Owned by Cheveley Park Stud and trained by Willie Mullins, Grangeclare West has already run in the Grand National twice, finishing a close third behind stable companion Nick Rockett in 2025 and unseating jockey Patrick Mullins after a mistake at the very first fence when well fancied for the 2026 renewal. In between times, the son of multiple champion jumps sire Presenting had demonstrated his well-being with a cosy, five-and-a-half-length win in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse – a race won by both Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus – despite blundering at the final fence.
It is worth noting that by the time the 2027 Grand National rolls around, on April 10, 2027, Grangeclare West will be an 11-year-old. The last horse of that age to win the celebrated steeplechase was Pineau de Re in 2014, but that statistic aside, Grangeclare West appears to be fairly priced at 25/1 in the early ante-post market. He is currently officially rated 161, 2lb lower than when third in 2025 and, although the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) handicapper will have the final say when the Grand National weights are published in mid-February, he should not be overburdened for his third attempt.
Described by Mullins’ stable jockey Paul Townend as “a class animal” after winning the Bobbyjo Chase, Grangeclare West has hardly been a prolific winner over fences, with his victory at Fairyhouse his first since December 2023. However, more often that not he has been highly tried – keeping company with his Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stable companions Gaelic Warrior and Galopin Des Champs, among others, in recent times – so he has more going for him than his 3-14 record over regulation fences might otherwise suggest. All of his six wins under National Hunt Rules have come on going officially described as “yielding” or softer, but his National third came on “good to soft”, so underfoot conditions at Aintree should be no cause for concern.