The Grand National makes the front and back pages of the newspapers more than any other race in the UK, if not the world. It is a contest watched by many people who watch no other racing all year and wagered on by people who “don’t bet”. It is truly a national institution but also a global event, watched by over half a billion people in well over 130 countries. It is not the classiest race on the calendar but even so, with the total purse standing at £1m in 2022, it offers huge financial rewards. Run at Liverpool’s Aintree on the Saturday of a three-day meeting in April, it was first won, way back in 1839, by the aptly named Lottery.
We say that the name is fitting because the Grand National is widely regarded as something of a lottery. It is open to horses aged seven and upwards and is run over almost four and a half miles, with uniquely testing jumps and obstacles – 30 of them, no less! In addition, the race typically features around 40 horses, though in 1929, a total of 66 runners went to post! There is so much luck required in-running that predicting the winner is no mean feat, with the favourite often priced around the 8/1 mark. Winning this race at once makes a horse a legend of the sport but multiple winners of this handicap chase are truly special. They include record three-time winner Red Rum, plus the likes of Tiger Roll, Manifesto and Reynoldstown. Other Grand National greats include Cheltenham Gold Cup legend Golden Miller and L’Escargot.
2026 - I Am Maximus
History was made at Aintree as I Am Maximus became the first horse since Red Rum in 1977 to regain the Grand National. The 9/2 favourite, who had also finished runner-up in 2025, travelled strongly under Paul Townend before producing a decisive burst after the final fence to beat Iroko. The victory completed a remarkable hat-trick of consecutive National wins for Willie Mullins, a feat last achieved by Vincent O'Brien in the 1950s. It also gave owner JP McManus a record fourth success in the race, with three of the first four carrying his colours. It also cemented the popular I Am Maximums as one of the true greats of the National.
- 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
2025 - Nick Rockett
Willie Mullins enjoyed one of the greatest days of his career as Nick Rockett led home an extraordinary one-two-three for the champion trainer. Amateur jockey Patrick Mullins produced a beautifully judged ride, sending the 33/1 chance to the front at the final fence before holding off defending champion I Am Maximus by two and a half lengths. In a truly staggering training performance Mullins trained five of the first seven finishers, collecting the majority of the £1 million prize fund and later describing the achievement as the pinnacle of his career.
- 1st - Nick Rockett 33/1, Jockey: Mr P W Mullins, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd - I Am Maximus 7/1, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd - Grangeclare West 33/1, Jockey: Brian Hayes, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 4th - Iroko 13/2F, Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr, Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
2024 - I Am Maximus
A brilliantly thrilling finish saw I Am Maximus surge clear after the final fence to land the 2024 race under a perfectly judged ride from Paul Townend. The 7/1 joint-favourite only hit the front approaching the Elbow but quickly settled the race, pulling a yawning seven and a half lengths clear of Delta Work, with former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo back in third. Townend was celebrating his first victory in the famous steeplechase, while the first running under revised safety measures produced 21 finishers from 32 starters and no fallers – a pleasing outcome for advocates of the changes.
- 1st - I Am Maximus 7/1J, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd - Delta Work 28/1, Jockey: Jack Kennedy, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 3rd - Minella Indo 28/1, Jockey: Rachael Blackmore, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
- 4th - Galvin 40/1, Jockey: Sam Ewing, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
2023 - Corach Rambler
Corach Rambler produced a polished staying performance to give Lucinda Russell a second Grand National success in seven years. After overcoming a shoulder injury to prove his fitness for the ride, Derek Fox produced a perfectly timed challenge to take control at the final fence. Mister Coffey briefly threatened to provide Nicky Henderson with a first National victory, only to weaken late on as Corach Rambler powered clear. He was still alongside the eventual winner at the final fences, but the gruelling demands of the race caught up with him, and he eventually dropped from first all the way down to eighth.
- 1st - Corach Rambler 8/1F, Jockey: Derek Fox, Trainer: Lucinda Russell
- 2nd - Vanilier 20/1, Jockey: Sean Flanagan, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
- 3rd - Gaillard Du Mesnil 10/1, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 4th - Noble Yeats 10/1, Jockey: Sean Bowen, Trainer: Emmet Mullins
2022 - Noble Yeats
Sam Waley-Cohen enjoyed a remarkable farewell to racing by steering 50/1 outsider Noble Yeats to victory in his final competitive ride. The amateur jockey had announced just days earlier that he would retire after the race and produced a cool, patient display before seeing off favourite Any Second Now by two and a quarter lengths. Conceding 12lb to the winner ultimately proved too much for the favourite. Only 15 of the 40 runners completed the course after an attritional renewal, while Noble Yeats became the first seven-year-old to win the contest since 1940. It was a brilliant way for Waley-Cohen to bow out, after an incredible career as an amateur jockey.
- 1st - Noble Yeats 50/1, Jockey: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen, Trainer: Emmet Mullins
- 2nd - Any Second Now 15/2F, Jockey: Mark Walsh, Trainer: Ted Walsh
- 3rd - Delta Work 10/1, Jockey: Jack Kennedy, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 4th - Santini 33/1, Jockey: Nick Schofield, Trainer: Polly Gundry
2021 - Minella Times
History was created as Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National aboard Minella Times. It was a feat some had said was impossible, but the brilliant Blackmore produced a stunning ride to make history. Always well positioned, Blackmore tracked long-time leader Jett before moving smoothly into contention approaching the second-last fence. A fluent jump at the last settled matters and the Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding pulled six and a half lengths clear. Although Covid restrictions meant there were no spectators at Aintree, those present recognised the significance of Blackmore's landmark success. Prior to this, the closest a female jockey had come to victory was Katie Walsh's third-place finish aboard Seabass in 2012.
- 1st - Minella Times 11/1, Jockey: Rachael Blackmore, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
- 2nd - Balko Des Flos 100/1, Jockey: Aidan Coleman, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
- 3rd - Any Second Now 15/2, Jockey: Mark Walsh, Trainer: Ted Walsh
- 4th - Burrows Saint 9/1, Jockey: Mr P W Mullins, Trainer: Willie Mullins
2020 - Cancelled
For the first time since 1940, the Grand National was not run after the meeting was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, a virtual version of the race, generated using computer simulation based on the runners' official ratings and other performance data, was broadcast on television. Potters Corner was declared the virtual winner, with the event raising significant sums for NHS Charities Together and other good causes during the national lockdown.
2019 - Tiger Roll
Tiger Roll cemented his place among the greats of this iconic race by becoming the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back Nationals. Remembering how much the reigning champion tired late on 12 months earlier, Davy Russell delayed his challenge until after the final fence. The 66/1 outsider Magic Of Light threatened to spoil the party, but a slight mistake on the last jump caused her to lose momentum. This enabled Tiger Roll to take charge and pull clear on the run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths.
- 1st - Tiger Roll 4/1F, Jockey: Davy Russell, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 2nd - Magic Of Light 66/1, Jockey: Paddy Kennedy, Trainer: Mrs John Harrington
- 3rd - Rathvinden 8/1, Jockey: Ruby Walsh, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 4th - Walk In The Mill 25/1, Jockey: James Best, Trainer: Robert Walford
2018 - Tiger Roll
Tiger Roll announced himself as a future National legend with a dramatic victory in a photo finish. Aside from a minor mistake at the opening fence, he jumped superbly throughout before sweeping past Pleasant Company approaching the last. Davy Russell appeared to have sealed victory after opening a five-length lead by the Elbow, but David Mullins conjured a remarkable late surge from Pleasant Company, reducing the margin with every stride. A photo finish ultimately confirmed Tiger Roll had held on by a head.
- 1st - Tiger Roll (IRE) 10/1, Jockey: Davy Russell, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 2nd - Pleasant Company (IRE) 25/1, Jockey: David Mullins, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd - Bless the Wings (IRE) 40/1, Jockey: Jack Kennedy, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 4th - Anibale Fly (FR) 10/1, Jockey: Barry Geraghty, Trainer: A J Martin
2017 - One For Arthur
One For Arthur gave Scotland only its second winner of the race with an authoritative staying performance under Derek Fox. Returning from injury after breaking both a wrist and collarbone just weeks earlier, Fox waited patiently as Blaklion made an early move before sweeping past the favourite approaching the final fence. The Lucinda Russell-trained gelding had Cause of Causes for company at this point but comfortably pulled ahead to secure a four-and-a-half-length victory. The only other time this race witnessed a Scottish-trained winner was following Rubstic’s triumph way back in 1979.
- 1st - One For Arthur (IRE) 14/1, Jockey: Derek Fox, Trainer: Lucinda Russell
- 2nd - Cause of Causes (USA) 16/1, Jockey: Mr J J Codd, Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- 3rd - Saint Are (FR) 25/1, Jockey: Davy Russell, Trainer: Tom George
- 4th - Blaklion 8/1F, Jockey: Noel Fehily, Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
2016
- 1st - Rule The World 33/1, Jockey: David Mullins, Trainer: Michael F. Morris
- 2nd - The Last Samuri (IRE) 8/1J, Jockey: David Bass, Trainer: Kim Bailey
- 3rd - Vics Canvas (IRE) 100/1, Jockey: Robert Dunne, Trainer: Dermot A McLoughlin
- 4th - Gilgamboa (IRE) 28/1, Jockey: Robbie Power, Trainer: Enda Bolger
2015
- 1st - Many Clouds (IRE) 25/1, Jockey: Leighton Aspell, Trainer: Oliver Sherwood
- 2nd - Saint Are (FR) 25/1, Jockey: Paddy Brennan, Trainer: Tom George
- 3rd - Monbeg Dude (IRE) 40/1, Jockey: Liam Treadwell, Trainer: Michael Scudamore
- 4th - Alvarado (IRE) 20/1, Jockey: Paul Moloney, Trainer: Fergal O'Brien
2014
- 1st - Pineau De Re (FR) 25/1, Jockey: Leighton Aspell, Trainer: Dr Richard Newland
- 2nd - Balthazar King (IRE) 14/1, Jockey: Richard Johnson, Trainer: Philip Hobbs
- 3rd - Double Seven (IRE) 10/1J, Jockey: A P McCoy, Trainer: Martin Brassil
- 4th - Alvarado (IRE) 33/1, Jockey: Paul Moloney, Trainer: Fergal O'Brien