Ahead of Saturday’s Randox Grand National, David Yates gives his verdict on all 34 runners in the field for the Aintree contest with star ratings for each horse and his 1-2-3-4-5-6
Newsboy ranks the 2026 Grand National field (Image: Tom Jenkins, Getty Images)
The Randox Grand National is the only horse race in the calendar on which the nation enjoys a flutter. Thousands of bets will be placed in betting shops and online by once-a-year punters hoping to pick the winner of the 34-runner 4m2f marathon over 30 of Aintree’s famous spruce fences.
The field is headed by 2024 race winner I Am Maximus, one of eight horses to be saddled by champion trainer Willie Mullins and the big race ante-post favourite. Panic Attack, from the stable of Britain’s champion trainer elect Dan Skelton, heads the small home defence while JP McManus, owner of I Am Maximus, has the next three horses in the betting too, in Jagwar, Iroko and Johnnywho.
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To help punters make their choice, Newsboy has produced his ultimate horse-by-horse pinstickers’ guide.
1 I AM MAXIMUS (Paul Townend) ****
Patchy form this season and no top weight has won since Red Rum 52 years ago, but won the Grand National in style two years ago and a fine second in 2025, so another good account on the cards.
3 BANBRIDGE (JJ Slevin) **
Top-class chaser came within a nose of retaining his crown in King George VI Chase (3m) at Kempton Park over Christmas but didn’t shine at Cheltenham (2m4½f) last month and today’s marathon distance a big question mark.
4 GRANGECLARE WEST (Mr P W Mullins) ****
Back to winning form in Bobbyjo Chase (3m2f) at Fairyhouse latest outing and, while 10-year-old is now 3lb higher than running an excellent third last year (made mistake at the last), rates a rock-solid contender.
5 GERRI COLOMBE (Jack Kennedy) **
Cheltenham Gold Cup (3m2½f) runner-up of 2024 hasn’t been at the same level since returning from 421-day absence this year and even his win at Down Royal (3m2f) last month is a world away from what’s needed here.
6 HAITI COLORS (Sean Bowen) ***
Has two big-name Nationals – the Irish (Fairyhouse, 3m5f) and Welsh (Chepstow, 3m6½f) – on his CV and, while he went out like a light when pulled up in the Gold Cup (3m2½f) latest, not inconceivable this test will trigger a renaissance.
8 FIREFOX (Keith Donoghue) *
In debit with the handicapper – he carries 3lb more than he would if the handicap, published in February, were compiled today – and hasn’t convinced at beyond 3m the last twice, so no sleepless nights in opposing.
9 MONTY’S STAR (Darragh O’Keeffe) ***
Regular attender at the top level over the past couple of seasons has no secrets from the handicapper but gives the impression he could thrive for a test of stamina so capable of going well.
10 SPANISH HARLEM (Brian Hayes) **
Kerry National (3m) winner at Listowel last September had Gowran Park’s Thyestes Chase (3m1f) in January at his mercy when tipping up at the last, but pulled up twice this term and not one to set your clocks by.
11 LECKY WATSON (Sean O’Keeffe) **
Top novice last season, scoring at the Cheltenham Festival (3m) , but has found life much tougher in open company this term and his tendency to make the odd howler likely to prove a major drawback here.
12 CHAMP KIELY (Danny Mullins) ****
Sound jumper rounded off his time as a novice with 22-1 top-level triumph at Punchestown (3m1f) last April but has been beaten a total of 62 lengths on his last two starts and much more needed.
13 IROKO (Jonjo O’Neill Jr) ***
Fine fourth as the 13-2 favourite last year had an excuse (mucus found in scope) when a well-beaten 10th at Cheltenham (3m1f) last month but no getting way from the fact that was a far-from-ideal preparation.
14 FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU (Danny Gilligan) ***
Followed 66-1 shock in big-money chase at Leopardstown (3m) over Christmas with cross-country win and second at Cheltenham (3m5½f) but has paid a price for his resurgence with the handicapper and he’s no spring chicken at 11.
15 THREE CARD BRAG (Jordan Gainford) *
In good form during the first half of the winter but a major disappointment when favourite for National prep at Fairyhouse (3m2f) and fact he beat a retreat into 11th place 12th months ago tempers enthusiasm.
16 OSCARS BROTHER (Daniel King) ****
The least experienced chaser in the line-up with just six attempts over fences but racked up a hat-trick before staying on into fourth at Cheltenham (3m1f) and improver could well be suited by a stamina test.
17 MR VANGO (Jack Tudor) *
Mudlark added Uttoxeter’s Midlands Grand National (4m2f) to scores in the Devon (Exeter, 3m6½f) and London (Sandown Park, 3m4½f) versions before short-head second in the Becher Chase (3m2f) over the National fences, but wheels have come off in two starts since.
18 HIGH CLASS HERO (James Bowen) **
Marked handicap debut with keeping-on third in bet365 Gold Cup (3m4f½f) at Sandown Park last April, giving strong impression a stern test of stamina would suit, but pulled up both starts this year and questions to answer.
19 STELLAR STORY (Robert Dunne) ***
High-class novice chaser last season and, wearing blinkers, put up best effort of the season with third to Grangeclare West at Fairyhouse (3m2f) in February, so capable of going well, especially if the heavens open.
20 BEAUPORT (Sam Twiston-Davies) *
Captured Midlands (Uttoxeter, 4m2f)) and Berkshire (Ascot, 3m5½f) Nationals in 2024 but came home tailed off in 12th in the one that counts last April and recent form doesn’t inspire confidence he’ll fare much better this time.
21 CAPTAIN CODY (Jonathan Burke) *****
Smooth winner of Scottish Grand National (4m) at Ayr last April and, while he hasn’t shone on heavy ground of late – and is 12lb higher in the weights – spring terrain could be the key to bouncing back.
22 JAGWAR (Mark Walsh) ***
Statuesque gelding has had to be content with place money when favourite for all three starts this season but is 5lb well in on last month’s Cheltenham (3m1f) second to Johnnywho and can get involved if he lasts home.
23 PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS (Harry Cobden) **
Fancied to go well here when on a hat-trick 12 months ago but got no further than the ninth fence and doesn’t arrive on the same upward trajectory this time around, so has a bit to prove.
24 GORGEOUS TOM (Sean Flanagan) ****
Marked handicap debut with a running on fourth to Panic Attack in valuable Coral Gold Cup (3m2f) at Newbury and fifth over shorter at Leopardstown (2m5½f) last month will put likely stayer spot on for this test.
25 THE REAL WHACKER (Gavin Sheehan) **
Top-tier winner as a novice chaser at Cheltenham (3m½f) in 2023 but has managed just one victory in 12 outings over fences since and, even though the handicapper has eased his burden, doesn’t look like cashing in.
26 BOURBON QUARRY (Donald Meyler) **
Third to Haiti Couleurs as the 11-2 market leader for the Irish Grand National (3m5f)n at Fairyhouse last April but pulled up in two of his three starts since and room for improvement in the jumping department.
27 ANSWER TO KAYF (John Shinnick) *
Netted big pot for Troytown Chase (3m) at Navan in November but the assessor has taken that into account, and habit of making the odd error – and his need for hock-deep ground – make it easy to look elsewhere.
28 JORDAN (Ben Jones) **
Overcame some untidy jumping over regulation fences for Grade 1 second as a novice (3m1f) here in 2025 but only three finished that day and questionable stayer has plenty on his plate judged on two defeats this year.
29 FINAL ORDERS (Conor Stone-Walsh) ***
This test is much tougher than the cross-country discipline he’s thrived in with two wins at Cheltenham (3m5½f) this season, but there were bright spots in big-money handicap chases last spring and he’s not written off.
30 MARBLE SANDS (Kielan Woods) ***
Came home well to land handicap chase (3m3½f) at Cheltenham in November and, while first experience of National fences yielded wide-margin defeat in last year’s Topham Chase (2m5f), a stamina test could suit and there are worse outsiders.
31 PANIC ATTACK (Harry Skelton) ***
Has found improvement this season to rack up hat-trick over fences before defeat at Cheltenham (2m4½f) last month, but this test could suit and no forlorn hope to become the first winning mare since Nickel Coin in 1951.
32 TOP OF THE BILL (Toby McCain-Mitchell) **
Scored at Haydock Park (3m1½f) in November and decent run under top weight when second in Grand National Trial (3m4½f) there in February but made mistakes that day and will need to brush up his jumping here.
33 JOHNNYWHO (Richie McLernon) ***
Ended frustrating sequence of defeats with victory from Jagwar at Cheltenham (3m1f) last time but weakened into fifth in Irish National (3m5f) at Fairyhouse last April and so doubts about his ability to last home today.
34 TWIG (Beau Morgan) *
Game effort to land Becher Chase (3m2f) over the National obstacles in December but well beaten in 10th over an additional mile in this race 12 months ago and likely to be found wanting at the business end.
35 IMPERIAL SAINT (Callum Pritchard) ***
Good record over the regulation fences and, while this is much his toughest test as he encounters the National obstacles and goes up in distance, profile suggests he’s capable of a decent show at big odds.
36 EMIRATES (Philip Enright) *
Got round over the famous fences when fourth in the Topham Chase (2m5f) 12 months ago but has failed for stamina in long-distance events in the past, so the National distance looks a step too far.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3-4-5-6: 1 CAPTAIN CODY, 2 OSCARS BROTHER, 3 I AM MAXIMUS, 4 GORGEOUS TOM, 5 GRANGECLARE WEST, 6 CHAMP KIELY
