2025 Grand National odds: Updated after second round of scratches

IMAGO

The Grand National is just two weeks away with British horse racing’s grandstand event taking place on 5 April, at Aintree. 

This year’s event sees some minor changes to the fences as well as reductions in both field size and course distance. Additionally, the prize pot has also increased to a staggering £1m with the winner taking £500,000.

Check out the best UK bookmakers to claim free bets worth up to £850!

As we approach the big day, weights have been announced for the contenders and we’ve seen two rounds of scratches, reducing the current list of prospects to 66. This number will be further whittled down to give a final field of 34 horses for the big day. 

The biggest surprise thrown up during the scratches was this week’s withdrawal of recent Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin, who had been tipped by many to secure a historical double. 

Following the recent withdrawals, seven-year-old Intense Raffles is the current favourite at odds of 6/1 via Ladbrokes. The gelding would become just the fourth grey horse to win the National, and the first since Neptune Collonges in 2012. 

It’s unusual, but not unheard of, for the favourite to win the race, with just 16 favourites or joint-favourites winning since the turn of the 20th century. 

With that said, a favourite has won the last two Grand Nationals, including last year’s winner, I Am Maximus, who runs again this year. He is currently 3rd favourite, at odds of 8/1. 

While he won the race with relative ease last year, taking victory by seven and a half lengths, I Am Maximus is running off an 8lb higher mark in 2025, at 11st 12lb. 

The last horse to win at top weight was Red Rum, in 1974.

Between those two horses in terms of the odds offered, is Iroko. Iroko has good form at Aintree and has been targeting hurdles events for the past couple of seasons and is carrying just 10st 11lbs for the big race. 

Odds via Ladbrokes are correct at the time of writing.