2025 Grand National Ante-Post Tip

Last year we managed to nail the winner of the Aintree Grand National I Am Maximus ante-post at 25/1. It was the first time I managed to find the winner since One For Arthur in 2017 so it was quite a long time between drinks. I Am Maximus has an obvious chance of following up but it won’t be easy off a much higher mark than last year and I am going to take him on with Beauport.

We backed this horse last year for the Midlands National at 16/1 and he absolutely hosed up. That win came off 140 and he pulled up off his revised mark of 145 in the Scottish National on his next start but that run may have come too soon. Nigel Twiston-Davies left him off for his summer break after that run and he returned to action with a bang in the Berkshire National at Ascot (29.5f, good) in November.

Running off 144, he jumped like a buck, bar an iffy leap at the last, and he absolutely dotted up by over 30 lengths. It was a seriously impressive performance and connections immediately nominated Aintree as the ultimate aim after the race.

To keep him ticking over, Twiston-Davies decided to give him a spin in the Long Walk Hurdle back at Ascot in December. He ran a blinding race again to finish third, just 1.5l behind Crambo and with the likes of The Wallpark and Kateira a couple of lengths behind him.

That run came on good to soft, it was good when he won there in November and it was heavy when he won at Uttoxeter so it seems all ground comes alike to him, a big plus when backing a horse ante-post for any race.

I Am Maximus was an exception last year but usually, I like backing horses that race prominently in the Grand National as it means they are less likely to encounter trouble in running. Beauport ticks that box, he has won over 4m2f so his stamina is assured and if he doesn’t run between now and the race that will be another positive given his solid record when fresh. I think he should be half his current odds of 33/1, so back Beauport e/w for the 2025 Grand National.

2025 Grand National Ante-Post Tip: Beauport e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)

-DaveStevos