Grand National 2026 Runners and Favourites — Who to Back at Aintree

The 2026 Grand National runs at Aintree on Saturday April 11th at 4:00pm. Final declarations are confirmed on Wednesday April 8th, when the field of up to 34 runners is set and the betting market settles into its final shape. Right now, with twelve days to go, the market is still moving — and this is the window where the best ante-post value tends to exist before money pours in and prices shorten. Here is a horse-by-horse guide to the leading contenders and what the data says about each. I Am Maximus — Market Favourite Willie Mullins' nine-year-old heads the market and has earned that position through two consecutive Grand National runs of the highest quality. The 2024 winner carried top weight of 11st 12lb into the 2025 race and finished second to stablemate Nick Rockett — a performance that showed his ability remains fully intact under a significant burden. He ran well in the Grade 1 Savills Chase in December, suggesting he has wintered well. The concern is weight — he heads the handicap again and the race conditions will load him heavily. No horse has won the Grand National off a weight above 11st 10lb in recent renewals. His ability is beyond question. Whether the weights allow him to express it fully is the debate. Grangeclare West — The Improving Angle Grangeclare West finished third in the 2025 Grand National and has not stopped progressing since. His win in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February — by five and a half lengths clear on heavy ground — prompted bookmakers to cut him from 25/1 to 12/1 for Aintree. That form is directly relevant: the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse is run over the same trip as the Irish Grand National and has produced Aintree performers consistently. He carries a more manageable weight than the market leader and brings course form from the 2025 National. This is the horse the data points toward most consistently — improving profile, manageable weight, proven course form. Johnnywho — The Festival Booster The Ultima Handicap Chase winner at Cheltenham saw his Aintree odds slashed from 40/1 to 16/1 following that Festival performance. The Ultima is an acknowledged Grand National trial — horses that run well in that race regularly go on to perform at Aintree. The JP McManus-owned gelding finished fifth in last year's Irish Grand National, providing further evidence of stamina at the trip. Mark Walsh has been confirmed to ride, which is a significant confidence signal from the McManus operation. He is available at better than his current market position suggests he should be given the Ultima form. Jagwar — The Plate Winner Jagwar won the TrustATrader Plate at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and finished second in this year's Ultima — beaten half a length. The progressive profile and the staying evidence from the Ultima are both positive indicators. Trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero with Mark Walsh confirmed to ride, the yard clearly has faith in this horse's ability to handle Aintree's demands. He is available around 16/1 and represents one of the more interesting each-way angles in the race. Nick Rockett — The Defending Champion The 2025 winner trained by Willie Mullins and ridden to victory by Patrick Mullins has not raced since his Aintree success. Returning from a long absence at the age of nine, he faces the classic question every defending National champion faces — can he reproduce his best form off a full season's absence against a field that has been racing and improving throughout? His talent is unquestioned. His freshness is both an asset and a risk. Final Declarations and the AI Selection Final declarations confirm on Wednesday April 8th. Horse Racing Oracle AI will publish its Grand National selection and full race analysis once the field is set — analysing every confirmed runner's age, weight, course form, going preference and trainer pattern before identifying the selection where the data alignment is strongest. Watch the daily blog before the market moves on declarations day. Want free AI-powered tips every morning? Sign up free at horseracingoracleai.com → Betting involves risk. Please gamble responsibly. Visit BeGambleAware.org.