Grand National 2026: Race analysis and preview as I Am Maximus heads the field

In just under three weeks’ time, Merseyside will entertain the eyes of millions as the 2026 Grand National gets underway. 

Watched by an estimated 600 million people worldwide, the contest will see 30 runners and riders battle for glory over two laps of the iconic Aintree Racecourse. 

It is a chance for all involved to write themselves into the history books and to be remembered as one of those who defied the 30 fences and the gruelling 4m2f trip. 

The event is prominent in British culture, with those who don’t bet or care for horse racing taking an interest for one day only. 

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Denied by Nick Rockett

This year’s renewal sees renowned owner JP McManus represented by four of the five leading horses in the betting market. 

2024 winner I Am Maximus was denied his second Grand National win last year, when his stablemate Nick Rockett won the race at 33/1. 

Nick Rockett was ridden by Patrick Mullins, who won his first Grand National whilst in the saddle for his dad and Champion Trainer Willie Mullins. 

I Am Maximus was in second that day, priced at 7/1 and ridden by Mullins’ stable jockey Paul Townend. 

Mullins also trained third (Grangeclare West) and fifth (Meetingofthewaters), with the result proving crucial in the Champion Trainer title race. 

Pivotal part

It played a pivotal part in reducing the deficit to Dan Skelton, which was eventually overturned by the Irishman on the final day of the campaign. 

I Am Maximus had been seen only twice in between his two Grand National runs, when he was pulled up and finished a distant eighth, both at Leaopardstown. 

He had been in good form prior to winning the 2024 Grand National, winning a Grade Three race and running two decent races in Grade One races – following a season that ended in his only Grade One victory. 

I Am Maximus was never a factor in this season’s reappearance, though that preceded two good efforts in the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup. 

Ran a blinder

On his chances, Patrick Mullins said: “He 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. 

“I think the key thing for him may be slower ground and I think the year he won it was a good bit slower than last year, so that seems to help him jump.

“He’s not the most fantastic jumper, so the fences seem to bring something out of him. 

“Last year, he didn’t jump as well as he did the first year and I think the ground is the key to him jumping well enough.”

Entered in the race

Nick Rockett and Grangeclare West are also entered into this race, priced at 20/1 and 10/1 respectively. 

The latter was perhaps unlucky not to win the race last year, after a mistake at the last saw him forfeit ground when disputing third, before he rallied close to the line. 

Mullins said: “It was funny because he looked beaten before the last and then he made that mistake and then ran on really well at the end. 

“He’s well able to carry the weight and he has to have another huge chance of going two better.”

Final run before surgery

They are rivalled by I Am Maximus’ ownermate Iroko, who was fourth in this race last season in what was his final run before wind surgery. 

Iroko returned to action with a second-placed run behind subsequent King George VI winner The Jukebox Man, before a win in a Class Two Chase preceded a disappointing effort at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Both Iroko and I Am Maximus are priced at 10/1 to win this race, whilst Jagwar and Johnnywho help to strengthen McManus’ hand. 

The former – like Iroko – is trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, and will arrive here having finished second to the latter, at Cheltenham. 

Three placed-efforts

Johnnywho sprung an 18/1 surprise to defeat the 3/1 favourite Jagwar, by half a length, in the Ultima.

It was the third of three runs by Jagwar so far this season, all of which ended in placed-efforts in Grade Three contests. 

Meanwhile, that Ultima win saw Johnnywho return to a racecourse for the first time after undergoing wind surgery. 

He was fifth in last season’s Irish Grand National, before he began this season by filling the same place over the Grand National fences, in the Grand Sefton Handicap. 

The nine-year-old then finished a close-third at Ascot and wasn’t beaten far when fifth at Haydock – both were Grade Three races. 

Jagwar is priced at 12/1, whilst Johnnywho is out at 16/1 alongside Haiti Couleurs and Montys Star. 

Haiti Couleurs was pulled up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but is already a two-time National winner. 

He triumphed in last year’s Irish Grand National before winning the Welsh Grand National earlier this season. 

Those results make up two of his last four completed starts, all of which ended in a victory, the latest coming in a Grade Two at Newbury, prior to his Cheltenham defeat. 

Suitable race

On her intentions to run him in the Grand National, his trainer, Rebecca Curtis, said: “Obviously I’ll have to chat it through with the owners. 

“He seemed really – not fresh after the Gold Cup – but I thought he’d be really tired and off his food the next day, but he was straight into his breakfast. 

“It’s probably a more suitable race, isn’t it the National, he’s a marathon-horse.

“We’ll see how he is over the next few weeks, but if he does seem fresh and well, then definitely don’t rule it out.”

Others in the betting include Captain Cody, Spillanes Tower, Oscar’s Brother and Panic Attack – all of whom are priced at 20/1.

READ MORE: Dan Skelton hits new milestone in bid to win his first Trainers’ Championship title