AINTREE 16:00

All 34 ran. Fences: 30.

Time: 9m 5.1s Closing Sectional: (6.28f): 96.3s (103.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 137%, Betfair SP 104.1%

Even the absence of the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner - and with it potentially the Grand National's shortest-priced favourite since 2/1-shot Golden Miller came a cropper in 1935 when bidding to complete the same double he'd pulled off the previous year, the same one surprisingly resisted by connections of Inothewayurthinkin this season considering his rare standout claims at the weights - couldn’t prevent a further increase in quality to a race that is more Grade 1 than the free-for-all it might have been considered before the changes brought in back in 2013 began to have their impact, with the number boasting BHA marks in the 160s growing by one more to 5; that quintet included a trio of Mullins-trained contenders who dominated the finish, representing more new ground broken by a trainer who might reasonably have already been deemed to have no more worlds to conquer yet became the first, led home by the one ridden by his son, to saddle a 1-2-3 in the historic race, which would have been a Dickinson-esque clean sweep but for the presence of the best of the home-trained contingent Iroko in fourth and a representative in sixth of one of only 2 yards previously in a race inaugurated way back in 1839 to have ever saddled even a 1-2 in Henry de Bromhead, whose total of 3 winners across Cheltenham and Aintree would be considered a fine haul by normal standards but rather less so when viewed through the prism of Mullins roughly an hour later rounding off the meeting with his record-extending eighteenth across the 2 major British spring festivals; rather unusually, only a handful, headed by reigning champion I Am Maximus, were back for more from the 2024 edition, a contrast between the 2 races that didn’t end there as the field - admittedly on less testing ground - reached the Chair some 12 seconds faster than they had the previous year, reflective of a truer gallop forced by one of only 4 to fall or unseat in Broadway Boy, the field far more stretched as they turned back in as a result and less than half to set out completing, 5 fewer than in 2024.

NICK ROCKETT (IRE) added the biggest staying prize of them all to a season that had already seen him land Grand National-path mainstays in the Thyestes and the Bobbyjo, fittingly in the case of the latter given not only that his trainer's previous 2 Aintree winners - Hedgehunter in 2005 and defending champion I Am Maximus - had taken the same route but also that the horse in whose honour it was named had featured a father-and-son winning combination as well, the Mullins' one the first to achieve the feat since Ted and Ruby Walsh did the same with Papillon in the following 2000 renewal, a final layer added by Patrick joining the likes of Sam Waley-Cohen and Marcus Armytage by becoming the seventh amateur to win the race in the post-war era; it had been only 2 days earlier that his amateur had broken his duck in an open Grade 1 chase, yet he rode something akin to the perfect race in the modern-day version of the race, saving ground when possible up the inner or working towards the centre on the run of fences down to Becher's as he raced in touch and, after not rushing him back up after his only real mistake at the twenty-first, holding him together until the run-in having jumped to the front going strongly 2 out, battle drawn soon after as I Am Maximus pressed him hard before he assumed command through the final 50 yds, the runner-up probably paying by then for having endured a less-efficient run around, though moreover it was testament to Nick Rockett's fast improvement since his third behind Minella Cocooner when receiving 4 lb instead of conceding 6 in the bet365 Gold Cup on his last visit to Britain, so much higher in the weights here that he found himself on a mark 3 lb above that Many Clouds had defied a decade prior, with only that one and the greatest National horse of them all, Red Rum, having carried more than Nick Rockett's 11-8 when winning.

I AM MAXIMUS (FR) put his name among some of the biggest in the race's long history by finding only one too strong in his bid to become the first since Tiger Roll - and only the second since Red Rum in 1974 - to defend his Grand National title, 7 before him having filled the runner-up spot in subsequent post-war renewals but the latter one of the only other 3 (Hedgehunter and Comply Or Die the others) prior to I Am Maximus to do it the following year; unlike when powering away in 2024, he was at the end of his tether as the line neared this time around, though he was returning from a BHA mark of 167 that saw him carry top weight and his passage through wasn't nearly so smooth as the winner's, losing an ideal spot on the inner in touch around second Canal Turn and then circling the main pack (took 3 out no better than fourteenth) as he made an ambitious burst on the home turn to press the winner from the next, looking like he might go past as close to home as the Elbow.

GRANGECLARE WEST (IRE) showed the form that had seen him split Galopin des Champs and Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup no flash in the pan at the second attempt, freshened up since his Navan flop and adapting to it very well settled in touch only for his sole blunder at the last to cost him his winning chance, somehow coming back for more through the final 1f and closing down last year's winner all the while, not unreasonable to deduce he was rather unlucky to not be at the opposite end of the stable's remarkable 1-2-3; he'll be a 10-y-o next year but a very lightly-raced one, especially so at marathon distances.

IROKO (FR) had been gearing up to this for seemingly longer than any and went a long way to justifying that one-race focus, shaping very well from a long way back as he disrupted the Mullins hegemony by running into the frame, the longer distance suiting well and, still only a 7-y-o, almost certain to be a big factor again in 2026; soon off the pace, he pecked at second Valentine's and still had far more in front than behind at the next before his headway began, moving into sixth by the last and sustaining his run well to take fourth in the final 100 yds.

MEETINGOFTHEWATERS (IRE) lasted out better than he had on soft ground in his first go in this but still didn't quite get home, which ought to put him in mind for a major handicap or 2 back at shorter either later this spring or into next season, assuming a third Grand National won't be under consideration; he was ridden patiently, as last year, but he took a route nearer to the inside than he had then and, despite mistakes at second Becher's and Valentine's, even threatened briefly as he moved into third approaching the Elbow only for his stamina to ebb away, losing a further place in the final 100 yds.

SENIOR CHIEF ran vastly better than he had in the Irish version in 2024, given a prep (without cheekpieces) over hurdles since Newbury and showing comparable form to then, others just further ahead of the handicapper; mid-division, in touch when pushed along approaching straight, stayed on gradually.

MINELLA COCOONER (IRE) was unable to reverse Bobbyjo form and resume Sandown superiority with Nick Rockett, shaping as if lacking the required stamina for the extra distance but also clearly not so progressive as a stablemate weighted to finish behind him on the bet365 form (when conceding 4 lb instead of receiving 6), with the added dimension of a saddle that had slipped early yet managed to just about stay in place; in touch, blundered first, clouted second Foinavon, close up entering straight, every chance 2 out, fourth approaching final 1f before fading out of frame.

HEWICK (IRE) seemed beaten on merit, no excuses in terms of trip or ground behind a septet all a year or more his junior; tracked pace out wide, hit second Canal Turn, lost place when shaken up between 3 out and 2 out, plugged on.

MINELLA INDO (IRE) gave seemingly a clearer indication that age has wearied him, admittedly ridden more patiently than in 2024 but still not mustering the challenge that seemed likely at one point as he returned 6 places and more than 14 lengths worse off; held up, hampered second, crept closer from 3 out, in contention next, effort flattened out.

TWIG made little appeal on paper for a race of this calibre and merely passed a few beaten ones having sat out the back (only sixteenth after 3 out), still doing second-best of the home-trained contingent.

THREE CARD BRAG (IRE) took well to the course only to fail for lack of stamina, jumping and travelling too enthusiastically close up (second for long way) before dropping away on the long run to the straight; he could be one for the old Hennessy back around 3m at the end of the year.

BEAUPORT (IRE) shaped much better than the bare result back chasing from an inflated mark following his Ascot rout first time back, proven in an extreme test of stamina but running himself out after racing close to the brisk pace set by his stablemate; chased leader, left in front second Valentine's, headed 3 out, weakened quickly home turn.

HORANTZAU D'AIRY (FR) seemed no more than a sporting runner (bought out of Willie Mullins' yard specifically to run in this) but held his own for a good way, not having the ability or stamina to hang around for any longer; tracked pace, jumped well, lost ground from 5 out, tailed off.

VANILLIER (FR) ran more like he had in 2024 than when a strong-finishing second to Corach Rambler the year before, despite appearing to line up in much better nick this time around, that initial novelty seemingly lost on him now; close up before first, settled mid-field soon after, lost ground on inner eleventh, never going well or looking enthusiastic from The Chair, tailed off; it's doubful he'll be back here again.

BRAVEMANSGAME (FR) ran a predictable race, a weak finisher at shorter distances these days and stopping to nothing over this extreme trip having tracked the pace for a long way; he did jump well in the main as usual, however, and bringing him back for one of the lesser handicaps over the National fences may bear more fruit from his falling mark.

CHANTRY HOUSE (IRE) wouldn't have been a likely contender for this even his pomp and summoned no response as he lost further ground from 3 out on his first run since Trials' Day.

BROADWAY BOY (IRE) cut a fine sight in front until falling heavily at second Valentine's; he'd gone off too hard in truth and wouldn't have lasted out but, of more concern, was his condition after his spill (happily, well enough to be set to travel home the following morning).

KANDOO KID (FR) was still to be asked for his effort and just threatening to creep his way into things up the inner when falling at the twenty-first, his stamina unproven but his finishing effort to land the Coral Gold Cup having given hope he'd stay.

PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS (FR) showed he's still no flawless jumper, though the error that saw him crash out first Valentine's had been his first.

DUFFLE COAT (IRE) departed much earlier than at Cheltenham, firing a warning shot in rear at the second and all but falling (officially an unseat) at the next.

APPRECIATE IT (IRE) endured little luck (hampered second and no chance in rear when brought down twenty-first), but he'd have needed a miracle rather than fortune to have been involved in the finish over this far aged 11 having spent his chasing career tackling single-figure field races.

MONBEG GENIUS (IRE) found this a totally different kettle of fish and was in rear throughout having been hampered at the third (tailed off when pulled up twenty-sixth); incidentally, Nick Scholfield, who steered Sky Pirate to Cheltenham Festival success in the same silks in a Grand Annual, announced his retirement in the aftermath.

HYLAND (FR) will be well worth another chance in other major staying handicaps next season even if this first Grand National experience never really looked like amounting to much; off pace out wide, hit 4 out, no threat.

CELEBRE D'ALLEN (FR) highlighted just how much of a natural he is over these fences before predictably hitting the wall over this extreme trip, tanking his way to the front 3 out but stopping to nothing once headed entering the straight, his rider justifiably receiving a 10-day ban for continuing over the last 2 before choosing to pull up when Celebre d'Allen had clearly been exhausted (collapsed with heat stroke and required lengthy attention).

FIL DOR (FR) seemed a doubtful stayer but had no luck in any case; raced off the pace, hampered second, badly hampered second Valentine's, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out.

COKO BEACH (FR) had adopted the front-running role in the first 2 of his 3 previous National appearances but, having been squeezed out at the start this time around, found himself at the opposite end of the field and was already tailed off when pulled up at The Chair.

STAY AWAY FAY (IRE) again showed little sign of his old spark; settled mid-field early, mistake second, lost ground before eleventh, labouring long before pulled up second Becher's.

INTENSE RAFFLES (FR) was weighted to reverse Bobbyjo form with Nick Rockett on 15 lb better terms but either didn't take to the course (jumped right and never travelling in rear) or was discouraged by early interference having also been caught on the back foot as the tape went up, either way giving no hope he was going to follow the lead of I Am Maximus by winning this race the season after landing the Irish version and well behind when pulled up after a circuit.

IDAS BOY (IRE) unsurprisingly was never involved, a peck on landing at second Becher's Brook neither here nor there.

THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE (IRE) probably didn't fancy it trying these fences for the first time aged 10, also taken very wide when such a route seems a clear disadvantage these days, especially on goodish ground; tracked pace out wide, lost place before halfway, tailed off when pulled up second Becher's Brook.

HITMAN (FR) was an ambitious participant to say the least given his lack of stamina and resolution; settled mid-field out wide, lost ground second Becher's Brook, pulled up twenty-sixth.

CONFLATED (IRE) has long missed the boat for races as competitive as this and had dropped from mid-field to rear by the water jump.

STUMPTOWN (IRE) seemingly just didn't take to the course for all he was also said to have finished lame, ambitions of a Tiger Roll-esque transition from Cross Country domination to Grand National success never looking on the cards; raced off the pace, jumped right, hampered third, struggling when hampered again twenty-first.

ROYALE PAGAILLE (FR) looked a no-hoper on paper under the conditions with his yard in a slump and was among the first out of it; waited with, lost ground twelfth, tailed off when pulled up circuit out.