L'Homme Presse will miss next Saturday's Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse due to a setback. While jockey Sam Twiston-Davies has decided to ride Beauport in next week's showpiece at Aintree.
Venetia Williams' 10-year-old, who had been around a 50-1 chance for the world's greatest steeplechase, had been ruled out of another run in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at the recent Cheltenham Festival following a slight setback. It had initially been hoped that he would make the Grand National but connections have now decided he will not be ready in time.
Andy Edwards, who co-owns L'Homme Presse along with Pam Sharman, Ray Sharman and Peter and Patricia Pink, told the PA news agency: "Sadly L'Homme Presse will not run in the Grand National. He is sound and fine, but we just ran out of time. We are bitterly disappointed not to be running next weekend."
L'Homme Presse was fourth in last year's Gold Cup and third in the King George VI Chase on his seasonal reappearance at Kempton on Boxing Day. He went on to win the Cotswold Chase at Prestbury Park on Cheltenham Festival Trials day in late January, but he was pulled up on his most recent start in the Ascot Chase last month.
READ MORE:Latest entries and weights for the 2025 Randox Grand National
Herefordshire trainer Williams, who won the Grand National with 100-1 shot Mon Mome in 2009, will now rely on Royale Pagaille – a dual winner of the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park – in the Aintree showpiece. The Rich Ricci-owned 11-year-old is a best-priced 125-1 with several bookmakers including William Hill, Paddy Power and Betfair for the National.
Tom Gibney's 2024 Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles is favourite with several firms with William Hill and Paddy Power the best-priced at 8-1. Gavin Cromwell's Cheltenham Cross Country Chase winner Stumptown is vying for favouritism and is also 8-1 with Ladbrokes, Coral, bet365, Betfred and Boylesports.
Meanwhile jockey Sam Twiston-Davies has decided to partner last season's Midlands Grand National winner Beauport ahead of Broadway Bay after he had the pick of the two Aintree hopefuls from his father Nigel Twiston-Davies' stable.
Broadway Boy has disappointed on his two most recent starts and was pulled up in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. In contrast, the nine-year-old Beauport won the Berkshire National Handicap Chase at Ascot on his seasonal return before finishing a good second in the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock on his prep run for Aintree last month.
Beauport is a general 33-1 chance with most bookmakers, while Broadway Boy is twice that price at 66-1.
Jockey Twiston-Davies told the Nick Luck Podcast: "I'm going to have a go on Beauport, all being well. We took them both, thanks to Cheltenham who allowed us to take them there and jump their National-style fence which is obviously the 'Canal Turn' in the Cross Country, and they both jumped it really well and they're both in very good form. So we're hopeful.
"I really thought Broadway Boy would go very well at Cheltenham but he was disappointing, whereas Beauport's had a really good prep and it's always been the plan. I'm just very much hoping he can go and run a massive race, but in truth I'm hoping they both run very well. Tom Bellamy will ride Broadway Boy, he knows the horse well so that's a good match as well.
"They (Bryan and Philippa Burrough, owners of Beauport and 1983 National winner Corbiere) have obviously got history in the race, they know the race well and know exactly the type of horse you needed to be buying to win it. With their young horses they've always bought that nice stamp of horse and he very much fits the bill."
Beauport won the Midlands National on heavy ground but Twiston-Davies doesn't think he needs testing conditions to be at his best, with the going at Aintree likely to be good to soft at best for next week's Aintree marathon.
The rider said: "I don't think so, you have to remember as well that Aintree like to water their National course quite heavily because obviously they want to take a lot of pace out of the race. So they'll put a lot of water on it and I don't think you'll ever see a quick-ground Grand National again. I'm sure you'll see it riding on the slow side anyway."
There will again be a maximum of 34 runners going to post a week on Saturday and Nicky Henderson's Hyland is currently the 34th and final runner on the list of entries. This year that reserves system will return. As previously there will be four reserves named – 35-38 on the final list – and should there be any non-runners up to 1pm the day (Friday, April 4) before the Grand National the reserves will replace them in racecard order.
Grand National 2025 odds
Betting Guide: 8-1 Intense Raffles, 8-1 Stumptown, 9-1 I Am Maximus, Iroko, 12-1 Vanillier, Hewick, 14-1 Nick Rockett, Perceval Legallois, 20-1 Meetingofthewaters, Kandoo Kid, 25-1 Grangeclare West, Hyland, Minella Cocooner, Three Card Brag, 33-1 Beauport, Monbeg Genius, Senior Chief, Mr Vango, 40-1 Bravemansgame, Minella Indo. 66-1 bar.
For full list of William Hill odds, please go to https://sports.williamhill.com/betting/en-gb/horse-racing/OB_EV34940420/aintree-grand-national-non-runner-money-back-5th-apr-2025
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