The 2025-26 National Hunt season is over. It produced performances that will be cited for years. Here is the year in numbers.
26 — Gaelic Warrior's Punchestown Gold Cup winning margin
Twenty-six lengths. The most dominant staying chase performance at Punchestown in modern memory. Combined with his eight-length Cheltenham Gold Cup win, Gaelic Warrior produced the two most dominant performances in championship staying chase races of the entire season. His RPR of 186 was the highest rating awarded to any staying chaser in Britain or Ireland across the campaign.
8 — Lengths by which Gaelic Warrior won the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The widest winning margin in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in recent memory. Gaelic Warrior won the Gold Cup and the Punchestown equivalent in the same season — the first horse to achieve that double since Sizing John in 2017. Paddy Power immediately installed him as the 2/1 favourite for the 2027 Gold Cup.
52 — Years since a horse carried top weight to win the Grand National
I Am Maximus carried 11st 12lb to win the 2026 Grand National — the same weight Red Rum carried in 1974. He became the first horse since Red Rum to regain the Grand National, having won in 2024 and reclaimed the title in 2026. Paul Townend became only the second jockey in history to win both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same calendar year.
20 — Starting price of Kap Vert in the Scottish Grand National
The 20/1 winner of the Scottish Grand National carried 10st 12lb, was French-bred, and was on only his fifth run over fences. Every trend variable pointed to a horse like Kap Vert — the market disagreed. The data was right.
11 — Grade 1 wins for Lossiemouth
Eleven Grade 1 victories for one mare across her career, including four at the Cheltenham Festival and four consecutive wins at Punchestown. Willie Mullins compared her to Quevega — the mare who won six consecutive Grade 1s at the festival. Lossiemouth has four. Two more to equal the record.
19 — Consecutive Irish trainers championships for Willie Mullins
Mullins won his 19th consecutive Irish National Hunt trainers championship at Punchestown. He overtook Gordon Elliott, who had led heading into the final week of the season. The championship will begin again in October.
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Facts verified via web search May 4 2026.