That tragic course of events aside, the reduction in the maximum field size did little to reduce the spectacle of the Grand National. The well-fancied trio of Perceval Legallois, Stumptown and Intense Raffles all failed to complete the course, but 16 horses did and a dozen or so of them were still firmly in contention on the turn for home. The eventual winner, Nick Rockett, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son, Patrick, led narrowly over the second-last fence, but was soon challenged, on either side, by stable companions I Am Maximus, Moonella Cocooner and Grangeclare West. A mistake at the final fence effectively put paid to the chance of the latter, while Moonella Cocooner weakened inside the final furlong, leaving Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus to fight out the finish. Both has been popular with punters before the race, and those taking advantage of free bet offers on FreeBetsUK and the like.
The 2024 winner, and second-favourite, I Am Maximus, who was 8lb higher in the weights than when victorious, continued to press the winner all the way to the line, but could find no extra in the closing stages and was eventually beaten 2½ lengths. Grangeclare West finished an honourable third, a further head away, thereby giving Willie Mullins 1-2-3 in the race. Indeed, favourite Iroko, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerrerio, stayed on to finish fourth, just ahead of another Mullins-trained runner, Meetingofthewaters. Nevertheless, still managed to saddle five of the first seven home, with Appreciate It – who was brought down at the fence before Becher's Brook on the second circuit – the only one of his six entries who failed to be involved in the buisness end of his race.