Haydock Grand National Trial Trends Suggest We Should Respect Welsh National Form

See below Andy Newton’s key Haydock Grand National Trial trends that can be applied to the final runners of the gruelling 3m 4 1/2f race on Saturday. However, if you are hoping to find some clues towards the Aintree Grand National in April – you might be disappointed.

No Horse Has Ever Won The Grand National Trial And Followed-up In The Grand National

The Haydock Grand National Trial is really only a prep race in name – as since 1980 we’ve not seen a winner of the Grand National Trial follow-up that season in the Aintree marathon.

Suny Bay, the 1997 Trial winner, did go onto finish second at Liverpool in the National. While the 2005 winner, Forest Gunner, went onto run a respectable fifth.

Then more recently, in 2017 we saw the David Pipe-trained Vieux Lion Rouge winning this trial before going onto finish a respectable sixth in the Grand National a few months later.

Prior to that the mighty Red Rum – who won three Aintree Nationals between 1973 and 1977 also won the National Trial at Haydock in 1975 – just not in the same season as one of his Liverpool wins.

Sundew is the only other horse to have won both races – he took the Trial in 1956 and the Aintree National the following horse racing season in 1957.

But, in the week the 2025 Grand National weights were also announced – NONE have won both races in the same season.

Grand National Trial Trends and Stats For 2025 Haydock Renewal

You can see below the main Grand National Trial trends – which can be applied to the final 2025 runners to find the best profiles based on past winners.

These include only three winning favourites since 2003 – but we did see a joint market leader take the prize 12 months ago.

91% of the last 22 winners had also won between 2-4 times over fences. While 15 of the last 22 winners came from outside the top 3 in the betting.

If you are looking for the best trainers, then you should certainly have Venetia Williams and Lucinda Russell on your radar. These top female handlers have won the Grand National Trial three times each since 2010.

Girl Power: Trainers Lucinda Russell and Venetia Williams Have Won The Grand National Trial Three Time Each Since 2010

12 months ago, we saw a rare Irish-trained winner of the Grand National Trial, when the Gavin Cromwell-trained Yeah Man landed the spoils.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has landed the race twice in the past too – Bristol De Mai in 2022 being his most recent and Frantic Tan in 2001 his other.

However, it’s two other Aintree Grand National-winning trainers in Lucinda Russell and Venetia Williams who have the best record in the Haydock Trial – with three wins each.

Russell’s wins were with Silver By Nature (2010 and 2011) and Lie Forrit (2015). While the Venetia Williams winners in the Haydock race came with Rigadin De Beauchene (2014), Yala Enki (2018) and Quick Wave (2023).

Just Three Winning Grand National Trial Favourites In The Last 22 Runnings

Since 2003, the Haydock Grand National Trial has only seen three winning favourites – Giles Cross (2012), Well Refreshed (2013) and Yeah Man (2024).

The likely market leader with the best horse racing betting sites is the Sam Thomas-trained Jubilee Express.

80% Of The Last 10 Winners Returned 8/1 or Shorter

Despite the lower strike-rate of the favorites in the Grand National Trial – it’s still been a race where the winners have come nearer the top of the market.

This is backed up with eight of the last 10 winners returning 8/1 or less in the betting.

Grand National Trial 2025 Race Details

📅Date: Saturday 15th February 2025
⌚Time: 3:15pm
🏇Racecourse: Haydock
🔄Trip: 3m 4 1/2f
💷Winning Purse: £56,950
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV

Welsh National Hero Val Dancer An Expected Grand National Trial Runner

Haydock racegoers could also see the 2024 Welsh Grand National hero Val Dancer back in action.

He beat Jubilee Express by 1 1/2 lengths in the Chepstow festive feature back in December and if running to that form again there shouldn’t be a lot between the pair – but the second flew home, so many feel the Sam Thomas runner can reverse the form.

The Grand National Trial trends also tell us that six of the last 22 winners ran in the Welsh National that season – with 3 of the last 22 finishing first or second in that Chepstow race. Top stats for both Val Dancer and Jubilee Express.

2024 Grand National Trial Winner Yeah Man Back For More

The Gavin Cromwell-trained Yeah Man was a rare Irish winner in the Haydock Grand National Trial in 2024 and he could be back to defend his title.

Now aded 8, the horse is rated 11lbs higher and hasn’t won in three races since. However, he was a fair 4th (of 18) in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park last month and with that coming off a two-month break should strip a lot fitter this time.

The last (and only) ‘back-to-back’ winner in this race was Silver By Nature in 2010 and 2011.

Grand National Trial Runners 2025

Grand National Trial Winners (Last 10 Years)