When it comes to Grand National chatter, Chantry House isn’t exactly the name flying off everyone’s lips, but maybe that’s exactly why you should be paying attention.
Trained by the legendary Nicky Henderson, who’s still chasing that elusive first Grand National win, Chantry House is quietly lurking in the field like a pub quiz answer you’ll kick yourself for missing.
He’s got experience, staying power, and the kind of profile that might not scream “headline grabber,” but could absolutely whisper “each-way winner” if things go his way at Aintree.
Dual Grade 1 Winner
Chantry House, is the veteran chaser trained by Nicky Henderson and owned by racing powerhouse JP McManus.
At anywhere from 80/1 to 100/1 in the betting, Chantry House is the longest-priced of McManus’s five entries.
But could this eleven-year-old gelding surprise everyone and deliver a fairy-tale result?
He burst onto the scene as a novice chaser in 2021, securing back-to-back Grade 1 victories at the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree.
His triumph in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham was followed by an emphatic win in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree, showcasing his class and stamina over three miles.
The following season saw him claim another major victory in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham, propelling him into contention for the Gold Cup.
However, his career trajectory faltered after being pulled up in that race and suffering confidence-shaking fall at Wetherby in late 2022.
These setbacks led to an extended period away from fences, with Chantry House campaigning over hurdles for all of 2023 and 2024.
A Revival
After nearly three years without a win, Chantry House rolled back the years with a stunning victory in the Betfair Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day 2025.
Under Nico de Boinville, he traveled strongly and galloped clear to win by six-and-a-half lengths, an unexpected but heartening return to form.
Trainer Nicky Henderson admitted that this performance altered their plans for the horse. Initially earmarked for hunter chases, Chantry House’s resurgence opened up the possibility of a Grand National bid.
However, his subsequent outing in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase was less inspiring; he finished well-beaten by L’Homme Presse, raising questions about his ability to compete at the highest level consistently.
A Tough Assignment at Aintree
Chantry House has raced three times before at Aintree but has mixed results. His crowning moment came in 2021 with his Mildmay Novices’ Chase victory.
However, he unseated his rider in the Many Clouds Chase in December 2022, and finished middle of the pack in the Handicap Hurdle last year. The Grand National will be his first attempt over this course and its unique fences.
At age eleven, Chantry House faces an uphill battle against younger rivals. Historically, horses of his age have struggled to win the National, though exceptions like Amberleigh House (2004) prove it’s not impossible.
His stamina for the extended four-mile two-and-a-half-furlong trip is another question mark; while he has shown staying power over three miles, this will be uncharted territory.
The JP McManus Factor
Chantry House will carry the famous green-and-gold silks of JP McManus, one of racing’s most successful owners.
McManus has four other runners in this year’s National: I Am Maximus (last year’s winner), Iroko (the leading British hope), Perceval Legallois (a strong Irish contender), and Meetingofthewaters. With odds of 100/1, Chantry House is very much the outsider among them.
McManus’s record in the National is formidable with three wins to date, and he aims to become the most successful owner in the race’s history with a fourth victory this year.
While Chantry House may not be his leading hope on paper, McManus is known for backing horses capable of springing surprises.
The Yeats Factor
I know that many fans of the Grand National pick a runner that just appeals to them, and that’s as good as any other way to choose a horse to back.
I rarely talk about the sires or dams that these runners come from, largely because it isn’t always relevant but I’m going to make an exception with Chantry House.
Here’s why. Chantry House was sired by a horse called Yeats – he’s the daddy!
Yeats is one of the most influential National Hunt stallions of recent years. The four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner has consistently produced offspring with stamina in bucket loads.
Among them is Noble Yeats, who famously won the 2022 Grand National as a novice chaser.
Other standouts include Flooring Porter, a dual Stayers’ Hurdle champion at Cheltenham, and Conflated, an Irish Gold Cup winner, further cementing Yeats’ reputation as a sire of elite performers in long-distance races.
Additionally, he has sired several past Grand National runners, including Longhouse Poet (6th in 2022) and Mount Ida, showcasing his influence on horses capable of handling extreme distances.
For Chantry House, this lineage provides hope that he possesses the genetic attributes to excel over Aintree’s four-mile-plus trip, even if his form and stamina remain unproven at this distance.
Basically, it could be in his genes!
The Verdict
With James Bowen booked to ride tomorrow, Chantry House enters the 2025 Grand National as an enigma – a horse whose flashes of brilliance are offset by periods of inconsistency.
At such long odds, he represents a long shot but not an impossible one. His New Year’s Day performance demonstrated that he still possesses the ability when conditions suit him.
However, realistic expectations should be tempered; while he has class on his side, questions about stamina, age, and suitability for such a demanding test remain significant hurdles.
Could he roll back the years one more time? Stranger things have happened at Aintree, but for now, Chantry House remains more sleeper pick than serious contender.
BETFRED
