What time does the Grand National 2026 start? How to watch iconic race on TV this weekend

All eyes will be on the Grand National this weekend with the 178th running of the iconic steeplechase taking place at Aintree.

But there will be no repeat of last year’s result, with the 2025 winner Nick Rockett dramatically declared a non-runner on Thursday morning after being found with a cough.

But despite the blow to trainer Willie Mullins, who completed a 1-2-3 in the race 12 months ago, the legendary Irish trainer still dominates the field with eight horses taking to the start line for the three-time winner.

Here is your complete guide to the Grand National 2026, including when it starts, how to watch along on TV and those all-important odds.

Guide overview

• Start time


• How to watch on TV


• Runners


• Race distance and fences


• Odds


• Prize money

Start time

The three-day Grand National meeting gets underway today, with Ladies Day taking place on Friday.

How to watch on TV

Viewers will also be able to live stream the action on ITVX.

Runners

Last year’s winning jockey, Patrick Mullins, has switched to the 2025 third-placed horse, Grangeclare West, whilst Paul Townend will once again be in the saddle of I Am Maximus.

The size of the Grand National field was reduced from 40 to 34 in 2024 in an attempt to improve horse safety by reducing congestion at fences.

Confirmed runners and riders

1.

I Am Maximus
Jockey: Paul Townend
Trainer: Willie Mullins
2.

Pied Piper
Jockey: TBC
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
3.

Banbridge
Jockey: JJ Slevin
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
4.

Grangeclare West
Jockey: Patrick Mullins
Trainer: Willie Mullins
5.

Gerri Colombe
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
6.

Haiti Couleurs
Jockey: Sean Bowen
Trainer: Rebecca Curtis
7.

Spillane’s Tower
Jockey: Simon Torrens
Trainer: Jimmy Mangan
8.

Firefox
Jockey: Keith Donoghue
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
9.

Monty’s Star
Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
10.

Spanish Harlem
Jockey: Brian Hayes
Trainer: Willie Mullins
11.

Lecky Watson
Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe
Trainer: Willie Mullins
12.

Champ Kiely
Jockey: Danny Mullins
Trainer: Willie Mullins
13.

Iroko
Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
Trainer: Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero
14.

Favori de Champdou
Jockey: Danny Gillgan
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
15.

Three Card Brag
Jockey: Jordan Gainford
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
16.

Oscars Brother
Jockey: Daniel King
Trainer: Connor King
17.

Mr Vango
Jockey: Jack Tudor
Trainer: Sara Bradstock
18.

High Class Hero
Jockey: James Bowen
Trainer: Willie Mullins
19.

Stellar Story
Jockey: Robbie Dunne
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
20.

Beauport
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Trainer: Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies
21.

Captain Cody
Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Trainer: Willie Mullins
22.

Jagwar
Jockey: Mark Walsh
Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
23.

Perceval Legallois
Jockey: Harry Cobden
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
24.

Gorgeous Tom
Jockey: Sean Flanagan
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
25.

The Real Whacker
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Trainer: Patrick Neville
26.

Quai de Bourbon
Jockey: Donagh Meyler
Trainer: Willie Mullins
27.

Answer To Kayf
Jockey: John Shinnick
Trainer: Terence O’Brien
28.

Jordans
Jockey: Ben Jones
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
29.

Final Orders
Jockey: Conor Stone-Walsh
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
30.

Marble Sands
Jockey: Kielan Woods
Trainer: David Killahena and Graeme McPherson
31.

Panic Attack
Jockey: Harry Skelton
Trainer: Dan Skelton
32.

Top Of The Bill
Jockey: Toby McCain-Mitchell
Trainer: Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies
33.

Johnnywho
Jockey: Richie McLernon
Trainer: Jonjo and AJ O’Neill
34.

Twig
Jockey: Beau Morgan
Trainer: Ben Pauling

Race distance and number of fences

The horses and jockeys must navigate over 30 fences in total; 16 are jumped in the first lap and 14 are jumped in the second.

Several changes to the course have been introduced over the years to aid with horse welfare, including reprofiling landing areas, lowering the height of certain fences and softening the structure of others.

The average winning time in the Grand National is 9m 10s.

The only horse to complete the famous course in under nine minutes is Mr Frisk, ridden by Marcus Armytage, on firm ground in 1990.

Odds

The 10-year-old bay gelding tops the list ahead of the likes of Grangeclare West (9/1), Panic Attack (9/1) and Jagwar (10/1).

Grand National odds

• I Am Maximus – 7/1


• Grangeclare West – 9/1


• Panic Attack – 9/1


• Jagwar – 10/1


• Iroko – 11/1


• Haiti Couleurs – 12/1


• Johnnywho – 12/1


• Oscars Brother – 14/1


• Montys Star – 16/1


• Captain Cody – 16/1

Prize money

Grand National prize money

• 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