What Horse is Rachael Blackmore Riding in the Aintree Grand National 2025?

Horse racing’s most beloved jockey Rachael Blackmore will be a popular betting proposition in the Aintree Grand National 2025 and she’s expected to take the ride on last year’s bronze medalist. 

Even if you’re not a day-to-day fan of Grand National every year – one of the sporting calendar’s most prestigious and valuable events.

As a gruelling 4m 2½f handicap steeplechase – which can often throw up rogue results – punters are sometimes better off backing their favourite jockeys, a familiar name, funky silks or even one of the Grand National grey horses for a bit of fun.

One of those favourite jockeys in recent years is Rachael Blackmore, who became the first female to win the race in 2021.

She’s got an intriguing ride in the race currently available at odds of 25/1 with the best horse racing betting sites.

Rachael Blackmore will ride Minella Indo in the Aintree Grand National 2025

Blackmore is expected to take the ride on Minella Indo in the famous race on Saturday, April 5 for trainer Henry de Bromhead and owner Barry Maloney.

The 25/1 still going looks a big enough price considering the horse finished a good third behind I Am Maximus and Delta Work in this race last year having been in front going over the final fence.

Minella Indo enjoys a 9lb pull in the weights with I Am Maximus this time around, running off a mark of 158 and a racing weight of 11st 3lbs.

Blackmore has ridden Minella Indo on many occasions throughout his career including graded wins in the:

• Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2019 Cheltenham Festival)
• Grade 1 Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle (2019 Punchestown Festival)
• Grade 3 M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase (October 2020, Wexford)
• Grade 2 BetVictor Make Your Best Bet Chase (November 2020, Navan)
• Grade 3 Savills New Year’s Day Chase (January 2023, Tramore)
• Grade 3 Irish Daily Star – Best For Racing Coverage Chase (October 2023, Punchestown)

When Minella Indo won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2021, Blackmore switched over to ride De Bromhead’s better-fancied runner A Plus Tard and was beaten just over a length.

Now 12-years-old, Minella Indo is coming towards the end of his racing career and victory here would be the dream swansong if connections decide to call it a day.

He has been kept fresh with this race in mind, running just twice this season. Finishing second in the Grade 3 BetVictor Chase at Punchestown in October and sixth in a light spin over hurdles in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan in February.

WATCH: Minella Indo’s third-place finish in the 2024 Grand National

Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National in 2021

Blackmore made history in April 2021 when she rode the JP McManus-owned Minella Times to victory in the Grand National, becoming the first female jockey to ever win the race since it was first run in 1839.

Sent off at 11/1, Minella Times won by six-and-a-half lengths from his stablemate Balko Des Flos, also trained by Henry de Bromhead.

Blackmore executed a perfect ride, sitting midfield and biding her time before making a challenge for the lead approaching the second last fence.

Just a month prior, the County Tipperary-born pilot became the first female to win the Ruby Walsh Trophy as leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival.

Many will her famous interview after winning the Grand National, telling ITV:

“I don’t feel male or female right now. I don’t even feel human….it’s unbelievable.”

WATCH: Rachael Blackmore wins the 2021 Grand National on Minella Times

Amberleigh House was the last 12-year-old to win the Grand National in 2004

No horse aged 12 has won the Grand National since Amberleigh House in 2004. Minella Indo is up against it on race trends, but very few horses of this age with a class edge like him have contested it.

Six of the last seven winners have been priced at 16/1 or shorter – but Minella Indo is currently as short as 20/1 in places and could receive a wave of on the day. Especially as soon as the ‘once-a-year’ punters this horse is Rachael Blackmore’s 2025 Grand National ride.

13 of the last 18 winners have carried 11st or less and Minella Indo is set to carry 3lbs more than that mark in 2025.

There are plenty of positives for the horse – he will stay the trip, has valuable experience in this race with a former winning jockey on his back and on his best form is well treated at the weights.

WATCH: Amberleigh House wins the 2004 Grand National

2025 Aintree Grand National Race Details

📅 Date: Saturday, April 5th 2025
⌚ Time: 4:00pm
🏇 Racecourse: Aintree
🔄 Trip: 4m 2 1/2f
💷 Winner: £500,000
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV

See here the full 2025 Aintree Grand National Festival race schedule, running order and TV channels.