Our tipsters give their instant verdicts
David Baxter
It will be bad luck in the extreme if connections of Highland Lodge miss out again, as they are on the cusp in 42nd place, but this time they should get a run. The 11-year-old, who loves Aintree and the National fences, looks good at the bottom of the weights.
Verdict: Highland Lodge
Sam Walker
From a handicapping point of view Foxrock has been effectively kept off the grid this season by running in (and winning) hunter chases. He's only nine and is clearly in great form, so he may yet build on the huge promise of two seasons ago, when he looked a Grade 1 stayer in the making. He's 50-1 now but if Katie Walsh takes the ride he'll be much shorter on the day.
Verdict: Foxrock
Tom Collins
Vicente immediately caught my eye off a mark of 147 – and a nice racing weight of 10st 5lb – given that he landed the Scottish National last year off just 1lb lower and had a good prep run over an inadequate 3m recently. Ucello Conti's excellent second in the Thyestes puts him up to 149, the same mark as he ran off last year, and he also looks sure to have an excellent chance.
Verdict: Ucello Conti
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inGrand National festival
Last updated
- Grand National 2025: date, preview and best bets
- 'I'd love to have a crack at the Grand National' - Flooring Porter team weigh up Aintree following Listowel heroics
- 'They had no chance and kept others out' - Davy Russell believes qualifying races for the Grand National should be introduced
- Bookmakers report Grand National turnover as 'flat' compared with last year
- 'It's a different feeling, it's unique, it's the Grand National' - Aintree hero I Am Maximus gets a huge homecoming welcome
- Grand National 2025: date, preview and best bets
- 'I'd love to have a crack at the Grand National' - Flooring Porter team weigh up Aintree following Listowel heroics
- 'They had no chance and kept others out' - Davy Russell believes qualifying races for the Grand National should be introduced
- Bookmakers report Grand National turnover as 'flat' compared with last year
- 'It's a different feeling, it's unique, it's the Grand National' - Aintree hero I Am Maximus gets a huge homecoming welcome