How Many Horses in the Grand National 2025?

| Thursday 3rd April 2025, 7:14am

Thursday 3rd April 2025, 7:14am

We are all waiting for the off on Saturday, with the Grand National getting underway at 16:00 at Aintree.

Once again the eyes of the nation will be drawn to the north west, as the biggest horse race in the country takes centre stage.

This is the 177th running of the Grand National and it is the feature race on the final day of this three-day festival. On Saturday, we will see punters from up and down the country study the form guide - or just pick the jockey that is wearing their favourite colours!

There’s more than one way to find a winner but whether you fancy Stumptown, Iroko or last year’s winner I Am Maximus, you can find great value on Betfred.

Grand National Odds

Those three currently lead the market and will be contenders, but how many horses are taking part in the Grand National 2025?

Well, just like last year, a maximum of 34 horses can compete in the race - after the field was reduced from the traditional 40 for the first time last year due to safety reasons.

In theory that should make the race safer for the horses and jockeys, while other safety steps have also been taken. They are now set to take on 30 fences over the course of this marathon race, but those fences are no longer as rigid as they once were.

The solid cores to fences that once existed have now been removed, meaning the runners can brush through them if needed. The race is a long one, over a distance of 4m2½f, which usually takes most runners around 10 minutes to complete.

The record fastest time at the Grand National is still held by Mr Frisk in 1990 when he ran the course in a rapid time of eight minutes and 47.8 seconds. Looking at recent times, the winner has got round in around nine minutes - so a new record perhaps isn’t out of the question this year.

The Grand National is coming this weekend, so stay tuned to Betfred Insights for all the latest coverage and offers.