The 34 runners and riders for the 2026 Grand National have now been confirmed, with the big race at Aintree taking place this Saturday.
Despite carrying top weight, I Am Maximus remains the clear favourite as he looks to follow up his 2024 victory and last year’s runner-up finish with another massive performance at Aintree. He isn’t the only returning contender attracting money, however, as Grangeclare West is seeing plenty of market support after finishing third in 2025.
The initial entry list has officially been trimmed down to the maximum 34 runners, while a further six horses have been selected as reserves in case of late withdrawals.
Ante-post punters who backed Johnnywho can finally relax, as Monday’s final withdrawal stage allowed him to just sneak into the confirmed lineup.
Grand National 2026 runners and betting odds
Find the confirmed 2026 Grand National runners below, alongside their odds and our pinstickers guide on which are the best horses to back. The full list of contenders are listed below, and you can find plenty more about the great race on our dedicated Grand National site.
- The 2024 Grand National winner followed up impressively in 2025 by finishing second. Carries top weight but that wasn’t a problem 12 months ago.
- Third in last year’s Grand National and will head to Aintree of the back of a win in February’s Bobbyjo Chase
- No experience of the famous Aintree fences but will head there in fine form after finishing second in the Ultima at Cheltenham
- Fourth in last year’s race and will carry 11 pounds less weight than I Am Maximus this time round.
- Limited experience over longer distances, but did impress when winning the 3m 2f Coral Gold Cup in November.
- Followed a trio of victories in Ireland with a fourth place on his UK debut at the Cheltenham Festival.
- Already the Scottish National winner, and now looking to win the English equivalent 12 months later.
- Winners of the Cheltenham Festival’s Ultima have gone on to do well in the National, so the signs bode well for Johnnywho following March’s victory.
- Has already won both the Irish and Welsh Nationals, but can he complete the hat-trick with the English version of the famous race?
- A familiar name to many as last year’s Grand National winner, but hasn’t raced since then.
- Fourth in the 2025 Gold Cup, it’ll be interesting to see how Monty’s Star fares on his Aintree debut.
- Shown similarities to previous winner Tiger Roll with Cross Country Chase win at Cheltenham and could be a smart outsider.
- Caught the eye when finishing third in the Bobbyjo Chase and looks like a typical Gordon Elliott stayer built for this race.
- Represents the Henry de Bromhead yard and while his recent form is patchy, he has the build of a horse that will appreciate a real test of stamina.
- A talented novice last season who has struggled to recapture that spark this year, leaving him with a lot to prove on Saturday
- A former Gold Cup runner-up who has struggled with injuries but showed he still has the engine by winning at Down Royal last time out.
- A cross-country specialist who won the Paddy Power Chase and arrives here in the form of his life, albeit with a much higher handicap mark.
- A lightly-raced stayer who has had no luck in his last few starts but remains unexposed over marathon trips.
- An intriguing runner for Willie Mullins who stays forever but has a worrying habit of making costly jumping errors.
- Fell early in last year’s race and while he hasn’t shown much since, his trainer Gavin Cromwell is a master at targeting these prizes.
- A front-running Brown Advisory winner who could be dangerous if allowed to dictate his own pace from the start.
- A high-class King George winner who possesses plenty of speed, though significant questions remain regarding his stamina for this 4-mile trip.
- A superb jumper who ran well for a long way last year before fading; he likely needs softer ground to be at his best.
- A classy Gordon Elliott runner who has danced every dance in Grade 1 company this season; the big question is whether his high cruising speed can be sustained.
- A real sleeper in the betting who stays remarkably well and has a very tidy jumping technique, making him exactly the type of unexposed Irish raider that often hits the frame.
- The winner of the Becher Chase over these fences in December, he is a confirmed Aintree lover who shouldn’t be dismissed.
- A prolific winner over hurdles who has yet to reach the same heights over fences, making him a risky proposition.
- A Grade 1 winner who has been below par this season but could spark back to life now that he’s finally stepped up to a marathon trip.
- A true “mud-lark” and a massive stayer who won the Devon National by a distance; he will be praying for the heavens to open as he has the lung capacity to gallop while others are flagging.
- A former top-level novice who hasn’t quite kicked on this season, but he is a bold jumper who will enjoy being in the thick of the action.
- A quirky but talented stayer who jumps well and could outrun his massive odds if he decides to put his best foot forward on the day.
- The Midlands National winner who has proven he can handle a marathon trip and deep ground, though he’ll need to avoid the jumping errors that sometimes haunt him.
- He’s a gritty stayer who will be hoping the leaders go too fast so he can pick up the pieces late on.
Grand National 2026 riders
As well as the runners, it’s also imperative to mention this year’s riders for the Grand National on Saturday. At the top of the Aintree narrative are the elite jockeys steering Willie Mullins’ powerful stable, most notably Paul Townend. As the undisputed number one rider for the yard, Townend is back in the saddle aboard the 2024 winner and current 2026 favourite, I Am Maximus, carrying the hopes of punters backing the horse to make history under top weight.
In a fascinating twist, Patrick Mullins, who famously steered 33/1 shot Nick Rockett to an incredible victory in the 2025 National, has switched mounts this year to ride Grangeclare West. This high-profile jockey reshuffle has handed Tom Bellamy the ride on the defending champion, giving him a golden opportunity to emulate last year’s heroics over the famous Aintree spruce.
Beyond the Mullins camp, several world-class riders are primed to navigate the chaotic 34-runner field. Jack Kennedy is a massive booking for trainer Gordon Elliott, partnering the classy Gerri Colombe and hoping to guide the proven stayer into the history books.
Meanwhile, owner JP McManus has secured top-tier talent for his prominent runners, with Mark Walsh taking the reins on the highly fancied Jagwar and Richie McLernon reuniting with the popular late-entrant Johnnywho following their recent Cheltenham success.
Elsewhere, the tactical expertise of Harry Skelton will be heavily relied upon as he partners Panic Attack, adding even more depth to an incredibly competitive weighing room this Saturday.
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