Grand National 2026 Betting Preview: Everything You Need to Know Before Saturday’s Race at Aintree

The Grand National runs Saturday afternoon at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, and the 2026 edition has all the ingredients of a compelling race: a clear market leader in the form of two-time National horse I Am Maximus, a wide-open chasing pack, and 34 runners spread across 4 miles and 2 furlongs of some of the most demanding fences in sport.

Last year’s defending champion, Nick Rockett, was declared a non-runner on Thursday after developing a cough, which reshuffled the market significantly. That withdrawal makes I Am Maximus the clear favourite heading into Saturday’s race, though the distances involved and the weight he carries give his rivals every reason for optimism.

The Favourite: I Am Maximus (13/2)

There is no cleaner National CV in the 2026 field than I Am Maximus. The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old won the Grand National in 2024 and finished second last year under the same weight he carries Saturday — 11 stone 12 pounds, the top weight in the race. That runner-up performance in 2025 proved he could handle the burden. Mullins attributed that loss partly to a lack of race preparation going into Aintree, a factor addressed this year by a strong run in the Grade One Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

The counterargument is primarily one of age and history. No horse aged 10 or older has won the Grand National since 2014. The race is notoriously brutal on older horses, and the top weight at 10 years old is a difficult profile to overcome statistically. I Am Maximus is a class act and deserves his market position, but at 13/2, bettors pricing in his age and weight may find better value elsewhere in the field.

The Challengers Worth Your Attention

Grangeclare West (8/1) finished third in last year’s Grand National and has since won the Bobbyjo Chase, a race with a strong track record of producing National contenders. He will carry 3 pounds more than in 2025, which is manageable, and his experience around Aintree combined with his current form makes him one of the more attractive win bets in the field. Patrick Mullins, the stable’s champion conditional jockey, rides.

Panic Attack (17/2) trained by Dan Skelton is one of the most intriguing horses in the race. A mare — only 13 mares have ever won the Grand National, with the last being Nickel Coin in 1951 — she arrives at Aintree on the back of a hat-trick of wins this season, including the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. The stamina question is real, but Skelton has her in excellent form and Harry Skelton rides with confidence. She is one of three horses in the field ranked in the top 10 on current form.

Jagwar (9/1) narrowly missed victory at the Cheltenham Festival and carries a mark of 152 into Aintree. His trajectory as a stayer has been consistently upward, and Mark Walsh in the saddle gives him a significant riding edge. He is owned by JP McManus, who also owns Iroko and Johnnywho, giving the powerful McManus team three live chances at the top of the market.

Iroko (11/1) finished fourth as the market leader in the 2025 Grand National and has improved since. He represents the “experience next time” archetype that the National frequently rewards. His Aintree form is directly applicable, and his connections will have learned from what went wrong last year.

Value Picks for Each-Way Bettors

Haiti Couleurs (14/1) has won both the Irish and Welsh Grand Nationals, which is a remarkable dual that historically flags a live Aintree contender. Rebecca Curtis trains, and Sean Bowen rides. The weight — 11 stone 10 pounds — is the main concern, but his progressive profile and course fitness make him worth including in each-way portfolios at his current price.

Gorgeous Tom (22/1) is one of the younger horses in the race at just eight years old, trained by Henry de Bromhead. He finished fourth to Panic Attack at Newbury and has the physical profile to excel at Aintree’s unique demands. He remains somewhat unexposed as a stayer, which is either a concern or an opportunity depending on your risk tolerance — but at 22/1, the price compensates for that uncertainty.

Final Orders (22/1) won impressively at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year and is rated 147, which gives him a workable weight off the bottom of the handicap. Gavin Cromwell’s yard is in good form and Conor Stone-Walsh is an underrated rider who has performed well on big occasions. Each-way each at this price represents fair value for a horse with upward momentum.

The Race Details

The Grand National runs Saturday, April 11 at 4 p.m. BST at Aintree Racecourse. Ground conditions heading into race day are described as Good, with some Good-to-Soft patches on the National course following light watering. Faster ground would suit I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West; softer going would benefit Haiti Couleurs, who has won on heavy.

The race covers 4 miles, 2 furlongs and 74 yards over 30 fences, with a maximum field of 34 runners. Post time for US viewers is approximately 11 a.m. ET. Coverage is available via Racing TV and various streaming services.

Best bets for Saturday: Grangeclare West to win, Panic Attack each-way, Gorgeous Tom each-way at double-digit prices for each-way value in the wide open chasing pack.