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Anthony Vella

Anthony is the Senior Content Manager at grandnational.org.uk and has over 20 years experience in the industry. He has produced engaging content and tips for a host of sports including horse racing. Anthony has had accounts with dozens of betting sites so he knows exactly what makes a good place to bet.
February 4th 2026, 6:40 pm

Grand National 2026 entries longlist revealed

By Anthony Vella
The list of entries for the 2026 Grand National was officially unveiled on 3rd February, setting the stage for the 178th running of the world’s most famous steeplechase at Aintree on 11th April. While the quality remains sky-high, the most striking headline from the announcement is the noticeable shift in the quantity of contenders. A […]
December 29th 2025, 12:38 pm

Iroko team plotting path to Aintree

By Anthony Vella
Iroko’s connections are once more plotting a path to Merseyside in the spring after seeing their charge bag a pre-Christmas win at Ascot. The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero-trained Iroko was sent off favourite for the Grand National at Aintree in the spring and finished a very honourable fourth as Nick Rockett bagged the prize […]
November 11th 2025, 12:59 pm

Aintree winner could pocket £1m for the first time

By Anthony Vella
For the first time ever, the winner of the Grand National at Aintree could pocket a cool £1m in prize money following a bonus incentive offered by bookmakers William Hill. The incentive sees a new £500,000 bonus being introduced for connections of any horse who wins one of three designated Grand National trials this season […]
October 28th 2025, 7:30 pm

Elliott coy on repeating Three Card Brag trick at Aintree

By Anthony Vella
Trainer Gordon Elliott and owner Max McNeill are seemingly set for some discussions on the possibility of Three Card Brag returning for a second tilt at the Aintree Grand National in the spring of 2026. Three Card Brag recently sealed the biggest win of his career as he landed the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed […]
October 2nd 2025, 11:02 am

Aintree showpiece to remain on ITV until 2030

By Anthony Vella
The Grand National at Aintree – the world’s most recognisable jumps race – will remain on ITV for live terrestrial television coverage in Britain until at least 2030, following a new broadcast rights deal. ITV Racing will continue to broadcast Britain’s biggest meetings to a terrestrial audience after securing a four-year deal to show exclusive […]
July 1st 2025, 10:47 am

Ted Walsh: Mullins may never top Aintree glory

By Anthony Vella
Ted Walsh is well positioned to judge what winning the Aintree Grand National means for a father-son combination and the legendary figure says even Willie Mullins may struggle to top that achievement in the future. Mullins won back-to-back Grand Nationals in April as Nick Rockett led home a one-two-three for his yard, with last year’s […]
May 21st 2025, 12:09 pm

Aintree hero Blackmore ‘blown away’ by response to retirement call

By Anthony Vella
Rachael Blackmore, the only female rider to win the Grand National at Aintree, has announced her retirement from race racing. Blackmore made history in 2021 when steering Minella Times home in front at Aintree for trainer Henry De Bromhead and owner JP McManus. Her Grand National success made headlines around the world and now, aged […]
April 17th 2025, 6:40 pm

Pace now a key Grand National ingredient – Cromwell

By Anthony Vella
Gavin Cromwell has enjoyed a stellar season at home and abroad and the Irishman believes that a ‘pacey horse’ is now what is needed to win the Grand National at Aintree. Cromwell won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March with Inothewayurthinkin but he opted against running the well-handicapped JP McManus contender in the Merseyside marathon, […]
April 11th 2025, 5:07 pm

Nick Rockett and the Mullins’ hit the Aintree summit

By Anthony Vella
Even by the standards of the mighty Willie Mullins, the 2025 Grand National will take some topping. The Closutton powerhouse had won this great race twice before, with Hedgehunter (2005) and I Am Maximus (2024), but the victory for Nick Rockett raised the bar to new levels, crossing the line as he did with Mullins’ […]
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