March 30, 2025
Top Tipsters for the Grand National: Who to Follow in 2025
March 26, 2025
The Aintree Grand National represents the pinnacle of horse racing spectacle, capturing the attention of millions worldwide and transforming casual observers into enthusiastic punters for a day. With forty runners tackling Aintree’s legendary fences over a gruelling four-mile-plus journey, finding the winner demands exceptional insight, analytical prowess, and often a measure of inspired judgment.
For most racing enthusiasts, navigating this complex puzzle benefits tremendously from expert guidance. The right tipster can provide not just selections but valuable context, trend analysis, and strategic betting advice that turns the overwhelming challenge of the Grand National into a more structured opportunity. This comprehensive guide examines the top tipsters to follow for Grand National 2025, analysing their methodologies, track records, and specialized insights that might give you the edge in finding the Aintree winner.
Understanding the Tipster Landscape
Before diving into specific recommendations, it’s important to understand the broader tipster ecosystem and how to evaluate claims of expertise:
Types of Racing Tipsters
The racing tipster world encompasses several distinct categories, each with their own strengths and limitations:
For Grand National success, the ideal tipster often combines elements of several categories – analytical rigor, deep understanding of Aintree’s unique challenges, and genuine insider perspective on the participants.
Evaluating Tipster Credibility
When assessing which tipsters to follow for Grand National tips, consider these critical factors:
With these evaluation criteria in mind, let’s examine the leading tipsters worth following for the 2025 Grand National.
Top Media Analysts for Grand National Insight
The most prominent tipsters typically work within mainstream racing media, providing analysis and selections to wide audiences. For the Grand National, several stand out for their specialized knowledge:
Kevin Blake
As one of racing’s most insightful analysts across both British and Irish racing, Blake has developed a reputation for identifying value in major handicaps through rigorous form analysis.
Strengths:
Track Record: Blake correctly identified Grand National potential in Noble Yeats months before his Aintree success and has consistently highlighted runners that have outperformed their odds in the race.
Where to Follow:
Lydia Hislop
With a reputation for forensic race analysis and understanding of training patterns, Hislop brings particular insight to the Grand National puzzle.
Strengths:
Track Record: Hislop’s Road to Cheltenham analysis often extends to identifying horses whose campaigns will pivot toward Aintree, providing early insights into potential contenders.
Where to Follow:
Paul Kealy
As the betting editor of the Racing Post, Kealy combines data analysis with traditional form reading to identify value in major handicaps.
Strengths:
Track Record: Kealy has highlighted several big-priced Grand National places and winners over the years, with a particular strength in identifying overlooked contenders from smaller yards.
Where to Follow:
Professional Tipster Services for Grand National Success
Beyond media pundits, several subscription-based professional tipsters have established exceptional records in major handicap chases and warrant specific attention for Grand National tips:
Hugh Taylor
Taylor’s analytical approach has produced one of the most impressive and verified long-term records in British racing tipping.
Methodology:
Grand National Record: Taylor has recommended several each-way selections that have placed at big prices in recent Grand Nationals, focusing particularly on horses whose stamina credentials are underestimated by the market.
Value Proposition: Unlike many tipsters, Taylor provides detailed reasoning for each selection, offering educational insights alongside specific recommendations.
Where to Follow:
Tom Segal (Pricewise)
Perhaps the most influential tipster in British racing, Segal’s Pricewise column has revolutionized how early value is identified in major races.
Methodology:
Grand National Impact: Segal’s selections significantly impact market movements, often leading to immediate price contractions, which means followers need to act quickly when he publishes Grand National tips.
Track Record: While primarily focused on pattern races, Segal’s big-race handicap record includes several successful Grand National selections over the years.
Where to Follow:
Ben Linfoot
Specializin in big-field handicaps, Linfoot’s Value Bet column has produced numerous big-priced winners in competitive contests.
Methodology:
Grand National Approach: Linfoot typically provides both ante-post and day-of-race selections for the Grand National, often focusing on unconsidered runners from smaller yards.
Value Proposition: His analysis frequently identifies horses trading at significantly larger odds than their chances justify, making his approach particularly suited to the Grand National’s large field.
Where to Follow:
Some tipsters have developed particular expertise specifically for Aintree racing, making their Grand National tips especially valuable:
Mick Fitzgerald
As a former Grand National-winning jockey (on Rough Quest in 1996) and now an analyst, Fitzgerald brings insider perspective to Aintree’s unique challenges.
Unique Insight:
Analytical Approach: Rather than traditional tipping, Fitzgerald provides invaluable insights into which horses will handle Aintree’s unique demands based on their physical attributes and jumping technique.
Where to Follow:
Matt Chapman
Known for strong opinions and insider connections, Chapman’s Grand National analysis often highlights contenders overlooked by the broader market.
Methodology:
Track Record: Chapman has highlighted several big-priced Grand National places in recent years, including horses from smaller yards that were generally dismissed by the market.
Where to Follow:
Sam Turner (Robin Goodfellow)
The Daily Mail’s racing correspondent has developed a strong record in major handicaps, with the Grand National a particular focus.
Methodology:
Track Record: Turner has recommended several Grand National winners over the years, including horses at double-digit odds that outperformed market expectations.
Where to Follow:
Statistical and Form Analysis Specialists
For those seeking data-driven approaches to Grand National tips, several analytical services offer specialised insights:
James Willoughby
A pioneer in the application of advanced data analysis to racing, Willoughby’s methodologies provide unique perspectives on major handicaps.
Analytical Approach:
Grand National Insight: Rather than traditional tips, Willoughby provides analytical frameworks that help identify the profile of likely outperformers based on quantifiable metrics.
Where to Follow:
Simon Rowlands
As a sectional timing expert and handicapping specialist, Rowlands offers particularly valuable insights for complex races like the Grand National.
Methodology:
Key Insights: Rowlands’ analysis often identifies horses whose running styles particularly suit the demands of Aintree, especially those who conserve energy efficiently for the closing stages.
Where to Follow:
Irish Racing Specialists for Grand National Tips
With Irish-trained horses dominating recent Grand Nationals, tipsters with specialist knowledge of the Irish racing scene offer valuable perspectives:
Johnny Ward
As one of Ireland’s most connected racing journalists, Ward provides unique insights into the Irish Grand National challenge.
Strengths:
Track Record: Ward has highlighted several Irish-trained Grand National contenders before they became obvious to the wider market, including identifying progressive chasers being quietly prepared for Aintree.
Where to Follow:
Donn McClean
With decades of experience covering Irish racing, McClean’s analysis of staying chasers provides valuable context for Grand National assessment.
Analytical Approach:
Key Insights: McClean often identifies Irish horses whose form has been built specifically toward an Aintree peak, highlighting contenders that may be underestimated by the British market.
Where to Follow:
Building Your Grand National Tipping Portfolio
Rather than relying on a single tipster, a strategic approach to Grand National betting often involves synthesizing insights from multiple expert sources:
Start by following form specialists who provide analytical frameworks rather than just selections:
These help develop your own assessment criteria rather than simply following picks.
Layer in expertise specific to the Grand National challenge:
Given Irish dominance, ensure strong coverage of Irish contenders:
Complete your approach with tipsters focused specifically on value identification:
Timing Your Grand National Tips
Different tipsters provide optimal value at different stages of the Grand National build-up:
6+ Months Before (Ante-Post Focus)
2-3 Months Before (Trial Race Period)
Grand National Week (Final Preparations)
Race Day Insights
Evaluating Tipster Success
When following tipsters for Grand National tips, establish objective measurement criteria:
Rather than just winners, calculate long-term ROI from following each tipster’s Grand National recommendations over multiple years.
For a race as competitive as the Grand National, evaluate how often a tipster’s selections place (typically top 6-8 finishers) rather than just win.
Monitor whether tipsters consistently identify selections that outperform their odds (e.g., 33/1 shots placing regularly).
Assess whether the analytical frameworks and reasoning provided prove accurate, even when selections don’t win.
Conclusion: Creating Your Grand National Tipping Strategy
The Grand National’s unique challenges demand a sophisticated approach to tipping analysis. Rather than following a single expert, the most successful punters develop a portfolio approach, synthesising insights from different specialist perspectives.
When seeking Grand National tips for 2025, prioritise tipsters who offer transparent reasoning, demonstrate consistent value identification in staying handicaps, and show particular understanding of Aintree’s specific demands. Balance media analysts who offer accessible insights with specialised form experts who provide deeper analytical frameworks.
The Irish factor remains crucial, making tipsters with strong connections to Irish racing particularly valuable for Grand National analysis. Meanwhile, ex-jockey insights provide irreplaceable perspective on the physical and mental attributes needed to navigate Aintree’s unique test.
By combining these diverse perspectives, monitoring tipster performance objectively, and developing your own analytical framework, you’ll be well-positioned to approach the 2025 Grand National with confidence. While no tipster can guarantee success in a race of such complexity, the right expert guidance significantly enhances your chances of finding that elusive Aintree winner – potentially at odds that make the challenging puzzle well worth solving.