The 2026 Grand National (officially known as the "Randox 2026 Grand National" for sponsorship reasons) was the 178th annual running of the Grand National horse race. It took place on Saturday 11 April 2026, at Aintree near Liverpool, England. It was won by the 2024 winner I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend.
Finishing order PositionNameJockeyAgeHandicap (st-lb)SPDistance01I Am MaximusPaul Townend1011-129/2 Fav02IrokoJonjo O'Neill Jr.811-118/12½L03JordansBen Jones710-828/11¼L04JohnnywhoRichie McLernon910-412/1½L05High Class HeroJames Bowen910-1166/16½L06Favori De ChampdouDanny Gilligan1111-140/11¼L07Final OrdersConor Stone-Walsh1010-522/19L08Champ KielyDanny Mullins1011-125/11L09Three Card BragJordan Gainford911-050/13L10Monty's StarDarragh O'Keeffe911-314/15½L11Answer To KayfJohn Shinnick1010-8100/11¾L12Gorgeous TomSean Flanagan810-920/19½L13Imperial SaintCallum Pritchard810-250/1NK14Haiti CouleursSean Bowen911-1028/134L15TwigBeau Morgan1110-440/132L16FirefoxKeith Donoghue811-440/134L
Non-finishers FenceNameJockeyAgeHandicap (st-lb)SPFate01Grangeclare WestPatrick Mullins1011-109/1Unseated Rider02Quai De BourbonDonagh Meyler710-933/1Fell03Panic AttackHarry Skelton1010-57/1Fell06Mr VangoJack Tudor1010-1266/1Fell07Gerri ColombeJack Kennedy1011-1033/1Fell13The Real WhackerGavin Sheehan1010-950/1Pulled Up15BanbridgeJ J Slevin1011-1133/1Unseated Rider15Oscars BrotherDaniel King810-1314/1Unseated Rider18Marble SandsThomas Bellamy1010-566/1Fell19Stellar StoryRobert Dunne910-1133/1Fell19BeauportSam Twiston-Davies1010-1180/1Unseated Rider19JagwarMark Walsh710-1017/2Unseated Rider26Spanish HarlemBrian Hayes811-350/1Pulled Up26Lecky WatsonSean O'Keeffe811-250/1Pulled Up27Captain CodyJonathan Burke810-1022/1Unseated Rider27Perceval LegalloisHarry Cobden910-933/1Unseated Rider29AmiritePhillip Enright1010-2100/1Pulled Up30Top Of The BillToby McCain-Mitchell1010-550/1Fell
Broadcasting and media
As the Grand National is accorded the status of an event of national interest in the United Kingdom and is listed on the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, it must be shown on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK. The race was broadcast live on TV by ITV for the ninth time, and the third year in its new three-year deal with the British Horseracing Authority.
The ITV coverage was presented by Ed Chamberlin. Analysis was provided by former jockeys Sir Anthony McCoy, Mick Fitzgerald, Rachael Blackmore and Ruby Walsh. Reports were provided by Alice Plunkett, who spoke to the winning jockeys, Rishi Pershad, who was in the pre-parade ring, Luke Harvey, who was down at the start and Matt Chapman, who spoke to the owners and trainers in the parade ring and winners enclosure. Betting updates were provided by Brian Gleeson. Oli Bell and Sam Quek covered viewers' comments on social media, and the commentary team was Mark Johnson, Stewart Machin and Richard Hoiles, who called the finish for the ninth time. Following the race, Bell and Walsh guided viewers on a fence-by-fence re-run of the race.
The race was also broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live, whose team included Gina Bryce, former jockeys Andrew Thornton and Charlie Poste, John Hunt, Darren Owen, Gary O'Brien and Rob Nothman. Bryce became the first woman to commentate live on the race since course owner Mirabel Topham in 1952.
References