Grand National 2026: Start time, runners, race odds, favourites and TV channel
The Grand National takes centre stage this weekend with the 178th running of the iconic steeplechase taking place at Aintree.
Last year’s race winner Nick Rockett returns to Merseyside looking to repeat his heroics from 12 months ago, which saw the 33/1 shot finish two-and-a-half lengths ahead of stablemate and 2024 winner I Am Maximus.
In fact, the two horses led home a Willie Mullins 1-2-3, with two more members of the team finishing in the top seven.
The Irish trainer unsurprisingly dominates the entry list once again this year with nine horses guaranteed to run for the three-time winner of the race.
Here is your complete guide to the Grand National 2026, including when it starts, how to watch along on TV and those all-important odds.
Start time
The Grand National will begin on Saturday, April 11 at 4pm.
The three-day Grand National meeting will get underway on Thursday, April 9, with Ladies Day on Friday, April 10.
How to watch on TV
The race, as well as the entire festival, will be shown live on ITV1 and Racing TV.
Viewers will also be able to live stream the action on ITVX.
Runners
A total of 34 horses will compete in Saturday’s showdown, with the names of those horses that are guaranteed to run announced on Monday.
However, the final list of runners will not be confirmed until the declarations are made 72 hours in advance of the race on Wednesday, April 8.
Grand National horses
Horses guaranteed to run
- I Am Maximus — Willie Mullins
- Nick Rockett — Willie Mullins
- Banbridge — Joseph O’Brien
- Grangeclare West — Willie Mullins
- Gerri Colombe — Gordon Elliott
- Haiti Couleurs — Rebecca Curtis
- Spillane’s Tower — Jimmy Mangan
- Firefox — Gordon Elliott
- Monty’s Star — Henry de Bromhead
- Spanish Harlem — Willie Mullins
- Lecky Watson — Willie Mullins
- Champ Kiely — Willie Mullins
- Iroko — Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero
- Favori De Champdou — Gordon Elliott
- Three Card Brag — Gordon Elliott
- Oscars Brother — Connor King
- Mr Vango — Sara Bradstock
- High Class Hero — Willie Mullins
- Stellar Story — Gordon Elliott
- Beauport — Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies
- Captain Cody — Willie Mullins
- Jagwar — Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero
- Perceval Legallois — Gavin Cromwell
- Gorgeous Tom — Henry de Bromhead
- The Real Whacker — Patrick Neville
- Quai De Bourbon — Willie Mullins
- Answer To Kayf — Terence O’Brien
- Jordans — Joseph O’Brien
- Final Orders — Gavin Cromwell
- Marble Sands — David Killahena and Graeme McPherson
- Panic Attack — Dan Skelton
- Top Of The Bill — Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies
- Johnnywho — Jonjo and A J O’Neill
- Twig — Ben Pauling
Cut-off point
- Pied Piper — Gordon Elliott
- Imperial Saint — Philip Hobbs and Johnson White
- Amirite — Henry de Bromhead
- Ain’t That A Shame — Tom Ellis
- Yeah Man — Gavin Cromwell
- Soul Icon — Keiran Burke
- Hyland — Nicky Henderson
- Deep Cave — Christian Williams
- Buddy One — Paul Gilligan
- Anyway — David Kenneth Budds
- The Short Go — Henry de Bromhead
- Weveallbeencaught — Eric McNamara
- Shanbally Kid — Willie Mullins
- Will Do — Gordon Elliott
- In D’Or — Fergal O’Brien
In previous years, the field was only confirmed 48 hours before the Grand National. Given the extra 24 hours increases the chances of horses pulling out, the number of reserve runners has been increased from four to six.
The size of the Grand National field was reduced from 40 to 34 in 2024 in an attempt to improve horse safety by reducing congestion at fences.
Race distance and number of fences
The race will be held over two laps of the Aintree course, giving a total race distance of four miles and two-and-a-half furlongs.
The horses and jockeys must navigate over 30 fences in total; 16 are jumped in the first lap and 14 are jumped in the second.
Several changes to the course have been introduced over the years to aid with horse welfare, including reprofiling landing areas, lowering the height of certain fences and softening the structure of others.
The average winning time in the Grand National is 9m 10s. The only horse to complete the famous course in under nine minutes is Mr Frisk, ridden by Marcus Armytage, on firm ground in 1990.
Odds
The 2024 winner, I Am Maximus, is the early favourite at 6/1.
The 10-year-old bay gelding tops the list ahead of the likes of Jagwar (9/1), Grangeclare West (10/1) and Johnnywho (10/1).
Nick Rockett, meanwhile, is currently priced at 14/1.
A successful defence of his title would see him become just the third horse in history to win the Grand National back-to-back, after Tiger Roll (2018, 2019), Red Rum (1973, 1974), Poethlyn (1918, 1919), and Abd-El-Kader (1850, 1851).
Grand National odds
- I Am Maximus – 6/1
- Jagwar – 9/1
- Grangeclare West – 10/1
- Johnnywho – 10/1
- Iroko – 12/1
- Oscars Brother – 14/1
- Panic Attack – 14/1
- Haiti Couleurs – 14/1
- Nick Rockett – 14/1
- Captain Cody – 16/1
- Montys Star – 16/1
Odds courtesy of Paddy Power
Prize money
A prize pot of £1m will be split between the top ten finishers with the winner taking home £500,000.
Racehorse owners receive around 80% of the money with the remainder shared between trainers, jockeys and stable staff.
Grand National prize money
- 1st – £500,000
- 2nd – £200,000
- 3rd – £100,000
- 4th – £65,000
- 5th – £40,000
- 6th – £30,000
- 7th – £20,000
- 8th – £15,000
- 9th – £10,000
- 10th – £5,000
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Grand National 2026: Start time, runners, race odds, favourites and TV channel
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