I Am Maximus aims to become a rare dual winner while a dominant Willie Mullins team and a competitive Irish contingent shape a compelling Grand National field
The build-up to the Grand National 2026 at Aintree is dominated by the presence of the Defending champion I Am Maximus, who returns seeking a second success in the famous marathon. The card reads like a test of endurance and strategy: 34 declared runners, a clutch of high-profile Irish entries, and a betting market led by familiar names.
Amid the pre-race drama, one notable late change saw 2026 winner Nick Rockett declared a non-runner, with Imperial Saint drafted into the line-up as a replacement. This shifting picture highlights the unpredictability that has long defined the National spectacle.
Race logistics remain central to any preview. The big race is scheduled for 16:00 BST and will cover approximately four and a quarter miles over a course containing 30 jumps, including iconic obstacles such as Becher’s Brook, The Chair and the Canal Turn.
The going is reported as good to soft after spells of rain are expected across Friday and Saturday, with forecasts suggesting temperatures around 11C. Connections and trainers must therefore balance the questions of pace, jumping reliability and stamina—especially for horses carrying top weights or stepping up markedly in trip.
How the field shapes up
The declared list blends proven stayers, improving novices and a handful of graded performers moving into marathon territory. At the head of the market sits I Am Maximus, the top-weight and last year’s winner, quoted around 7/1 on Betfair markets. Close behind are established handicap performers such as Panic Attack (approx 15/2) and Grangeclare West (around 8/1), the latter trained by Willie Mullins and fancied on the basis of recent staying form. Others to watch in the mix include Iroko and Jagwar—each listed near the 10/1 bracket—both representing strong owners and yards with a record of targeting major staying tests.
Leading fancies and tactical notes
Several runners combine class with staying potential. I Am Maximus carries the burden of expectation as a defending champion and the highest assigned weight, a factor that invites historical comparison: no horse has won carrying top weight since Red Rum in 1977. Grangeclare West offers a similar stamina profile and finished third last year, while Panic Attack brings reliable handicap form into the equation. The market also features improving types such as Johnnywho and Oscar’s Brother, both of which have shown staying signs yet remain relatively inexperienced over the extreme National trip.
Each-way players and outsiders
The broader field includes a raft of each-way candidates: Haiti Couleurs (a dual winner over staying trips), Captain Cody (Scottish National form) and Monty’s Star (novice staying profile). Longer-priced names such as Answer To Kayf, Beauport and Marble Sands carry realistic place claims if the race turns into an attritional examination of stamina and jumping consistency. The declared reserves—Amirite, Ain’t That A Shame, Deep Cave, Buddy One—could enter the field if late withdrawals occur; the final time for reserves to be promoted was set at 1pm on Friday.
Trainers, ownership and the Irish influence
Willie Mullins once again exerts a heavy hand with eight entries, including Grangeclare West, Spanish Harlem, Lecky Watson, Champ Kiely, High Class Hero, Captain Cody and Quai De Bourbon. Mullins’ stable is renowned for depth and meticulous preparation for staying assignments, and the numerical advantage forces other yards to pick moments and targets carefully. Owner-breeders and leading stables such as those of Gordon Elliott, Henry de Bromhead and Joseph O’Brien also supply multiple entrants, underscoring the prominence of Irish-trained horses in Aintree’s premier handicap.
Weight, trip and jockey bookings
The interaction of assigned weight and trip is fundamental in handicap contests of this scale. I Am Maximus must overcome the handicapper’s top mark, while lightly weighted improvers like Quai De Bourbon and Perceval Legallois could be well placed if they handle the unique fences and the attritional late stages. Jockey switches and experienced hands will be closely observed—riders who can conserve energy early and pick jumping lines through the tricky Aintree obstacles will hold a tactical edge. Notable jockeys in the line-up include Paul Townend, who has prior association with the champion, and a clutch of other experienced pilots ready to shape pace and positioning.
Betting themes and final thoughts
The market is led by familiar staying names, but Grand National form is notoriously fickle: stamina, luck at the fences and ground conditions all conspire to produce surprises. Approximate odds place I Am Maximus near the head of the market, with several plausible challengers clustered behind. Historic references remind us how rare repeat winners and triumphs under top weight are, yet the combination of a strong Mullins team, a deep Irish contingent and solid each-way options makes the 2026 renewal a fascinating puzzle. With the going expected to be good to soft and rain forecast, stamina and jumping will likely decide the outcome when the field tackle the final circuits at Aintree.
