What Grey Horses Are Running In The 2025 Grand National?

As punters ready themselves for another assault on the Grand National – there are many ways the ‘once-a-year’ punters like to pick out their horses – from jockey silks and related horse names, while many simply side with the grey horses running in the Aintree showcase race.

With that in mind, we take a look at what grey horses are running in the 2025 Grand National – plus just how many silver foxes have been successful over the years.

The Grey Horses Running In The 2025 Grand National

At this stage there are a possible eight grey horses running in the 2025 Grand National, but realistically not all of them will make the final line-up.

These days the Grand National runners are capped at 34 – so the likes of Hyland (36), Duffle Coat (43) and King Turgeon (58) will need a fair few horses ahead of them to come out of the race between now and Thursday 3rd April when the final declarations are out.

INTENSE RAFFLES

This Grand National grey runner is currently one of the favourites with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK and it’s easy to see why.

He’s already a National winner too – having landed the Irish version last season, which is also the same route the 2024 winner I Am Maximus took.

Intense Raffles has raced just nine times over fences but has won three of those (3 seconds) and will head to the Aintree race in tip-top order after a close second to another National runner Nick Rockett in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February.

Those against him might look the Grand National trends and his age. He’s still only a 7 year-old and the National has only seen two winners aged 7 since 1940.

He represents Irish-trainer Thomas Gibney, who is yet to land the National and so far we’ve seen five horses win both the Irish National and Aintree National.

VANILLIER

This 10 year-old has Grand National history and remains the closest we’ve come to another grey winner in the race recently – after taking silver in 2023 (watch below).

He returned in 2024 but could only manage 14th to I Am Maximus but is back in 2025 off a 4lb lower mark. He’s also currently number 34 in the race – so, all going well, will be allowed to take his chance for a third time.

The Irish-trained Vanillier will also come to the race in good order after a close third to another 2025 Grand National hopeful Stumptown in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

KANDOO KID

Trainer Paul Nicholls won the Grand National in 2012 with a grey – Neptune Collonges – and he’ll be looking to repeat the feat with Kandoo Kid.

He’s gone on record as saying the horse has been trained specifically for the National and has already taken a top staying chase race when winning the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury – the old Hennessy.

Kandoo Kid is now rated 7lbs higher than that win at the end of November, but this Paul Nicholls runner took well to the National fences last year when runner-up in the Topham Chase, which is also run at the Aintree Grand National Festival.

COKO BEACH

Owned by the Gigginstown House Stud, who has won the National three times over the years.

This grey is another 10 year-old in the race and is also another that has experience in this contest – having run 11th last year, pulled-up in 2023 and was 8th in 2022. This will, therefore, be his fourth appearance in the Grand National.

Sandwiched between those runs he was runner-up in the 2023 Becher Chase, which is also run over the National fences.

Coko Beach is also trained by Gordon Elliott, who knows a thing or two about winning the National – he’s landed the top prize money three times before.

FIL DOR

This 7 year-old is another that will have the big Grand National age trend to overcome – but on a plus he’s another trained by Gordon Elliott.

He’s become famous for having a big price tag after being sold at Tattersalls Ireland in February 2024 for €630,000 – but has only won once and that was as a 1/40 favourite in a two-horse race.

Fil Dor, therefore, has plenty to prove at the moment and was last seen running just third in the Webster Cup at Navan in March.

This will also be his first run at Aintree and, therefore, over the tricky National fences too.

HYLAND

Believe it or not, trainer Nicky Henderson has NEVER won the Grand National – but he could have a leading chance of putting that right with Hyland.

He’ll, however, need a few horses to come out of the race ahead of him as Hyland is currently number 36 on the list and don’t forget the maximum field size is 34.

This 8 year-old has only raced six times over fences, but has won 50% of those and has only been out of the top three once in those runs over the bigger obstacles.

He was last seen running second in the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap at Kempton in February – when a beaten favourite with some questioning the ride he got that day.

But should he get in, he’ll have a featherweight to carry and the 8 year-olds have the best record in the race – winning five of the last eight.

DUFFLE COAT

Another for the Gordon Elliott camp but at number 43 will need nine to come out ahead of him so is unlikely to get in.

He’s also won just the once from 13 starts over fences – but been runner-up a massive six times.

Duffle Coat was last seen being brought down in the NH Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in the middle of March.

KING TURGEON

Being number 58, this David Pipe-trained Grand National grey will need a huge miracle if he’s to make the final line-up.

Which is a shame as he’s a horse that’s shown his liking for the fences – having won the Grand Sefton here at Aintree back in November.

But is now rated 15lbs higher than that success and was last seen being pulled up in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

How Many Grey Horses Have Won The Grand National?

Only THREE grey horses have ever won the Grand National, which is, of course, a very poor return for a race that’s been going since 1839.

Well, we say three – but we’ve actually seen four grey winners as The Lamb won the National twice.

Of course, it’s impossible to know just how many Grand National grey horses have run in total – with race data in the 1800’s hard to come by.

But even though the non-greys far outweigh the flashy silvers, the strike-rate of just 0.0227% over the last 176 runnings is there for all to see.

The most recent Grand National-winning grey was Neptune Collonges in 2012 (watch below) – who heading into the 2025 race remains the sole winner for trainer Paul Nicholls.

He saw off Sunnyhillboy by just a nose that year under a titanic battle up the Aintree home straight – with jockey Daryl Jacob doing the steering.

Neptune Collonges was the first Grand National grey horse winner for just over 50 years – taking over from Nicolaus Silver, who won the race in 1961.’

Vanillier Almost Become The Fourth Grand National-Winning Grey In 2023

Prior to that a grey horse called The Lamb was a double National winner in 1868 and 1871 – meaning since the race was first run in 1839, only THREE GREY HORSES have ever won the Grand National.

The closest Grand National grey winner we’ve had in the last few years – was the Gavin Cromwell-trained Vanillier, who was a 2 1/4 length runner-up in 2023 behind Corach Rambler.

Only Three ‘Different’ Grey Horses Have Ever Won The Grand National and Four In Total

WATCH: Neptune Collonges Winning The 2012 Grand National