IT'S a huge day for horse racing fans, as the Grand National hits our screens from Aintree Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.
Known as the world’s most famous steeplechase, the race is one of the very few horse racing events which draws interest from the general public – to the point that most people in the UK will have an annual bet on the race.
The race is as open as you’d expect for a 34-runner contest, with last year’s winner I Am Maximus one of the favourites once again for Willie Mullins. There’s every chance he could go off as favourite, though the current market leader is fellow JP McManus-owned horse Iroko.
There’s plenty to get stuck into before the big race, with a supporting card that features no less than three Grade 1 contests. We’ve taken an extended look at the card and produced our very best Grand National day 3 predictions for you below.
Best bets for Grand National Day 2
- Perceval Legallois at 11/1 with Copybet
- Lulamba at 23/20 with Copybet
- Home By The Lee at 6/1 with Copybet
- L’Eau du Sud at 6/4 with Copybet
Grand National free bets
Grand National day 3 race schedule
| Time | Race | Distance | Grade |
| 13:20 | William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle | 3m1/2f | Handicap |
| 13:55 | Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle | 2m4f | Grade 1 |
| 14:30 | William Hill Handicap Chase | 3m1f | Handicap |
| 15:05 | Ivy Liverpool Hurdle | 3m1/2f | Grade 1 |
| 16:00 | Randox Grand National Handicap Chase | 4m21/2f | Handicap |
| 17:00 | Rosconn Group Maghull Novices’ Chase | 2m | Grade 1 |
| 17:35 | Weatherbys Standard Open NH Flat Race | 2m1f | Grade 2 |
The runners and riders for Grand National day 3
Grand National Day is one of the most popular sporting events of the year, so it would be folly not to start with the big race itself. The horse that everyone has to beat is I Am Maximus, who was a brilliant winner of this last year. He has to carry top weight this time around and hasn’t been in the same form this year, but having an ability to handle Aintree is a huge factor.
There are many routes that can be taken to Aintree, but a particularly popular road of late has been via the Cross Country Chase, which was won by Tiger Roll in 2018 and 2019 on the eve of his historic victories here. Stumptown arrives here on the back of victory in this race this time around, while the 2023 Grand National runner-up Vanillier caught the eye in third there.
Each of the three winners in behind I Am Maximus last year were Grade 1 winners earlier in their careers and if you want to follow a similar route this time around, look out for the likes of Hewick, Bravemansgame, Royal Pagaille, Minella Indo, Appreciate It and Chantry House, who all won at the top level earlier in their careers.
Elsewhere on the card we have the Liverpool Hurdle, which always proves to be an interesting race. Teahupoo will be hoping to build on his second in last month’s Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, though it’s worth noting that only one horse that failed to win that race has gone on to take this since 2013 (Whisper in 2015). Strong Leader is back to defend his crown, but this looks a much stronger race this time around.
Tip 1 – Perceval Legallois in the Grand National
There’s a case to be made for almost all 34 runners in this year’s Grand National in some shape or form, though one horse which continuously catches the eye is Perceval Legallois. Gavin Cromwell’s charge has long appealed as the type for this kind of race and he’s been holding his own in a string of competitive events over the last year or so.
That form has been taken to another level this season, winning a very competitive contest over slightly further than three miles at Leopardstown over Christmas. He impressed with the way he was able to sweep clear of the field that day and he’s clearly thriving at the moment, considering he was able to take advantage of a lower hurdling mark at the same track in February.
He’s been carefully handled with this race in mind and should arrive here fit, with his high cruising speed likely to serve him well in a contest like this. With the step up in trip opening the door to some more improvement, there’s every chance that his current mark of 153 could underestimate him and he’s fancy to strike for last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning connections of Gavin Cromwell, Mark Walsh and JP McManus.
🇠Back Perceval Legallois to win the Grand National at 11/1 with Copybet ðŸ‡
Tip 2 – Lulamba in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle
Lulamba just failed to hold on to his unbeaten record when finishing a narrow second in last month’s Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but that was still a fine run and he looks tough to oppose in Saturday’s curtain-raiser.
The fact that Nicky Henderson has opted to swerve Thursday’s 4-Y-O Hurdle and take on his elders feels like an ominous clue and there certainly isn’t the depth in here that you would expect for a Grade 1 contest. With that in mind, the four-year-old very much sets the standard here and he’s a strong pick to take advantage of his weight and pick up a maiden top level success for Seven Barrows.
Koktail Divin takes a big step up in class after winning a maiden in good style at Leopardstown last month and would be a threat should he be able to hold his own in deeper waters, while the unbeaten Horaces Pearl took the Grade 2 bumper on this card last year and is another that would be interesting if able to tidy up his jumping.
🇠Bet on Lulamba to win the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at 23/20 with Copybet ðŸ‡
Tip 3 – Home By The Lee in the Liverpool Hurdle
In the absence of last month’s Stayers’ Hurdle winner Bob Olinger, Teahupoo will be hoping to gain compensation for his second-place finish by winning on his first visit to Aintree.
The eight-year-old didn’t do an awful lot wrong that day, just being reeled in at the finish and a similar run here should make him a tough nut to crack. However, there’s a feeling that he’s at his best on a softer surface and bearing in mind that he doesn’t tend to take too much race, it looks worth opposing him at the prices after a three-week turnaround.
The improving Kitzbuhel certainly deserves a look after winning a Grade 3 contest in good style at Gowran Park in February, while last year’s winner Strong Leader faces a tougher field this time around, meaning the best option could prove to be Home By The Lee. The 10-year-old is one of the more senior figures in the field, but Joseph O’Brien’s charge has enjoyed another fine campaign, twice taking the scalp of Bob Olinger earlier in the campaign.
He was very much in the wrong place at the wrong time when brought down in last month’s Stayers’ Hurdle and provided that hasn’t left a mark, there’s every reason to think that he can have a say in this. A strong traveller, he’s a relatively versatile in terms of the ground and there’s every reason to think that a speed track like this could play into his hands in the closing stages.
With that in mind, he looks a nice proposition at 6/1 with bet365 to seal a third Grade 1 success over timber.
🇠Bet on Home By The Lee to win the Liverpool Hurdle at 6/1 with Copybet ðŸ‡
Tip 4 – L’Eau du Sud in the Maghull Novices’ Chase
This race may be scheduled after the Grand National but it’s definitely worth staying glued to the action, as it features a fascinating rematch from the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham, as the runner-up faces the horse who finished fourth.
Only By The Night looked as though she was going to cause a 25-1 shock in the closing stages of that race and while she was narrowly caught close home, that proved to be a fine effort. She deserves plenty of respect in receipt of a sex allowance, though that race rather became a stamina last time and she may be vulnerable on a course that’s more based around speed.
With that in mind, it looks worth siding with L’Eau du Sud to turn the tables. The seven-year-old was previously unbeaten in four starts over fences heading into that contest, winning a Grade 1 contest at Sandown earlier in the season, and he was putting up another good display at Cheltenham, travelling best before just running out of steam in the closing stages.
This contest should play into his hands much more and provided that his recent excursions haven’t left a mark, he’s a confident pick to take this for the Dan Skelton team.
🇠Bet on L’Eau du Sud to win the Maghull Novices’ Chase at 6/4 with Copybet ðŸ‡
Previous shocks at Grand National Day
The Grand National is no stranger to a shock or two, which is perhaps not a shock considering it’s a 34-runner handicap over four and a quarter miles, with 30 fences to negotiate!
The biggest shock in the Grand National this century came back in 2009, when Mon Mome returned at 100/1 for Venetia Williams, though Noble Yeats’ 50/1 triumph in 2022 for his retiring jockey Sam Waley-Cohen was a close second as far as fairytales are concerned.
Elsewhere on the card, the Liverpool Hurdle is the most likely of the three Grade 1 contests to cause a surprise, with just three favourites winning in the last 10 renewals. The biggest-priced winner in that time was 16/1 shot Sire Du Berlais for Gordon Elliott back in 2022, while Identity Thief won at 14/1 for Henry de Bromhead.
Meanwhile, four of the last five winners of the Maghull Novices’ Chase have been favourites or joint-favourites, though punters had their fingers burned in the race back in 2022, when Edwardstone was defeated by Gentleman De Mee as a 4/7 odds-on favourite.
How to bet on Grand National Day
You will find that plenty of people that perhaps don’t follow racing on a regular basis will have a punt on the Grand National and if you are new to the sport, placing a bet can seem daunting. To help you out, we have created a step-by-step guide for you below.
- Log into your betting account. If you don’t have one currently, you can find lots of suggestions and free bet offers in this article.
- Deposit into your account and head to the ‘horse racing’ section. Find the racing taking place at Aintree on Saturday 5th April 2025.
- Pick a hose to bet on. You can either read our Grand National day 3 preview in this article or you can study the form for yourself.
- Add your selection to the betslip by clicking on the odds next to their name. Once you see them in the betslip, input your stake and click on ‘place bets’.
How to follow the action
The Grand National is one of the world’s most famous sporting events and it’s difficult to miss it on the big day! The first five races are being shown live on ITV Racing, while each and every race at the festival is live on Racing TV. If you’re on the move, you can listen to the action on BBC Radio Five Live or you can stream the racing on your betting app. Meanwhile, bookies will be showing all the actions live in betting shops up and down the country.
