When the tape is released at 4:00pm on Saturday, 11 April, 34 horses will thunder towards the first of 30 fences at Aintree Racecourse. The Grand National isn’t just another horse race in the UK; it’s a 4-mile, 2½-furlong test of stamina, jumping, and resilience. With a £1m prize on the line, tension has been building since the official weights were unveiled in February.
First run in 1839, the race has built a reputation as the ultimate test in horse racing, and that unpredictability still defines it today. For roughly ten minutes on a Saturday afternoon in April, the country holds its breath, eyes fixed on the television. The Grand National draws an estimated 600 million viewers worldwide, and the 2026 edition looks set to be one of the most compelling in years.
There is no puzzle in sport quite like the Grand National. For months, we’ve been analysing a list of nearly 80 names, weighing up form, weights, and ground conditions.
But as the 3 March scratching deadline passed, the picture began to take shape. With heavy hitters like Impaire Et Passe and Flooring Porter officially out, the battle for a place in the final 34 has intensified. This is no longer a theoretical shortlist; it’s a competitive field of contenders with Aintree firmly in their sights, so if you’re planning to bet on UK horse racing, this is where the real analysis begins.
Here are 30 leading runners expected to make the final line-up:
1. Iroko (France)
Age
8
Weight
11st 1lb
Trainer
Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Analysis
Finished 4th in 2025, had wind surgery, but showed no ill effects, returned to racing at Haydock in November.
Rating
4.5/5
2. I Am Maximus (France)
Age
10
Weight
11st 12lb
Trainer
Willie Mullins
Analysis
Winner of Grand National 2024 and finished 2nd in 2025. Prep season is going well, proving that his glory days aren’t necessarily behind him.
Rating
4/5
3. Haiti Couleurs (France)
Age
9
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
Rebecca Curtis
Analysis
Winner of the Cheltenham Festival 2025, Irish Grand National 2025 and Welsh Grand National 2025, winning an English race looks like the next goal for him.
Rating
4/5
4. Panic Attack (Ireland)
Age
10
Weight
10st 5lb
Trainer
Dan Skelton
Analysis
A mare and winner of the 2025 Paddy Power Gold Cup and the 2025 Coral Gold Cup. She is in sensational form.
Rating
4/5
5. Nick Rocket (Ireland)
Age
9
Weight
11st 11lb
Trainer
Willie Mullins
Analysis
Winner of the 2025 Grand National, he hasn’t raced since his big win.
Rating
4.5/5
6. Oscar’s Brother (Ireland)
Age
8
Weight
10st 13lb
Trainer
Connor King
Analysis
A pedigree known for stamina. If the horse wins, Connor will be the youngest trainer to win the race.
Rating
4/5
7. Captain Cody (Ireland)
Age
8
Weight
10st 10lb
Trainer
Willie Mullins
Analysis
Winner of the Scottish National 2025. He tumbled at Gowran Park, but he is maintaining a good form.
Rating
4/5
8. Spillane’s Tower (Ireland)
Age
8
Weight
11st 8lb
Trainer
James Joseph Mangan
Analysis
Belongs to the yard of the 2003 winner, Monty’s Pass. Winner of the 2024 Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase. Limited experience over extreme distances.
Rating
4/5
9. Favori De Champdou (Ireland)
Age
11
Weight
11st 1lb
Trainer
Gordon Elliot
Analysis
Long-distance chaser and winner of the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase 2024. Limited experience of extreme chase.
Rating
4/5
10. Resplendent Grey (Ireland)
Age
8
Weight
10st 11lb
Trainer
Olly Morph
Analysis
Great strike, came 2nd in 6 of his 9 recent chases. Winner of the Gold Cup at Sandown 2025.
Rating
4/5
11. Gentleman’s Game (UK)
Age
10
Weight
11st 3lb
Trainer
MF Morris
Analysis
Gold Cup 2025 runner-up, and he ticks a lot of boxes for this year’s National.
Rating
4.5/5
12. Perceval Legallois (France)
Age
9
Weight
10st 9lb
Trainer
Gavin Cromwell
Analysis
Great record in big-race handicaps. Was one of the favourites in 2025 with 10/1 odds but fell at the 9th fence. Unseated in the Coral Gold Cup.
Rating
4/5
13. Grey Dawning (Ireland)
Age
9
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
Dan Skelton
Analysis
3m1f is his comfort zone.
Rating
4/5
14. Three Card Brag (Ireland)
Age
9
Weight
11st
Trainer
Gordon Elliott
Analysis
Finished 11th in Grand National 2025. Came 2nd in the Kerry National but had limited experience of long-distance racing.
Rating
4/5
15. Lecky Watson (Ireland)
Age
8
Weight
11st 2lb
Trainer
Willie Mullins
Analysis
Winner of the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at Cheltenham 2025.
Rating
4/5
16. Mr Vango (Ireland)
Age
10
Weight
10st 12lb
Trainer
Sara Bradstock
Analysis
London National Handicap Chase 2024 winner, Peter Marsh Chase 2025 winner but limited experience at Grade-1 level and inconsistent performance.
Rating
4/5
17. Jagwar (France)
Age
7
Weight
10st 10lb
Trainer
Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Analysis
Winner of the TrustATrader Plate at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. He has never run 2m5½f race.
Rating
3.5/5
18. Now Is The Hour (France)
Age
9
Weight
10st 7lb
Trainer
Gavin Cromwell
Analysis
Fell out in the National Hunt Chase 2025 and was pulled out in the Irish Grand National. He has faced some stamina issues, but is in better form.
Rating
3.5/5
19. Gorgeous Tom (Ireland)
Age
8
Weight
10st 9lb
Trainer
Henry De Bromhead
Analysis
Gorgeousness personified but nothing serious on paper. Finished 4th in the Coral Gold Cup.
Rating
3.5/5
20. Firefox (Ireland)
Age
8
Weight
11st 4lb
Trainer
Gordon Elliott
Analysis
4th in the Irish Gold Cup but never run beyond 3m, so Aintree can be a learning curve.
Rating
3.5/5
21. Amirite (Ireland)
Age
10
Weight
10st 2lb
Trainer
HenryDeBromhead
Analysis
Has been warming for the Grand National with a cross-country chase in December 2025.
Rating
3.5/5
22. Stellar Story (Ireland)
Age
9
Weight
10st 11lb
Trainer
Gordon Elliott
Analysis
Finished 2nd in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Grade 1 in Cheltenham Festival 2025. Limited chase experience.
Rating
3.5/5
23. Grangeclare West (Ireland)
Age
10
Weight
11st 10lb
Trainer
Willie Mullins
Analysis
3rd in Grand National 2025, 4th in Savills Chase, but has a habit of fluffing the last.
Rating
3.5/5
24. High Class Hero (UK)
Age
9
Weight
10st 11lb
Trainer
Willie Mullins
Analysis
Won his beginners’ chase on February 25. Not much is doing this season so far, but he is happiest on the ground.
Rating
3.5/5
25. Quai De Bourbon (France) Rating: 3.5/5
Age
7
Weight
10st 9lb
Trainer
Willie Mullins
Analysis
Handicap Chase win at Punchestown 2024. Limited experience in top Grade 1.
Rating
3.5/5
26. Monty’s Star (Ireland)
Age
9
Weight
11st 3lb
Trainer
Henry de Bromhead
Analysis
4th in Gold Cup 2025, first-time runner at Aintree. Highly rated horse, but hasn’t won a race since 2023.
Rating
3.5/5
27. Jordans (France)
Age
7
Weight
10st 8lb
Trainer
Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Analysis
Not many 7-year-olds have won the Grand National. He has some good runs under his belt but limited experience with long distances.
Rating
3/5
28. Better Days Ahead (Ireland)
Age
8
Weight
10st 11lb
Trainer
Gordon Elliott
Analysis
Inexperienced chaser, 3rd in Brown Advisory Novice Chase at Cheltenham 2025.
Rating
3/5
29. Croke Park (Ireland)
Age
8
Weight
10st 8lb
Trainer
Gordon Elliott
Analysis
Hasn’t run a chase more than 3m and hasn’t won since Grade One Novice Chase 2024. May win some fans due to his name.
Rating
3.5/5
30. L’Homme Presse (France) Rating: 2.5/5
Age
11
Weight
11st 8lb
Trainer
Venetia Williams
Analysis
Managed to secure the 4th rank in the Gold Cup 2024. Secured a position in the Final list of Grand National 2025 but didn’t run.
Rating
2.5/5
Final declarations: Wednesday, 8 April 2026 at 10am
Race time: Saturday, 11 April 2026 at 4pm (Aintree)
Key Trends and Stats for This Year’s Race
Here are the key trends shaping the Grand National 2026. These insights can help narrow the field and highlight where real value may lie:
Age and Weight Insights: Nine of the last ten winners were aged eight or nine. Noble Yeats bucked the trend at seven, the first to do so since Bogskar in 1940.
Trainer Power Plays: Willie Mullins dominated 2025, training five of the top seven finishers. His 2026 squad once again looks formidable.
Top Weight Trends: No horse has ever won carrying 11st 12lb. I Am Maximus faces that challenge this year. That said, eight winners since 2009 have carried 11st or more, so it’s not an automatic negative.
Aintree Experience: Course form remains a strong indicator. Iroko (4th in 2025), I Am Maximus (1st in 2024, 2nd in 2025), and Grangeclare West (3rd in 2025) all bring valuable experience.
Trial Race Indicators: The Fairyhouse Bobbyjo Chase continues to be a key prep race. Grangeclare West won the 2026 edition, while runner-up Gerri Colombe has seen strong market support.
Irish Dominance: Irish-trained horses have won the last four renewals. British hopes rest with runners like Iroko and Panic Attack.
Stamina Matters: Proven winners over 3 miles or further tend to outperform those stepping up in trip. A useful filter when narrowing your selections.
Race Day Essentials: Betting, Weather, and Broadcasts
The betting markets are wide open. Iroko sits at around 7/1 at the head of the market, but with Willie Mullins responsible for a significant portion of the field, value can be found throughout the odds.
It’s worth comparing bookmakers for the best each-way betting terms. Some are offering enhanced place payouts, up to six places, which can make a meaningful difference in a race as competitive as this.
As for the weather, Aintree in April is notoriously unpredictable. A dry spell can produce good-to-firm ground, favouring classier horses carrying higher weights. A wet week, however, brings stamina into sharper focus and gives an edge to proven stayers such as Grangeclare West.
The race begins at 4pm on Saturday, 11 April. In the UK, it will be broadcast live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage starting from around 1pm. You can also stream it via ITVX, while Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing provide additional build-up and analysis throughout the day.
Whether you’re trackside at Aintree, watching in the pub, or following along at home with an each-way bet in hand, the Grand National remains one of sport’s most gripping spectacles.
