Did you enjoy the 2025 Cheltenham Festival? Especially the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. Galopin Des Champs was the hot favourite for Willie Mullins, aiming for his third victory in this prestigious race. However, the result didn’t go as punters expected, and the bookies filled their boots as J.P. McManus’s Inothewayurthinkin won readily by six lengths at odds of 15/2. Trainer Gavin Cromwell was jubilant, as was jockey Mark Walsh.
The question on most punters’ lips: Isn’t that horse in the Grand National?
Not only is this son of Walk In The Park entered for the Aintree Grand National on Saturday, April 5, but the seven-year-old gelding is also the 4/1 favourite.
By all accounts, J.P. McManus has a strong hand in the world’s most famous steeplechase. In fact, he owns three of the top four in the betting: Inothewayurthinkin, Iroko, and last year’s winner I Am Maximus.
History has shown that winning both the Gold Cup and the Aintree Grand National is a rare feat. Two great names come to mind:
Golden Miller:
The irrepressible Golden Miller, owned by Dorothy Paget, was a five-time Gold Cup winner (1932–1936). Though he disliked Aintree, he became the only horse to complete the double in the same year (1934). The seven-year-old gelding won at odds of 8/1 for trainer Basil Briscoe, ridden by Gerry Wilson.
L’Escargot:
Race fans will also remember another superstar: L’Escargot, winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1970 and 1971. In 1975, he went on to defeat the legendary Red Rum by 15 lengths at odds of 13/2, denying him a third consecutive victory.
Now, let’s take a look at the shortest-priced Aintree Grand National winners.
The 5 Shortest-Priced Grand National Winners:
1919 – Poethlyn (11/4f) – Shortest-Priced Winner Ever
The shortest-priced Grand National winner returned at odds of 11/4. Harry Scott’s charge won by eight lengths under Ernest Piggott for owner Gwladys Peel. Interestingly, Poethlyn also won the previous year when the race was held at Gatwick Racecourse during the War Nationals (1916–1918), which took place during World War I.
1862 – The Huntsman (3/1f)
The 24th renewal of the Grand National took place on March 12. The Huntsman, an Irish-bred horse, was trained and ridden by Harry Lamplugh for owner Viscount de Namur. Tragically, jockey Joseph Wynne, riding O’Connell, was brought down at the 15th fence, suffering fatal chest injuries—the only jockey to have lost his life in the history of the race.
1885 – Roquefort (10/3f)
The six-year-old gelding won by two lengths on good going. The favourite was ridden by Mr. Ted Wilson for trainer Arthur Yates and owner Arthur Cooper. Only nine horses finished. Roquefort had placed third in 1884, then fell at the 21st fence in 1886, the 26th in 1887, and again at the 26th in 1889. He was priced at single-figure odds in each attempt.
1860 – Anatis (7/2f)
No official race time was recorded. Anatis secured a narrow half-length victory over The Huntsman. Trained by H. E. May and ridden by Mr. Tommy Pickernell, the ten-year-old gelding was owned by Christopher Capel.
It’s notable that most short-priced winners date back over 100 years. In fact, Jerry M won at 4/1f in 1912. However, one modern-era horse deserves recognition—not just for winning at the same odds but also for nearly securing three consecutive Grand National victories.
2019 – Tiger Roll (4/1f)
A small horse with a big heart. Who would have thought that a Triumph Hurdle winner (2014) would become a powerhouse in the greatest steeplechase of them all? Tiger Roll, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, trained by Gordon Elliott, and ridden by Davy Russell, was a gutsy winner in 2018, prevailing by a head. He then won by two and three-quarter lengths in 2019 at odds of 4/1.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 prevented Tiger Roll from attempting a historic third consecutive victory in 2020. With the race cancelled just days before, we can only speculate what might have happened. Sadly, by 2021, Tiger Roll had lost his edge and did not return for another Grand National. However, he remains one of the race’s modern greats and among its shortest-priced winners.
Looking Ahead to the 2025 Grand National:
It will be fascinating to see how the betting unfolds for the 2025 Aintree Grand National. Can Inothewayurthinkin win this year’s renewal? Could he become the shortest-priced winner in the race’s history?
Time will tell.