlier time of 4 PM. With millions expected to tune in and participate in betting, the atmosphere promises to be electric. Fans and participants alike are gearing up for a thrilling day of racing, and with the stakes high, the Grand National remains a focal point of the sporting calendar.

As the horses prepare to take their places at the starting line, the excitement is palpable. Will I Am Maximus successfully defend his title, or will one of the many challengers dethrone him? As history shows, anything can happen in the Grand National, and the only certainty is that it will be a race to remember.