2026 Grand National
| Grand National | |
 | |
| Location | Aintree |
|---|---|
| Date | 11 April 2026 |
| Winning horse | I Am Maximus |
| Starting price | 9/2F |
| Jockey | Paul Townend |
| Trainer | Willie Mullins |
| Owner | J. P. McManus |
| Conditions | Good to Soft |
The 2026 Grand National (officially known as the "Randox 2026 Grand National" for sponsorship reasons) was the 178th annual running of the Grand National horse race. It took place on Saturday 11 April 2026, at Aintree near Liverpool, England. It was won by the 2024 winner I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend.[1]
Finishing order
| Position | Name | Jockey | Age | Handicap (st-lb) | SP | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | I Am Maximus | Paul Townend | 10 | 11-12 | 9/2 Fav | |
| 02 | Iroko | Jonjo O'Neill Jr. | 8 | 11-1 | 18/1 | 2½L |
| 03 | Jordans | Ben Jones | 7 | 10-8 | 28/1 | 1¼L |
| 04 | Johnnywho | Richie McLernon | 9 | 10-4 | 12/1 | ½L |
| 05 | High Class Hero | James Bowen | 9 | 10-11 | 66/1 | 6½L |
| 06 | Favori De Champdou | Danny Gilligan | 11 | 11-1 | 40/1 | 1¼L |
| 07 | Final Orders | Conor Stone-Walsh | 10 | 10-5 | 22/1 | 9L |
| 08 | Champ Kiely | Danny Mullins | 10 | 11-1 | 25/1 | 1L |
| 09 | Three Card Brag | Jordan Gainford | 9 | 11-0 | 50/1 | 3L |
| 10 | Monty's Star | Darragh O'Keeffe | 9 | 11-3 | 14/1 | 5½L |
| 11 | Answer To Kayf | John Shinnick | 10 | 10-8 | 100/1 | 1¾L |
| 12 | Gorgeous Tom | Sean Flanagan | 8 | 10-9 | 20/1 | 9½L |
| 13 | Imperial Saint | Callum Pritchard | 8 | 10-2 | 50/1 | NK |
| 14 | Haiti Couleurs | Sean Bowen | 9 | 11-10 | 28/1 | 34L |
| 15 | Twig | Beau Morgan | 11 | 10-4 | 40/1 | 32L |
| 16 | Firefox | Keith Donoghue | 8 | 11-4 | 40/1 | 34L |
Non-finishers
| Fence | Name | Jockey | Age | Handicap (st-lb) | SP | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Grangeclare West | Patrick Mullins | 10 | 11-10 | 9/1 | Unseated Rider |
| 02 | Quai De Bourbon | Donagh Meyler | 7 | 10-9 | 33/1 | Fell |
| 03 | Panic Attack | Harry Skelton | 10 | 10-5 | 7/1 | Fell |
| 06 | Mr Vango | Jack Tudor | 10 | 10-12 | 66/1 | Fell |
| 07 | Gerri Colombe | Jack Kennedy | 10 | 11-10 | 33/1 | Fell |
| 13 | The Real Whacker | Gavin Sheehan | 10 | 10-9 | 50/1 | Pulled Up |
| 15 | Banbridge | J J Slevin | 10 | 11-11 | 33/1 | Unseated Rider |
| 15 | Oscars Brother | Daniel King | 8 | 10-13 | 14/1 | Unseated Rider |
| 18 | Marble Sands | Thomas Bellamy | 10 | 10-5 | 66/1 | Fell |
| 19 | Stellar Story | Robert Dunne | 9 | 10-11 | 33/1 | Fell |
| 19 | Beauport | Sam Twiston-Davies | 10 | 10-11 | 80/1 | Unseated Rider |
| 19 | Jagwar | Mark Walsh | 7 | 10-10 | 17/2 | Unseated Rider |
| 26 | Spanish Harlem | Brian Hayes | 8 | 11-3 | 50/1 | Pulled Up |
| 26 | Lecky Watson | Sean O'Keeffe | 8 | 11-2 | 50/1 | Pulled Up |
| 27 | Captain Cody | Jonathan Burke | 8 | 10-10 | 22/1 | Unseated Rider |
| 27 | Perceval Legallois | Harry Cobden | 9 | 10-9 | 33/1 | Unseated Rider |
| 29 | Amirite | Phillip Enright | 10 | 10-2 | 100/1 | Pulled Up |
| 30 | Top Of The Bill | Toby McCain-Mitchell | 10 | 10-5 | 50/1 | Fell |
Broadcasting and media
"As they head down towards the last in the National, it is Jordans who's over, High Class Hero, mistake in second, Johnnywho and I Am Maximus, as they set off up the run-in towards the elbow, Jordans dash for glory, still leads by 4 lengths, Johnnywho hampered by the loose horse, High Class Hero, I Am Maximus continues to stay on. They reached the elbow, and Jordans is getting tired, as I Am Maximus throws down the challenge, for Paul Townend. I Am Maximus, coming to Jordans on the run to the line, it is I Am Maximus in front again in the National, Flashing home late is Iroko, but at the line, I Am Maximus regains the National. The first since Red Rum."
As the Grand National is accorded the status of an event of national interest in the United Kingdom and is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, it must be shown on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK. The race was broadcast live on TV by ITV for the ninth time, and the third year in its new three-year deal with the British Horseracing Authority.[3]
The ITV coverage was presented by Ed Chamberlin. Analysis was provided by former jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald, Rachael Blackmore and Ruby Walsh. Reports were provided by Alice Plunkett, who spoke to the winning jockeys, Rishi Pershad, who was in the pre-parade ring, Luke Harvey, who was down at the start and Matt Chapman, who spoke to the owners and trainers in the parade ring and winners enclosure. Betting updates were provided by Brian Gleeson. Oli Bell and Sam Quek covered viewers' comments on social media, and the commentary team was Mark Johnson, Stewart Machin and Richard Hoiles, who called the finish for the ninth time. Following the race, Bell and Walsh guided viewers on a fence-by-fence re-run of the race.[4]
The race was also broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live, whose team included Gina Bryce, former jockeys Andrew Thornton and Charlie Poste, John Hunt, Darren Owen, Gary O'Brien and Rob Nothman.[5] Bryce became the first woman to commentate live on the race since course owner Mirabel Topham in 1952.[6]
References
- ↑ "Grand National 2026 result: Where your horse finished". Irish Independent. 10 April 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "FULL RACE & REACTION: 2026 Randox Grand National". Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Mottershead, Lee (3 August 2022). "Racing will remain on ITV for another three years after new contract is agreed". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ↑ "ITV Racing – Grand National 2025". 4 April 2025. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
- ↑ "Grand National: Race times, schedule & BBC coverage". BBC Sport. 31 March 2025. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ↑ "'Hugely excited' Gina Bryce to become the first female Grand National commentator in 73 years". Racing Post. 4 April 2025. Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.