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American Grand National 2025 Preview – Irish Trio Tackle Defending Champ Snap Decision

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American Grand National 2025 preview include Ballysax Hank

Three horses travel across the pond from Ireland for the American Grand National of 2025 at Far Hills Racetrack in New Jersey overlooking New York City on Saturday, 18 October. Raiders from the Emerald Isle boast a fine recent record in the 2m 5f Grade 1 contest with Hewick and Jury Duty both successful.

Unlike the Aintree, Ayr, Chepstow and Fairyhouse versions, the American equivalent is actually a fixed hurdles race. Steeplechase means something quite different on the other side of the Atlantic, yet powerful Irish yards in Gordon Elliott and Gavin Cromwell go after the £120,000 first prize.

Cullentra House has two runners from powerful owners in Robcour’s Fil Dor and Zanahiyr of Bective Stud. Neither have perhaps fulfilled their promise over fences, but both arrive stateside fit from runs on the Flat. Fil Dor was behind Cromwell inmate Ballysax Hank and a useful bumper filly in a mile-and-three-quarters maiden around Gowran Park in a prep race.

Heading the home team, meanwhile, is last season’s American Grand National winner Snap Decision. Now a veteran aged 11, Jack Fisher’s Hard Spun gelding likes firm ground. Lonesome Glory scorer Swore is the young pretender as a six-year-old for Keri Brion, who looks to complete the same double she managed with mare The Mean Queen back in 2021.

French import Vae Patron has twice finished close behind Snap Decision since leaving Europe for Leslie Young, meanwhile. Howyabud and Boldog, both recruits from Ireland, complete the line-up. Who’s favourite depends on which of the leading horse racing betting sites you wager with. Some firms side with Zanahiyr, while others prefer Ballysax Hank, but first prize should go back to Ireland.

Age on Hank’s Side for American Grand National of 2025

The last six-year-old to win this race was American steeplechasing great McDynamo. He notched five consecutive victories in the contest during the mid-2000s. Although the subsequent trend points to more mature horses, the fact remains that younger legs are open to the most improvement. Age is on the side of both Ballysax Hank and Swore.

Cromwell’s charge found form when landing the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July. As handicap chases outside the core National Hunt season go in the UK, that is about the best of them. Ballysax Hank then followed-up with a half-length success on the level over Seo Linn with Fil Dor some 10 lengths further back in third.

As the runner-up has gone once better since, and earlier landed Listed and Grade 2 bumpers at Cheltenham and Aintree, that adds substance to his form. Ballysax Hank has also seen the Market Rasen run advertised by those down the field with the fifth, seventh, 10th and 11th home all subsequently scoring. A sound surface isn’t an issue for him either.

Zanahiyr posted his best form with cut in the ground, however, so optimum conditions look unlikely. Third past the post in two editions of the Champion Hurdle during the Cheltenham Festival earlier in his career, he too landed a steeplechase and his prep race on the Flat. Without easier going, however, Zanahiyr shouldn’t be favourite for the American Grand National in 2025 with online bookmakers as he isn’t so effective.

Elliott stable jockey Jack Kennedy rides him, rather than Fil Dor. That suggests more about the Cullentra House pecking order than anything else. Swore, meanwhile, looks a bit of each way value from the home team, after battling back and getting up at Saratoga last time. He’s open to the most progress as a hurdler.

Michael Lee
Michael Lee
Michael Lee

Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.

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