What Are The Best Grand National Winning Weights Since Since 2000?

Being a handicap, then the burden on each runner’s back can be key – especially with 4m 2 1/2f to travel. The better horses in the race will carry more Grand National weight, while those with a lower handicap mark will lump less around – as the British handicapper tries to level things up.

With this in mind, we look at what the best Grand National weight has been over the years – so to see if there are any patterns ruling certain horses out.

Since 1978, Only THREE Winners Carried A Grand National Weight Of 11st 6lbs Or More

There is an old saying in horse racing “weight stops trains” – and if the Grand National trends can be believed this certainly is the case in the world’s biggest steeplechase.

This is because the first Grand National weights stat to take into account is to find those carrying big burdens – as history tells us horses with 11st 6lbs or more have won just three runnings since 1978.

Over this period there have been 45 renewals of the National – with those winners carrying 11st 6lbs or more equating to just a 7% strike rate.

Yes, some will say that one this trio of winners to carry 11st 6lbs+ of Grand National weight was only last year – when I Am Maximus won with bang-on 11st 6lbs.

However, before him it was Many Clouds in 2015, who won with 11st 9lbs, and then one of the three different Grand National grey horses Neptune Collonges winning in 2012 with 11st 6lbs.

Prior to these three winners you have to go back to the mighty Red Rum in 1977 – when he won with 11st 8lbs.

Taking all this into account and looking at the Grand National 2025 runners – these FIVE horse are the ones who are set to carry 11st 6lbs or more.

Last Year’s Grand National Winner (2024) Carried 11st 6lbs In Weight

I Am Maximus won the Grand National in 2024 with 11st 6lbs on his back – he’ll have to try again in 2025 with topweight of 11st 12lbs.

However, despite his bigger burden this year he is still well-fancied by the best horse racing betting sites in the UK – with most having him in the top five in the market.

What Grand National Weight Have Most Winners Carried Since 2000?

We can also look at this Grand National weights stats over the last 24 runnings – which tells us that 19 of the winners carried 11st 1lb or less.

Which is a solid 79% return over this period.

If this is to be repeated again in 2025, then of the 34 runners – you can rule out the top 10 on the card.

Six Of The Last Eight Grand National Winners (75%) Carried 10st 13lbs Or Less

Of course the Grand National weights stats can be played in many different ways – but in more recent times another pattern that has built up is that six of the last eight winners carried between 10st 3lbs and 10st 13lbs.

If this 75% stat is to happen again in 2025 – it will help knock out almost half of the field, which is the the top 15 on the card.

The Last Eight National Winners

Winning Grand National Weight Since 2000 and How Many Times It Has Won

The Last Horse To Win With A Grand National Weight Of 11st 10lbs Or More Was Red Rum In 1974

The last horse to win the Grand National with MORE than 11st 8lbs was RED RUM in 1974 when he carried 12st to victory.

This is, therefore, a stat that I Am Maximus will be trying to defy as he’s got 11st 12lbs to carry in 2025.

Prior to Rummy winning with 12st in 1974, you have to go back to Freebooter (11st 11lbs) in 1950 and Royal Mail, who delivered (excuse the pun) with 11st 13lbs in 1937.