The Grand National
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Grand National 2026: Results, Runners & Prize Money

The Grand National

The absence of defending champion Nick Rockett was a blow to the Willie Mullins team in 2026. However, the Irish powerhouse was still responsible for eight of the final field, including the red-hot favourite I Am Maximus. Having won the 2024 edition and finished second in 2025, the mount of Paul Townend was heavily supported to start as the 9/2 market leader. The pick of the other Mullins runners looked to be 2025 third-place finisher, Grangeclare West, who warmed up with a win in the Bobbyjo Chase and had the assistance of 2025 winning rider Patrick Mullins.

In a season set to end in a first British Trainers’ Championship, Dan Skelton saddled the second favourite, Panic Attack. Having already bagged the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Coral Gold Cup, could the mare complete a spectacular hat-trick of big handicap successes?

The J.P. McManus silks were tough to miss in the 2026 Grand National, with six runners carrying the famous green and gold. I Am Maximus led the way, but Ultima Handicap 1-2 Johnnywho and Jagwar, 2025 Grand National fourth Iroko, and talented novice Oscars Brother also boasted eye-catching claims.

Others well supported on the day included stablemates Monty’s Star and Gorgeous Tom, from the yard of the 2021 winning trainer Henry De Bromhead.

Result

  • 1st – I Am Maximus 9/2F, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
  • 2nd – Iroko 18/1, Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr, Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
  • 3rd – Jordans 28/1, Jockey: Ben Jones, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
  • 4th – Johnnywho 12/1, Jockey: Richie McLernon, Trainer: Jonjo & A. J. O’Neill

Prize Money Breakdown

  • 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

Tote and Forecast Payouts

  • Tote Win – £5.50
  • Tote Places – 1st – £2.30, 2nd – £5.10, 3rd – £6.80
  • Exacta – £117.40
  • Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £69.03
  • Trifecta – £6,025.10
  • Tricast – £2,179.46

Recap

We had a fairly even break to the 2026 Grand National with the runners spread right across the track. Amirite led the arrowhead over the first fence, flanked by High Class Hero to the inside and Final Orders on the outer. Grangeclare West’s bid to go two places better than in 2025 ended almost before it had begun, with the Cheveley Park stud runner unseating Patrick Mullins at the first fence. Quai De Bourbon (second fence), Panic Attack (third fence), Mr Vango (sixth fence), and Gerri Colombe (seventh fence) were others who saw their challenge end early.

Approaching the eighth fence, Amirite held a one-length advantage over High Class Hero, who sat a similar distance ahead of Twig, Top Of The Bill, and Monty’s Star. Paul Townend and I Am Maximus had settled into a nice rhythm just off the pace and towards the inside rail. The fellow McManus runners Iroko, Jagwar, and Johnnywho hunted around together in the centre of the pack, with The Real Whacker and Banbridge among those beginning to struggle towards the rear.

Heading out onto the second circuit, Amirite and Top Of The Bill bowled along at the head of affairs. Imperial Saint had made a forward move to join High Class Hero and Twig in the next wave of three. I Am Maximus still hugged the inside rail, while further back, Jordans began to make a forward move, having sat at the back of the field for the first circuit.

McManus’s hopes suffered a blow with the departures of Oscars Brother and Jagwar at successive fences, but I Am Maximus, Iroko, and Johnnywho all moved well deep into the second circuit. Having worked his way through the field, Jordans made a big move at the fourth last to grab the lead from Imperial Saint and Monty’s Star.

Turning for home, Ben Jones and Jordans surged six lengths clear of the field. High Class Hero plugged on in second, but the big dangers arrived in the shape of three runners in the green and gold. Johnnywho moved into third over the second last, while I Am Maximus began an irresistible surge outside.

Striking the front inside the final furlong, I Am Maximus and Paul Townend powered to the line for a 2½l success. Iroko finished with a flourish to grab second from the gallant Jordans, with Johnnywho in fourth.

A wonderful performance from I Am Maximus. Under top weight, the 2024 champion became the first horse to regain his Grand National crown since Red Rum in 1977. A fourth win for Willie Mullins, who joins George Dockeray, Fred Rimell, and Ginger McCain at the top of the all-time Grand National Trainers’ table. Mullins also became the first trainer to win three successive editions of the Aintree showpiece since Vincent O’Brien (1953, 1954, 1955). It was yet another excellent ride from Paul Townend, who won his second Grand National.

Runners

  • 1. I Am Maximus – SP: 9/2F, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Paul Townend
  • 2. Nick Rockett – Non-runner
  • 3. Banbridge – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien, Jockey: J. J. Slevin
  • 4. Grangeclare West – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Mr P. W. Mullins
  • 5. Gerri Colombe – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Jack Kennedy
  • 6. Haiti Couleurs – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Rebecca Curtis, Jockey: Sean Bowen
  • 7. Spillane’s Tower – Non-runner
  • 8. Firefox – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Keith Donoghue
  • 9. Monty’s Star – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead, Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
  • 10. Spanish Harlem – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Brian Hayes
  • 11. Lecky Watson – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe
  • 12. Champ Kiely – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Danny Mullins
  • 13. Iroko – SP: 18/1, Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero, Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
  • 14. Favori De Champdou – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Danny Gilligan
  • 15. Three Card Brag – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Jordan Gainford
  • 16. Oscars Brother – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Connor King, Jockey: Daniel King
  • 17. Mr Vango – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Mrs Sara Bradstock, Jockey: Jack Tudor
  • 18. High Class Hero – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: James Bowen
  • 19. Stellar Story – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Robert Dunne
  • 20. Beauport – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
  • 21. Captain Cody – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Jonathan Burke
  • 22. Jagwar – SP: 17/2, Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero, Jockey: Mark Walsh
  • 23. Perceval Legallois – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Harry Cobden
  • 24. Gorgeous Tom – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead, Jockey: Sean Flanagan
  • 25. The Real Whacker – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Patrick Neville, Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
  • 26. Quai De Bourbon – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Donagh Meyler
  • 27. Answer To Kayf – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Terence O’Brien, Jockey: John Shinnick
  • 28. Jordans – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien, Jockey: Ben Jones
  • 29. Final Orders – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Conor Stone-Walsh
  • 30. Marble Sands – SP: 66/1, Trainer: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson, Jockey: Tom Bellamy
  • 31. Panic Attack – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Dan Skelton, Jockey: Harry Skelton
  • 32. Top Of The Bill – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies, Jockey: Toby McCain-Mitchell
  • 33. Johnnywho – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Jonjo & A. J. O’Neill, Jockey: Richie McLernon
  • 34. Twig – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Ben Pauling, Jockey: Beau Morgan
  • 35. Pied Piper – Non-runner
  • 36. Imperial Saint – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White, Jockey: Callum Pritchard
  • 37. Amirite – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead, Jockey: Phillip Enright

Non-Runners

Nick Rockett (self-certificate, coughing), Pied Piper (self-certificate, lame), Spillane’s Tower (not qualified)