Run on good to soft going on Saturday, April 11, 2026, the 2026 Grand National featured 34 runners, the maximum number possible since the latest safety changes implemented by Aintree and its owner, The Jockey Club, in 2024, of which 16 completed the course. County Carlow trainer Willie Mullins, who won the Grand National with I Am Maximus in 2024 and Nick Rockett in 2025, saddled no fewer than eight runners, headed, once again, by I Am Maximus, who sought to become the first horse since Red Rum to recapture the Grand National, having finished runner-up to his stable companion in 2025.
Indeed, I Am Maximus was the subject of a wholesale gamble beforehand, forcing his starting price into 9/2 favourite, ahead of the Coral Gold Cup winner Panic Attack, at 7/1, Ultima Handicap Chase runner-up Jagwar, at 17/2, and stable companion Grangeclare West, third in the 2025 Grand National, at 9/1. The latter was an early casualty, unseating Patrick Mullins at the very first fence, while Panic Attack was badly hampered by the fall of the Mullins-trained Quai De Bourbon at the second fence before falling herself at the third. Jagwar fared a little better, but he, too, unseated Mark Walsh after a mistake at the first open ditch on the second circuit.
At the business end of the race, Jordans, trained by Joseph Patrick O’Brien and ridden by Ben Jones, opened up a clear lead on the turn for home and remained at the head of affairs until just after the Elbow, halfway up the run-in. At that point, he was joined and passed by I Am Maximus, who, despite top weight of 11st 12lb, stayed on well in closing stages to win by two-and-a-half lengths. Iroko took second close home, with Jordans third and Johnnywho fourth, all within just over four lengths behind the winner. I Am Maximus, Iroko and Johnnywho all bore the famous green and gold silks of leading owner John Patrick ‘J.P.’ McManus. The result was less than well received by the leading bookmakers, with Fred Done, of Betfred fame, saying, “It’s been a gladiatorial bloodbath for us bookies.”