(Stock ID: 2149104811)
Despite being around only four weeks apart, it’s not uncommon for horses to run at the Cheltenham Festival and then reappear at Aintree for the Grand National Festival.
With horse racing odds already shortening for both showpiece occasions, the ante-post markets are beginning to tell an intriguing story about a handful of horses that could feature prominently at Prestbury Park before heading to Liverpool.
Lossiemouth and Caldwell Potter completed doubles with wins at both meetings last year, while the Lucinda Russell-trained Corach Rambler won the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham before going on to win the Grand National in 2023.
That’s what we’ll focus on here: horses that could run at Cheltenham and then bid to land the Grand National itself on April 11. Here are some of the potential prospects.
Iroko
The most interesting horse in this context is Iroko. The Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained eight-year-old was sent off as the 13/2 favourite for last year’s National, and while he couldn’t justify the market support, he came home a respectable fourth. He’s been in fine form this season, finishing second to subsequent King George winner The Jukebox Man at Haydock before winning convincingly at Ascot.
Iroko is the ante-post favourite for the Grand National at 7/1, but connections could attempt to win the Ultima Handicap Chase first, going down the same route as the aforementioned Corach Rambler. It would be a bold strategy, but given his course form and the confidence clearly emanating from his camp, it’s far from unthinkable.
I Am Maximus
I Am Maximus has run in the Grand National for the last two years and boasts a remarkable record in the Aintree showpiece. He won the blue riband contest in 2024 and finished runner-up to stablemate Nick Rockett 12 months ago, making him one of the most consistent big-race performers in training. Willie Mullins hasn’t previously used the Cheltenham Festival as a prep race for this horse, but I Am Maximus currently holds a Gold Cup entry at 25/1.
He’s by no means guaranteed to line up in the Prestbury Park highlight, and Mullins will likely have one eye firmly fixed on Aintree regardless of what happens in March. If he is to regain his crown, however, he’d have to defy top weight, which hasn’t been done since Red Rum.
Haiti Couleurs
A horse firmly in the picture for both the Gold Cup and the Grand National, Haiti Couleurs is in the top five of the betting for each race. The Rebecca Curtis-trained gelding has been in fantastic form this campaign, winning the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in December before following up in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury.
He’s the 8/1 joint-fourth favourite alongside dual winner Galopin Des Champs for the Gold Cup, and currently 16/1 to complete the Welsh and English National double. Curtis has done a superb job with this horse, and if he were to run a bold race in the Gold Cup, confidence around his Aintree prospects would soar. He’s arguably the most realistic candidate to make a genuine impact in both races.
Panic Attack
The Grand National would be a crowning moment for Dan Skelton. Not just because it would be the biggest race win on his ever-growing CV, but because it would almost certainly go a long way to securing the British Trainers’ title.
The Warwickshire handler has been denied by Willie Mullins for the last two seasons, and last year’s National was a key factor, with Skelton having no runner while his Irish rival dominated the finish with five of the first seven past the post.
Panic Attack is his leading hope this campaign, and she’s been imperious, winning all three starts this season. Connections could attempt to make it a perfect four from four in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham before she bids to become the first mare since Nickel Coin in 1951 to win the Grand National.
It would be one of the great sporting stories, and Skelton’s determination throughout what has been an intensely competitive title race suggests he’ll leave nothing to chance in pursuit of glory on both fronts.
