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April 5, 2025
Bird, Moore, Melo, Donovan lead ’25 HOF class
April 5, 2025
Willie Mullins sent out an unprecedented one-two–three in the 177th Randox Grand National at Aintree yesterday but the Irish trainer was cheering on one horse from the last, the 33-1 winner Nick Rockett, ridden by his son Patrick, the only amateur taking on 33 professionals in the marathon steeplechase.
The eight-year-old, at one point an 8-1 shot after winning the Thyestes and Bobbyjo Chases but largely ignored by punters and pundits in the more immediate build-up, beat last year’s winner I Am Maximus by two and a half lengths with a third member of Mullins’ six-strong squad, Grangeclare West, another half a length away despite blundering through the last. The first non-Mullins-trained runner home was the locally trained Iroko, the 13-2 favourite, in fourth.
You might think it difficult for a man as conditioned to success as Mullins to get emotional but blood is thicker than water and when it comes to the Grand National the intergenerational father-son dynamic is all powerful, this time reducing the most successful jumps trainer of all time to tears.
“To win the National is one thing,” he said. “To be able to leg your son up and ride the winner is off the charts – it’s incredible.”
Then, under the trilby, the tears began to flow. “It brings back memories,” he said. “My mother [who died in 2024] isn’t here, my father isn’t here, but I wish they were here to see this.
“This is the summit for me, I don’t think it can get any better than this. It’s just huge. Now I know how Ted Walsh felt when Ruby won it for him [Papillon in 2000]. I never thought I’d have that feeling. I thought when he came there at the second-last it could happen, then I saw Paul [Townend, on I Am Maximus] coming alive. I just tried to keep breathing.”
A family affair…
2000: Papillon wins for Father and Son, Ted and Ruby Walsh.
2025: Nick Rockett wins for Father and Son, Patrick and Willie Mullins. pic.twitter.com/K6vs5FTwIc
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 5, 2025
Reports of the death of romance in the National, snuffed out by one trainer’s overwhelming superiority, would appear to be premature because whatever way you view it, it remains unique across sport that in horseracing’s most watched event an amateur can not only compete against but beat the best professionals.
When Sam Waley-Cohen won the race on Noble Yeats in 2022, he was the first amateur to win it for 32 years but, after a long drought for the unpaid ranks, it is suddenly a case of London buses. Patrick Mullins, 35, the most successful amateur of all time with 15 Irish titles and 800-plus winners, is the seventh amateur to win it since the Second World War.
“I was going too well everywhere,” he said of his heroic conveyance who, on an unseasonably hot afternoon, was taken to cool down in front of the industrial fans in the unsaddling area, rather than into the winner’s enclosure.
“We got too good a start and we were too handy. He was jumping brilliant but I was taking him back everywhere. At the Canal Turn second time, I was wondering if I’d dropped back too far but then once I’ve asked him to make up ground he got there easily and I was going to get there too soon.
“I had that in mind when we got to the last, so I was bopping around until we got to the Elbow and then I said to myself, ‘I’m going to go, I’m going to enjoy this’.
“That’s so cool. This is the race. I remember reading books about it when I was six or seven and obviously Lottery, The Lamb, Abd-El-Kader as the first double winner of the race and then Reynoldstown, Golden Miller and so on. That’s proper history.”
It was a poignant success for the winning owner, Yorkshire businessman Stewart Andrew, who has had horses for a long time, including winning the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury with Ever Blessed in 1999. His late wife, Sadie, who is still registered as a co-owner, used to go to the same confirmation class as the trainer in Carlow, hence his three horses, including Nick Rockett, with Mullins.
“Sometimes life takes us down roads that none of us want to go down, and when we’re there, we can end up in not the best places,” he said. “Nick was Sadie’s horse.
“She wanted a horse in training with Willie. She had a holy communion with him, we bumped into him by chance at Cheltenham sales, and Sadie said, ‘Why don’t we get Willie to buy a horse for us?’
“Sadly, just before he was ready to run… well, if truth be known, she’d probably been on the phone chewing Willie’s ear off to run him at Fairyhouse for my 60th birthday, and I think Willie really didn’t want to as the horse wasn’t ready. We found out she had terminal cancer on November 17, and sadly she passed away on the eighth [of December 2022]. Willie ran him just to let Sadie see him.
“We had a session in Melbourne going down to see Absurde and Vauban run [last November], and because of Willie, we were late for the restaurant so we ended up slumming it at two o’clock in the morning somewhere – I can tell you how classy it was, the wine list was ‘red or white’!
“Wille said then, ‘This is the plan: we’re going to win the Thyestes, we’re going to win the Bobbyjo, and then have a crack at Aintree’. What can you say? The man is a gentleman.”
Behind Nick Rockett there were 16 finishers, three fallers – Broadway Boy, Kandoo Kid and Perceval Legallois – Appreciate It was brought down, Duffle Coat unseated, and the rest were pulled up. Hard-luck stories appeared in short supply for a National.
After being attended to on course for some time, Broadway Boy walked on to a horse ambulance to be taken back to the stables for assessment, where Celebre D’Allen was also being treated. Tom Bellamy, Broadway Boy’s rider, was taken to hospital with unspecified injuries.
And the hero of the hour, Nick Rockett, finally got his chance to parade after the last race, another for the Mullins father-son combination.
05:54 PM BST
Willie Mullins speaking to BBC radio about Patrick
Patrick comes in every morning and runs the whole show. He matches all the horses and the riders every morning and I might come up and change one or two things but Patrick could take over. It just comes natural to him. He’s very precise and concise about things. He knows what to do and when to do it. I am absolutely delighted for him.
05:49 PM BST
Result
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Green Splendour 10/3 (Fav)
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Destination Dubai 10/1
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Koktail Brut 11/2
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Swingin Safari 33/1
05:48 PM BST
Green Splendour wins the Bumper!
What a couple of hours for the Mullins team. He was travelling well the whole way around with Paddy barely having to move a muscle. He bided his time and took Green Splendour off the bridle at just the right time to see off the game run of Destination Dubai.
05:43 PM BST
They’re off in the lucky last!
Will this be another winner for Willie and Paddy Mullins with Green Splendour?
05:36 PM BST
The last race of the day is a bumper
A flat race for National Hunt horses. This one looks wide open, but Willie Mullins does tend to thrive in these contests (which hardly narrows things down). The Mullins fancy here is Green Splendour.
05:33 PM BST
Nicholls on Kalif Du Berlais
I had nowhere else I could go so we kept him here. I would’ve loved to run him in the Arkle. He’s a very smart horse and I thought he’d win here today. The world is at his feet. I’d like to think that is a real champion chaser next season.
05:22 PM BST
A more positive update on Broadway Boy so fingers crossed
Telegraph Sport understands Broadway Boy has walked back to the ambulance, sparking hope he will be okay. Social media was rife with television viewers expressing concern for the horse.
“Broadway Boy has now walked onto the horse ambulance and will return to the stables for further assessment,” a spokesman later confirmed. This means all 34 horses have returned to the stables.
05:21 PM BST
Result
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Kalif Du Berlais 15/8
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Brookie 25/1
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L’Eau Du Sud 9/4
05:18 PM BST
Kalif Du Berlais wins!
L’Eau Du Sud tried to produce a late challenge but Kalif Du Berlais gained a couple of lengths with another cracking jump at the last and ran clear to win well. Kalif Du Berlais was ridden like the best horse in the race and fully justified those tactics.
05:17 PM BST
Three fences to jump
Kalif Du Berlais has travelled like a dream and jumped well too. L’Eau Du Sud has been shaken along a couple of time but remains within three or four lengths.
05:14 PM BST
They are off in the penultimate race
Kalif Du Berlais has popped out in front and is being ridden prominently.
05:12 PM BST
Another update on two National fallers
A further update on the two big fallers, from the Grand National: “Celebre D’Allen has walked onto the horse ambulance and will go back to the stables for further assessment. Broadway Boy continues to be assessed on course. Tom Bellamy (jockey of Broadway Boy) has been taken to Aintree University Hospital for further assessment. All other jockeys returned to the weighing room.”
05:00 PM BST
The penultimate race of the meeting
Is the Rosconn Group Maghull Novices’ Chase over two miles. It looks a two-horse race between L’Eau du Sud for the Skeltons who will start as 5/4 favourite and Kalif Du Berlais for Paul Nicholls in the colours of the late John Hales. Sir Alex Ferguson is part of that ownership group and is at Aintree to cheer on their chances. Only By Night was fancied but Gavin Cromwell pulled the horse out on account of the ground.
04:50 PM BST
The latest on two of the fallers
Broadway Boy, who had led for three-quarters of the Grand National, took a nasty fall and is still being assessed by vets, along with Celebre D’Allen, another faller.
“Broadway Boy and Celebre D’Allen are being assessed on course by our expert veterinary teams,” an update from the Randox Grand National said. “Further updates will follow in due course.”
04:43 PM BST
More from owner owner Stewart Andrew
This a class horse, he’s got the heart of a lion. From a personal point of view, I can’t tell you. Sadie would have loved today – she was up there, she’ll have had a tenner each-way, I guarantee you.
What a ride from Patrick, what a ride. I knew if we got to the front jumping the last, this horse is tough. If you look at this form, when he’s jumped the last, he keeps finding.
I can’t believe it.
04:39 PM BST
Father and won with the trophy
04:28 PM BST
The winning owner
04:24 PM BST
A fuller result for those of you with extra places
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Nick Rocket
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I Am Maximus
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Grangeclare West
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Iroko
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Meetingofthewaters
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Senior Chief
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Minella Cocooner
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Hewick
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Minella Indo
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Twig
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Three Card Brag
You can find out where your horse finished by clicking here to see the result in full.
04:20 PM BST
Paddy Mullins on ‘brave as a lion’ Nick Rockett
I’m too out of breath to say anything. It is incredible. I got too good a start and had to take him back all the way but he jumped fantastic. It a dream from when I was a kid. When I was a kid I watched videos so this is very special. He’s fine – I need a cold bath myself. He’s not big but he is brave as a lion.
04:16 PM BST
Willie Mullins tearful speaking to ITV
He is not a man of many words at the best of times, but he is cut up after son Patrick rides a National winner. Could barely get his words out when speaking to Matt Chapman.
Mullins senior said: “It was some result. It is lovely to be able to give your son a ride in the National, but to be able to win it is just unbelievable.”
04:14 PM BST
An emotional tale behind the winner
Huge roar as Nick Rockett crosses the line in a thrilling run in. Runs in colours of Stewart and Sadie Andrew, who put Nick Rockett into training with Willie Mullins, a childhood acquaintance, shortly before she died in December 2022. The Andrews enjoyed their previous biggest success with Ever Blessed in the 1999 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.
04:13 PM BST
Grant National result
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Nick Rockett 33/1
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I Am Maximus 7/1
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Grangeclare West 33/1
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Iroko 13/2 (Fav)
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Meetingofthewaters 20/1
04:10 PM BST
Nick Rockett wins the National!
A 1-2-3 for Willie Mullins and the amateur Paddy is the winning jockey. A 33-1 winner.
Mullins has actually trained five of the first seven.
I Am Maximus was second followed by Grangeclare West.
04:09 PM BST
The last fence
Nick Rockett gets the jump on I Am Maximus but the favourite is trying to pick him off as they turn towards the elbow.
04:08 PM BST
Fence 28 of 30
Celebre d’Allen has glided through to contest the lead, but the big guns I Am Maximus and Iroko and are starting to move forward to challenge in McManus colours.
04:07 PM BST
Fence 26 of 30
Broadway Boy has fallen! The leader is down on his nose with four to jump.
04:07 PM BST
Fence 22 of 30
Kandoo Kid is a faller, and he badly impaired Appreciate It. Stay Away Fay has been pulled up and likewise Threeunderfive.
04:06 PM BST
Fence 20 of 30
Broadway Boy still jumping well alongside Three Card Brag. Beauport third, followed by Bravemansgame and Hewick.
04:05 PM BST
Fence 17 of 30
Cocko Beach was pulled up just after the Chair. Iroko and Kandoo Kid are among those in midfield, travelling quietly. The same can he said of the McManus pair Iroko and I Am Maximus.
04:04 PM BST
Fence 14 of 30
Beauport has moved into the race well and is travelling strongly behind Broadway Boy. Three Card Brag also on the premises.
04:03 PM BST
Fence nine of 30
Percevall Legallois has fallen at Valentine’s, and Intense Raffles is also struggling towards the rear.
Broadway Boy still leads with the field increasingly stretched.
04:02 PM BST
Fence six of 30
Cocko Beach with a mistake at the fourth, and is the back marker. Three Card Brag well positioned in second behind Broadway Boy. Hewick in third.
04:01 PM BST
Fence three of 30
Broadway Boy is the early front–runner, with Hewick in second.
Duffle Coat has unseated his rider.
04:00 PM BST
They’re off in the Grand National!
The field are heading down towards the first fence, and they are all over that obstacle.
04:00 PM BST
It looks like being a standing start
This is promising. They are well-grouped and it looks like we might get off on time.
03:57 PM BST
They are heading down to post for the National
The money continues to flood in for I Am Maximus, he might well start this race at 5/1 in places. Stumptown and Perceval Legallois still attracting support, and the same can be said of Three Card Brag.
03:47 PM BST
God Save the King has just been sung at Aintree
The 34 runners are making their way around the parade ring. We are 15 minutes from the off, though it would be no surprise if that was delayed by a false start or two given the pattern established at Cheltenham that has continued here.
03:39 PM BST
The JP McManus-owned horses lead the National market
Paul Townend on I Am Maximus will wear a white cap, Jonjo O’Neill Jr a yellow and green cap on Iroko while Mark Walsh on Perceval Legallois will wear a green cap with a white star. If your eyesight is good enough, that is how to distinguish between the three strong candidates in green and gold silks.
03:30 PM BST
Another National key stat
03:25 PM BST
The movers
Still plenty of support for the favourite and last year’s winner I Am Maximus. There is also a sea of blue on Oddschecker alongside the names of Perceval Legallois, Stumptown, Three Card Brag and Kandoo Kid. That means their odds are shortening.
Iroko, Intense Raffles, Hewick, Minella Concooner and Vanillier are drifters at the moment.
03:21 PM BST
Next up the National
This is how the front of the market currently looks:
I Am Maximus 6/1 Fav
Iroko 15/2
Perceval Legallois 8/1
Stumptown 10/1
Intense Raffles 14/1
Hewick 14/1
Three Card Brag 14/1
Minella Cocooner 14/1
Vanillier 16/1
Kandoo Kid 16/1
20/1 Bar those.
03:18 PM BST
O’Keefe pleased with how Hiddenvalley Lake acted on the ground
He deserves this. Henry [trainer Henry de Bromhead] said ride him the way you usually do. We were unsure about the ground but he handled it well and he stays really well. I’m very privileged to pick up rides for Henry. I was pipped in the Long Walk and I’m delighted he has won today.
03:17 PM BST
Result
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Hiddenvalley Lake 12/1
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Strong Leader 5/1
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Jetara 15/2
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The Wallpark 6/1
03:13 PM BST
Hiddenvalley Lake wins!
A winner for Henry De Bromhead and Darragh O’Keefe, finishing in front of Strong Leader and Jetara. The Wallpark was fourth. Kitzbuhel had nothing in the tank off the bridle having been far too keen in the first circuit.
03:11 PM BST
Three hurdles to go
Monmiral, Strong Leader and Jetara are leading the way, but Kitzbuhel has found a better rhythm in midfield.
03:10 PM BST
Six hurdles to go
They race past the Aintree grandstand for the second time. Monmiral still leads ahead of Strong Leader. Home By The Lee is struggling to keep up with the pace. Townend has dropped Kitzbuhel back to try to settle the favourite down.
03:08 PM BST
As they run down the back straight for the first time
After a couple of hurdles, Kitzbuhel and The Wallpark clipped heels but Paul Townend recovered on the favourite. Kitzbuhel is looking a little keen though, Townend having to work hard to hold the reins. Monmiral the front-runner.
03:06 PM BST
And they’re off!
An unusually smooth start with eight or nine horses contesting the lead stretched across the track.
03:01 PM BST
Around five minutes to the off in the stayers’ hurdle race
A number of these horses had hard races at Cheltenham, and the ground was judged too quick for Teahupoo. That explains why Willie Mullins’ five-year-old Kitzbuhel has been backed into favouritism over the last 24 hours. He arrives fresh having not run at Cheltenham and is unexposed against these rivals.
02:47 PM BST
Stan Sheppard on his win on Cruz Control
That meant the world. To win here again is special. He hasn’t been in the same form as last year but he likes a bit of sun on his back and Tom [trainer Tom Lacey] hasn’t rushed him. It is a great team effort to get him back here.
02:43 PM BST
Full result
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Cruz Control 10/1
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Imperial Saint 11/4 (Fav)
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Erne River 25/1
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Weveallbeencaught 17/2
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Happygolucky 4/1
02:38 PM BST
Cruz Control wins the William Hill Handicap Chase!
Imperial Saint just lost ground between the penultimate and last fence, and Cruz Control found plenty off the bridle to to win in front of Erne River who ran on strongly. Imperial Saint stuck at it to take third.
02:36 PM BST
Four fences to go
Imperial Saint with a seriously impressive display of jumping so far, but he might need a chance to catch a breath before the turn for him. Michael Nolan is sat quitely on the leader though, he must fancy he has plenty of horse underneath him.
02:35 PM BST
As they turn for the second circuit in front of the grandstand
Imperial Saint is galloping freely at the front of the field alongside Docpickedme. The question will be is the pre-race favourite doing too much, too early? No fallers but Frero Banbou has been pulled up.
02:32 PM BST
They are off in the William Hill Handicap Chase
Docpickedme and Erne River are setting the early pace.
02:30 PM BST
Grand National key stats
02:29 PM BST
They are at the post for the William Hill Handicap Chase
Imperial Saint is the favourite, but there is some late support for Le Milos for the Skeltons who has been backed into 13/2.
02:16 PM BST
Honest Policu a much-needed win for Gordon Elliott
Elliott said: “We had three winners in Wexford yesterday but in big races we aren’t getting the rub of the green but the horses are still running well.
“The ground is as quick as he would have wanted.”
02:11 PM BST
The story of young Joshua Duckworth
A nine-year-old boy with a life-limiting condition rubbed his “lucky medal” on the boots of the jockey riding his favourite horse in the Grand National.
Joshua Duckworth, who lives less than a mile from Aintree Racecourse, has been made the honorary 35th runner for the race today by The Jockey Club.
Before the Cheltenham Festival in March, Joshua visited joint trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero at their Cheshire yard and rubbed his lucky medal on Jagwar, who then stormed to victory in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase.
Now Joshua is hoping Iroko will follow up with victory in the most famous race in the world. Joshua’s father Christopher said his son was given the medal by a member of Brentford Football Club’s security team, named Andy, who he met and befriended.
Christopher said: “Joshua has now rubbed the medal against Jonjo’s boots to keep him safe and hopefully win. We’ll be cheering them on. Joshua’s madly in love with Iroko. He has fallen in love with Rachael Blackmore, too, though, so I think he’s 70% for Iroko and 30% for Minella Indo.”
02:06 PM BST
Mersey result
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Honesty Policy 11/2
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Regent’s Stroll 9/1
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Funiculi Funicula 12/1
02:04 PM BST
Honesty Policy wins the Mersey!
Another winner ridden by Mark Walsh this week. Regent’s Stroll made all and jumped superbly the whole way around but was picked up by Honesty Policy on the run-in who came with a rattle in the McManus colours. Funiculi Funicula ran a huge race at a big price to be third.
02:01 PM BST
Six hurdles to jump
Regent’s Stroll is the front-runner followed by Koktail Divin and then Miami Magic in third. Horaces Pearl is ridden a long a touch towards the rear, it is looking hard work at the moment.
01:59 PM BST
They’re off in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle!
After a false start, the starter calls them back to the tap and eventually we are under way.
01:54 PM BST
They are heading down to post for the Mersey
Horaces Pearl is the favourite for Fergal O’Brien but Miami Magic looks very interesting having finished by Potter’s Charm over two miles here in December. The dry ground should suit. This is the race Lulamba was scheduled to run in, one of a few non-runners in this one.
01:48 PM BST
Gavin Cromwell’s National contingent
Gavin Cromwell is edging his way into the top three jump trainers in Ireland and in Stumptown, Vanillier and Percival Legallois, arguably comes here with a stronger hand than any other trainer and one imagines even he will find it hard to split them.
A few years ago he was best known as Tiger Roll’s farrier but if any of them triumphs he will become just the sixth trainer in history after Basil Briscoe, Fred Rimell, Vincent O’Brien, Henry de Bromhead and Willie Mullins to win a Gold Cup and National in the same season.
Stumptown won the cross-country at Cheltenham but had a hard race and though he will be doing his best work at the finish the pace of the race on good ground may take him out of his comfort zone. Vanillier, runner-up two years ago, appears to have been transformed by blinkers on his last two starts and could reverse the form with Stumptown if he did not have too hard a race three weeks ago.
The pick of them, though, appears to be Percival Legallois on whom Mark Walsh, JP McManus’s stable jockey in Ireland, is bidding to become the first jockey since Jim Culloty in 2002 to win the Gold Cup (Best Mate) and National (Bindaree) fresh from winning jump racing’s blue riband at Cheltenham on Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin. He is fresh and will enjoy the ground.
01:37 PM BST
Jack Tudor on his ride on Deep Cave
I thought two out I had something to aim at and it has worked out nicely. The ground you got here today was perfect. This is where you want to be riding winners.
01:29 PM BST
Result: William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle
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Deep Cave 28/1
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Timmy Tuesday 11/2
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Double Powerful 7/1
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Park of Kings 12/1
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Catch Him Derry 5/1
01:28 PM BST
Deep Cave wins the opener!
Produced late by Jack Tudor, Deep Cave was barely in the race but got up to beat Timmy Tuesday, Double Powerful and Park of Kings. Full result on the way shortly.
01:27 PM BST
Two to jump
Dartan is under pressure now, but Building Bridges is still travelling strongly. Timmy Tuesday is coming with a run on the outside of the leaders…
01:26 PM BST
Bill Joyce is a faller
He falls at the sixth-last. The rest of the field still standing as the race begins to take shape. Act of Authority is making progress from the rear. Dartan and Building Bridges have started racing and have kicked clear of the rest with three to jump.
01:25 PM BST
Seven hurdles to jump
Act of Authority is actually the back marked now. Catch Him Derry is in mid-division. Dinons is on the outside. Building Bridges leads Jipcot by a ne ck, followed by Dartan Timmy Tuesday.
01:23 PM BST
10 hurdles to jump
Building Bridges is the early front-runner as they travel down the back straight for the first time. Timmy Tuesday and Jipcot also in the leading group. After an aakward start, Act of Authority is held up and will have to travel through the field. But a long way to go.
01:21 PM BST
And they’re off!
A peculiar start with several horses slow away, it looked like being another false start. But they are away first time, 13 hurdles to jump and little more than three miles to travel.
01:20 PM BST
They are heading down to post in the opener
Same late money in the betting ring for Double Powerful. Not long until the Aintree crowd can roar them off.
01:07 PM BST
We are 15 minutes from the first race
There has been lots of betting support for Act of Authority over the last 24 hours, and Olly Murphy’s horse has been backed into 4-1 favouritism. Closely followed by Catch Him Derry as the Skeltons target yet more handicap success.
12:58 PM BST
The National-winning jockey who ‘died seven times’
It is 40 years since jockey Hywel Davies won the Grand National with Last Suspect at odds of 50-1 – and all this after he had “died” seven times in an ambulance after a fall three years earlier. Read our interview with Davies here.
12:46 PM BST
Still time for some last-minute homework
12:38 PM BST
Some breaking racing news
Hayley Turner, a groundbreaking jockey who became the first woman to partner 100 Flat winners in the UK, has announced her retirement – and revealed she is expecting a baby in October. The 42-year-old, a Group 1-winning rider, said in a statement: “I have decided to retire from being a jockey following my winner at Southwell last week especially as I had my first ride at the racecourse on March 27, 2000. I am very excited to also announce that I am having a baby in October, all being well, which I have been planning for the last two years. My family and I are all very excited. I would like to thank everyone that has supported me over the years, especially Michael Bell, David Simcock, Andrew Balding and Harry Eustace. I would also like to thank my riding agent, Guy Jewel, who has been my agent for the majority of my career. I am looking forward to my next life chapter but will be focusing on the baby in the short term.”
Turner rode Dream Ahead to the 2011 July Cup at Newmarket. She went on to claim a second Group 1 later the same year on Margot Did in the Nunthorpe at York.
12:35 PM BST
Read Marcus Armytage’s column
Our racing correspondent, who won the Grand National on Mr Fisk in 1990, reflects on how the great race has changed over the years. There is now more more prize money, fewer horses and scaled-down fences, and Marcus argues that some of the colour that made the event so great has been lost. Read his column in full here.
12:24 PM BST
Harry Skelton lifts the inaugural David Power Jockey’s Cup
There he is alongside Paddy Power himself. Skelton also banks £500,000 for winning the competition that runs across more than 100 jumps races shown on ITV throughout the season. There are 10 points awarded for a win, eight points for second place, six points for third place and four points for fourth. Skelton is on 420 points, well clear of Harry Cobden on 330.
ITV presenter Ed Chamberlin said yesterday than the Skeltons were so serious about winning the new competition that they have been phoning to check which races are televised.
12:14 PM BST
What of the National favourite?
It will be a tough gig for last year’s winner I Am Maximus. He might start favourite but this time he has to carry top weight, a feat not achieved since Red Rum, and his build-up has not been as smooth as it was a year ago. However, at this moment in time Willie Mullins can pretty much walk on water – that appears to be what the punters think at any rate.
The trainer runs six. Minella Cocooner bids to become only the second horse to win a National and a Bet365 Gold Cup but will relish the ground, Grangeclare West might have shown the handicapper his hand too soon when chasing home Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown before the weights came out while Nick Rockett comes into the race in the form of his life and cannot be ruled out of giving amateur Patrick Mullins the day of his life
12:09 PM BST
An unlikely training duo
Prominent National contender Iroko is trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. Greenhall is the heir of a brewing dynasty while Guerriero is the son of a chef who came over to run an Italian restaurant in Penrith. The pair had two winners from just five runners at the Cheltenham Festival. Marcus Armytage tells their story here.
12:04 PM BST
Punters are already through the gates at Aintree
11:53 AM BST
Some notable non-runners
The enigmatic Jeriko Du Reponet will not run in the handicap hurdle at 1.20pm but the bigger news is that Lulamba does not go in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.
The Nicky Henderson horse ran ever so well at Cheltenham but was pipped at the post in the Triumph. The ground is considered just too quick today, which is a shame for punters.
11:50 AM BST
Our experts’ tips
Looking for a steer in today’s big race? Our racing experts have you covered as they name their National winner as well as a predicted first four home if you are looking for each-way chances. Click here to see who Marlborough, Charlie Brooks, Marcus Armytage and Tom Ward fancy.
11:48 AM BST
Ground in Hyland’s favour for the National but dozen or so in with chances
Good-ground horses have been increasingly marginalised in modern Grand Nationals as Aintree waters the track in an attempt to slow the race down but, with the going drying as fast as it can be irrigated this week, they will never get a better chance and Hyland can capitalise on that by winning the 177th edition of the world’s greatest steeplechase.
The eight-year-old novice, one of seven greys in this year’s line-up, has a lot going for him; a light weight, the best ground he is ever likely to get in a National, Grade One form having chased home arguably the leading staying novice in the country at Christmas, a solid warm-up for this at Kempton in February and, crucially, he comes in without having had a hard race at Cheltenham three weeks ago.
In the ‘old days’ running a novice in the National would have been considered foolhardy but Rule The World and Noble Yeats, both winners within the last 10 years, were novices, indeed Rule The World had not won a race over fences when he turned up at Aintree in 2016.
As such there is every possibility Hyland is still ahead of the handicapper, another box which needs to be ticked in order to win a modern National.
Much is made of his trainer Nicky Henderson’s record, 43 runners since 1979 including nine first-fence fallers and no winners but in the early days Zongerlero, Classified, The Tsarevitch and Brown Windsor were all placed and his last runner, Mister Coffey, led the field over the Melling Road for the last time which will also have given Nico de Boinville a bit of confidence in the race.
But this National is nothing if not open and a dozen or more have good chances.
We’ll be providing live updates from all the day’s races, starting with the 17-runner William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle at 1.20pm.