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

Willie Mullins' nine-year-old, who gave 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 for the National.

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.

READ MORE: Full list of weights and entries for the 2025 Grand National

Here is the reaction of some selected trainers to the weights their Aintree contenders:

Josh Guerriero, joint-trainer with Oliver Greenall – Iroko (10st11lb)

"It's our first runner in the race so to have one so fancied is incredible. It puts a bit more pressure on him getting there, obviously, but we're going to try and have a run before then at Kempton in the Ladbrokes Trophy on February 22 and provided all that goes smoothly then it's straight to Aintree. It's very exciting, he looks made for the race, he's got the right profile and we're looking forward to it. We're very lucky to have been allowed to train the horse for JP (McManus), which is incredible, and we're just looking forward to it now. Just getting him there is the key.

"Aintree would be one of our local tracks. It's only an hour away where we train and we both love it there. I had a winner over the National fences back in 2008 in the amateur race and Oliver's sort of grown up there with his dad having been chairman so it's got a special place in both our hearts."

Trainer Gavin Cromwell – Inothewayurthinkin (11st5lb), Stumptown (11st2lb), Perceval Legallois (10st12lb), Limerick Lace (10st10lb), Velvet Elvis (10st7lb), Vanillier (10st6lb), Yeah Man (10st3lb), Malina Girl (10st1lb)

"Inothewayurthinkin 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 was running a good race last year before she made a mistake, which effectively ended her chance (finished 10th). 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 I would say is a likely runner at this stage and I think we'll be missing Cheltenham (Festival) 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 and Vanillier could go to the Glenfarclas Chase at Cheltenham and then we can see about the National, but both horses could go for both races."

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

Trainer Willie Mullins – I Am Maximus (11st12lb), Grangeclare West (11st8lb), Nick Rockett (11st8lb), Appreciate It (11st2lb), Capodanno (11st2lb), Minella Cocooner (11st2lb), Meetingofthewaters (10st7lb), Horantzau d'Airy (10st6lb), Macdermott (10st2lb), Spanish Harlem (9st11lb)

"It's top-weight (for I Am Maximus) 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. I was very pleased with Grangeclare West's run in the Irish Gold Cup and if he can put in a performance like that (he must have a chance). However, he paid the penalty by being raised in the weights so it's going to be tougher, but he might take his chance in the National.

"I thought Nick Rockett was very good winning the Thyestes and that's always a very good pointer towards the National, so hopefully he'll take up the engagement.

"Appreciate It showed a nice change of form on nice ground in Thurles to win. Aintree ground is usually lovely so he has his chance and plenty of 11-year-olds have won in the recent past.

"Capodanno was running a good race last year (finished 16th). The handicapper's given him a chance and he jumps those fences no problem so I'm happy enough.

"Minella Cocooner (11st2lb) jumps well. He won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last year. It's going to be a tough assignment to win another big handicap within the calendar year but he'll take his chance.

"I think Meetingofthewaters (10st7lb) has a lovely weight. He ran very well last year (finished seventh) and I think my eye was drawn to him when I saw his weight. He's one I like."

Trainer Henry de Bromhead – Envoi Allen (11st8lb), Monty's Star (11st5lb), Minella Indo (11st3lb), Senior Chief (10st10lb)

"It's nice they're all in (the top 34). Obviously we'll see what will go there. At the moment Envoi's heading for the Ryanair Chase and Monty's Star is heading for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. Minella Indo is aiming for the National and Senior Chief is aiming for there as well.

"Envoi Allen seems well and Monty's Star is in great form too. He has come out of his last race well.

"Minella Indo ran really well last year (finished third), which was brilliant. He's come out of the Boyne Hurdle in Navan the other day OK. He ran well and Rachael (Blackmore, jockey) was happy. He might have got a bit tired in the ground but he ran well. He's got a great attitude. He's an amazing horse, he's been brilliant over the years and he's a great man. We're delighted with him.

"Senior Chief ran great at Cheltenham (when winning at The Showcase Meeting in October). We were a bit disappointed with him in the Hennessy (Coral Gold Cup at Newbury) but he seems in good form again now, so we'll definitely aim him at the National."

Gordon Elliott – Conflated (11st2lb), Delta Work (11st2lb), Galvin (10st13lb),Coko Beach (10st9lb), Fil Dor (10st9lb), Zanahiyr (10st9lb), Three Card Brag (10st5lb), Minella Crooner (10st5lb), Duffle Coat (10st4lb), Favori De Champdou (10st3lb), Chemical Energy (10st2lb), Stuzzikini (9st13lb), Gevrey (9st11lb), The Goffer (9st10lb), Where It All Began (9st7lb)

Three-time Grand National-winning trainer Elliott expects to field "five or six" in this year's race on April 5. He said: "Conflated (11st2lb) has been a classy horse and he's tumbling down the weights but his form hasn't been too bad. I suppose the big question mark is stamina and whether he'll stay the trip or not. I suppose with any of those horses which haven't been over four miles before, it's always a question mark.

"Delta Work (11st2lb) has had a good preparation, he runs off the same mark as last year, I thought he'd maybe be a little bit lower. He showed a fair bit of zest the last day at Cheltenham (when fourth in the Cotswold Chase), so I'm really looking forward to it.

"Galvin (10st13lb) had a spin the other day and I'm really happy with him. He ran a great race in it last year and came home very strong. If it's drier ground, he'd have a good chance. Looking at it, we'd probably have five or six in it. You'd have to say Delta and Galvin would be the two main ones but among the unexposed horses, I'd say Fil Dor (10st9lb). I think he's really coming back to himself, he's run really well in his last couple of races.

"If Three Card Brag (10st5lb) sneaks in down at the bottom I think he could be dangerous. We've also got Zanahiyr (10st9lb) in, he's hot and cold but he's been the horse of a lifetime, so we'll see what happens."

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies – Beauport (11st 1lb), Broadway Boy (10st 9lb)

"Great! That's wonderful. I think we've got two nice weights, so I'm very happy. Beauport is very good and he's running at Haydock Park on Saturday (in the WKD Rendlesham Hurdle), so he seems in really good form. He's very different to Earth Summit and Bindaree (previous Grand National winners) but he's a lovely horse, a good stayer and a great stamp of a horse so we should be good.

"Broadway Boy is in good form and the National is his intended target. He won't run at Haydock on Saturday, he will run at Cheltenham in the Ultima. We've been incredibly lucky in the past and a third success would be lovely."

Paul Nicholls – Bravemansgame (11st), Hitman (11st1lb), Threeunderthrufive (10st12lb), Kandoo Kid (10st11lb), Stay Away Fay (10st9lb)

"He (Bravemansgame) dropped 2lb for Saturday (when third in the Denman Chase), so he's 11st now – that's a real racing weight for him and as a Grade One winner, that's just the job. We are pleased with that. I've had this in mind for him for a while because obviously he's regressed a little bit from his Grade One level, but he's still a King George winner. He's been running well this year without really firing and this might just spark him up. We're looking forward to it. He'll go straight to Aintree now. He's come out of Saturday very well.

"That's about what we expected (for Hitman) and I'm looking forward to running him. He's been running well of late and he's run well in some really big races, so that's perfect. He's in on Saturday (the Ascot Chase) but we'll make a decision on that on Thursday. Obviously, he only ran on Saturday, so I'll just see what declares and see how he is. But if he runs on Saturday, then he'll go straight to Aintree.

"He's (Kandoo Kid) a Coral Gold Cup winner and he went round Aintree last year – I'd be very happy with that weight. He might go to Kempton next Saturday (for the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase) – I need to discuss it with the owner. I wouldn't run him on very, very soft ground. It's that option or March 1 at Newbury, where he likes it, just over two and a half miles just to give him a day out. It's possible he'll run but it's not essential.

"Straight after the Topham, I said to the owner there are two targets next year - the Coral Gold Cup and then the Grand National. So, we've done one part of it and it would be nice if we could do the other. He's got a nice profile for it.

"He (Threeunderthrufive) runs on Saturday at Ascot and then we'll make a plan as to whether we run him here (Aintree) or whether he goes to the Scottish National. I've got to decide on that one. He definitely runs on Saturday and he's a possible. I know Max (McNeill, owner) would like to run him in it, so he's definitely a possible. We just wouldn't want the ground too soft."

"He's (Stay Away Fay) got to qualify yet. He'd need to have another run, so I'm planning on getting another run into him over fences before March 18. He could even go to Cheltenham. We've just got to get him back right because we haven't had him right yet."

Trainer Tom Gibney – Intense Raffles (10st10lb), Bronn (10st1lb)

"That's fair enough. He was (rated) 151 over here so why should he be any different over there? I'd be quite happy with that. We're hoping to get serious now as we get a bit closer. He'll have another run – all being well he'll run again, not this weekend but the next weekend at Fairyhouse. It was a great performance to win the Irish Grand National last year and if we can get him back to that I'd be very happy."

Handicapper Martin 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.”

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