Grand National pinstickers' guide to runners

- Published
Runners, riders, trainers and form - all the key details you need to know for Saturday's big race at Aintree.
Plus, BBC Radio 5 Live's John Hunt and Gina Bryce give you the rundown on each of the 34 that will go to post for the 2026 Grand National.
Note: Approximate odds may change and the field is subject to change until 13:00 BST on 10 April.
(Racecard number, horse, trainer, jockey, recent form, age, weight carried [ie 11st 12lb is top weight]. Form: 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
Best outsider: Quai de Bourbon
Gina Bryce's Grand National predictions
1 Grangeclare West 2 Monty's Star 3 Panic Attack 4 I Am Maximus
Best outsider: Spanish Harlem
'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.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 7-1
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 have to remain over his ability to stay this trip, having struggled over a testing three miles in the past.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 50-1
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?
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 9-1
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 stab at the race.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 25-1
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 fabulous victories in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow and the Denman Chase at Newbury - and all of that just months after winning the Irish Grand National.
Indeed, 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 back over fences last time out.
Not run since but he's an improving eight-year-old with plenty potentially still left in the locker.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 28-1
8. Firefox

Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Keith Donoghue
Form: 21246 Age: 8 Weight: 11-4
Gina: Unproven stamina and has looked to struggle over extended trips at the top level in recent starts.
He looks up against it here, for all his trainer has won this race three times before.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 50-1
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 the top, Grade One level for the past two years, but his win in a small race on New Year's Eve 2023 remains his only win over fences.
On his previous form behind Fact To File and fellow National rival Spillane's Tower, he can be fancied.
But judged on what he has produced in the past 12 months, that is another matter entirely.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 16-1
10. Spanish Harlem

Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Brian Hayes
Form: 11PUP Age: 8 Weight: 11-3
Gina: A sequence of letters by his name in recent starts makes it hard to inspire confidence, for all his Kerry National win earlier in the season suggests he could be well suited to this test.
He looked set to figure in the Thyestes before a last fence unseat but has to be forgiven a very disappointing display last time in the Bobbyjo to merit an each way chance.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 33-1
11. Lecky Watson

Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Sean O'Keeffe
Form: F77P8 Age: 8 Weight: 11-2
John: Winner of three of his eight starts over fences, the pick of which was his Cheltenham Festival win in 2025, where he beat other Grand National hopefuls, Stellar Story and Gorgeous Tom.
His five runs since have been underwhelming.
Even in the hands of genius trainer Willie Mullins, he is hard to fancy.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 33-1
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 hasn't really progressed this season in the way his promising first start of the campaign suggested he would.
A lightly raced 10-year-old but one whose body of work this season suggests his best may be behind him.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 28-1
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, having finished fourth in last year's race, when he stayed the final part of the race very strongly, certainly better than most.
His overall solid form in the past 12 months helped to send him off as the second favourite for the prestigious Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham Festival last month. His 10th place there was seemingly excused as a minor infection was identified afterwards.
A healthy Iroko certainly has a solid chance.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 12-1
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 victories at Leopardstown and Cheltenham preceding a second-placed finish in the Cross Country race at the Festival.
Will stay this marathon trip and comes here at the top of his game but he is now much higher in the handicap and a good deal older than Gordon Elliott's most recent cross country convert, Tiger Roll, who won this race twice, as an eight and nine-year-old.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 33-1
15. Three Card Brag

Trainer: Gordon Elliott (IRE) Jockey: Jordan Gainford
Form: 82127 Age: 9 Weight: 11-0
John: A second attempt at National glory for this guy, also trained by Elliott, who in addition to his two wins with Tiger Roll also triumphed in the race with Silver Birch in 2007.
Last year, he was right up with the pace before slowly but surely weakening away into 11th place.
Despite a fine run when second to Panic Attack in the Coral Gold Cup in November, he simply doesn't look well enough 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.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 50-1
16. Oscars Brother

Trainer: Connor King (IRE) Jockey: Daniel King
Form: 2211114 Age: 8 Weight: 10-13
Gina: An eight-year-old novice with just six runs over fences to his name so far. He's had a brilliant season with three wins followed by an excellent fourth in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham last time.
Should relish the trip but may need soft ground to bring his A-game.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 14-1
17. Mr Vango

Trainer: Sara Bradstock Jockey: Jack Tudor
Form: 11-2PP Age: 10 Weight: 10-12
John: A giant of a horse who has gained huge popularity through the training skills of Sara Bradstock and her late husband Mark, who died in the spring of 2024, before he could realise this horse's potential.
The winner of the Midlands National in 2025, Mr Vango then left everything on the field of play when just outpointed by Twig in a thrilling Becher Chase, run over these Grand National fences, in December.
His only chance of a fairytale win appears to lie with the weather Gods. He needs rain, lots of it.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 66-1
18. High Class Hero

Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: James Bowen
Form: 23-2PP Age: 9 Weight: 10-11
Gina: Confidence dented by the fact he has pulled up in his past two starts but an encouraging effort on faster ground over the marathon trip of the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown this time last season leaves a lingering suspicion this test could suit him.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 50-1
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 some pretty classy form from that period, notably when beating subsequent King George Chase winner, the Harry Redknapp-owned The Jukebox Man at the Cheltenham Festival over hurdles.
He has registered only one victory from eight starts over fences since then.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 25-1
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 of this before fading quickly two out.
Settling better in the early part of the race may help this former Midlands National winner to finish stronger but he comes in off the back of a lesser campaign this time around.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 100-1
21. Captain Cody

Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Form: 1-37F5 Age: 8 Weight: 10-10
Gina: The Scottish National winner from last year went into many notebooks for this race after the weights were published but he's failed to build on his encouraging start to the season.
He's still only an eight-year-old, however, and a return to better ground and a marathon trip may see him bounce back to his best, which is good enough to figure here.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 16-1
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 each of his past three starts this season, including when pipped in the Ultima Handicap Chase by Johnnywho.
Jagwar looks a very fairly handicapped horse, but opinion seems completely split on him. Some believe his jumping is simply not up to scratch and will always prevent him from realising his potential. Those with the contrary view will be tempted once again by his prospects.
He is of even more interest now that he's been declared with cheekpieces to aid his concentration. Strong chance.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 10-1
23. Perceval Legallois

Trainer: Gavin Cromwell (IRE) Jockey: Harry Cobden
Form: 11F-P4 Age: 9 Weight: 10-9
Gina: Sent off among the market leaders in this 12 months ago after a near-perfect preparation but fell at Valentine's when travelling well on the first circuit.
A lesser preparation this time around tempers enthusiasm, as does the record of horses that have failed to complete on previous attempts in this race.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 33-1
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 an 11-length fourth to Panic Attack at Newbury. Well beaten on his runs before and after that, but looks to have been waiting for the better spring weather and decent ground too.
Trained by Henry de Bromhead, who provided Rachael Blackmore with her unforgettable Grand National victory aboard Minella Times in 2021.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 28-1
25. The Real Whacker

Trainer: Patrick Neville Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Form: 54-256 Age: 10 Weight: 10-9
Gina: Easy to see why connections have earmarked a Grand National for this high-class former Brown Advisory winner but hard to see how he can figure off the back of this season's body of work.
Tailed off last twice, including when stopping quickly at Cheltenham last time and hard to see him bouncing back.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 66-1
26. Quai de Bourbon

Trainer: Willie Mullins (IRE) Jockey: Donagh Meyler
Form: B3-PP3 Age: 7 Weight: 10-9
John: Sent off as favourite for Haiti Couleurs' Irish Grand National in 2025, finishing third on a day when his jumping let him down a little.
He has been kept fresh since, and at only seven, his best days are surely still ahead of him.
A very interesting outsider from the Mullins camp.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 33-1
27. Answer To Kayf

Trainer: Terence O'Brien IRE Jockey: John Shinnick
Form: 0-6144 Age: 10 Weight: 10-8
Gina: An encouraging fourth in the Bobbyjo behind market leader Grangeclare West despite not being favoured by the weights.
Some positives to be taken from the pick of his performances but all have come on soft or heavy ground, which he is unlikely to get here.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 50-1
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 dangerous to discount him out of hand. He was an excellent fifth to Jagwar at last year's Cheltenham Festival and is now much better handicapped with that rival.
He also ran very well at the Grand National meeting last year (in a race over the smaller fences) when second to Caldwell Potter in a Grade One Chase.
Trained by Joseph O'Brien, son of flat racing superstar trainer Aidan, Joseph has a real outside chance to add the Grand National to his list of major victories, which includes Classic races in England and Ireland alongside cherished international prizes like the Melbourne Cup and America's Breeders' Cup.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 28-1
29. Final Orders

Trainer: Gavin Cromwell (IRE) Jockey: Conor Stone-Walsh
Form: P63151 Age: 10 Weight: 10-5
John: Even as the landscape of the Grand National has shifted over the past few years, jumping accurately is still very important and few did it better at the Cheltenham Festival than this fella.
He was terrific and made most of the running in the Cross Country, but the suspicion was that the race was the clear target for the season. Can he back it up here?
The last time he ran over the National fences, he eventually fell late, having mixed mistakes with magnificent jumping. Overall record suggests this will be beyond him.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 25-1
30. Marble Sands

Trainer: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson Jockey: Kielan Woods
Form: 250-12 Age: 10 Weight: 10-5
Gina: Relished the step up in trip to win over 3m4f at Cheltenham in November and ran well to finish second at Wetherby since.
Better than ever this season but still a question mark over whether he could progress again at the age of 10 to figure here.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 100-1
31. Panic Attack

Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Dan Skelton
Form: 2-1113 Age: 10 Weight: 10-5
John: Quite a wonderful, enthusiastic mare who has enjoyed a great season similar to that of Haiti Couleurs.
She notched a rarely achieved double, winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November and backed that up with success in Newbury's big race, the Coral Gold Cup. She won again at Newbury before dropping in distance to finish third to Dinoblue in the Mares Chase at the Festival.
She has so much in her favour as the return to a thorough test like this will really suit her. She jumps well and has a terrific attitude. Loads to like about her.
The big question is, can she land the biggest prize of the lot after such a busy season?
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 8-1
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 delivered a peak performance this winter when finishing second in the Grand National Trial at Haydock Park. However, the quality of his opponents then compared to those he meets in the Grand National is chalk and cheese.
Even accounting for the fact that Nigel Twiston-Davies has won this twice with Earth Summit and Bindaree, it's hard to see his magic working for a third time.
Rating: 3/10 Odds: 100-1
33. Johnnywho

Trainer: Jonjo & AJ O'Neill Jockey: Richie McLernon
Form: 5-5352 Age: 9 Weight: 10-04
Gina: Well in at the weights, having won the Ultima after the weights were published for this and plenty of signs of encouragement that he will get this trip and even improve for it.
Boasts a very similar profile to 2023 winner Corach Rambler, who won the same Cheltenham race en route to success here and he has a great chance of landing the same double.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 12-1
34. Twig

Trainer: Ben Pauling Jockey: Beau Morgan
Form: 70-117 Age: 11 Weight: 10-04
John: The joint oldest horse on the race but has enjoyed one of his most fruitful seasons, having won a thrilling Becher Chase over the national fences last December.
He slugged it out brilliantly with Mr Vango that day; the two of them were like Wilder-Chisora take two. It's likely, however, that there will be several of his rivals here who will be quicker to the punch.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 50-1
36. Imperial Saint

Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Jockey: Callum Pritchard
Form: 2-5618 Age: 8 Weight: 10-02
John: Quite an interesting outsider. He loves Aintree having won here three times in 2024 and finished an excellent second at the Grand National meeting 12 months ago. He also landed one of the big gambles of this season when winning the Peter Marsh Chase in January.
He carries the colours of the Richard Johnson Racing Syndicate. Johnson was a four-time champion jockey and 17 time runner-up to AP McCoy. He never won the National as a rider. This horse, apparently at his peak, could well outrun his odds.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 60-1