Last year's winner I Am Maximus must carry top weight of 11st12lb as he bids for back-to-back victories in the 2025 £1million Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on April 5.

Willie Mullins' nine-year-old, who provided the Irish handler with a second victory after Hedgehunter's success in 2005 in the Aintree showpiece when scoring under Paul Townend, will carry 6lb more than the 11st6lb he had last year. Second top weight of 11st9lb will be shouldered by Venetia Williams' dual Grade One Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille, who is entered to run in the Oddschecker Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock Park this weekend. The 11-year-old Rich Ricci-owned gelding is a 66-1 chance with most bookmakers for the National.

I Am Maximus – who will bid to become the ninth official dual winner – is one of 10 entries currently engaged for the reigning British and Irish champion trainer. The nine-year-old is currently a 12-1 chance with William Hill and bet365 while Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin (11st5lb), who is also owned by JP McManus, is Ladbrokes and bet365’s 10-1 favourite. The seven-year-old, who won at last year’s Grand National Festival, is likely to run at next month’s Cheltenham Festival before any Aintree bid.

Mullins believes it will be a tough ask for I Am Maximus to win again off weight. The County Carlow handler said: “It was huge to win it last year for the second time. I felt very spoilt winning a second Grand National. It’s top weight and it’s tough but we had an idea that it would be tough. He’ll probably run in the Bobbyjo and we’ll see how he is. He likes the track (Aintree). Sometimes when horses go back a second time they don’t like it and we’ve got all that to take into account. Horses go round it once and the second time it can be different, but he had a good experience last year and I’m hoping that it won’t be a problem.”

The weights – framed again for a sixth year by the British Horseracing Authority’s senior Jumps handicapper, Martin Greenwood – were revealed at the traditional lunch at St George’s Hall in Liverpool city centre today were trainers, owners, racing personalities and some of Merseyside’s most well-known faces gathered. The likes of former Liverpool FC stars Gary McAllister and John Barnes, ex-Everton midfielder Leon Osman, two-weight world champion boxer Natasha Jonas and former Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle joined the racing fraternity at the lavish lunch as the weights were published for the 177th running of the Grand National which takes place this year on Saturday, April 5 with a start time of 4pm for the second successive year.

Mullins currently has 10 entries including recent Thyestes Chase hero Nick Rockett (11st8lb); Irish Gold Cup runner-up Grangeclare West (11st8lb); last year's Scottish Grand National winner Macdermott (10st2lb); and Minella Cocooner (11st2lb), who landed the Bet 365 Gold Cup at Sandown last April. Nick Rockett is a 16-1 chance with most firms, Minella Cocooner 20-1 with Grangeclare West 33-1 with official betting partners of the Grand National William Hill.

Fellow Irish trainer Gordon Elliott – who has won the Grand National three times with Silver Birch (2007) and the most recent dual scorer Tiger Roll (2018, 2019) – still has 15 entries in the race this time headed by last year's runner-up Delta Work, who was handed 11st2lb in the handicap. Some of the other entries for the County Meath handler and their weights are: Three Card Brag (10st5lb), Conflated (11st2lb), Coko Beach (10st9lb), Galvin (10st13lb), Zanahiyr (10st9lb), Fil Dor (10st9lb) and Minella Crooner (10st5lb).

Cromwell said: “Inothewayurthinkin (11st5lb) is on 160 which is the same as his mark in Ireland. I wouldn’t say he is a certain runner at this stage and we will look at other options for him, including the Bowl at Aintree. He will also get an entry in the Irish National as well. Limerick Lace (10st10lb) was running a good race last year before she made a mistake, which effectively ended her chance. She has just been entered for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham again (which she won in 2024) and there is a chance she could go there and on to Aintree again. I am hoping that she is a spring horse as her two runs this season have not seen her at her best.

“Perceval Legallois (10st12lb) I would say is a likely runner at this stage and I think we’ll be missing Cheltenham with him. He won the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas and then a Listed handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival so is in really good form. Both Stumptown (11st2lb) and Vanillier (10st6lb) could go to the Cross Country at Cheltenham and then we can see about the National, but both horses could go for both races. Velvet Elvis (10st7lb) could be a possible although he is very ground dependent as he must have some ease.

“Yeah Man (10st5lb) will struggle to get in off his weight. The aim is to go to Haydock on Saturday for the Grand National Trial and try to win it again as it is a good race in its own right. He’ll also be entered in the Irish National. Malina Girl (10st 1lb) is unlikely to get in.”

Another Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead – who won the National with the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Minella Times in 2021 – saw former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero and last year's Aintree third Minella Indo handed 11st3lb in this year's race; while County Meath handler Cromwell, as well as Inothewayurthinkin appears to have a strong hand with 2023 runner-up Vanillier (10st6lb); Perceval Legallois (10st12lb) – who has won his last two starts including at the Dublin Racing Festival earlier this month, Stumptown (11st2lb) – who has landed three cross country chases in the past 12 months including at Cheltenham in December; last year's Grand National Trial winner Yeah Man (10st3lb), who is set to line-up at Haydock again on Saturday; and Limerick Lace (10st10lb), who finished 10th behind I Am Maximus at Aintree last April.

Another County Meath handler Thomas Gibney has last season's Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles, who will carry 10st10lb and is currently a 16-1 chance with William Hill and Unibet, entered.

There are currently 47 Irish entries but for British trainers Paul Nicholls appears to have one of the best chances of victory. The Ditcheat handler won the Grand National in 2012 with Neptune Collonges, whose owner John Hales recently died. Nicholls has saddled 79 runners in the Aintree showpiece over the years but has not had any for the past three runnings. This time though he has Kandoo Kid (10st11lb), who won the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in December; 2022 King George VI Chase hero Bravemansgame (11st); Saturday's Denman Chase runner-up Hitman (11st1lb); Stay Away Fay (10st9lb) and Threeunderthrufive (10st12lb) among the entries. Kandoo Kid is the highest in the ante-post betting at a general 25-1.

Other British hopefuls from Grand National-winning trainers include Midlands Grand National and Berkshire National Handicap Chase scorer Beauport (11st1lb) and Broadway Boy (10st9lb), both from the stable of dual Aintree winner Nigel Twiston-Davies; David Pipe's King Turgeon (9st13lb) – who scored over the Grand National fences in the Grand Sefton Chase in November but is unlikely to make the cut; Venetia Williams' L'Homme Presse (11st8lb); and Jonjo and AJ O'Neill's Monbeg Genius (10st6lb), another who landed victory on his most recent start at Uttoxeter at the weekend. Beauport is a 33-1 chance with most bookmakers with L'Homme Presse and Bravemansgame both available at 50-1 with Ladbrokes.

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, who train in Malpas in Cheshire, could have their first ever Grand National entrant in Iroko, who also sports the famous green and gold colours of three-time Grand National winner McManus. The seven-year-old, who was second to Inothewayurthinkin in the Grade One Mildmay Novices' Chase at the Grand National Festival last April, has been handed 10st11lb in the handicap and is currently a best-priced 14-1 with William Hill and bet365.

Greenall's father, Lord Daresbury, was Aintree chairman from 1989 to 2014 and the Lord Daresbury Stand at the famous Liverpool course is named in his honour. Both Greenall and Guerriero competed over the Grand National fences in their amateur riding days with the latter winning the Foxhunters' Chase on Christy Beamish in 2008. Greenall finished second on Cool Friend, beaten a neck by 100-1 outsider Tartan Snow, in the 2012 Foxhunters' at the Grand National Festival.

Fellow Cheshire-based trainer Donald McCain, whose father Ginger won the Grand National four times, landed the big race himself with Ballabriggs in 2011. He has one entry this year in Minella Drama, who has been handed 10st7lb, and is 100-1 chance with most bookmakers.

Handicapper Greenwood expects that, like last year, horses currently around 55th on the list are likely to make the cut on April 3. Currently Ben Pauling's Twig is 55th of the 87 entries.

On this year's race Greenwood, who took over handicapping responsibilities from Liverpool-born Phil Smith in 2019, said: “There are 41 entries rated 150 or more, which is the most to be rated 150-plus at the weights stage since 2020, so the race stands up well this year in terms of quality. At this stage last year I was thinking you would need a rating of 144-145 to get a run, but in the end the lowest-rated horse on the day was 146, so my estimate was slightly under.

“The 55^th horse on the list got into the race last year so my estimate this year is that you want to be rated from 145 to 147 to make the line-up in 2025. There are no penalties in the Randox Grand National but a win or good run can help you to get a place in the line-up by taking you to the top of the horses rated on the same weight. Last year’s winner I Am Maximus is on an 8lb higher mark this time around. In 2024, he won off the same mark that Tiger Roll won his second National off of in 2019 - one pound off the rating of 2015 winner Many Clouds, which was 160. Many Clouds ran off 166 the following year and I Am Maximus is 1lb higher than that on 167.

“So, if he is successful again, he will make history by winning off of the highest mark seen in the 21^st Century. There are still a few horses that need to fulfil the qualification criteria but I’d say it’s fewer than in the past – I make it 13 in total. I think with the changes made to the course you may well see more quality horses competing in the Grand National in the years ahead. The 41 horses rated 150-plus at the top this year could be the start of the race becoming an even classier handicap chase going forward.”

READ MORE: Mr Vango ruled out of Haydock's Grand National Trial as 14 entries remain

There will again be a maximum of 34 runners going to post on the first Saturday of April and Twiston-Davies' Broadway Boy is currently the 34th runner on the list of weights. Last year due to two late non-runners only 32 lined up in the National as the reserves system was not in place. But this year that reserves system will return. As previously there will be four reserves named – 35-38 on the final list – and should there be any non-runners up to 1pm the day (Friday, April 4) before the Grand National the reserves will replace them in racecard order.

After an initial 90 entries there are now 87 left in the race after three came out including Elliott's Gerri Colombe, who will miss the rest of the season through injury. The other horses out have not qualified and they are: Your Own Story (IRE), Motu Fareone (IRE).

Grand National 2025 odds

Betting Guide: 10-1 Inothewayurthinkin, 12-1 I Am Maximus, 14-1 Iroko, 16-1 Nick Rockett, Intense Raffles, 20-1 Minella Cocooner, Stumptown, 25-1 Perceval Legallois, Kandoo Kid, 33-1 Beauport, Monbeg Genius, Three Card Brag, Monty's Star, Grangeclare West, Vanillier, 40-1 Galvin, Delta Work. 40-1 bar.

Full odds for all the Grand National runners from official betting partner William Hill

Grand National 2025 weights for Aintree

Weights and entries for the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Class 1) (4m2f74y) at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 5 2025 (4pm)

No, Horse (bred), age, weight, owner, trainer, rating

1 I Am Maximus (FR) 9-11-12 Mr JP McManus Willie Mullins (IRE) 167
2 Royale Pagaille (FR) 11-11-9 Mrs S Ricci Venetia Williams 164
3 Envoi Allen (FR) 11-11-8 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead (IRE) 163
4 Grangeclare West (IRE) 9-11-8 Cheveley Park Stud Willie Mullins (IRE) 163
5 L'Homme Presse (FR) 10-11-8 Dfa Racing (Pink, Edwards & Sharman) Venetia Williams 163
6 Nick Rockett (IRE) 8-11-8 Stewart & Sadie Andrew Willie Mullins (IRE) 163
7 Hewick (IRE) 10-11-7 Mr TJ McDonald Tara Lee Cogan (IRE) 162
8 Gentlemansgame (GB) 9-11-5 Robcour Mouse Morris (IRE) 160
9 Inothewayurthinkin (IRE) 7-11-5 Mr JP McManus Gavin Cromwell (IRE) 160
10 Monty's Star (IRE) 8-11-5 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead (IRE) 160
11 The Real Whacker (IRE) 9-11-4 Neville, Mann, Duffus, Dennis-Price Patrick Neville 15
12 Minella Indo (IRE) 12-11-3 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead (IRE) 158
13 Appreciate It (IRE) 11-11-2 Miss MA Masterson Willie Mullins (IRE) 157
14 Capodanno (FR) 9-11-2 Mr JP McManus Willie Mullins (IRE) 157
15 Conflated (IRE) 11-11-2 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) 157
16 Delta Work (FR) 12-11-2 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) 157
17 Minella Cocooner (IRE) 9-11-2 Mr David Bobbett Willie Mullins (IRE) 157
18 Stumptown (IRE) 8-11-2 Furze Bush Syndicate Gavin Cromwell (IRE) 157
19 Beauport (IRE) 9-11-1 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel Twiston-Davies
156
20 Hitman (FR) 9-11-1 Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done Paul Nicholls 156
21 Bravemansgame (FR) 10-11-0 Bryan Drew Paul Nicholls 155
22 Chantry House (IRE) 11-10-13 Mr JP McManus Nicky Henderson 154
23 Galvin (IRE) 11-10-13 Mr RA Bartlett Gordon Elliott (IRE) 154
24 Perceval Legallois (FR) 8-10-12 Mr JP McManus Gavin Cromwell (IRE)
153
25 Threeunderthrufive (IRE) 10-10-12 McNeill Family Paul Nicholls 153
26 Fakir d'Oudairies (FR) 10-10-11 Mr JP McManus Joseph Patrick O'Brien (IRE) 152
27 Iroko (FR) 7-10-11 Mr JP McManus Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero 152
28 Kandoo Kid (FR) 9-10-11 Mr Michael Geoghegan Paul Nicholls 152
29 Trelawne (GB) 9-10-11 The Real Partnership Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls 152
30 Idas Boy (IRE) 11-10-10 Dozen Dreamers Richard Phillips 151
31 Intense Raffles (FR) 7-10-10 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede Thomas Gibney (IRE) 151
32 Limerick Lace (IRE) 8-10-10 Mr JP McManus Gavin Cromwell (IRE) 151
33 Senior Chief (GB) 8-10-10 Lucky In Life Syndicate Henry de Bromhead (IRE) 151
34 Broadway Boy (IRE) 7-109 Mr DM Proos Nigel Twiston-Davies 150

35 Coko Beach (FR) 10-10-9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) 150
36 Farouk d'Alene (FR) 10-10-9 Mr Justin Carthy Gary Brown (IRE) 150
37 Fil Dor (FR) 7-10-9 Robcour Gordon Elliott (IRE) 150
38 French Dynamite (FR) 10-10-9 Robcour Mouse Morris (IRE) 150
39 Mr Incredible (IRE) 9-10-9 Mr J Manclark Sandy Thomson 150
40 Stay Away Fay (IRE) 8-10-9 Bell, Lyons, Hill Paul Nicholls 150
41 Zanahiyr (IRE) 8-10-9 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) 150
42 Pinkerton (IRE) 9-10-8 Mr PL Polly Noel Meade (IRE) 149
43 Meetingofthewaters (IRE) 8-10-7 Mr JP McManus Willie Mullins (IRE) 148
44 Minella Drama (IRE) 10-10-7 Green Day Racing Donald McCain 148
45 Velvet Elvis (IRE) 9-10-7 Mr D Kierans Gavin Cromwell (IRE) 148
46 Celebre d'Allen (FR) 13-10-6 Mr Allan Stennett Philip Hobbs & Johnson White 147
47 Fontaine Collonges (FR) 10-10-6 Mr P Davies Venetia Williams 147
48 Horantzau d'Airy (FR) 8-10-6 Mrs S Ricci Willie Mullins (IRE) 147
49 Hyland (FR) 8 10 6 The Ten From Seven Nicky Henderson 147
50 Monbeg Genius (IRE) 9-10-6 Martin Tedham & Wasdell Properties Ltd. Jonjo & AJ O'Neill 147
51 Vanillier (FR) 10-10-6 Mrs HM Keaveney Gavin Cromwell (IRE) 147
52 Minella Crooner (IRE) 9-10-5 KTDA Racing/Nick Courtney/Cillian Moran Gordon Elliott (IRE) 146
53 Quick Wave (FR) 12-10-5 Ms Sharon Kinsella Venetia Williams 146
54 Three Card Brag (IRE) 8-10-5 Patrick & Scott Bryceland, McNeill Family Gordon Elliott (IRE) 146
55 Twig (GB) 10-10-5 Mrs G Morgan Ben Pauling 146
56 Duffle Coat (IRE) 8-10-4 Mr Ray Stokes Gordon Elliott (IRE) 145
57 Roi Mage (FR) 13-10-4 Pryde/Van Der Hoeven/McGladery/Beaumont Patrick Griffin (IRE) 145
58 Shakem Up'arry (IRE) 11-10-4 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling 145
59 Fantastic Lady (FR) 10-10-3 Mr ER Hanbury Nicky Henderson 144
60 Favori de Champdou (FR) 10-10-3 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) 144
61 Yeah Man (IRE) 8-10-3 John J Brennan/Martin Hannan Gavin Cromwell (IRE) 144
62 Chemical Energy (IRE) 9-10-2 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott (IRE) 143
63 Macdermott (FR) 7-10-2 Gallagher Bloodstock Limited Willie Mullins (IRE) 143
64 Mister Coffey (FR) 10-10-2 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson 143
65 Mr Vango (IRE) 9-10-2 Cracker and Smodge Partnership Sara Bradstock 143
66 Bronn (IRE) 8-10-1 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede Thomas Gibney (IRE) 142
67 Desertmore House (IRE) 10-10-1 OBP Carroll/Anthony Vaughan Martin Brassil (IRE) 142
68 Malina Girl (IRE) 8-10-1 Mrs JM Russell Gavin Cromwell (IRE) 142
69 Richmond Lake (IRE) 9-10 1 Hemmings Racing Donald McCain 142
70 La Renommee (FR) 7-10-0 Upton House Stud Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole 141
71 King Turgeon (FR) 7-9-13 Somerset Racing David Pipe 140
72 Stuzzikini (IRE) 7-9-13 VCS Versatile Coating Specialist/F Foran Gordon Elliott (IRE) 140
73 Cruz Control (FR) 8-9-12 Mr F Green and Mr J Chinn Tom Lacey 139
74 Surrey Quest (IRE) 8-9-12 Surrey Racing (SQ) Toby Lawes 139
75 Apple Away (IRE) 8-9-11 Old Gold Racing 14 Lucinda Russell 138
76 Busselton (FR) 8-9-11 Friendship Partnership Joseph Patrick O'Brien (IRE) 138
77 Gevrey (FR) 9-9-11 Denis Gallagher Racing Gordon Elliott (IRE) 138
78 Spanish Harlem (FR) 7-9-11 Dr SP Fitzgerald Willie Mullins (IRE) 138
79 The Goffer (IRE) 8-9-10 Mr Allan Snow Gordon Elliott (IRE) 137
80 Famous Bridge (IRE) 9-9-9 Hemmings Racing Nicky Richards 136
81 Copperhead (GB) 11-9-7 Mrs G. C. Pritchard Joe Tizzard 134
82 Escaria Ten (FR) 11-9-7 J B Property Investments (Midlands) Ltd Martin Keighley 134
83 Where It All Began (IRE) 9-9-7 McNeill Family/Patrick & Scott Bryceland Gordon Elliott (IRE) 134
84 Git Maker (FR) 9-9-6 Sheep As A Lamb Syndicate Jamie Snowden 133
85 Gericault Roque (FR) 9-9-4 Prof. Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew David Pipe 131
86 Pats Fancy (IRE) 10-9-3 Hydes, McDermott, Spencer, Frobisher & Lee Rebecca Curtis 130
87 Placenet (FR) 8-9-3 Prof C Tisdall & G Thompson David Cottin (FR) 130

87 entries remain (47 Irish-trained, 1 French-trained)

Scratched: Gerri Colombe (FR). Not-Qualified: Your Own Story (IRE), Motu Fareone (IRE)