The week of Aintree is upon us, and we only have a few days until the world’s most famous steeplechase, the Grand National.
Saturday’s race sees 34 runners go to post and our blog looks at some runners who look to represent value in the market.
Bet on the 2025 Grand National with William Hill here
Iroko – 9/1
Last year’s winning owner with I Am Maximus, the imperious JP McManus looks to have five runners going to the post in this year’s Grand National. One of his best chances looks to be the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerreiro-trained Iroko.
He has run in strong races over the last two campaigns, including the Turners’ Novices Chase at the Cheltenham and the Aintree Bowl running well in defeat, but it’s clear that has been the plan and his mark of 152 looks workable.
His most recent run behind leading Aintree bowl Grey Dawning in the Premier Chase at Kelso suggests he’s well in off 152, considering the track and trip looked on the sharp side for him. He could be a totally different proposition upped to the National trip and the current price of 9/1 makes appeal.
Minella Cocooner – 14/1
Minella Cocooner has gradually narrowed in price as we’ve got closer and closer to the big one, and it’s clear to see why the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old is popular with punters.
On the face of it, his mark of 157 seems steep but he has kept to the highest company all campaign and has seen his mark slightly eased as a result.
The two key pieces of form that point to a big run came in April of last year, when finishing third in the Irish Grand National before winning the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown’s season finale, showing he comes alive as we enter the back end of the season. Those are his standout pieces of form, as well as being the two times the horse has stepped up to the three-and-a-half-mile trip, the further he goes the better he gets. A season best is expected and he’s worth an each-way swing at the maximum trip.
Hitman – 100/1
It’s probably not the first thing you want to hear when backing something, but it would be a big surprise to see Hitman win a race of this calibre. That said, 100/1 looks a brilliant value bet from an each-way perspective.
He hasn’t won since 2022 and often flatters to deceive, but he is a strong traveller in his races. The step up to the extreme distance may bring out some improvement to this type, who ran well on his last appearance in a Group Two contest at Newbury. He beat stable mate Bravemansgame home that day off level weight and gets a three-pound swing in the weights from him on Saturday, despite this Bravemansgame is considered a 50/1 shot here, the swing in the weights the selection receives suggests he shouldn’t be 100/1 here, considering how well he usually travels in his races.
Check out the latest horse racing betting odds here with William Hill
