Full list as Nick Rockett withdraws from Willie Mullins horses taking part in this year’s race at Aintree
The most high-profile steeplechase on the racing calendar takes place this Saturday on the final day of the Grand National 2026.
A maximum of 34 horses will start the two-lap showpiece at Aintree, with 2024 champion I Am Maximus back again.
Last year’s winner, Nick Rockett, was withdrawn two days before the race, with I Am Maximus the favourite and Panic Attack, Grangeclare West and Jagwar also priced at single-figure odds.
101GreatGoals.com has the details on the horses expected to compete at the 2026 Grand National, including a full list of runners.
2026 Grand National runners
Willie Mullins’ Nick Rockett has pulled out because of coughing, replaced by first reserve Pied Piper.
I Am Maximus is also trained by Mullins, heading the field and aiming to become the eighth runner to win the Grand National more than once.
| Name | Age | Weight | |
| 1 | I Am Maximus | 10 | 11st 12lb |
| 2 | Pied Piper | 8 | 10st 3lb |
| 3 | Banbridge | 10 | 11st 11lb |
| 4 | Grangeclare West | 10 | 11st 10lb |
| 5 | Gerri Colombe | 10 | 11st 10lb |
| 6 | Haiti Couleurs | 9 | 11st 10lb |
| 7 | Spillane’s Tower | 8 | 11st 8lb |
| 8 | Firefox | 8 | 11st 4lb |
| 9 | Monty’s Star | 9 | 11st 3lb |
| 10 | Spanish Harlem | 8 | 11st 3lb |
| 11 | Lecky Watson | 8 | 11st 2lb |
| 12 | Champ Kiely | 10 | 11st 1lb |
| 13 | Iroko | 8 | 11st 1lb |
| 14 | Favori De Champdou | 11 | 11st 1lb |
| 15 | Three Card Brag | 9 | 11st 0lb |
| 16 | Oscars Brother | 8 | 10st 13lb |
| 17 | Mr Vango | 10 | 10st 12lb |
| 18 | High Class Hero | 9 | 10st 11lb |
| 19 | Stellar Story | 9 | 10st 11lb |
| 20 | Beauport | 10 | 10st 11lb |
| 21 | Captain Cody | 8 | 10st 10lb |
| 22 | Jagwar | 7 | 10st 10lb |
| 23 | Perceval Legallois | 9 | 10st 9lb |
| 24 | Gorgeous Tom | 8 | 10st 9lb |
| 25 | The Real Whacker | 10 | 10st 9lb |
| 26 | Quai De Bourbon | 7 | 10st 9lb |
| 27 | Answer To Kayf | 10 | 10st 8lb |
| 28 | Jordans | 7 | 10st 8lb |
| 29 | Final Orders | 10 | 10st 5lb |
| 30 | Marble Sands | 10 | 10st 5lb |
| 31 | Panic Attack | 10 | 10st 5lb |
| 32 | Top Of The Bill | 10 | 10st 5lb |
| 33 | Jonnywho | 9 | 10st 4lb |
| 34 | Twig | 11 | 10st 4lb |
Grand national reserves
- Imperial saint (8yo, 10st 2lb)
- Amirite (10st 2lb)
- Ain’t that a shame (12yo, 10st 2lb)
- Soul icon (9yo, 10st 1lb)
- Hyland (9yo, 10st 1lb)
When is the Grand National 2026?
The Grand National is on Saturday, April 11 at 16:00 BST, when Mullins will target a fourth Grand National victory, having first won the race in 2005 with Hedgehunter.
“It’s rare that the reality is better than the dream, but that’s what it was,” Mullins’ son, Patrick, told The Jockey Club about riding Nick Rockett to glory.
“Since I’ve been a kid reading books about it and watching black and white videos of the National, it’s always been my dream and it was better than I could have dreamt of.
“It doesn’t get any better than that – unless you can win it a second time, maybe. [I am Maximus] ran a blinder last year off top weight, but he missed his third run that year and maybe that told in the final furlong or so.
“It looks this year like we may be able to get a third run into him, which will be a big help, and the key thing for him may be slower ground.
“The year he won, it was a good bit slower than last year. That seems to help him jump. I definitely couldn’t rule him out.”
Mullins will be riding Grangeclare West this time and says his horse “has to have a shout”.
“He’s well able to carry the weight and he has to have another huge chance of going two better,” predicted Mullins.
Historic.
Red Rum’s THREE Grand National trophies 🏆 pic.twitter.com/f5lLB98DYL
— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) March 27, 2025
How to watch the Grand National 2026: Full TV channel list, live streams
In the UK, the Grand National 2026 will be shown live on ITV 1 and Racing TV. Coverage on ITV starts at 12:45 and runs until 17:00.
Viewers can stream the action on the go on a vast variety of devices via the ITVX app and ITV.com. BBC Radio 5 Live will carry radio commentary of the race.
A full list of broadcasters across different territories is here.
Grand National prize money
The total prize money for the race is £1 million. Here’s how that breaks down.
- 1st place – £500,000
- 2nd – £200,000
- 3rd – £100,000
- 4th – £65,000
- 5th – £40,000
- 6th – £30,000
- 7th – £20,000
- 8th – £ 15,000
- 9th– £10,000
- 10th – £5,000
Grand National weather forecast
Aintree could see sunshine for the race, according to the Met Office, which projects a temperature of around six degrees and a 30% chance of rain at the time of the race.
Visibility will be very good and the going will be good to soft.
