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In this 1xBet Ireland review, we will take a look at a high-quality Randox Grand National at Aintree with depth, class and multiple betting angles.

The eyes of the horse racing world turn to Aintree for the world’s most famous jumps race, the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase.

While purists will argue the race is a shadow of the test it once was, with the field capped at 34 runners and the fences less demanding than in the era of Red Rum, the sheer quality on show this year makes it a vintage renewal.

Only two horses in the 2016 running were rated in the 160s, Silviniaco Conti and Many Clouds, while 17 of the 40 runners were rated in the 150s.
This year’s renewal sees eight horses rated in the 160s and 20 of the 34 runners rated in the 150s.

This is essentially a Gold Cup handicap.

The race remains hugely popular, attracting a UK television audience of 5.2 million, a worldwide audience of over 600 million, and £250 million wagered on the race in the UK alone last year.

This year’s race should again draw a huge audience and, given the depth and competitiveness of the field, it could be one of the most fascinating Grand Nationals in years.

I’m going to highlight a number of horses who can hopefully give you a good run for your money when betting with 1xBet Ireland.

Willie Mullins saddled the first, second and third last year, securing back-to-back wins with two different horses, so his runners are again the obvious starting point.

You would not be surprised if any of his nine contenders won, and that highlights the main challenge this year. Unlike the Irish Grand National, where you could narrow the field and side confidently with a well-handicapped profile like Soldier In Milan (napped at 9/1 on last week’s Final Furlong Podcast), there are very few runners you can confidently rule out here.

With so many holding chances, it may pay to look towards bigger prices. Last year’s first and third were both 33/1, and Noble Yeats won at 50/1 in 2022. However, well-backed horses have also landed the race in recent years, including 2024, 2023, 2021, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Grangeclare West

Grangeclare West has been given a significant vote of confidence, with last year’s winning rider Patrick Mullins choosing to ride him over last year’s winner Nick Rockett.

Paul Townend had indicated in interviews that he was torn between him and I Am Maximus, the horse he ultimately selected.

There are two major trends against him.
15 of the last 17 winners were making their first start in the race, and the last 10 winners were aged between seven and nine.

He is also 3lb higher than when finishing third in last year’s Grand National.

However, he dived at the second-last and wasn’t fluent at the last, losing crucial momentum, yet still rallied strongly to be beaten only 3 lengths by Nick Rockett.

He recorded a RaceiQ Jump Index of 8.1 in the 2025 Grand National, the highest figure he has posted in their database, despite those late errors.

He was beaten only 6¼ lengths in the Grade 1 Savills Chase and comes into this on the back of a smooth win in the Bobbyjo Chase, which has produced the last two winners of this race.

A 33/1 chance when third last year, he is now trading at single-figure odds and is likely to be popular with once-a-year punters, particularly given the father-and-son narrative.

Two Strong Alternatives at Bigger Odds

Monty’s Star

Monty’s Star finished just behind Grangeclare West in the Grade 1 Savills Chase and was subsequently beaten 26 lengths in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

However, that was the strongest three-mile chase run this season. He travelled strongly against Fact To File, Gaelic Warrior and Galopin Des Champs, leading with two fences to go before fading late on heavy ground.

I Am Maximus was only 1 length ahead of him that day and is now favourite for this race.

Inothewayurthinkin was beaten when falling at the last but went on to finish third in the Gold Cup, won in emphatic fashion by Gaelic Warrior, who was second at Leopardstown.

That is elite form, and not for the first time. His fifth behind Galopin Des Champs in last year’s Irish Gold Cup and his second to Fact To File in the Brown Advisory further underline his class.

He was well beaten on his handicap debut in the Hennessy Gold Cup, when Darragh O’Keeffe chose to ride stablemate Gorgeous Tom, but now chooses Monty’s Star, over his stable companion. 

With a racing weight of 11-3 and the highest RaceiQ Jump Index in the field at 8.6, he should be well suited by the Aintree fences and a step up in trip could unlock further improvement.

Henry de Bromhead won this in 2021, and while Monty’s Star may fall short of Gold Cup level, he has the class and profile to be a major player in a modern Grand National.

Oscars Brother

Oscars Brother is the least exposed runner in the field, with just six chase starts and three wins, including two at Grade 2 level.

He comes here off a career-best effort when fourth in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

He lacks the size and scope of some rivals and may not be ideally suited by quicker ground, but if he handles conditions he could be a major player. He shapes as though he will stay and clearly possesses plenty of class.

Salver, who finished just in front of him at Cheltenham, and Koktail Divin, who was 5 lengths behind him, are towards the top of the betting for their respective Grade 1 novice chases at Aintree earlier in the week, while Argento Boy, 18 lengths behind him, finished fourth in the Irish Grand National.

He could be well treated on handicap debut and is open to significant improvement over this trip.

Three to Consider at Bigger Prices

Champ Kiely

Champ Kiely ran well in the Irish Gold Cup and was only 4 lengths behind I Am Maximus.

A dual Grade 1 winner, his latest success came over 3m1f at the Punchestown Festival just five starts ago.

Danny Mullins told me on the Final Furlong Podcast that the decision was made for him by Willie Mullins, which is a positive given Danny’s importance within the yard. He has an excellent record on the horse, including two Grade 1 wins.

Now a 10-year-old, he remains lightly raced with just nine chase starts. While he has to prove his stamina, that is true of many in this field.

He has the second-highest RaceiQ Jump Index in the field at 8.4 and has been well backed from 80/1 into 33/1. He still makes each-way appeal.

Spanish Harlem

Spanish Harlem could run a big race.

He has won two of his 15 chase starts but has only had seven runs in cheekpieces, failing to finish in four of them, so remains relatively unexposed in this headgear.

He was travelling well when carried out in last year’s Scottish National, finished fourth in the Whitbread at Sandown, then won at Punchestown before landing the Kerry National.

He was unlucky not to win the Thyestes, unseating at the last, and was pulled up last time, possibly still feeling the effects of that fall.

Stamina should not be an issue, and he could relish the ground, fences and test of this race if bouncing back.

Lecky Watson

Lecky Watson won three of his four starts over fences last season, including the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

He has been disappointing this season but the form of the John Durkan Chase, where he was well beaten, has worked out exceptionally well.

That race only ever really involved Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File, who have since produced two of the standout staying chase performances of the season in the Irish Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup respectively.

• Heart Wood, beaten 31 lengths, has since won the Ryanair.

• Inothewayurthinkin, beaten 52 lengths, finished third in the Gold Cup.

• James Du Berlais, beaten 55 lengths, has since won a Grade 2.

• Grangeclare West, beaten 67 lengths, won the Bobbyjo Chase and is now a leading contender here.

• I Am Maximus, beaten 80 lengths, is favourite to win his second Grand National.

• Lecky Watson’s 66-length defeat does not look nearly as bad in that context.

He ran better when seventh in the Savills Chase, and while his latest run in the Bobbyjo was disappointing, where he made a significant mistake at the last, Willie Mullins is capable of getting horses to bounce back. 

Now rated 158, just 1lb below his initial mark, he is a Grade 1 winner carrying only 11-2 and could improve for his handicap debut, the better ground and the Aintree fences.

If available at 40/1 or bigger, he is one for the shortlist.

Summary and Best Bets

This is one of the most competitive Grand Nationals in recent memory. You could ask ten experts for their selections and still not find the winner.

Grangeclare West has a strong chance to improve on last year’s third but is well found in the market.

Monty’s Star appeals as one of the strongest alternatives, bringing high-class form and a profile that fits the race well.

Oscars Brother is unexposed and could be well handicapped, while Champ Kiely, Spanish Harlem and Lecky Watson all offer value at bigger prices.

Others to consider include Favori De Champdou, Captain Cody, Haiti Couleurs, Panic Attack, Gerri Colombe, Johnnywho, I Am Maximus, Jagwar, Perceval Legallois, Gorgeous Tom and Iroko, underlining the depth of this year’s race.

Best of luck with your bets. It should be a cracking race.

For the best odds, enhanced markets and Grand National specials, bet with 1xBet Ireland and maximise your returns on the biggest race of the year. The upcoming event will deliver a wave of ​​vivid emotions and quench your thirst for excitement.

The 1xBet Ireland horse racing has captured the hearts of fans with its unpredictability and maximum intrigue. In competitions of the Grand National 2026 scale, there is never a clear favourite, and any participant can create a major upset, overshadowing the leading contenders.

The analytical piece was prepared by Emmet Kennedy — Presenter, Producer, and Owner of The Final Furlong Podcast, Broadcaster with TalkSPORT, and Broadcast Consultant —  with the support of 1xBet Ireland.

1XBET AND TERMINUS PLATFORM IRELAND LIMITED DO NOT SPONSOR ANY OF THE EVENTS ABOVE AND HAVE NO PARTNERSHIP WITH ASSOCIATED SPORTS LEAGUES AND/OR ASSOCIATIONS.