Underdog stories, a Nicholls resurgence and a greater balance - the Grand National entries offer plenty of hope
![Paul Townend (right) clears The Chair on his way to winning the Grand National on I Am Maximus](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F3175dcdc886d-11900378.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The road to the Grand National is officially under way after the entries were unveiled on Tuesday, and there were plenty of grounds for optimism.
Although it’s a familiar story at the very top of the early market – which is headed by last year’s Willie Mullins-trained winner I Am Maximus – there are plenty of yards with contenders who are either in brand new territory, or, in the case of Paul Nicholls in particular, renewing their involvement.
The pivot in National entries through the lens of the trainers’ championship fight is interesting. Last season it was Dan Skelton who led the way with British entries. This season he tops the trainers' table by more than £600,000, his most promising position as he chases a first title, but he is without representation in the big one at Aintree.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inAnother View
Last updated
- Blind ignorance is a hard engine to stop - and that's what racing is up against in the gambling debate
- Nearly 400 years later, a different Cromwell siege could be in the reckoning in Britain this spring
- The late Aga Khan's relationship with Ireland was one of 65 years of mutual benefit
- Four-Legged Friends day at Wincanton? Just don't let my dog hear about it
- We've achieved much - but 2025 must be a year of transformative change for a sport with welfare at its heart
- Blind ignorance is a hard engine to stop - and that's what racing is up against in the gambling debate
- Nearly 400 years later, a different Cromwell siege could be in the reckoning in Britain this spring
- The late Aga Khan's relationship with Ireland was one of 65 years of mutual benefit
- Four-Legged Friends day at Wincanton? Just don't let my dog hear about it
- We've achieved much - but 2025 must be a year of transformative change for a sport with welfare at its heart