With Cheltenham Festival winners becoming somewhat sparse for Paul Nicholls, the Ditcheat boss is turning his attention to the Grand National meeting at Aintree this spring—with several horses set to run in the showpiece race on April 5.
Alongside dual Ascot Chase winner Pic D’Orhy in the Grade 1 Melling Chase and multiple-time Grade 2 champion Rubaud in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase, Nicholls hopes to have up to five Grand National runners this year.
The 14-time British Champion trainer won the prestigious marathon race with Neptune Collonges in 2012. Still, he hasn’t targeted the race with any of his horses since 2021—and his recent record when fielding entries doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence.
That said, let’s take a look at how Nicholls’ Grand National runners have fared over recent years before taking a brief look at his contingent for 2025.
2021 – Two runners
Team Ditcheat was represented by two runners in the 2021 renewal of the Grand National, with a 33/1 shot Give Me A Copper slightly more favored than 40/1 outsider Yala Enki.
The latter took keen hold and tracked the leaders from the start but hit the fourth fence and started to drop back in the field from around the halfway point before ultimately making a costly mistake at the 20th obstacle, unseating rider Bryony Frost.
Give Me A Copper started slowly and was always toward the back of the field. Having never really traveled well throughout and dropping further afield, Sean Bowen pulled the then 11-year-old up before two out.
2019 – One runner
Nicholls headed to Aintree with just Warriors Tale in 2019 — the late Trevor Hemmings-owned horse fancied at 66/1 despite winning the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over the National fences earlier that season.
Under Harry Cobden, the then 10-year-old raced in mid-division for the first half of the race but soon lost touch and was pulled up before four out.
2018 – One Runner
12 months earlier, Warriors Tale’s Grand National hopes ended similarly—although he made it slightly further through the marathon contest under Bowen.
Sent off at 33/1, Nicholls’ runner was in touch with the leaders from the start before being hampered at Chair. He started to lose his positions from the 25th obstacle and was eventually pulled up two out.
2017 – Five Runners
2017 was the last time Nicholls was as well represented in the Grand National as he could be this year, with five runners lining up for starter’s orders at Aintree.
It was a nightmare start for Vicente and rider Brian Hughes, as the 16/1 chance crashed out at the first fence, while Saphir Du Rheu fell at the 11th with Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle.
His other three runners finished the race but were never in contention. Wonderful Charm came home last of the 19 horses to finish the race, with Just A Par in 14th and Le Mercurey in 12th.
Possible 2025 runners
Kandoo Kid is Nicholls’ front-runner this year with odds of 25/1, while former King George VI Chase winner Bravemansgame is a notable entry but is a massive outsider at 50/1.
Stay Away Fay (66/1), Threeunderthrufive (66/1), and Hitmam (100/1) are longer prices.
