Grand National Runners 2026

We will be adding any significant news articles in the run-up to the Grand National here:

Runners for the 2026 Grand National will be confirmed nearer the date of the actual race.

The entries into the race are all allotted running weights during February each year. Then on the Thursday before the Grand National, at 10am, the top 34 runners in the weights are confirmed. From 2024, the maximum number of runners has been reduced from 40 to 34. This has been done to make the race safer for horses and jockeys.

The reserve system was reintroduced in 2025. Any non-runner up to 1pm the day before the race can be replaced by a reserve.

Grand National Guide will of course keep you updated at every step, we will have the runners updated here as soon as possible after each stage. So the final list of grand national runners is decided based on 

• Entries (Close end of January)
• Weights (Revealed mid February)
• Declarations (End of Feb, mid March & Grand National week)
• Non runners 
• Final Confirmation (Thursday 3rd April 1pm)

Grand National Entries

Each year there are normally over a hundred grand national entries which are whittled down to the final 34 runners on race day. A horse will be able to be entered in the grand national if it meets the minimum entry criteria. 

The race is open to horses aged 7 and older with a handicap of 120 or higher. All entries must also have finished in the first four in a chase of 3 miles or longer. Here are the stats for this year's entries:

• 90 Initial entries in January 2025 (four less than 2024)
• 48 Irish initial entries (down by thirteen from 2024)
• 16 Initial entries trained by Gordon Elliott (ten less than last year)
• 10 Initial entries trained by Willie Mullins (three less than last year)
• 1 Previous Winner Entered - I Am Maximus (2024) 
• 7 Greys ran in 2025 - Coko Beach, Duffle Coat, Fil Dor, Hyland, Intense Raffles, Kandoo Kid and Vanillier

Grand National Weights

During February each year these entries are then allotted running weights for the Grand National. These are based on ratings which the official handicapper gives each of the horses entered. 

Each horse already has an official rating for use in handicaps but the official handicapper will adjust this where they think necessary to produce a rating just for the Grand National. 

Typically the handicapper will reduce the rating of the very top runners to compress the handicap, which means they try to narrow the weight differences between the runners. 

Because the Grand National is run over such a long distance, longer than other races during the season, each pound of weight theoretically has more impact. This is part the reason why the horses at the top of the handicap often run off ratings lower than their normal weights. 

Also this is an opportunity for the handicapper to have a specific opinion on each of the runners to try to make the race a true handicap - the theory being that each horse should carry the same chance once the weight is taken into account. 

Grand National Declarations

The initial entry date is at the end of January and then there are further stages through to the race day when runners need to be confirmed at declaration stages which are sometimes called forfeit stages. At each stage a runner's connections may need to pay a further entry fee to confirm their runner.

Once the final Grand National declarations have been made we will have the confirmed runners and riders listed here. Use this list of Grand National horses to pick your bet for the 2026 Grand National.

Grand National Non Runners

The last declaration stage takes place at 10am on the Thursday before the race at which point the top 34 runners in the weights are left in. Reserves were reintroduced for 2025. Reserves can be added up to 1pm the day before the race.

If horses withdraw and become non runners after this point then the field will start with less than 34 runners. We will be updating this list of grand national horses regularly in the run up to the race so that we keep on top of the likely runners during the year and then from the Friday before the race we will confirm the final list of runners.

Horses become non runners for a number of reasons. Some horses prefer certain ground conditions and if these aren't in place the horse's connections may decide not to run their horse. 

Horses may have injuries or illnesses of course or connections may not have been able to get them to the required fitness in time. Some horses are entered in a number of races and the choice of where they will run is made at a later date. 

Confirmed Grand National Runners

The maximum grand national field is 34 runners and riders and the full number of horses are likely to start the 2025 Grand National unless there are any late withdrawals. 

• Most Grand National Runners - 66 in 1929 
• Least Grand National Runners - 10 in 1883 
• Number of Runners in 2024 - 32 (2 non-runners on the day of the race)
• Fastest Winning Runner - Mr Frisk (1990) 8m 47.8s
• Slowest Winning Runner - Lottery (1839) 14m 53s

We have included the runners name, number (from 9th April), age, weight, along with a brief description of the horses chances. By each of the grand national horses you will also see a star rating, their latest odds and the bookmaker to place your bet with. Click the link See Offer to open your account with an online bookmaker and place your grand national bet. No need to join the long queue at the betting shop these days, your grand national horses can be backed quickly and easily with a reputable online bookmaker by clicking on the links on this page.

There are various way to make your selection for the Grand National 2026 and we have tried to help you with your Grand National bets by providing content that can assist you if you are not sure which horse you want to bet on. We have provided a variety of different content to allow you to make your selection based on form and Grand National trends or if you want to follow our experts then we have four selections for you to choose from on our Grand National Tips page.

For the Grand National 2026 we have undertaken detailed analysis to look at the records of Grand National Trainers and Grand National Jockeys. Our Grand National statistical research will help you if you want to select your Grand National bet by using the trainers and jockeys that have excellent previous records in the race and have supplied Grand National winners or placed horses. 

Alternatively, you might want to focus on the most successful Grand National jockeys such as Rachael Blackmore or Paul Townend who have both recently won the Grand National. See these pages for more information.

• Grand National Trainers
• Grand National Jockeys 

As well as picking your Grand National Horse from this list of runners, with brief information, we have a number of other fun ways you can select your Grand National bets. Some like to look down our list of runners and choose based on this information alone. Others take a lucky dip to pick a horse completely at random. You can select your Grand National runner by picking your horse by the colours that the jockey will wear in the Grand National 2026 or the area of the country they are trained in or even the star sign the horse was born under! Head over to our Lucky Dip/Pinstickers section of the site to select your runner by 

• Lucky Dip
• Star Sign 
• Colour 
• Where they live 

If you want to use a bit more skill in determining your grand national horses, then we have some really detailed tools that go into in depth analysis. Our Winner Predictor tool has an excellent record of picking the winner. It uses an algorithm that analyses many form factors and characteristics of each of the runners to produce a rating for each national horse. Check this out if you want to narrow down the field of runners to a smaller more manageable list to choose from. Our form tool does a similar thing but this is based on the criteria you think are important. Start with 34 runners and then enter factors which you look for such as if the runner has won over a certain distance or has a certain jumping record. As you enter your criteria, your list of grand national runners starts to decrease. Check out these useful grand national runner analysis tools 

• Grand National Winner Predictor 
• Grand National Form Tool 

If you would rather follow advice for the race then check out 2025 Grand National tips page or see all todays racing tips on our recommended site OLBG who have some excellent horse racing tips.

Many people like to place a bet on a female Jockey or a female horse (Mare).  

In 2025 no mares ran in the race.

Lady jockeys likely to ride in the Grand National this year are:

• Rachel Blackmore 

Here are some interesting stats and facts about female grand national runners; 

• Winning Grand National Mares - 13 
• Last winning Grand National Mare - Nickle Coin (1951)
• Last placed Grand National Mare - Magic of Light (2019)
• Best Lady Jockey Position - Rachael Blackmore WON in 2021
• Lady Jockey & Trainer - Venetia Williams rode in 1988 and trained the winner in 2009

Venetia Williams fell from 200/1 chance Marcolo as a jockey and went on to win as a trainer with 100/1 shot Mon Mome in 2009 and is the only lady to ride and train a grand national runner.