I WAS about five years old when the attractions of a unique, dramatic horse race came on my horizons. It has never left the landscape since.

I also discovered around the same time you could put a few bob each-way on a horse and win some cash. That never did me any harm either.

Horses like Red Rum and L’escargot were the best of initiations into a great sport. The names endured. Even names of those never to have won like The Pilgarlic or Senator Maclacury can still conjour up lovely memories.

Spin forward half a century and it’s harder to recall most of the field from last year.

These days it is increasingly rare for mainstream media to acknowledge the fun of placing a bet on the Grand National, lest they be accused of glamorising the terrible world of gambling. Ah dear!

Much has changed in the passing years since the ‘70s and ‘80s, and much did need to change. Scenes like Brown Trix, Dark Ivy and the two horses lost in 2012 were not something that would be palatable in 2025.

That said, the changes have changed a great deal and not all for the better. The Animal Aid ‘crews’ who undoubtedly contributed to some to the casualties in 2023 have moved on to more interesting things than climbing fences at Aintree.

I’ve seen a colleague argue that having 17 runners and therefore, all the random punters still in with a chance coming across the Melling Road last year, was a good thing.

But for the one day of the year when there is a widespread interest in a big race, was it not just as good to be able to give your non-racing friend a tip for a horse you knew would be finishing strongly, the likes of Durham Edition, Just So, State Of Play and Cappa Bleu. Now anyone can pick a horse at random to finish 12th.

Such as it is, we still have eight or nine million viewers today, so who will be first past the post? Firstly, he is likely to be Irish, with the first four home last season trained here, six of the first seven in 2023, the first four again in 2022 and the first five in 2021.

My short list of 10:

Nick Rockett has form in all the right staying chases, though I hope he sees out the full distance.

Hewick has defied my expectations for years, running well in the Gold Cup and winning the King George. For a small horse, he may need daylight to adapt to the early charge but for what he has achieved, and under drying conditions, he can’t be left out.

Intense Raffles was my long-term fancy for the race. Stays, jumps well, won the Irish National and laid out for this race. He ticks all the boxes except the worry is he may need softer ground than he gets today.

The best of British may be Hyland, seeking to give Nicky Henderson a first win and it might seem odd to rely on a novice, but Noble Yeats was also in his novice season when winning. He jumps well, his Kempton second to The Jukebox Man was excellent form and he seemed to have been given an educating ride down the inner at Kempton last time. Can Nico strike back?

Minella Indo is back again, having looked the winner at the Elbow last year. No reason why he should beat I Am Maximus except that the winner is quirky and there’s no guarantee he’ll produce last year’s form off two poor runs. Minella Indo is 9lb better off and near three times the price.

Grangeclare West ticks the ‘classy performer’ box that has been successful in recent renewals. He has two ways of running, but on the form of his second place at Christmas to Galopin Des Champs, he’s right in the mix and at a decent price at 25/1 on his best form.

Mad one

Chantry House is the madder one, mentioned by Nicky Henderson on Luck On Sunday. He was touted as a possible Gold Cup horse after his Grade 1-winning novice season but has disappointed and looked a bit moody. He still won a Cotswolds Chase and a decent chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He won here as a novice and if he could be kept interested, the 66/1 could be worth a place bet.

Of the Gordon Elliot-trained runners, missing the reliable Delta Work and Galvin this year, I prefer Three Card Brag (20/1) who has bits of form against good horses and looks the better stayer of the lower weights.

Stumptown looks the leading Gavin Cromwell contender and with the team in fine form all year, Cheltenham Cross Country has been a regular path to horses running well in the National. But Cromwell’s Perceval Legallois, has a similar profile to recent winners. He missed Cheltenham, is the right age, and has form in good three-mile handicaps.

The Paddy Power Chase which he won at Christmas has featured several horses placed in the National in recent years, including the McManus-owned Cause Of Causes, Anibale Fly, Any Second Now and Minella Times.

Selections: Perceval Legallois, Minella Indo, Grangeclare West

ON last week’s Luck On Sunday, it was revealed that the ITV racing series Champions Full Gallop would have a second series, based on the 2025 jumps season, to be screened in the autumn.

And the subsequent interview, Nicky Hendeson revealed he was miked up for the filming of the series at Cheltenham where he experienced the switches in fortune with Constitution Hill and Jonbon which should make dramatic viewing. And Aintree added more drama.

Netflix are releasing a horse racing documentary series based around flat season feature races in the American Triple Crown. Recent sports documentaries on Formula One, golf and tennis have proved very popular and racing, particularly in the US, has many large and entertaining characters. It looks sure to be a hit.

I’M not sure which online snippet was the most unwittingly entertaining this last year, punter and pundit Johnny Dineen referring to Magic McColgan as our own Margie McLoone or Johnny Ward’s adventurous trip northwards last week and brief education on the northern troubles where the birth place of Doran’s Pride became confused with that of Dolours Price. (see snippet on Irishracing.com)

Carl Di Iorio@CDi_Iorio

Trainer @WilliamHaggas has prepared 20 starters in Sydney for 11 wins (including six G1s & $10m Golden Eagle) and a second, collecting $14,593,200 (around £7m).

Haggas has collected £8.23m (A$17m) from 1401 starters in the UK since 2023, winning 279 races.

Nathan Horrocks@horrocksn

Horse racing is about to reach a whole new audience! Excited to see @netflix shine a spotlight on our sport with Race for the Crown, premiering April 22. This is a huge moment for racing - can’t wait for everyone to experience the stories that make it so special!