The 34 runners and riders for the 2026 Grand National are only a day away from being confirmed, with the big race at Aintree taking place this Saturday.
I Am Maximus is the favourite for the race despite being the top weight, as he aims to follow up his 2024 victory and a second place finish in 2025 with another prominent run. Grangeclare West, who came home in third place last year, has also seen significant support ahead of the race.
A total of 49 horses will be whittled down to a maximum of 34, with ante-post backers of Johnnywho breathing more easily, after Monday’s withdrawals allowed him to sneak on to the final Grand National runners and riders list. The 34 confirmed Grand National runners will be announced on Wednesday afternoon, alongside six reserves in case of any horses pulling out late on.
Grand National 2026 favourites
Find the leading Grand National runners below, alongside their odds and our guide on which are the best horses to back. The leading contenders are listed below, and you can access the full list 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.
- 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.
- Already the Scottish National winner, and now looking to win the English equivalent 12 months later.
- 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.
- A talented novice last season who has struggled to recapture that spark this year, leaving him with a lot to prove on Saturday
- 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 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 lightly-raced stayer who has had no luck in his last few starts but remains unexposed over marathon trips.
- 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.
- 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.
- An intriguing runner for Willie Mullins who stays forever but has a worrying habit of making costly jumping errors.
- A high-class King George winner who possesses plenty of speed, though significant questions remain regarding his stamina for this 4-mile trip.
- 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.
Best 2026 Grand National betting offers and free bets
By now, you should have narrowed down which runners you want to back for the 2026 Grand National, but you still have the chance to secure some free bets while placing your wagers.
The featured sites offer some of the most accessible Grand National free bets currently on the market, ranging from BetMGM’s “Bet £10 Get £50” to Sky Bet’s “Bet 5p Get £30” promotion.
These offers come from established betting sites that our experts have reviewed, ensuring a secure betting experience as the Aintree Festival approaches.
- Hugely attractive new customer welcome offer
- Popular Double Delight promo offers great value on goalscorer bets
- Best Odds Guaranteed starts as early as 8am each day
- Boosted winnings on Bet Builders and Accumulators
- Power Prices, Wonder Wheel & Acca Insurance among a range of top offers
- Innovative Super Sub offer means bets roll over to the player coming on
- Stake as little as £1 to benefit from new customer offer
- Recent site refresh has made navigation far more friendly
- Welcome offer gives new customers more free bets than most
- Profit boosts and free football predictors are part of a host of attractive offers
