Grand National Horses 2026: Runners, Deaths & Betting

Every April, the Grand National turns Aintree into a place where thrill and tragedy run neck and neck. The 2026 edition lived up to that tension: a full field of 34 horses, two fatalities, and an Irish-trained winner who had been a pre-race contender all week.

Number of runners: 34 · Fatalities: 2 (Gold Dancer, Get On George) · Race date: 11 April 2026 · Race distance: 4 miles 514 yards

The table shows the 2026 edition was a smaller, faster field than in previous decades.

What are the horses running in the Grand National?

The 2026 Grand National featured exactly 34 runners, down from the historic maximum of 40 – a cap introduced after the 2023 race to reduce congestion at the first few fences. The full field includes a mix of British‑ and Irish‑trained horses, with the Irish contingent particularly strong.

Which horses in the Grand National are Irish?

• Willie Mullins alone entered multiple runners, most notably 2024 winner I Am Maximus (ESPN – international sports media)
• Other Irish‑trained contenders included horses from Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead stables (Grand National Guide – independent runners database)
• The Jockey Club results page shows four of the first five finishers were French‑bred but Irish‑trained

The implication: Irish trainers have turned the Grand National into an away fixture they dominate. Willie Mullins, with I Am Maximus, proved that pattern again.

Grand National horses from Ireland

• I Am Maximus (trained by Willie Mullins) – 2024 winner and 2026 winner (The Jockey Club)
• Panic Attack (trained by Willie Mullins) – pre‑race favourite briefly before the race (ESPN)
• Irish‑bred horses made up roughly a third of the 34‑runner field

Why this matters: punters who focus on Irish‑trained runners have picked the winner in three of the last four Nationals.

Who is favourite to win the Grand National?

The betting story of the 2026 Grand National was a late shake‑up. I Am Maximus had been favourite for most of the week, but Panic Attack, another Willie Mullins runner, overtook him on the eve of the race. The ESPN (international sports media) reported that switch, and William Hill News (bookmaker‑owned odds platform) covered the evolving prices.

What’s the best horse to pick in the Grand National?

• I Am Maximus – 2024 winner, 2026 winner, backed by an in‑form trainer (The Jockey Club)
• Panic Attack – briefly favourite, but finished outside the places
• Historical favourites’ win rate: only 2 of the last 10 favourites have won (Racing Post – authoritative racing data hub)

The trade‑off: betting the favourite gives you a short price, but the Grand National is famously unpredictable – only one outright favourite (Tiger Roll in 2019) has won in a decade.

Grand National Favourites 2026 – Best Odds & Horses to Bet On

• Best odds available: William Hill offered 7/1 for Panic Attack, 9/1 for I Am Maximus shortly before the race
• Expert picks from Racing Post (racing editorial authority) highlighted I Am Maximus as the strongest stayer
• The eventual winner started at 9/1, paying well above the average favourite price

The pattern: the 2026 market confirmed that a late drift can signal opportunity – I Am Maximus drifted from 5/1 to 9/1 on race day and still won.

How many horses died in the Grand National 2026?

Two horses died during the 2026 Grand National: Gold Dancer and Get On George. The deaths were reported by AintreeBetting (racing safety analysis site) in their annual welfare review, and Animal Rising (animal welfare group) cited the fatalities in their campaign against the race. Broadway Boy, who fell heavily at Becher’s Brook, was not euthanised and reportedly walked back to the stables, though no official statement from the Jockey Club has been released.

Is Broadway Boy ok after his fall?

• Broadway Boy fell but was not put down (Grand National Guide – independent runners database)
• No veterinary bulletin has been made public; trainer statements remain absent
• The horse was seen walking off the course after the race, according to attendee reports

What this means: while the fall was alarming, early signs suggest Broadway Boy will recover. But the lack of official confirmation leaves room for concern among welfare‑focused viewers.

Do the whips hurt the horses?

• British Horseracing Authority (BHA) rules restrict whip use to a maximum of 6 times in a race (BBC Sport – UK public service broadcaster)
• Whips are designed with a shock‑absorbing foam core to minimise impact
• Critics, including Animal Rising, argue that any percussive striking causes pain

The paradox: racing authorities say the modern whip is a “corrective aid,” while animal welfare groups insist it is a source of distress – and the 2026 deaths have intensified that debate.

Do jockeys get paid if they don’t win?

Yes, jockeys receive a “riding fee” for every mount, regardless of finishing position. The industry standard for a Grand National ride is approximately £175, plus a share of the prize money if they place. The 2026 Grand National purse was £1 million, with the winning jockey (Paul Townend on I Am Maximus) earning roughly 10% of the winner’s share (£250,000).

How rich is JP McManus?

• JP McManus is a billionaire Irish businessman and leading racehorse owner
• He owned I AmMaximus (the 2026 winner) and has won the Grand National multiple times
• His net worth is estimated at over £1 billion, largely from betting and financial services

Why this matters: owners like McManus can absorb losses, but the jockeys who make the race happen earn a liveable but modest base pay – the real money is in prize‑money percentages.

What time is the Grand National 2026?

At The Races (UK racing media) confirmed the 2026 Grand National was run at 5:15 p.m. BST on Saturday 11 April 2026, following the traditional Aintree Festival schedule. The race was broadcast live on ITV in the UK and on Racing TV internationally.

Grand National winners

• 2026: I Am Maximus (FR) – trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Paul Townend
• 2024: I Am Maximus (FR) – same combination
• 2023: Corach Rambler (IRE) – trained by Lucinda Russell
• 2022: Noble Yeats (IRE) – ridden by Sam Waley‑Cohen

The trend: back‑to‑back wins for I Am Maximus mark only the fourth time a horse has won the Grand National twice in the modern era.

Grand National results

• Winner: I Am Maximus (FR) – 11 lengths ahead
• Second: Iroko (FR) – trained by Joseph O’Brien
• Third: Jordans (FR) – trained by Gordon Elliott
• Time: 9 minutes 12.45 seconds

The implication: the 2026 edition was a clean, fast race by modern standards – but the two fatalities overshadowed the result.

“The reduction to 34 runners was designed to reduce the risk of injury to horses and jockeys. We will continue to review all safety measures after each race.”

— Jockey Club spokesperson, quoted by BBC Sport (UK public service broadcaster)

“67 horses have now died at the Aintree meeting. The Grand National is a cruel event that no safety reform can fix.”

— Animal Rising, in a Substack post (animal welfare campaign)

For bettors and racing fans, the 2026 Grand National makes clear: safety reforms are ongoing, and the Irish‑trained runners remain the ones to beat. The question is whether the sport can balance spectacle with welfare. For the Jockey Club, the choice is clear: continue reducing the field and tightening whip rules, or face escalating public pressure from welfare groups and sponsors.

For those interested in the full list of runners and odds, the detailed guide on Grand National Horses 2026 provides comprehensive coverage of the event.

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