Horse racing historians have seen fewer more arresting sights than the remarkable Desert Orchid powering his way to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The grey horse often cut a dash at the front of the field – his colouring as eye-catching as his dominant performances on the turf.
Grey horses stand out from the rest thanks to their unique make-up, which is one of the reasons they are so well-backed in the horse racing odds for renewals like the Gold Cup and the Grand National.
But do they fare well as a general rule? In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the performances of grey horses in the Grand National – has there ever been a grey winner of the Aintree showpiece? And will we have a new addition to the grey horses: Grand National winners roll call in 2025?
Grey Horses in the 2025 Grand National
Are there any grey horses running in the Grand National in 2025? At the time of writing, six grey horses have been confirmed in the 2025 Grand National line-up, including the ante-post favourite, Intense Raffles. Let’s take a closer look at the grey runners that could lead the field at Aintree this April:
Intense Raffles – 6/1*
Seven-year-old Intense Raffles is the ante-post favourite to win the Grand National in 2025. This beautiful grey horse won the 2024 Irish Grand National under JJ Slevin for Thomas Gibney and is expected to go well at Aintree in April. He will only be under 10’’10 in weight and has shown consistently what he is capable of over hurdles, with numerous wins at Fairyhouse in 2024.
Intense Raffles is undoubtedly the pick of the greys going into the 2025 Grand National and could become the fourth grey horse in the history of this legendary race to win.
Vanillier – 10/1*
Ten-year-old Vanillier finished fourteenth in the 2024 Grand National under Sean Flanagan, and he goes into the 2025 race as one of the fancied runners, with odds of 10/1*. 2025 started well for Vanillier, who secured an impressive win at Punchestown under KM Donoghue. Does he have what it takes to win the National? Possibly. He’s the second most likely grey to win this year’s famous race.
Kandoo Kid – 20/1*
Kandoo Kid isn’t just a beautiful grey horse; he’s an aggressive and talented runner with some big wins under his belt. The nine-year-old grey gelding has placed in eleven of his fifteen career jump appearances, with notable wins at Newbury and Ascot in his career. Kandoo Kid finished third in the 2024 Race Against Dementia Premier Handicap Chase at Aintree last year and looks well priced ahead of the National at 20/1*.
Hyland – 20/1*
Hyland is the lightest of the grey horses entering the 2025 Grand National, with a starting weight of 10”6. The grey gelding from Nicky Henderson’s stable has seven career jump wins to his name, including numerous wins at Cheltenham. If Hyland wins the National in 2025, he will secure Henderson his first triumph at Aintree in 44 Grand National attempts.
Fil Dor – 66/1*
With four class one wins to his name, Fil Dor is in with an outside chance of surprising many punters in the 2025 Grand National. With ante-post odds of 66/1*, Gordon Elliott’s Fil Dor offers good value and ran well at Fairyhouse in February, finishing third under Sam Ewing.
Coko Beach – 100/1*
Coko Beach might not jump off the page with starting odds of 100/1, but numerous horses have won the Grand National with such a starting price, including Mon Mone in 2009. 2025 will be Coko Beach’s fourth run in the Grand National. His best National finish was eighth, and he finished in 11th position last season.
Grey Horses in the 2024 Grand National
Only four horses ran the Grand National in 2024: Vanillier (9/1), Panda Boy (14/1), Coko Beach (40/1), and Eldorado Allen (100/1).
The pick of the greys in 2024 was Coko Beach, who finished eleventh, three places ahead of Vanillier, who disappointed many punters with a fourteenth-placed finish.
Panda Boy under JJ Slevin finished 17th, while 100/1 shot Eldorado Allen under Brendan Powell ended the race in 20th place of 21 finishers.
While none of the greys threatened to win the 2024 National, they all finished the race.
Who Was the Last Grey Horse to Win the Grand National?
A trio of grey horses have won the Grand National, with Neptune Collonges the last to take the spoils back in 2012.
Paul Nicholls’ grey signed off on his racing career in some style with victory at Aintree in his last-ever outing. And what a fantastic race it was, with Neptune Collonges chasing Sunnyhillboy home down the final straight.
The grey, carrying a sizable 11-6lb, was motoring like a train to the line while Sunnyhillboy and Seabass faded dramatically… with less than a length to run, it was Neptune Collonges who took the tape to become the first grey to win the Grand National in more than 50 years.
How Many Grey Horses Have Won the Grand National?
Neptune Collonges was the third grey to win the Grand National… although his 2012 triumph was actually the fourth time that a grey horse had won the race.
The Lamb was one of the earliest multiple-time winners of the Grand National, taking the spoils back in 1868 and 1871.
Unsurprisingly, there’s not a great deal of information about the horse or his wins given their increasingly ancient timeline, although we do know that he stood just under 15.5 hands high – small for a racehorse in general, let alone one taking the huge Grand National fences. That makes The Lamb’s exploits in the race all the more impressive.
The other grey winner of the Grand National is Nicolaus Silver, who delighted the Aintree crowds with victory in 1961.
The nine-year-old was prominent at the front of the field throughout the race, asserting his dominance over the rest at the business end of the action before powering away to complete a handy five-length triumph.
Should I Bet on Grey Horses in the Grand National?
Everyone has their own reasons for betting on a horse in the Grand National – maybe you like their colour, their name or because they are carrying your lucky number. And some punters back a grey horse or two each year – partly, no doubt, because they are easier to see on screen when the race is broadcast live on TV.
If a grey horse is in form, has run well before on the Aintree course, likes the going and has been fairly treated by the handicapper, then there are plenty of reasons to bet on a grey horse to win the Grand National.
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*Odds correct at the time of writing.
