Thanks to the exploits of the magnificent Tiger Roll and 2007 champ Silver Birch, Gordon Elliott is commonly associated with Aintree Grand National success. Regularly amongst the winners at Aintree and the Cheltenham Festival, the County Meath handler also knows how to get the job done in his homeland.
Back in 2018, Elliott backed up Tiger Roll’s first Grand National success when saddling General Principle to claim the Irish Grand National. He is yet to add to that tally but has come pretty close, with Gevrey (2023) and Frontal Assault (2022) both filling the runners-up position at Fairyhouse.
Whether Elliott doubles in his tally in 2025 remains to be seen, but if he comes up short in the €500,000 event, it won’t be for a lack of trying.
A Football Team’s Worth of Entries
With the days counting down towards the 3m5f Easter Monday showpiece, 49 runners remain in contention – 11 of whom hail from the Elliott operation. That tally is more than any other trainer. Gavin Cromwell sits second with eight, followed by Willie Mullins with five.
With a maximum field of 30, seven Elliott runners are guaranteed a run should they stand their ground at the final declaration stage. Numerically speaking, Elliott has a solid chance of adding to his Grand National haul and defying rival Mullins in his bid for an English, Scottish, and Irish Grand National hat-trick. If Elliott is to strike in 2025, the market suggests one of the following five is most likely to prevail.
Better Days Ahead
Following the withdrawal of 14 of the top 20 in the weights, this Bective Stud-owned contender now heads the weights for Ireland’s richest jumps race. Having earned a breakthrough success in the 2024 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Better Days Ahead commenced his career over fences in 2024/25.
A Grade 2 winner at Naas, he has registered two top-three finishes in Grade 1 company and looks to be the yard number one for this challenge. Elliott sounded optimistic about the horse’s chances when stating:
“He’s the class horse in the race if you ask me, and this has been the plan since Cheltenham.”
However, the trainer did sound a note of caution regarding the ground.
“He would want a bit more rain, though. Every drop of rain that falls will help him, and I really hope the ground will be suitable for him as I think he’d have a great chance in it.”
Will Do
As number 35 on the list, this Gigginstown House Stud runner needs a few to come out to make the final field. However, he has a better chance than a few other Elliott runners of securing a run, and Elliott appears to like his chances.
“I’d love Will Do to sneak in. He needs a few to come out, but if he did sneak himself into the race, he’s the sort of horse I could see running well in it. He stays well.”
Favori De Champdou
A faller in the 2024 edition but is 2lb lower in the handicap this year and arrives on the back of a confidence-boosting win at Down Royal.
Duffle Coat
The Elliott camp will hope that Duffle Coat makes it at least a little further than he did in the Aintree equivalent. That unseat at the third followed a slightly unlucky non-completion in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Perhaps this will be the race in which the Grade 2 hurdle winner enjoys a change in fortune over fences.
Search For Glory
Also sporting the famous Gigginstown silks, Search For Glory is one of the least exposed runners in the field. The eight-year-old boasts several smart efforts over hurdles and fences, including a bumper win at this track and a narrow second to 2024 Albert Bartlett Hurdle winner Stellar Story in a Grade 2 Novice Chase at Punchestown.
Given his seemingly irresistible current form, many punters may look no further than the yard of Willie Mullins when seeking the 2025 Irish Grand National winner. However, if anyone can stop the Closutton maestro, Elliott may be the man – and with one of the five horses above.