I Am Maximus – the 2024 winner – heads the field for this year’s Grand National.
Nick Rockett was looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Tiger Roll in 2019, though was declared as a non-runner on Thursday morning.
Stablemate I Am Maximus is bidding to become the first horse to carry top weight to victory since Red Rum in 1977.
In addition to the past two winners, Willie Mullins also runs Grangeclare West, who was third last year and is the pick of last year’s winning jockey Nick Rockett. Tom Bellamy will boards the defending champion.
Welsh and Irish National winner Haiti Couleurs is aiming to become the first horse to claim all three steeplechases.
Ireland’s hand is typically strong with the likes of Banbridge, Gerri Colombe, Firefox, Monty’s Star and Oscars Brother all in the mix.
In the event of a non-runner, the deadline for reserves to make the final field is 1pm on Friday.
I Am Maximus ridden by Paul Townend to victory in 2024
PA Wire
Here are the 34 horses set to run as it stands…
Grand National 2026 runners and riders
(All odds via Betfair, subject to change.)
Top-weight defending champion; proven stamina and class, but age and burden raise questions despite strong recent graded chase form.
Jockey: Paul Townend | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 11st 12lb | Odds: 13/2
Consistent mare with strong handicap form; stamina proven but faces tough task against stronger male opposition historically dominant here.
Jockey: Harry Skelton | Trainer: Dan Skelton | Weight: 9st 13lb | Odds: 15/2
Talented Mullins runner with solid staying form and recent win; leading contender if reproducing best jumping rhythm and stamina reserves.
Jockey: Patrick Mullins | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 11st 9lb | Odds: 9/1
Strong market fancy with solid National form; Cheltenham run disappointing but remains dangerous contender with proven stamina and jumping ability.
Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr | Trainer: Greenall & Guerriero | Weight: 11st 0lb | Odds: 10/1
Exciting young contender with strong Cheltenham form; well-weighted and progressive, though lacks experience over extreme National trip.
Jockey: Mark Walsh | Trainer: Jonjo & AJ O’Neill | Weight: 10st 11lb | Odds: 10/1
Lightly raced and improving; stamina potential evident but lacks experience needed for such a demanding race.
Jockey: Daniel King | Trainer: Connor King | Weight: 10st 0lb | Odds: 12/1
Improving novice chaser; stamina promising but must prove jumping fluency and composure in large competitive field.
Jockey: Richie McLernon | Trainer: Jonjo & AJ O’Neill | Weight: 10st 4lb | Odds: 12/1
Scottish National winner with proven stamina; ideal age and profile, strong each-way claims if jumping holds under pressure.
Jockey: Harry Cobden | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 10st 10lb | Odds: 14/1
Improving staying chaser with strong handicap credentials; thrives in testing conditions and could outrun odds if handling Aintree fences well.
Jockey: Sean Bowen | Trainer: Rebecca Curtis | Weight: 11st 7lb | Odds: 14/1
Solid novice staying profile; open to improvement but must prove resilience and jumping accuracy in biggest test faced so far.
Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe | Trainer: Henry de Bromhead | Weight: 11st 4lb | Odds: 16/1
Top-class chaser dropping in trip class; strong engine but must adapt to unique fences and longer distance than usual races.
Jockey: Jack Kennedy | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 11st 8lb | Odds: 20/1
Jack Kennedy (r) riding Gerri Colombe
Getty Images
Capable handicap performer; stamina likely sufficient but must prove class and jumping consistency against stronger opposition.
Jockey: Conor Stone Walsh | Trainer: Gavin Cromwell | Weight: 10st 7lb | Odds: 20/1
Progressive Irish handicapper; stays well and jumps efficiently, capable of running into places at rewarding odds.
Jockey: Harry Cobden | Trainer: Gavin Cromwell | Weight: 9st 12lb | Odds: 20/1
Unexposed stayer from strong yard; could improve for distance but lacks big-field experience and must show sharper jumping here.
Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 11st 2lb | Odds: 22/1
High-quality performer earlier career; inconsistent recently but capable if rediscovering form and lasting extended distance test.
Jockey: Danny Mullins | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 11st 1lb | Odds: 25/1
Stellar Story has solid form, strong stamina, and realistic each-way chances.
Jockey: Robert Dunne | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 10st 11lb | Odds: 25/1
Young improving chaser; stamina not fully proven but profile suggests potential to outrun odds if progressing again.
Jockey: Donagh Meyler | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 9st 11lb | Odds: 28/1
Experienced handicapper with strong staying form; outsider with place potential if adapting to fences and maintaining rhythm throughout race.
Jockey: Brian Hayes | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 11st 3lb | Odds: 28/1
Progressive staying chaser; lightly raced and open to improvement but faces steep rise in class for this contest.
Jockey: Sean Flanagan | Trainer: Henry de Bromhead | Weight: 10st 6lb | Odds: 28/1
Consistent handicapper with staying ability; likely to keep galloping but may lack finishing kick against higher-class rivals.
Jockey: Ben Jones | Trainer: Joe Tizzard | Weight: 10st 3lb | Odds: 28/1
High-class Grade 1 performer stepping into marathon territory; possesses quality but stamina for extreme National trip remains unproven question mark.
Jockey: JJ Slevin | Trainer: Joseph O’Brien | Weight: 11st 10lb | Odds: 33/1
Reliable handicap chaser; stays well and jumps soundly but may lack class edge needed against stronger graded rivals here.
Jockey: Danny Gilligan | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 10st 13lb | Odds: 33/1
Highly regarded novice with potential; unexposed at marathon trips but could be well-handicapped if stamina holds.
Jockey: James Bowen | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 10st 5lb | Odds: 40/1
Talented novice with stamina potential; untested at this level but progressive profile suggests possible surprise run if settling early.
Jockey: Jordan Gainford | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 10st 12lb | Odds: 40/1
Front-running stayer; effective in certain conditions but ground concerns and class level raise doubts about competitiveness here.
Jockey: Jack Tudor | Trainer: Sara Bradstock | Weight: 10st 1lb | Odds: 40/1
Outsider needing several to underperform; stamina possible but lacks class and experience to trouble leading contenders realistically.
Jockey: Beau Morgan | Trainer: Ben Pauling | Weight: 9st 9lb | Odds: 40/1
Consistent graded performer; reliable jumper but stamina doubts persist for marathon trip, needing career-best effort to feature prominently late.
Jockey: Keith Donoghue | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 11st 5lb | Odds: 50/1
Strong stayer with good trial form; could be competitive if maintaining rhythm and conserving energy for final stages.
Jockey: Toby McCain-Mitchell | Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies | Weight: 9st 10lb | Odds: 50/1
Grey outsider with solid staying form; unlikely winner but could outrun big odds if conditions suit and jumping holds.
Jockey: Kielan Woods | Trainer: Ben Pauling | Weight: 10st 2lb | Odds: 50/1
Replaced 2025 winner Nick Rockett, but has little chance of replicating that success. A distinct outsider with limited expectations, having largely been campaigned over two-and-a-half miles.
Jockey: Callum Pritchard | Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White | Weight: 9st 9lb | Odds: 50/1
Experienced stayer with solid jumping; lacks recent standout form but could grind into minor placings if race becomes attritional.
Jockey: John Shinnick | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 10st 8lb | Odds: 66/1
Staying specialist with solid handicap form; effective in testing conditions but needs improvement to match leading contenders’ class.
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies | Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies | Weight: 10st 9lb | Odds: 66/1
Reserves: Amirite, Ain’t That A Shame, Deep Cave, Buddy One