{"id":43701,"date":"2025-04-04T08:54:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T08:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=43701"},"modified":"2025-04-04T15:17:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T15:17:16","slug":"gavin-cromwell-grand-national-runners-2025-aintree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/gavin-cromwell-grand-national-runners-2025-aintree\/","title":{"rendered":"Trainer Gavin Cromwell Has Concerns For Two Of His Big Grand National Hopes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can see the full 2025 Grand National runners guide<\/a> and Andy Newton’s 5-star ratings here.<\/p>\n

Gavin Cromwell Worried Aintree Might Come Too Soon After Cheltenham For Vanillier and Stumptown<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Not many (if any) have a better squad running in the 2025 Grand National than trainer Gavin Cromwell<\/strong> – with three huge fancies that are all being well-touted on social media and with the leading pundits.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Which is the concern for Gavin Cromwell for two of this three runners that were in action at Prestbury Park.<\/p>\n

STUMPTOWN,<\/strong> 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).<\/p>\n

With stablemate VANILLIER<\/strong> back in third in the same race.<\/p>\n

Cromwell said on his WH blog<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Stumptown performed really well at Cheltenham, and if he can back that up, then he certainly has a chance. Whether it\u2019s a favourite\u2019s chance, though, I\u2019m not too sure. He\u2019ll certainly take to the fences well, and he dealt with better ground well at Cheltenham.<\/em><\/p>\n

That said, the pace of the Grand National will be a lot different, and I\u2019d be slightly concerned as to whether he\u2019ll be able to keep up.<\/em><\/p>\n

“We\u2019ll have the blinkers on Stumptown, and they seemed to do the trick with <\/em>Vanillier as well. He also ran well at Cheltenham, and he seems in good form. He\u2019s 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

The short gap between their runs at Cheltenham and the National is always going to be a concern because you\u2019re in unknown territory, really, and you\u2019re taking a bit of a chance.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Stumptown and Vanillier Last Ran 24 Days Ago<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

When Stumptown won at Cheltenham, his last run was on the 13th December – a three-month break.<\/p>\n

But the better news is – prior to that run he’d run on November 24th, which was only 19 days before he won again.<\/p>\n

Which shows he’s coped with a quick turnaround this season already.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

WATCH: Stumptown Winning The 2025 Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival<\/strong><\/h3>\n