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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Greg Wood at Aintree

Iroko has perfect profile for Grand National as Gina Bryce makes history

BBC Sport presenter Gina Bryce interviewing jockey Paul Townend at Aintree
BBC Sport presenter Gina Bryce interviewing jockey Paul Townend at Aintree on Friday. Photograph: David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA

The betting tells you all you really need to know about the 2025 Grand National at Aintree. Any one of at least half a dozen runners could end up favourite by 4pm on Saturday, and at least half of the 34-strong field are on offer at 33-1 or shorter, which in the context of such a competitive race is very much the price of a horse with a realistic chance.

In other words, it is still the race that it was conceived to be almost two centuries ago: a celebration of semi-random uncertainty that even the most serious students of the form book can only ever hope to unravel with a fair slice of luck.

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