A complete runner-by-runner guide for today's Grand National at Aintree, as well as key betting trends and each-way selections from our experts.
Grand National 2026
It is finally Grand National day as the final field of 34 runners prepare to take to Aintree to tackle the grueling test of 30 fences over 4 mile 2½ furlongs is finalised.
There has already been some early drama with last year's winner Nick Rockett, who was a 16/1 shot to win again this year, pulling out with questionable health.
Spillane's Tower (50/1) and Pied Piped (100/1) join Nick Rockett as non-runners.
The Market has taken a liking to I Am Maximus who currently occupies the position at the top of the betting as the 15/2 favourite. Having won in 2024 and finished runner up in 2025 he is difficult to ignore in this race.
Dan Skelton's Panic Attack is the other horse at the top of the market at 17/2. A mare hasn't won the Grand National in 75 years but having finished third in the Mares Chase at Cheltenham Festival in March, won the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November and Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, she should have a brilliant chance of breaking that trend.
Other top contenders include the smooth-jumping Grangeclare West, and the ultra-consistent Jagwar, who looks tailor-made for a test of this nature. Monty’s Star is another who has attracted strong support, dropping into handicap company with a profile that suggests he could be well treated.
Oscars Brother is an 18/1 chance and represents one of the smallest operations in the race, coming from Connor King’s two‑horse yard in County Tipperary.
Below you’ll find verdicts for each of the final 34 runners from Steve Ryder, alongside each-way selections from Road to Cheltenham and Jake Price.
If you’re eyeing up a bet in the Grand National this week, make sure you get the most out of your stakes and check out the Grand National free bets available through oddschecker.
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Grand National Runners & Riders
I AM MAXIMUS
2024 winner and 2025 runner-up behind stablemate Nick Rockett. The ten-year-old outran odds of 50/1 to finish 2nd in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown this season before finishing 5th in the Irish Gold Cup behind Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior. He is technically rated 1lb higher than last year but arrives in arguably better form. Interesting to see that Paul Townend maintains the partnership this year.
BANBRIDGE
2024 King George VI Chase winner who finished runner-up in that contest this season when fitted with a first-time visor. He was 3rd in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time. largely regarded as a 3-mile specialist so there are potentially stamina doubts having chose to run in this rather than the Grade 1 Bowl Chase on Thursday instead.
GRANGECLARE WEST
Grade 1 winning novice chaser in 2023 who finished 3rd beaten only 3 lengths in this race last season behind stablemates Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus. Despite his odds of 33/1 last year, he looked the most likely winner prior to a bad mistake at the final fence. He beat Gerri Colombe by 5 ½ lengths in the Bobbyjo Chase last time under Paul Townend. Paul has chosen to ride I Am Maximus however.
GERRI COLOMBE
Ten-year-old who finished 2nd behind Galopin Des Champs in the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup before winning the Grade 1 Bowl Chase at this meeting. He struggled on his first two starts this season having been off for 421 days but finished 2nd behind Grangeclare West in the Bobbyjo Chase prior to winning at Down Royal last time.
HAITI COULEURS
2025 National Hunt Chase winner at the Cheltenham Festival who followed up in the Irish Grand National on his next start. A three-time winner this season including in the Welsh Grand National and Grade 2 Denman Chase, he needs to bounce back having pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time.
SPILLANE’S TOWER
Connections have shown patience waiting for soft ground so his participation in this race could prove doubtful even if declared (he was a NR at the meeting last year in the Grade 1 Bowl Chase and in the Cheltenham Gold Cup this year). The Jimmy Mangan trained eight-year-old bounced back from two below par runs over hurdles to win the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase in January.
AMIRITE
A useful staying chaser who has come in as the third reserve and now lines up in the 2026 Grand National after late withdrawals. He showed decent form last summer, winning the Midlands National at Kilbeggan and finishing a solid fourth in the Galway Plate, plus he jumped round Aintree well when fourth in the Topham Chase over the shorter fences last year. However, his recent efforts have been poor (pulled up over hurdles and tailed off on the cross-country at Cheltenham), and he can be inconsistent, often fading late. He likes to race prominently but stamina and reliability over the full National trip make him a big outsider at best.
FIREFOX
A runner-up in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle here in 2024 over 2 miles, he outran odds of 33/1 to finish 4th in the Irish Gold Cup on his penultimate start before finishing 6th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time. He has never won over further than 2m4f so would have stamina to prove in this race. He was entered for the Topham Handicap Chase on Friday.
MONTY’S STAR
Talented nine-year-old despite only winning two of his seventeen career starts. He finished 2nd behind Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower in Grade 1 Novice Chases before finishing 4th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season. He appears to have been campaigned with this race in mind this season for connections who had Minella Indo finish 3rd in the race in 2024 at 28/1.
SPANISH HARLEM
A winner of the Kerry National this season, he looked set to win the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park when unseating Sean Cleary-Farrell at the last when two lengths clear. He needs to bounce back from pulling up in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last time.
LECKY WATSON
Progressive novice chaser last season who won the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival prior to falling at Punchestown on his next start. He has finished well beaten on his four starts this season in graded company this season but should appreciate the return to better ground in this race.
CHAMP KIELY
Ten-year-old who defied odds of 22/1 to beat Ballyburn in a Grade 1 Novice Chase last season at Punchestown. He was beaten a short head on his reappearance over 2 miles before disappointing in Grade 1 company since.
IROKO
Eight-year-old who has placed on all three of his starts at Aintree including two Grade 1s and this race last season. He was 4th beaten 7 ½ lengths by Nick Rockett when sent off favourite for this race last season off a mark of 152 and he runs here off a 5lb higher mark. He needs to bounce back from a slightly disappointing run at the Cheltenham Festival last time behind stablemate Johnnywho.
FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU
Despite now being an eleven-year-old, the Gordon Elliott trained gelding is in the form of his life this season. He won the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas before winning a Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham in January by 8 ½ lengths. He was a good 2nd at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 157 and looks a strong stayer at the trip.
THREE CARD BRAG
Finished 11th beaten 45 lengths by Nick Rockett in this race last season and races off a 10lb higher mark this year. He won at Cheltenham in October before finishing 2nd behind Panic Attack in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. He was 7th beaten 59 lengths by Grangeclare West in the Bobbyjo Chase last time.
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OSCARS BROTHER
Progressive novice chaser trained by Connor King who purchased by JP McManus prior to winning the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan in February. He finished 4th beaten 5 ½ lengths in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time on ground that will have been faster than ideal.
MR VANGO
Sara Bradstock trained ten-year-old who won the London National, the Peter Marsh Chase and the Midlands Grand National last season prior to finishing a short head 2nd behind Twig in the Becher Handicap Chase at this course in December on his reappearance. He has pulled up on his two subsequent starts and connections will be hoping for softer ground.
HIGH CLASS HERO
Nine-year-old who finished 3rd in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last season off a mark of 148 prior to finishing 2nd on his reappearance at Punchestown. He needs to bounce back from two pulled up efforts at Gowran Park and Naas and he looks set to struggle off a mark of 153.
STELLAR STORY
Beat The Jukebox Man in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. He finished 2nd behind Lecky Watson in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival the following year but has been beaten 14, 21 and 14½ lengths on his three starts this season.
BEAUPORT
An impressive 31 length winner of the Berkshire National at Ascot last season, he could only finish 12th beaten 63 lengths in this race last season off a mark of 156. He ran with credit on his reappearance before slightly disappointing over hurdles on his previous two starts. Runs in this race this year off a mark of 153.
CAPTAIN CODY
Last year’s Scottish Grand National winner who finished 3rd behind Romeo Coolio in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase on his reappearance. He fell in the Thyestes Chase on his penultimate start before finishing 5th beaten 33 lengths by Grangeclare West in the Bobbyjo Chase last time.
JAGWAR
Progressive seven-year-old who has form figures of 11311322 over fences. He won the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival last season and was only beaten ½ length by Johnnywho in the Ultima Handicap Chase this year off a mark of 152. That was his first start over further than 3 miles but he stayed on well at the finish. His jumping has often been a weakness at crucial points during his races and that could be the difference between him winning the race and running well.
PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS
Nine-year-old who fell at the ninth fence in this race last year when sent off a well fancied 10/1 shot. He has finished well beaten in his two starts this season but does now run off a 2lb lower mark as a result.
GORGEOUS TOM
A Grade 3 Novice Chase winner last season who finished 4th behind Lecky Watson and Champ Kiely later in the season. He has run with credit on all three of his starts this season but has to prove his stamina having never won over further than 2m4f in his career.
THE REAL WHACKER
Beat Gerri Colombe in the 2023 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and has since won the 2024 Charlie Hall Chase. He has failed to beat a rival in his previous two starts at Grade 2 level but has been given a chance by handicapper off a mark of 151.
QUAI DE BOURBON
Seven-year-old who has only won 1 of his 8 starts over fences but did finish 3rd in the Irish Grand National behind Haiti Couleurs last season when sent off 11/2 favourite. He pulled up on his first two starts this season but ran well to finish 3rd at Leopardstown last month over a shorter trip.
ANSWER TO KAYF
Ten-year-old who won the Troytown Handicap at Navan on his reappearance this season off a mark of 141. He has finished 4th in the Theyestes Chase and Bobbyjo Chase on his next two starts and could be up against it off a mark of 150.
JORDANS
Won a Grade 3 Novice Chase at Punchestown last season before finishing 2nd behind Caldwell Potter in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at this meeting last season. Well beaten in his two starts over fences so far this season, he could prove well handicapped off a mark of 150.
FINAL ORDERS
A two-time Cross Country Chase winner this season including when defeating Favori De Champdou by 2 ¼ lengths. Both of his victories this season have been on better ground which should suit as well as having proven stamina over 3m5½f.
MARBLE SANDS
Ten-year-old who could only finish 12th in the Topham Handicap Chase at this meeting last season but seemed to relish the stamina test at Cheltenham in November winning over 3m3½f by four lengths off a mark of 142. He finished 2nd in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase on his next start off this mark of 147 but could prove outclassed.
PANIC ATTACK
Progressive mare who had her first four starts over fences since joining Dan Skelton, including the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. She finished 3rd behind Dinoblue in the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and will be better suited by this stamina test.
TOP OF THE BILL
Finished 2nd in the Grand National Trial at Haydock on his latest start behind Grand Geste having earlier won over the same course on his reappearance. He is ideally suited by a stamina test on good ground so this race could play to his strengths.
JOHNNYWHO
Won the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in first-time cheekpieces having had a wind operation. He beat the reopposing Jagwar by ½ length that day under Richie McLernon who was narrowly beaten in this race aboard Sunnyhillboy in 2012. He runs here from 6lbs “well in” at the weights off a mark of 146.
TWIG
Won his first two starts this season including when beating Mr Vango by a short head in the Becher Handicap Chase over these fences in December. He runs here off a mark of 146 which is 3lbs higher than that day and the same mark as when 10th beaten 44 lengths in the race last year.
IMPERIAL SAINT
A three-time winner at Aintree in his career on the Mildmay course who put in a career best performance winning the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in January off a mark of 141. He was badly hampered by a faller when 8th behind Johnnywho in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
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Grand National 2026 Betting Trends
These are the key trends to keep in mind when placing your bets on the race:
- 11 of the previous 11 winners had at least 3 previous runs that season
- 11 of the previous 11 winners had at least 7 previous chase starts
- 10 of the previous 11 winners were aged between 7 and 9
- 9 of the previous 11 winners were rated between 146 and 160
- 8 of the previous 11 winners had already won a graded race
- 0 of the previous 11 winners had fallen or unseated more than once
Grand National 2026 Tips
Jake Price's Grand National Selections
JOHNNYWHO 1pt EW (6 Places) @ 12/1
LECKY WATSON 0.5pts EW (6 Places) @ 33/1
It’s a wide-open Grand National this year, but one horse being overlooked is JOHNNYWHO, the Ultima Handicap Chase winner. While much of the focus has been on Iroko and Jagwar, I was impressed with Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s 9yo at Cheltenham, where first-time cheekpieces and a wind operation clearly worked.
The National has long been the target, highlighted by his run in the Grand Sefton to gain experience over these fences. He handled them well and notably avoided a faller in front of him with ease—another big positive.
His campaign was managed to keep him around a mark of 146. At Ascot, he stayed on strongly from a poor position to finish a close third despite the yard being under a cloud at the time. He underperformed slightly in the Peter Marsh when favourite, finishing fifth, before undergoing a wind operation.
After a 52-day break, he returned to win the Ultima at 18/1. With cheekpieces on, he travelled smoothly, jumped well, and found plenty up the hill to score by half-a-length. While Jagwar may have weakened, JOHNNYWHO still saw off Quebecois comfortably.
With the weights already set, he runs off 146—effectively 6lb well-in given he should now be rated 152. With further improvement likely and no concerns over track, trip, or fences, he looks a major contender carrying just 10st 4lb.
It would be hard to ignore Willie Mullins in this race, and LECKY WATSON appeals as a similar type to last year’s third, Grangeclare West. A Grade 1-winning novice chaser (Brown Advisory), he was quickly diverted from Gold Cup ambitions and instead aimed at this race.
He’s been campaigned in top-level races with limited chances but shaped well in the Savills Chase on better ground, finishing seventh not far behind Grangeclare West and Monty’s Star. Last time out in the Bobbyjo, he showed early promise under a 12lb penalty before fading on heavy ground.
A return to quicker conditions is key, and off a mark of 158, he looks fairly treated.
Road To Cheltenham's Grand National Best Bet
BANBRIDGE (40/1, 0.5pts E/W – 6 places)
With the forecast suggesting the rain will stay away, I’m giving BANBRIDGE a squeak of providing Joseph O’Brien with a first Grand National winner. A three-time Grade 1 winner over fences, he has the class to be competitive in the modern version of this race.
The big question is whether he’ll stay the trip. We won’t know until Saturday, but if he does, he should go close, and at 40/1, he looks worth a punt given his profile.
He finished third behind Heart Wood in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, shaping as though a step back up in trip would suit. In a race where anything can happen, I’m happy to take a chance on him.
