Racing

Five Horses To Look Out For: 2025 Aintree Grand National Festival

I have highlighted five horses who could be worth a look at ahead of Aintree’s Grand National meeting. I have split them across the three days.

GIDLEIGH PARK (Manifesto Novices’ Chase, Thursday, 13.45pm)

Odds: 6/1

Having pulled up at Kempton due to a heart issue, GIDLEIGH PARK was firmly back on track when defeating Caldwell Potter at Windsor, and with the runner-up winning at the Cheltenham Festival since, there’s good reason to think Harry Fry’s star chaser will strut his stuff in Merseyside. The course and trip of the Manifesto should be right up his street, so he’s one to keep an eye on later this week in the opening race of the fixture.

LIVE CONTI (4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle, Thursday, 14.20pm)

Odds: 8/1

Lulamba is expected to take plenty of beating in this race on the back of a creditable second in the Triumph Hurdle, but don’t be surprised to see Dan Skelton’s LIVE CONTI give him plenty to think about. Although the horse he beat on debut in France, Larzak, disappointed behind Nicky Henderson’s charge at Cheltenham, I liked the way he made a winning start for this stable at Wetherby, winning hard held. This is a big jump in class, but he’s well thought of by his handler, and could be the joker in the pack.

CHARISMA CAT (Nickel Coins NH Flat Race, Thursday, 17.15pm)

Odds: 6/1

I am a big fan of Alan King’s CHARISMA CAT, who has won three of her four starts and should be arriving here with four wins from four starts. She was really impressive in winning a Listed race at Sandown last time out and it’s clear to see she has an enormous engine. This galloping flat track should play to her strengths and when she hits top gear, not many will be finishing better than her, so she’s one for the shortlist this week.

BATTLE BORN LAD (Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, Friday, 16.40pm)

Odds: 8/1

I’m really excited to see BATTLE BORN LAD take up his engagement in this staying contest. Mark Walford appears to have a top-class horse on his hands. This lightly-raced six-year-old placed in all three bumper starts and has won both of his hurdle outings. Firstly, when beating Wendigo at Hexham, who has won twice since, as well as finishing second to The New Lion in a Grade 1 event at Newbury.

He also finished an unlucky fifth in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, so the form is extremely strong. The selection then proved that success to be no fluke by dominating a Grade 2 event at Haydock from the front, scoring by over five lengths. He’s been saved for this race since, and with this course suiting front-runners, he’s an outsider worthy of consideration.

STUMPTOWN (Grand National, Saturday, 16.00pm)

Odds: 8/1

I have long thought of STUMPTOWN as a potential Grand National candidate. Even more so now after his excellent win in the cross country at the Cheltenham Festival when carrying top weight. He’s generally a superb jumper and stays all day. I just love everything about him and have been following him all season. Gavin Cromwell is having an excellent season and I have no issue with his mark. Many said he couldn’t win at Cheltenham with all that weight and he did and there’s room for improvement, so he’s definitely one to keep in mind for the big race on Saturday.