Leading Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell has his strongest ever Grand National team heading to Aintree for this Saturday’s big race – with three of the top five in the market. However, despite this the County Meath man has expressed concerns for TWO of his three runners.
You can see the full 2025 Grand National runners guide and Andy Newton’s 5-star ratings here.
Gavin Cromwell Worried Aintree Might Come Too Soon After Cheltenham For Vanillier and Stumptown
Not many (if any) have a better squad running in the 2025 Grand National than trainer Gavin Cromwell – with three huge fancies that are all being well-touted on social media and with the leading pundits.
However, despite the top Irish handler still saying his trio are all primed to go well – TWO of the Gavin Cromwell Grand National runners come with a warning from the main man.
With the Aintree Grand National Festival coming a bit earlier this year (3rd-5th April) this has meant only a three-week gap since the Cheltenham Festival.
Which is the concern for Gavin Cromwell for two of this three runners that were in action at Prestbury Park.
STUMPTOWN, who will also sport the blinkers in the National, was only in action on 12th March when winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival (watch below).
With stablemate VANILLIER back in third in the same race.
Cromwell said on his WH blog
Stumptown performed really well at Cheltenham, and if he can back that up, then he certainly has a chance. Whether it’s a favourite’s chance, though, I’m not too sure. He’ll certainly take to the fences well, and he dealt with better ground well at Cheltenham.
That said, the pace of the Grand National will be a lot different, and I’d be slightly concerned as to whether he’ll be able to keep up.
“We’ll have the blinkers on Stumptown, and they seemed to do the trick with Vanillier as well. He also ran well at Cheltenham, and he seems in good form. He’s off the same mark as he was when finishing second here a couple of years ago, which certainly gives us hope that he could run well.
The short gap between their runs at Cheltenham and the National is always going to be a concern because you’re in unknown territory, really, and you’re taking a bit of a chance.”
Stumptown and Vanillier Last Ran 24 Days Ago
By the time the Grand National comes around on Saturday 5th April – this means Stumptown and Vanillier would have only had 24 days aways from the track.
When Stumptown won at Cheltenham, his last run was on the 13th December – a three-month break.
But the better news is – prior to that run he’d run on November 24th, which was only 19 days before he won again.
Which shows he’s coped with a quick turnaround this season already.
Stumptown will be running in the National for the first time. But this will be the third try for Vanillier, who was 2nd in 2023 and 14th last year.
Vanillier returns on a 4lb lower mark than 12 months ago – and will carry 6lbs less in racing weight (10-6). Which is the same burden he had when runner-up.
WATCH: Stumptown Winning The 2025 Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
Has Gavin Cromwell Ever Won The Grand National?
In short – no.
However, many horse racing fans believe it won’t be long before this season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Gavin Cromwell is cementing his name in the Grand National hall-of-fame.
Cromwell, who has fired in 80 jumps winners this season, came close in 2023 when Vanillier. He ran second to Corach Rambler (watch below).
12 months ago, Cromwell also had the joint-Grand National favourite Limerick Lace. However, this 7 year-old could only manage 10th.
Could Perceval Legallois Be The Main Gavin Cromwell Grand National Runner?
Therefore, with some small concerns over Vanillier and Stumptown – could the other Gavin Cromwell Grand National runner Perceval Legallois be his main hope?
This 8 year-old is another for owner JP McManus, who is hunting his fourth National win, and comes here after last seen winning at the Dublin Racing Festival over hurdles (watch below).
He’s a horse that’s gone well fresh in the past, so the 63-day break is a plus and connections have most-likely been trying to protect his handicap mark over fences – as he’s yet to run in a chase race this year.
This will be the first run in the National for Perceval Legallois.
But having fallen in two of his nine chase starts – could this be a separate concern for this Gavin Cromwell Grand National runner?
Perceval Legallois is also expected to get the ride of Gold Cup winning jockey Mark Walsh.
He’ll have the pick of the JP McManus runners outside of last year’s winner I Am Maximus (Paul Townend).
Cromwell told his WH blog
He’s had a longer break than the rest of them, having been off the track since the Dublin Racing Festival. He goes well fresh, so that is definitely a positive. He’s never run over this distance before, which brings a bit of an unknown element, but I don’t see any reason why he won’t stay. He’s been in good form at home.
As far as I know, the plan is for Mark Walsh to ride him, with Paul Townend sticking with I Am Maximus.
WATCH: Perceval Legallois Winning At The Dublin Racing Festival in February
2025 Aintree Grand National Race Details
📅 Date: Saturday, April 5th 2025
⌚ Time: 4:00pm
🏇 Racecourse: Aintree
🔄 Trip: 4m 2 1/2f
💷 Winner: £500,000
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
See here the full 2025 Aintree Grand National Festival race schedule, running order and TV channels.
