With the 2025 Cheltenham Festival now only a little over four weeks away, this weekend sees the top-class jumping entertainment continue apace. Saturday afternoon provides quality cards from Ascot, Haydock, and Wincanton, with the racing menu including four contests rated at Grade 2 level or above.
Focussing on the Merseyside venue of Haydock, the Grade 2 double act of the Rendlesham Hurdle and Prestige Novices’ Hurdle top the bill from a class perspective. However, the biggest betting heat arrives in race five on the card as the runners and riders line up for the Oddschecker Grand National Trial Handicap Chase.
Aintree Hopefuls Stake Their Claims
First run in 1947, this marathon contest takes place over the 3m4½f trip, with 22 fences standing between the field and glory. Whilst the trip falls short of the 4m2½f of the Grand National and the obstacles aren’t anything like as formidable, the £100,000 event places similar demands upon stamina and jumping ability.
| Haydock Grand National Trial | Aintree Grand National | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 3m 4½f | 4m 2½f |
| Fences | 22 | 30 |
| Prize Fund | £100,000 | £1,000,000 |
Since the inaugural edition, the standout name on the roll of honour is the Ginger McCain legend Red Rum, who came home in front in 1975. Having won the 1973 and 1974 editions of the Grand National, Red Rum managed only second in 1975 but famously grabbed his hat trick in 1977.
Heading into the 2025 edition, no winner of this event has followed up at Aintree in the same season. The 1992 Grand National hero Party Politics claimed this prize in 1993, whilst Cool Ground (1992) and Master Oats (1994) bagged the Cheltenham Gold Cup later in their careers, with the latter also landing the Welsh Grand National in 1994.
Jubilee Jumps to the Head of the 2025 Market
Since that hot streak in the early 90s, the Haydock Grand National Trial hasn’t proved the greatest source of future big-race winners. It would be a surprise if a future Gold Cup star emerged from the 2025 field, but we look to have a competitive renewal in store nonetheless.
Three days before the race, the Sam Thomas-trained Jubilee Express has made his way to the head of the market. Having shown a liking for this course and distance with a strong staying success in March 2024, the eight-year-old posted a cracking effort to finish second in the Welsh Grand National on his seasonal return.
Seemingly booked for third spot that day at Chepstow, the mount of Dylan Johnston emerged from the Welsh fog to finish like the proverbial express train to go down by just a length and a half at the line. He’s up four pounds for that but sneaks in towards the foot of the weights and looks a danger to all, given his proven prowess over track and trip.
Welsh National Champ Heads the Opposition
Jubilee Express may be the choice of punters at a general price of 5/1, but you can make a decent case for a fair few of his rivals. If the current favourite comes up short, the market suggests the prize is most likely to fall to one of the following quintet:
- Val Dancer – Stable star at the small Mel Rowley operation, Val Dancer has yet to race at Haydock but arrives on the back of his finest hour. Having kicked off his 2024/25 campaign with a win at Carlisle, he was the horse to hold off the late charge of Jubilee Express in the Welsh Grand National last time out. He’s up six pounds but can’t be dismissed given his current rich vein of form
- Yeah Man – Ahead of the 2025 edition, the 2010 and 2011 champ Silver By Nature is the only runner to claim back-to-back editions of the Haydock Grand National Trial. The Gavin Cromwell-trained Yeah Man bids to add his name to that exclusive list this year. He’s not won since that 2024 success and is 11 lbs higher in the handicap, which makes life tough. On a more positive note, he posted an encouraging effort to finish fourth in the Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park in January
- Fortunate Man – JP McManus owns the first, second, and third favourites for the 2025 Grand National. Fortunate Man isn’t one of those runners, but the six-year-old is well-fancied to go well in this warm-up event. One of the least exposed runners in the lineup, he impressed when scoring at Aintree in December and backed that up with a solid second at Windsor last time
- Git Maker – This consistent sort from the Jamie Snowden operation has finished outside the first three only once in eight outings over fences. Having rounded off 2023/24 with an excellent fourth in the Scottish Grand National, he gets in off the same mark here, and a recent hurdles spin at Windsor should have blown away the cobwebs
- Royal Pagaille – The class act in the field is duly saddled with the top weight of 12st. Now 11 years old, this Venetia Williams stalwart has represented his yard with distinction over the years. A five-time winner at this track, those successes include the Grade 1 Betfair Chase in 2023 and 2024
Will Jubilee Express get going in time to reel in Val Dancer this time? Can Yeah Man successfully defend his crown? Will Royal Pageille simply outclass his rivals? Or could we see a surprise result?