For fans of jumps racing, spring is the most wonderful time of the year. As the temperatures finally begin to rise, the racing thermometer reaches boiling point with a pair of spectacular multi-day meetings. In terms of consistent quality, the Cheltenham Festival is tough to beat, but the most famous individual contest takes place at the second of the springtime highlights.
We are, of course, referring to the Aintree Grand National, which tops the bill at the three-day Grand National Festival on Merseyside. Held over a gruelling 4m2½f trip and featuring 30 of the most famously formidable fences in the sport, the Grand National sets bookmakers’ tills whirring more than any other British event.
As ever, the subject of who will come home in front dominates sporting discussion in early April. With the final list of runners and riders confirmed on Wednesday, 8th April, we are now a little closer to learning the answer.
Grand National: Confirmed Field of Runners and Riders
| Number | Horse | Jockey | Trainers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Am Maximus | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2 | Nick Rockett | Tom Bellamy | Willie Mullins |
| 3 | Banbridge | J J Slevin | Joseph O’Brien |
| 4 | Grangeclare West | Mr P W Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 5 | Gerri Colombe | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
| 6 | Haiti Couleurs | Sean Bowen | Rebecca Curtis |
| 7 | Spillane’s Tower | Simon Torrens | James Joseph Mangan |
| 8 | Firefox | Keith Donoghue | Gordon Elliott |
| 9 | Monty’s Star | Darragh O’Keeffe | Henry De Bromhead |
| 10 | Spanish Harlem | Brian Hayes | Willie Mullins |
| 11 | Lecky Watson | Sean O’Keeffe | Willie Mullins |
| 12 | Champ Kiely | Danny Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 13 | Iroko | Jonjo O’Neill Jr | Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero |
| 14 | Favori De Champdou | Danny Gilligan | Gordon Elliott |
| 15 | Three Card Brag | Jordan Gainford | Gordon Elliott |
| 16 | Oscars Brother | Daniel King | Connor King |
| 17 | Mr Vango | Jack Tudor | Mrs Sara V Bradstock |
| 18 | High Class Hero | James Bowen | Willie Mullins |
| 19 | Stellar Story | Robert Dunne | Gordon Elliott |
| 20 | Beauport | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies |
| 21 | Captain Cody | Jonathan Burke | Willie Mullins |
| 22 | Jagwar | Mark Walsh | Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero |
| 23 | Perceval Legallois | Harry Cobden | Gavin Cromwell |
| 24 | Gorgeous Tom | Sean Flanagan | Henry De Bromhead |
| 25 | The Real Whacker | Gavin Sheehan | Patrick Neville |
| 26 | Quai De Bourbon | Donagh Meyler | Willie Mullins |
| 27 | Answer To Kayf | John Shinnick | Terence O’Brien |
| 28 | Jordans | Ben Jones | Joseph O’Brien |
| 29 | Final Orders | Gavin Cromwell | Conor Stone-Walsh |
| 30 | Marble Sands | Kielan Woods | David Killahena and Graeme McPherson |
| 31 | Panic Attack | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton |
| 32 | Top Of The Bill | Toby McCain-Mitchell | Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies |
| 33 | Johnnywho | Richie McLernon | Jonjo and AJ O’Neill |
| 34 | Twig | Beau Morgan | Ben Pauling |
Highlights
Not since the great Vincent O’Brien saddled the winners in 1953, 1954, and 1955 has a trainer claimed three successive editions of the Aintree Grand National. The market suggests that a second name may be added to that exclusive list in 2026. Successful with I Am Maximus in 2024 and Nick Rockett in 2025, Willie Mullins sends nine into battle in 2026.
Of those nine contenders, I Am Maximus is the choice of stable jockey Paul Townend. Going out on his shield when second in 2025, he will become the first horse since Red Rum to reclaim the Grand National if going one place better this year. Of the other Mullins runners, Nick Rockett arrives as the defending champion, but Patrick Mullins opts to ride Grangeclare West. Third in the 2025 edition, this Cheveley Park Stud runner arrives on the back of a win in the Bobbyjo Chase. Won by I Am Maximus in 2024 and Nick Rockett in 2025, that Fairyhouse contest has pointed the way to the Grand National winner in recent years.
Currently sitting in a six-way tie at the top of the Grand National owners’ table, JP McManus saddles seven as he bids to claim top spot as his own. I Am Maximus aside, the market suggests that McManus’s best chance of success lies with the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero runner Jagwar. Second in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, this strapping sort could be well handicapped if he takes to the fences. Others sporting the green and gold include 2025 fourth Iroko, Ultima Handicap Chase winner Johnnywho, and Oscars Brother, who represents two-horse trainer Connor King.
Last sighted being pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs bids to add his name to the list of horses to win both the Welsh and Aintree Grand Nationals. He’s 12 pounds higher than for that Chepstow success in December, but stays well and may appreciate dropping back into handicap company.
Now the overwhelming favourite to claim a first British Trainers Championship, Dan Skelton could put the race beyond any doubt with a first Grand National triumph. Skelton’s sole entry is the mare Panic Attack, who has attracted significant market support in the week before the race. Successful in three of four outings this season, she has already claimed two valuable handicaps in the shape of the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Coral Gold Cup.
Having won six of the past seven editions, Irish trainers are responsible for 23 of the final 34-runner field. Holding a narrow lead over Mullins in the Irish Trainers’ Championship, Gordon Elliott saddles four in his bid for a fourth Grand National victory. The pick of the Elliott runners is one of the classiest operators in the field – five-time Grade 1 winner, Gerri Colombe. Second to Grangeclare West in the Bobbyjo Chase, he warmed up for this with a smooth success at Down Royal.
Gavin Cromwell’s Final Orders is another Irish challenger to note. Successful in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the 10-year-old bids to follow the Tiger Roll route to success.
Among those available at higher prices, Beauport led at the third last in the 2025 edition before fading out of contention. Tried in a tongue tie this year, he may go well for Nigel Twiston-Davies, who claimed famous Grand National victories with Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002).
