Can Inothewayurthinkin Defy HUGE 85 Year-old Grand National Stat?

Recent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin is the new talking horse in the staying chasing division – having lowered the colours of Galopin Des Champs at the Cheltenham Festival. Next stop could be the Grand National on Saturday April 5th, – but if his connections opt to send their star chaser to Aintree he’ll need to defy a HUGE Grand National age stat that stretches back to 1940.

Only TWO Horses Aged 7 Have Won The Grand National Since 1940

The Emmet Mullins-trained Noble Yeats won the Grand National as a 7 year-old in 2022.

However, prior to that win – Grand National stat lovers will tell you the last winner aged 7 was a horse called Bogskar in 1940.

Meaning there is an 85 period when only TWO horses aged 7 have taken the world famous steeplechase – and with recent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin also aged 7, he’ll have this hefty Grand National stat to overcome if he runs.

Yes, some will ask how many actual 7 year-olds have run in the race since 1940? And, being honest, I’m not sure and I’m also not going to go back over 85 years of results to find out.

But what I will do is go back over the last 10 runnings and this will give us an idea.

Oh, and only last year another JP McManus-owned 7 year-old in Limerick Lace ran.

She was also sent off as the Grand National joint-favourite with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK despite this huge stat – but only managed to finish 10th.

In total, there have been 26 horses aged 7 to have run in the Grand National since 2014 – with just one winner (4%).

Grand National 7 Year-Olds Since 2014

WATCH: Inothewayurthinkin Winning The 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Why Have 7 Year-olds Struggled In The Grand National?

In short, the Grand National, which today is run over 4m 2 1/2f, is one of the most demanding horse races in the world – that also requires the winner to jump 30 unique fences.

The race can also sometimes be run on testing ground – which means having proven stamina is a must and in general this staying power tends to come with age with National Hunt horses.

There are also a maximum of 34 Grand National runners each year, so it’s a race that will require plenty of luck and experience to navigate away from any trouble. Which is again something that comes with age and with more races run.

Which is why Noble Yeat’s win in 2022 was all the more remarkable – as this Emmet Mullins-trained 7 year-old has only raced seven times over fences.

Prior to winning the National, Noble Yeats was 9th to Corach Rambler in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Inothewayurthinkin will head into the Grand National with slightly more experience – having raced 10 times over fences.

Inothewayurthinkin 15lbs Well-In at the Grand National Weights

If running, he’d also head there with 11st 5lb and a mark of 160 – but after his Gold Cup win was raised to 175.

However, the Grand National weights, which were revealed in February, can’t be changed. Meaning he’d be running 15lbs well-in if heading to the Aintree race.

🚨 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN has been given a rating of 175 by HRI.

He’s set to race off 160 if he lines up in the Aintree Grand National meaning he has 15lbs in hand of his rivals! 👀🏆

The 7yr-old would be one the best handicapped horses to ever line up. pic.twitter.com/1lEhpN86oi

— Stephen R Power (@racingblogger) March 17, 2025

Inothewayurthinkin Horse Profile

Other Possible 2025 Grand National Runners Aged 7

WATCH: Noble Yeats In 2022 – The First Winning Grand National Horse Aged 7 Since 1940

What Has Been The Best Grand National-Winning Age In The Last 10 Runnings?

So, we know that the Grand National has only produced two winning 7 year-olds since 1940 – what has been the best age?

During 2010 and 2014 we had a spell for the old-timers – with all of these five winners aged in double-figures.

However, since the 11 year-old Pineau De Re won in 2014 – ALL the Grand National winners have been aged between 7-9.

With the 8 and 9 year-0lds having by far the best records – winning 80% of the last 10 runnings.

While 22 of the last 30 winners (73%) have been aged between 8-10 years-old.

The oldest Grand National winner was Peter Simple aged 15 in 1853.

The youngest winners were Alcibiade (1865), Regal (1876), Austerlitz (1877), Empress (1880) and Lutteur III (1909) – who were all aged 5.

The Last 10 Grand National Winners and Their Ages

The Irish Have Won SIX Of The Last Eight Grand Nationals

Another Grand National stat tells us the race has also been dominated in recent times by the Irish.

We’ve seen a winner trained in Ireland in six of the last eight runnings – with the other two coming from the Lucinda Russell yard in Scotland.

Meaning we’ve not had a Grand National winner from England since 2015, when the Oliver Sherwood runner Many Clouds crossed the line in front.

Inothewayurthinkin‘s Trainer Gavin Cromwell Has NEVER Won The Grand National

The trainer of Inothewayurthinkin – Gavin Cromwell – is still to win the biggest prize in jumps racing – the Grand National.

He had the joint-favourite 12 months ago in Limerick Lace, who was also owned by JP McManus, but could only manage 10th.

Cromwell also came close in 2023 when his grey 8 year-old Vanillier was second – beaten only 2 1/4 lengths behind Corach Rambler (watch below).

Inothewayurthinkin‘s Owner JP McManus Will Bid For A Fourth National Win

There are six Grand National owners leading the way with the most winners – they all sit on three – and one of those is a certain JP McManus, who famous green and gold silks have graced many a winners’ enclosure.

His first National winner at Aintree came in 2010 with Don’t Push It, who also provided jockey AP McCoy with his only win in the race.

He had to wait until 2021 for his next, when the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Minella Times obliged.

He added a third 12 months ago with I Am Maximus, who was guided home by Paul Townend and gave Willie Mullins his second success in the race after Hedgehunter won back in 2005.

JP McManus, who also has the same amount of Grand National winners has Trevor Hemmings and Gigginstown House Stud, could become the leading owner in his own right with another winner in 2025.

JP McManus-Owned Grand National Winners

Grand National Leading Owners

Aintree Grand National 2025 Race Details

📅Date: Saturday 5th April 2025
⌚Time: 4:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Aintree
🔄Trip: 4m 2 1/2f
💷Winner: £500,000
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV

Recent Grand National Winners (Last 10 Runnings)

WATCH: I Am Maximus Winning The 2024 Grand National