When is Grand National 2025? Date, Time, Results, Runners
The 2025 Grand National turned out to be one of the more memorable editions in recent memory. Nick Rockett, a relative outsider at 33/1, swept past the reigning champion I Am Maximus in the closing stages to claim victory at Aintree on April 5. While the Mullins camp was expected to feature prominently, the precise finishing order—and which horse would prove strongest over the final fences—kept everyone guessing until the very end. ITV’s cameras captured every twist and turn of the 177th running of horse racing’s most demanding test.
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025 · Location: Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool · Start Time: 4:00 PM · Winner: Nick Rockett · Trainer: Willie Mullins · Jockey: Patrick Mullins
Quick snapshot
- 34 horses lined up at 4:00 PM on April 5, 2025 (Economic Times)
- Nick Rockett won at 33/1 odds, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Patrick Mullins (The Jockey Club)
- Willie Mullins became the first trainer to land a 1-2-3 since 1980 (The Independent)
- Exact 2026 Grand National date has not been officially confirmed by The Jockey Club
- Whether Iroko will return to Aintree in 2026 remains unannounced
- Full prize breakdown for fourth through tenth places varies across sources
- 90 entries initially declared in January 2025 (Wikipedia)
- 34 runners confirmed on April 3, 2025 (Economic Times)
- Race started at 4:00 PM BST on April 5 (Radio Times)
- Attention now turns to the 2026 edition, expected around April 8–10 at Aintree
- Willie Mullins will face renewed questions about defending the 1-2-3 feat
- Patrick Mullins has 48 hours to celebrate before preparations for next year begin
The key facts about the 2025 Grand National are summarized in the table below.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Event Date | April 5, 2025 |
| Start Time | 4:00 PM BST |
| Location | Aintree, Liverpool, England |
| Winner Horse | Nick Rockett |
| Winning Trainer | Willie Mullins |
| Winning Jockey | Patrick Mullins |
When is the Grand National 2025?
The 2025 Grand National took place on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. The race started at 4:00 PM BST.
What time does the Grand National actually start?
The Randox Grand National races got underway at 4:00 PM BST on Saturday, April 5, 2025, with the feature race following several undercard events throughout the day. The three-day Grand National Festival at Aintree opened on Thursday, April 3, with Ladies Day on Friday, April 4, drawing more than 150,000 racegoers across the weekend. The precise timing gave viewers on ITV1 and ITVX a clear window for tuning in, while those following via radio could catch live commentary on talkSPORT. Radio Times published the full festival schedule ahead of the event.
Official start time
The main race was scheduled for 4:00 PM, a timing that has remained consistent in recent years. Thursday’s opening day featured the Randox Foxhunters’ Chase at 4:05 PM, while Friday’s card included the feature Ladies Day events. Racegoers arriving at Aintree found the course in good condition after earlier concerns about the weather.
Festival schedule
Five races ran on the final day, with the Maghull Novices’ Chase at 5:00 PM and the evening bumper at 5:35 PM rounding out the card after the National. The full three-day meeting attracted spectators across all three days, with attendance reportedly exceeding 150,000 total across the festival.
Who is favourite to win the Grand National?
Pre-race betting pointed firmly toward Iroko, trained by Colin Maher and ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr, who went off the 13/2 favourite. The market had the Irish gelding as the horse to beat after a string of strong performances heading into Aintree. Willie Mullins’ I Am Maximus, the 2024 winner carrying top weight of 11st 12lbs, was the second choice at 7/1. Racing Post documented the full pre-race odds sheet. In the end, it was 33/1 outsider Nick Rockett who stole the show.
Pre-race odds
- Iroko — 13/2 favourite
- I Am Maximus — 7/1
- Meetingofthewaters — 20/1
- Minella Cocooner — 18/1
- Nick Rockett — 33/1
Top contenders
The Mullins yard entered multiple horses, with the trainer’s strong hand drawing attention from punters and analysts alike. I Am Maximus carried the burden of top weight following his 2024 triumph, while Iroko represented the younger, fresher prospect at 13/2. Nick Rockett, at 33/1, was never seriously considered in pre-race discussions despite his obvious ability.
The favourite finished fourth. Anyone who backed Iroko on the strength of Racing Post’s tips ended the day empty-handed, while Nick Rockett’s 33/1 odds meant substantial returns for those who saw past the market leader.
Who’s running the Grand National in 2025?
The final field comprised 34 horses, confirmed on April 3 after an initial 90 entries were declared back in January 2025. Runners included a mix of established names and emerging talents, with Rachael Blackmore notably in the saddle on Beauport. Wikipedia tracked the entry process from declaration to confirmation. The list featured horses trained by Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, and Paul Nicholls, among others.
Full runners list
Racing Post’s confirmed runners included Nick Rockett (Patrick Mullins), I Am Maximus (Paul Townend), Grangeclare West (Brian Hayes), Iroko (Jonjo O’Neill Jr), Meetingofthewaters (Danny Mullins), Senior Chief (Mark Fellowes), Minella Cocooner (Rachael Blackmore), and Hewick (Tommy Gillard). The field was packed with Irish-trained horses, continuing a trend that has seen cross-Channel runners dominate in recent seasons.
Key horses
Nick Rockett, an 8-year-old Irish gelding owned by Stewart and Sadie Andrew, entered the race with solid, if unspectacular, credentials. His victory proved that the Mullins operation could win even when outsiders questioned the horse’s chances. I Am Maximus, a 9-year-old French import, returned to defend his crown despite carrying the maximum weight.
What horse is Rachael Blackmore riding in the Grand National 2025?
Rachael Blackmore rode Minella Cocooner in the 2025 Grand National. The horse started at 18/1 odds and finished seventh, with Blackmore being one of several female jockeys in the field that year.
Patrick Mullins is an amateur jockey, which technically limits his earning capacity compared to professional counterparts. The win was his most significant achievement despite years in the saddle.
What time is the Grand National 2025 BBC?
ITV1 and ITVX held the live broadcast rights for the 2025 Grand National, with coverage beginning well before the 4:00 PM start. ESPN confirmed the broadcast arrangements. BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT provided audio coverage for listeners preferring radio commentary.
BBC and ITV coverage
ITV’s presentation team anchored the coverage from Aintree, with studio analysis and on-course reporting throughout the afternoon. The channel’s streaming platform, ITVX, allowed viewers to watch online without a traditional television set. Radio Times published the full broadcast schedule, including times for pre-race build-up and post-race reaction.
Broadcast schedule
- ITV1: Live coverage from 1:00 PM
- ITVX: Full streaming available
- talkSPORT: Race-day commentary
- BBC Radio 5 Live: Afternoon sports programme
Grand National 2025 results
Nick Rockett won the 2025 Randox Grand National, triumphing by a margin reported as two and a half lengths over I Am Maximus. The Jockey Club, the official event organiser, confirmed the result. The victory capped a remarkable afternoon for the Mullins team, which filled the first three places for the first time since 1980.
Race winner
Nick Rockett, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Patrick Mullins, took the honours at 33/1. Race reports indicate the horse jumped into the lead at the last fence before drawing clear on the run-in. The winning time and margin were consistent with a competitive edition of the race. Willie Mullins, 68, described it as a dream result for his stable.
Prize money
The winner received £500,000, with £200,000 going to the runner-up. Wikipedia documented the prize structure. The total prize fund exceeded £1 million across all placed horses. Patrick Mullins, as an amateur jockey, was eligible for a percentage of the winner’s purse under Jockey Club rules.
Willie Mullins’ 1-2-3 was the first since 1980, cementing the trainer’s dominance of major steeplechase events. For punters who spotted the value in 33/1 Nick Rockett, the returns were substantial.
Clarity check
Confirmed
- Event date: April 5, 2025
- Start time: 4:00 PM BST
- Winner: Nick Rockett
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 34 horses started
- Iroko was the 13/2 favourite
Unconfirmed
- Exact 2026 Grand National date
- Whether Iroko returns next year
- Full prize breakdown for lower places
- Exact horse-by-horse margins beyond top 5
What the experts said
Outsider Nick Rockett won a thrilling 2025 Grand National, defeating last year’s winner I Am Maximus in a dramatic head to head down the home straight.
Nick Rockett jumped into the lead at the last and drew away from I Am Maximus on the run-in to win by two and a half lengths.
— Race summary via Scribd
Willie Mullins, speaking after the race, reportedly called it a dream result for his operation. Patrick Mullins, his son, kept his cool in the saddle to guide the winner home. The result vindicated those who had studied the Mullins entries closely, as the trainer’s strong hand had been evident in the build-up. The Independent covered the post-race reaction in detail.
For racing fans watching at home, the outcome proved that even the most carefully constructed pre-race favourite can be beaten by an unfancied runner on the day. The 2025 Grand National will be remembered for the Mullins sweep, the dramatic closing stages, and the fact that horse racing’s most unpredictable event delivered exactly that unpredictability.
Related reading: Father’s Day 2025 date · UK time change dates
The 177th Grand National unfolded on April 5 at Aintree with Nick Rockett’s win, as detailed in the Grand National 2025 schedule from leading coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Grand National 2025 held?
Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. The venue has hosted the event since 1839 and draws massive crowds each April.
When is the Grand National 2025?
The 2025 Grand National took place on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at Aintree Racecourse.
How much prize money did the Grand National winner get?
The winner received £500,000. The runner-up earned £200,000, with the total prize fund exceeding £1 million across all finishing positions.
What horse did Rachael Blackmore ride in 2025?
Blackmore rode Minella Cocooner, who finished seventh at 18/1 odds. She was one of several female jockeys in the field.
When does the Grand National Festival start?
The three-day meeting opened on Thursday, April 3, 2025, with Ladies Day on Friday and the main race on Saturday, April 5.
Who trained the 2025 Grand National winner?
Willie Mullins, the Irish trainer, conditioned Nick Rockett to victory. He also trained the second and third-placed horses for a historic 1-2-3.
Is there prize money for the jockey?
Yes. Amateur jockey Patrick Mullins was entitled to a percentage of the winner’s £500,000 purse under Jockey Club regulations governing professional and amateur riding contracts.
What were the Grand National 2025 odds?
Iroko started as the 13/2 favourite. Winner Nick Rockett went off at 33/1, representing significant value for those who backed him.
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