The Grand National at Aintree is the world’s most famous steeplechase. The latest renewal of the marathon contest takes place in April, and it looks set to be another competitive renewal of the race, especially if there is soft ground at the Liverpool venue.
Here is a look at some Grand National soft ground horses that are leading contenders ahead of this season’s contest in Merseyside.
Stumptown
- 2025 Grand National ante-post odds: 7/1*
- Ground preference: Soft
- Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
- Weight: 11-2
The current favourite for the 2025 Grand National, Stumptown, is an impressive runner over soft ground. His recent win of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham was in good to soft conditions, while three of his four triumphs in 2024 were in soft conditions of some sort.
The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase has been a decent form guide for the Grand National in recent years.
Tiger Roll followed up his 2018 and 2019 wins of the Cross Country Chase with wins in the National at Aintree, so Stumptown, likely under the same jockey (Keith Donoghue), will fancy his chances this year.
I Am Maximus
- 2025 Grand National ante-post odds: 8/1*
- Ground preference: Good to soft
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Weight: 11-12
2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus has done well on soft ground throughout his career, and despite carrying the heaviest weight in this year’s race, he’s still among the favourites at Aintree. His 2024 win was on a good-to-soft track, showing what I Am Maximus can do in such conditions.
Before his 2024 National win, I Am Maximus started the 2023/24 campaign with victory at the highest level as he won the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on soft ground. Willie Mullins’ runner also won the 2023 Irish Grand National last season over 3m5f, where he showcased his appetite for longer distances in soft conditions.
If he wins the 2025 Grand National, I Am Maximus will be the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win the race carrying top weight.
Vanillier
- 2025 Grand National ante-post odds: 10/1*
- Ground preference: Good to soft
- Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
- Weight: 10-6
Vanillier has enjoyed success on soft tracks throughout his career, starting with a 2020 win at Naas in soft to heavy conditions. He followed it up with a supreme display in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham festival, winning under good to soft conditions.
While his most recent win at Punchestown in February was under heavy conditions, Vanillier has shown numerous times in his career what he’s capable of over soft ground. He could be one to back if the conditions are right at Aintree this April.
Intense Raffles
- 2025 Grand National ante-post odds: 8/1*
- Ground preference: Soft
- Trainer: Thomas Gibney
- Weight: 10-10
Last year, Intense Raffles became only the third six-year-old winner of the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse since 1985, and he’s among the favourites to go well in the Grand National at Aintree in 2025.
Two of his three wins in 2024 came in soft conditions, while his second career win in 2021 was in very soft conditions at Auteuil in France.
The grey gelding will only carry 10-10 in weight in this year’s National, and at 8/1*, he looks well priced for an each-way bet ahead of Aintree.
Kandoo Kid
- 2025 Grand National ante-post odds: 20/1*
- Ground preference: Good to soft
- Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- Weight: 10-11
At the end of 2024, Kandoo Kid secured one of the biggest handicap triumphs in British horse racing, winning the Premier Handicap Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury in good-to-soft conditions. After a disappointing season, it was a big win and showed punters what Kandoo Kid is capable of in a high-stakes handicap chase.
He has never run in the National, but in 2024, Kandoo Kid finished third in the Topham Handicap Chase at Aintree in soft (heavy in places) conditions, so he has previous on Merseyside. At 20/1*, he’s well priced ahead of the 2025 National and offers good value for money if the conditions are in his favour.
Royal Pagaille
- 2025 Grand National ante-post odds: 125/1*
- Ground preference: Good to soft
- Trainer: Venetia Williams
- Weight: 11-9
Royale Pagaille is a horse that has had much success on soft ground over the past few years. He is a two-time winner of the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock, and on both of those occasions, there had been plenty of rain in the ground. Venetia Williams’ runner won the Grade One Lancashire Chase at Haydock at the end of 2024.
Still, he has had a disappointing start to 2025, pulling up at Haydock in January and securing sixth-placed finishes in subsequent races in February and March.
As the second top weight in the 2025 Grand National, Royal Pagaille has it all to do if he’s to triumph, reflected in his ante-post odds of 125/1*.
Why Do Some Horses Like Soft Ground?
Some horses like soft ground in horse racing as it suits their running action. These horses appreciate the softer surface when their feet hit the turf.
Grand National horses that like soft ground often fare well at Aintree when there has been rain or if the racecourse has been watered significantly. Racecourses prefer ground that is on the soft side, as they feel this is optimum ground for Jump racing.
Which horses like soft ground Grand National races? This can often depend on their breeding. If their sire and dam enjoyed softer ground, particularly over marathon distances like the Grand National, then they too are likely to perform well on the ground. You can also identify how well a horse has fared on soft ground by looking through its race record.
Bet on the 2025 Grand National at talkSPORT BET
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*All odds are correct at time of writing and are subject to change
