The Grand National Festival concludes today with blockbuster showdown at Aintree Racecourse that the last couple of days have been building to.
2024 Grand National champion I Am Maximus is the pre-race favourite with the bookmakers and at the top weight of 11st 12lbs he’ll have a tough job on his hands to emulate Grand National legends Red Rum and Tiger Roll by winning the race two years in a row.
Competitors include the blazingly good Stumptown and Intense Raffles as well as an Irish chaser Perceval Legallois who is being tipped for a surprising victory in front of the thousands of fans gathered to watch.
Follow all the Grand National action with The Independent’s blog, live from Aintree:
Hiddenvalley Lake wins Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
In the end slightly less dramatic once again, as Hiddenvalley Lake comes to win by over a length.
He took the lead over the penultimate hurdle and then skipped the last to ease to victory on the final straight.
Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
One hurdle to go and Monmiral still leads Strong Leader, just.
Jetara has moved!
Chris Wilson5 April 2025 15:12
Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
Three hurdles left and Monmiral still leads Strong Leader, with Jetara having moved to third.
Chris Wilson5 April 2025 15:11
Kitzbuhel has looked to settle so is a little further back now, with six hurdles left.
Chris Wilson5 April 2025 15:10
Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
Monmiral leads Strong Leader by three length with six to go!
Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
Eight hurdles to go and Monmiral is out into an early lead, and Strong Leader in second.
Early favourite Kitzbuhel is third for now, with all horses fairly tightly grouped.
Chris Wilson5 April 2025 15:09
Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
Race number four has begun!
Chris Wilson5 April 2025 15:06
Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
Early favourite here is Kitzbuhel – ridden by Paul Townend – at 11/4.
Strong Leader is second at 4/1, with Home By The Lee at 6/1.
Monmiral, a 33/1 outsider, is part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Cruz Control wins William Hill Handicap Chase!
The results from race three are below:
1 – Cruz Control – 10/1
2 – Imperial Saint – 11/4
3 – Erne River – 25/1
4 – Weveallbeencaught – 17/2
Chris Wilson5 April 2025 14:45
Cruz Control wins William Hill Handicap Chase!
“He hasn’t been in the same form, but he likes a bit of sun on his back, and it was a great team effort to get him back in,” says jockey Stan Sheppard, who now has back-to-back wins in this race.
Chris Wilson5 April 2025 14:40
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