Panic Attack is the new favourite for the Grand National just hours before the huge Aintree race.
I Am Maximus – the 2024 winner – has head the field since declarations, but Harry Skelton mount Panic Attack has been attracting interest all week.
Nick Rockett was looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Tiger Roll in 2019, though was declared as a non-runner on Thursday morning.
Stablemate I Am Maximus is bidding to become the first horse to carry top weight to victory since Red Rum in 1977.
In addition to the past two winners, Willie Mullins also runs Grangeclare West, who was third last year and is the pick of last year’s winning jockey.
Welsh and Irish National winner Haiti Couleurs is aiming to become the first horse to claim all three steeplechases.
Ireland’s hand is typically strong with the likes of Banbridge, Gerri Colombe, Firefox, Monty’s Star and Oscars Brother all in the mix.
I Am Maximus ridden by Paul Townend to victory in 2024
PA Wire
Here are the 34 horses set to run as it stands…
Grand National 2026 runners and riders
(All odds via Betfair, subject to change.)
Consistent mare with strong handicap form; stamina proven but faces tough task against stronger male opposition historically dominant here. Subject of a huge gamble on the day.
Jockey: Harry Skelton | Trainer: Dan Skelton | Weight: 9st 13lb | Odds: 7/1
Top-weight defending champion; proven stamina and class, but age and burden raise questions despite strong recent graded chase form. Cannot be ruled out.
Jockey: Paul Townend | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 11st 12lb | Odds: 8/1
Talented Mullins runner with solid staying form and recent win; leading contender if reproducing best jumping rhythm and stamina reserves. Has to be respected.
Jockey: Patrick Mullins | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 11st 9lb | Odds: 8/1
Exciting young contender with strong Cheltenham form; well-weighted and progressive, though lacks experience over extreme National trip. No bet at short odds.
Jockey: Mark Walsh | Trainer: Jonjo & AJ O’Neill | Weight: 10st 11lb | Odds: 8/1
Strong market fancy with solid National form; Cheltenham run disappointing but remains dangerous contender with proven stamina and jumping ability. Can be shortlisted.
Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr | Trainer: Greenall & Guerriero | Weight: 11st 0lb | Odds: 10/1
Lightly raced and improving; stamina potential evident but lacks experience needed for such a demanding race. Could surprise a few.
Jockey: Daniel King | Trainer: Connor King | Weight: 10st 0lb | Odds: 12/1
Improving novice chaser; stamina promising but must prove jumping fluency and composure in large competitive field.
Jockey: Richie McLernon | Trainer: Jonjo & AJ O’Neill | Weight: 10st 4lb | Odds: 10/1
Scottish National winner with proven stamina; ideal age and profile, strong each-way claims if jumping holds under pressure.
Jockey: Harry Cobden | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 10st 10lb | Odds: 14/1
Lightly raced but improving staying chaser with strong handicap credentials; thrives in testing conditions and could outrun odds if handling Aintree fences well.
Jockey: Sean Bowen | Trainer: Rebecca Curtis | Weight: 11st 7lb | Odds: 14/1
Solid novice staying profile; open to improvement but must prove resilience and jumping accuracy in biggest test faced so far. Shaped well in the Irish Gold Cup, very interesting contender.
Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe | Trainer: Henry de Bromhead | Weight: 11st 4lb | Odds: 12/1
Top-class chaser dropping in trip class; strong engine but must adapt to unique fences and longer distance than usual races. Handicapper hasn’t been kind.
Jockey: Jack Kennedy | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 11st 8lb | Odds: 20/1
Jack Kennedy (r) riding Gerri Colombe
Getty Images
Capable handicap performer; stamina likely sufficient but must prove class and jumping consistency against stronger opposition. Vunerable to younger legs.
Jockey: Conor Stone Walsh | Trainer: Gavin Cromwell | Weight: 10st 7lb | Odds: 20/1
Progressive Irish handicapper; stays well and jumps efficiently, capable of running into places at rewarding odds. Fell during last year’s race, will surely improve.
Jockey: Harry Cobden | Trainer: Gavin Cromwell | Weight: 9st 12lb | Odds: 20/1
Unexposed stayer from a strong yard; could improve for distance but lacks big-field experience and must show sharper jumping here. An outsider.
Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 11st 2lb | Odds: 22/1
High-quality performer earlier career; inconsistent recently but capable if rediscovering form and lasting extended distance test. Hard to fancy.
Jockey: Danny Mullins | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 11st 1lb | Odds: 25/1
Has solid form, strong stamina, and realistic each-way chances. Form has been mixed but can bounce back with the right profile.
Jockey: Robert Dunne | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 10st 11lb | Odds: 25/1
Young improving chaser; stamina not fully proven but profile suggests potential to outrun odds if progressing again. A big player.
Jockey: Donagh Meyler | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 9st 11lb | Odds: 28/1
Experienced handicapper with strong staying form; outsider with place potential if adapting to fences and maintaining rhythm throughout race. Not of huge appeal
Jockey: Brian Hayes | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 11st 3lb | Odds: 28/1
Progressive staying chaser; lightly raced and open to improvement but faces steep rise in class for this contest. Not an attractive option.
Jockey: Sean Flanagan | Trainer: Henry de Bromhead | Weight: 10st 6lb | Odds: 28/1
Consistent handicapper with staying ability; likely to keep galloping but may lack finishing kick against higher-class rivals. Warrants consideration.
Jockey: Ben Jones | Trainer: Joe Tizzard | Weight: 10st 3lb | Odds: 28/1
High-class Grade 1 performer stepping into marathon territory; possesses quality but stamina for an extreme National trip remains an unproven question mark.
Jockey: JJ Slevin | Trainer: Joseph O’Brien | Weight: 11st 10lb | Odds: 33/1
Reliable handicap chaser; stays well and jumps soundly but may lack class edge needed against stronger graded rivals here. In the form of his life.
Jockey: Danny Gilligan | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 10st 13lb | Odds: 33/1
Highly regarded novice with potential; unexposed at marathon trips but could be well-handicapped if stamina holds. Has been trained for this race, so not one to rule out.
Jockey: James Bowen | Trainer: Willie Mullins | Weight: 10st 5lb | Odds: 40/1
Talented novice with stamina potential; untested at this level but progressive profile suggests possible surprise run if settling early.
Jockey: Jordan Gainford | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 10st 12lb | Odds: 40/1
Front-running stayer; effective in certain conditions but ground concerns and class level raise doubts about competitiveness here. Wants rain.
Jockey: Jack Tudor | Trainer: Sara Bradstock | Weight: 10st 1lb | Odds: 40/1
Outsider needing several to underperform; stamina possible but lacks class and experience to trouble leading contenders realistically.
Jockey: Beau Morgan | Trainer: Ben Pauling | Weight: 9st 9lb | Odds: 40/1
Consistent graded performer; reliable jumper but stamina doubts persist for marathon trip, needing career-best effort to feature prominently late.
Jockey: Keith Donoghue | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 11st 5lb | Odds: 50/1
Strong stayer with good trial form; could be competitive if maintaining rhythm and conserving energy for final stages. Will need a career-best effort.
Jockey: Toby McCain-Mitchell | Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies | Weight: 9st 10lb | Odds: 50/1
Grey outsider with solid staying form; unlikely winner but could outrun big odds if conditions suit and jumping holds.
Jockey: Kielan Woods | Trainer: Ben Pauling | Weight: 10st 2lb | Odds: 50/1
Replaced 2025 winner Nick Rockett, but has little chance of replicating that success. A distinct outsider with limited expectations, having largely been campaigned over two-and-a-half miles.
Jockey: Callum Pritchard | Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White | Weight: 9st 9lb | Odds: 50/1
Experienced stayer with solid jumping; lacks recent standout form but could grind into minor placings if race becomes attritional. Cannot be ruled out.
Jockey: John Shinnick | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Weight: 10st 8lb | Odds: 66/1
Staying specialist with solid handicap form; effective in testing conditions but needs improvement to match leading contenders’ class. A huge outsider.
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies | Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies | Weight: 10st 9lb | Odds: 66/1
Hasn’t been overly competitive since winning the Browns Advisory in 2023. Has been dropped 11lbs, but will struggle to be competitive.
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan | Trainer: Patrick Neville | Weight: 11st 0lb | Odds: 66/1
Reserves: Amirite, Ain’t That A Shame, Deep Cave, Buddy One
