Grand National Runners' Guide
Details on runners, riders, trainers, and form for Saturday's Grand National at Aintree are provided here. BBC Radio 5 Live's John Hunt and Gina Bryce offer insights on all 34 runners scheduled to compete in the 2026 Grand National.
Note: Approximate odds and the field are subject to change until 13:00 BST on 10 April.
(Racecard number, horse, trainer, jockey, recent form, age, weight carried [e.g., 11st 12lb is top weight]. Form abbreviations: F - Fell, P - Pulled up, U - Unseated rider, S - Slipped up.)
John Hunt's Grand National Predictions
1 Panic Attack 2 Grangeclare West 3 Jagwar 4 Jordans
Gina Bryce's Grand National Predictions
1 Grangeclare West 2 Monty's Star 3 Panic Attack 4 I Am Maximus
'We get some very diva-ish horses'
1. I Am Maximus
Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Paul Townend
Form: 82-925 Age: 10 Weight: 11-12
Gina: Winner in 2024 before running equally well to finish second to stablemate Nick Rockett last year on faster ground. The Willie Mullins-trained Aintree specialist must have another excellent chance this year, off just a 1lb higher mark.
3. Banbridge
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien (IRE) Jockey: JJ Slevin
Form: 7-4423 Age: 10 Weight: 11-11
Gina: Won the King George in 2024 before coming within a nose of repeating the feat at Kempton this season. He'll likely get his preferred faster surface but doubts remain over his ability to stay this trip, having struggled over a testing three miles in the past.
4. Grangeclare West
Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Patrick Mullins
Form: 5-8481 Age: 10 Weight: 11-10
John: Finished third last year, beaten by just three lengths. An excellent effort by a horse who has always had a touch of class. It wasn't all smooth sailing 12 months ago as he was hampered at fence 25 (Valentines Brook) and then made a mistake of his own creation at the last fence. He had moved to the lead ominously at the second last, and, perhaps with more patient tactics, we can expect even more?
5. Gerri Colombe
Trainer: Gordon Elliott (IRE) Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Form: 3-P321 Age: 10 Weight: 11-10
Gina: Returned from a long absence at the start of the season and has improved with every run, notably when an excellent second to the well-fancied Grangleclare West in Ireland's renowned Grand National trial, the Bobbyjo Chase. Now a 10-year-old but a former winner of the Betfred Bowl at this meeting and he deserves this first attempt at the race.
6. Haiti Couleurs
Trainer: Rebecca Curtis Jockey: Sean Bowen
Form: 1P11P Age: 9 Weight: 11-10
John: Firmly established as one of the stars of the 2025-26 season with victories in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow and the Denman Chase at Newbury, all just months after winning the Irish Grand National. So rapid his development, he was sent off as a 6-1 chance for the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month. The drying ground was ultimately against him there, and that's the rub. A soft-ground National gives him real hope; dry conditions, not so much.
Rating: 5/10 growing to 7/10 on soft ground Odds: 14-1
7. Spillane's Tower
Trainer: Jimmy Mangan (IRE) Jockey: Simon Torrens
Form: 5-2931 Age: 8 Weight: 11-8
Gina: May be unlikely to run if the ground is not soft enough but boasts a good body of work with a particularly encouraging performance to win the Cotswold Chase last time out. Not run since but he's an improving eight-year-old with plenty potentially left in the locker.
8. Firefox
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Keith Donoghue
Form: 21246 Age: 8 Weight: 11-4
Gina: Unproven stamina and has struggled over extended trips at the top level in recent starts. He looks up against it here, despite his trainer's three previous wins in this race.
9. Monty's Star
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead (IRE) Jockey: Darragh O'Keeffe
Form: 4-3056 Age: 9 Weight: 11-3
John: A regular performer at top Grade One level for two years, but his only win over fences remains a small race on New Year's Eve 2023. On previous form behind Fact To File and fellow National rival Spillane's Tower, he can be fancied, but his past 12 months' form is less convincing.
10. Spanish Harlem
Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Brian Hayes
Form: 11PUP Age: 8 Weight: 11-3
Gina: Recent starts show a sequence of disappointing results, though his Kerry National win earlier in the season suggests suitability for this test. He looked set to figure in the Thyestes before a last fence unseat but must be forgiven a poor display last time in the Bobbyjo to merit an each-way chance.
11. Lecky Watson
Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Sean O'Keeffe
Form: F77P8 Age: 8 Weight: 11-2
John: Winner of three of eight starts over fences, including a Cheltenham Festival win in 2025 beating other Grand National hopefuls. His five runs since have been underwhelming. Even with trainer Willie Mullins, he is hard to fancy.
12. Champ Kiely
Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Danny Mullins
Form: 12S57 Age: 10 Weight: 11-1
Gina: A Grade One-winning novice chaser who has not progressed this season as expected. A lightly raced 10-year-old whose recent form suggests his best may be behind him.
13. Iroko
Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Jockey: Jonjo O'Neill Jr
Form: 24-210 Age: 8 Weight: 11-1
John: Attempts to overcome a seven-length deficit after finishing fourth in last year's race, staying the final part strongly. His solid form in the past year made him second favourite for the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Festival last month, though he finished 10th, excused by a minor infection. A healthy Iroko has a solid chance.
14. Favori de Champdou
Trainer: Gordon Elliott (IRE) Jockey: Danny Gillgan
Form: 05F112 Age: 11 Weight: 11-1
Gina: Has had a brilliant season with wins at Leopardstown and Cheltenham, followed by second in the Cross Country race at the Festival. Will stay the marathon trip and comes here at peak form but is higher in the handicap and older than Gordon Elliott's recent cross country convert, Tiger Roll, who won this race twice at eight and nine years old.
15. Three Card Brag
Trainer: Gordon Elliott (IRE) Jockey: Jordan Gainford
Form: 82127 Age: 9 Weight: 11-0
John: Making a second attempt at National glory, trained by Elliott who has won this race three times before. Last year, he was close to the pace before weakening to 11th. Despite a fine run when second to Panic Attack in the Coral Gold Cup, he seems poorly handicapped to win.
If you have drawn him in the sweepstake, you have a Pair rather than a Prial, which is the highest hand in three card brag. You may still win, but it's unlikely.
16. Oscars Brother
Trainer: Connor King (IRE) Jockey: Daniel King
Form: 2211114 Age: 8 Weight: 10-13
Gina: An eight-year-old novice with six runs over fences so far. He has had a brilliant season with three wins followed by an excellent fourth in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham. Should relish the trip but may need soft ground to perform at his best.
17. Mr Vango
Trainer: Sara Bradstock Jockey: Jack Tudor
Form: 11-2PP Age: 10 Weight: 10-12
John: A large horse popular due to the training skills of Sara Bradstock and her late husband Mark, who passed in spring 2024 before realizing this horse's potential. Winner of the Midlands National in 2025, he was narrowly beaten in the Becher Chase over Grand National fences in December. His chance depends heavily on rain; he needs soft conditions.
18. High Class Hero
Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: James Bowen
Form: 23-2PP Age: 9 Weight: 10-11
Gina: Confidence dented by pulling up in his last two starts but an encouraging effort on faster ground over the marathon Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last season suggests this test could suit him.
19. Stellar Story
Trainer: Gordon Elliott (IRE) Jockey: Robbie Dunne
Form: 2-3383 Age: 9 Weight: 10-11
John: Without a win since November 2024 but has classy form from that period, notably beating subsequent King George Chase winner The Jukebox Man at Cheltenham over hurdles. Only one win from eight starts over fences since.
20. Beauport
Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Form: 20-4P4 Age: 10 Weight: 10-11
Gina: Raced prominently in the 2025 renewal before fading two out. Settling better early may help this former Midlands National winner finish stronger, but he comes off a lesser campaign this time.
21. Captain Cody
Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Form: 1-37F5 Age: 8 Weight: 10-10
Gina: Scottish National winner last year, initially noted for this race after weights were published but has failed to build on a promising start this season. Still only eight, a return to better ground and marathon trip may see him bounce back.
22. Jagwar
Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Jockey: Mark Walsh
Form: 11-322 Age: 7 Weight: 10-10
John: Narrowly beaten in hot Cheltenham handicaps on his past three starts, including second in the Ultima Handicap Chase. Jagwar appears fairly handicapped but opinions differ on his jumping ability. Now declared with cheekpieces to aid concentration, he is a strong chance.
23. Perceval Legallois
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell (IRE) Jockey: Harry Cobden
Form: 11F-P4 Age: 9 Weight: 10-9
Gina: Market leader last year after near-perfect preparation but fell at Valentine's on the first circuit. A lesser preparation this year tempers enthusiasm, as does the record of horses that failed to complete on previous attempts.
24. Gorgeous Tom
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead (IRE) Jockey: Sean Flanagan
Form: 4-4245 Age: 8 Weight: 10-9
John: On the same handicap mark as when 11-length fourth to Panic Attack at Newbury. Well beaten on other runs but appears to be waiting for better spring weather and decent ground. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, who trained 2021 winner Minella Times.
25. The Real Whacker
Trainer: Patrick Neville Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Form: 54-256 Age: 10 Weight: 10-9
Gina: A high-class former Brown Advisory winner earmarked for the Grand National but hard to see him figure off this season's form. Tailed off last two runs, including stopping quickly at Cheltenham last time, making a bounce back unlikely.
26. Quai de Bourbon
Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Donagh Meyler
Form: B3-PP3 Age: 7 Weight: 10-9
John: Favourite for Haiti Couleurs' Irish Grand National in 2025, finishing third despite some jumping errors. Kept fresh since, and at seven years old, his best days are likely ahead. An interesting outsider from Mullins' stable.
27. Answer To Kayf
Trainer: Terence O'Brien (IRE) Jockey: John Shinnick
Form: 0-6144 Age: 10 Weight: 10-8
Gina: Encouraging fourth in the Bobbyjo behind market leader Grangeclare West despite unfavourable weights. Positives come from performances on soft or heavy ground, which is unlikely here.
28. Jordans
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien (IRE) Jockey: Ben Jones
Form: 2-85P0 Age: 7 Weight: 10-8
John: Acquired from France two years ago, it may be unwise to discount him. He was fifth to Jagwar at last year's Cheltenham Festival and is now better handicapped. Also performed well at last year's Grand National meeting. Joseph O'Brien has a chance to add the Grand National to his list of major wins.
29. Final Orders
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell (IRE) Jockey: Conor Stone-Walsh
Form: P63151 Age: 10 Weight: 10-5
John: Despite changes in the Grand National landscape, accurate jumping remains vital, and Final Orders excelled at Cheltenham Festival. He made most of the running in the Cross Country but the race seemed his season target. He fell late last time over National fences, mixing mistakes with excellent jumping. Overall, this race may be beyond him.
30. Marble Sands
Trainer: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson Jockey: Kielan Woods
Form: 250-12 Age: 10 Weight: 10-5
Gina: Enjoyed stepping up in trip to win over 3m4f at Cheltenham in November and finished second at Wetherby since. Better than ever this season but questions remain if he can progress further at age 10 to figure here.
31. Panic Attack
Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Dan Skelton
Form: 2-1113 Age: 10 Weight: 10-5
John: A wonderful, enthusiastic mare having a great season similar to Haiti Couleurs. She achieved a rare double by winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, then finished third in the Mares Chase at the Festival. The return to a thorough test suits her well. She jumps well and has a great attitude. The big question is whether she can claim the biggest prize after such a busy season.
32. Top Of The Bill
Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies Jockey: Toby McCain-Mitchell
Form: P1-192 Age: 10 Weight: 10-05
John: Likeable front-runner who peaked this winter finishing second in the Grand National Trial at Haydock Park. However, the quality of opponents in the Grand National is much higher. Despite Nigel Twiston-Davies' two previous wins in this race, a third seems unlikely.
33. Johnnywho
Trainer: Jonjo & AJ O'Neill Jockey: Richie McLernon
Form: 5-5352 Age: 9 Weight: 10-04
Gina: Well weighted after winning the Ultima, with signs he will get this trip and improve. His profile resembles 2023 winner Corach Rambler, who won the same Cheltenham race before success here, giving him a strong chance.
This article was sourced from bbc
