With the 2026 Cheltenham Festival in the rear-view mirror, the eyes of the horseracing world are turning to the biggest race in the country's calendar: the Grand National.
As a near-190-year-old fixture of the British sporting calendar, the Grand National captures the imagination of both occasional punters and seasoned form studiers and this year will be no different.
Last year's champion Nick Rockett is not returning to defend his crown after being declared a non-runner on Thursday, while 2024 champion and last year's runner-up I Am Maximus is the bookies' favourite once again.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the big one.
All times BST
Grand National date, time, location, race info
Run over 4 miles, 2½ furlongs -- one of the longest races on the calendar -- the Grand National will see 34 horses race for a place in the history books.
Horses will be asked to jump 30 fences (16 on the first lap of the course and 14 on the second) before the sprint to the winning post. Some jumps, such as Becher's Brook and The Chair, have a fearsome reputation. Over time, alterations to fences including softening of the structure and lowering of the heights have been made with the aim of making them safer for horses and riders.
Mr Frisk is the holder of the fastest time on record (8 minutes, 47.8 seconds) and the chances of that being broken depends on the firmness of the ground at Aintree come April 11. The winners usually comes home in around 9 minutes, 10 seconds.
When: Saturday, April 11 at 4 p.m. BST
Where: Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool
Full race schedule
Day 1: Opening Day (Thursday, April 9)
1.45 p.m: The Boodles Anniversary 4-y-o Juvenile Hurdle Race (Class 1, Grade 1)
2.20 p.m: The William Hill Manifesto Novices' Steeple Chase (Class 1, Grade 1)
2.55 p.m: The Aintree Bowl Steeple Chase (Class 1, Grade 1) (GBB Race)
3.30 p.m: The Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Steeple Chase (Class 2)
4.05 p.m: The William Hill Aintree Hurdle Race (Class 1, Grade 1)
4.40 p.m: The Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 1, Prem Handicap)
5.15 p.m: The Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 1, Grade 2).
4.05 p.m BST -- The William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Class 1) (Grade 1) 2m 4f
Day 2: Ladies Day (Friday, April 10)
1.45 p.m: Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 1f
2.20 p.m: William Hill Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
2.55 p.m: Trustatrader Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
3.30 p.m: My Pension Expert Melling Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f
4.05 p.m: Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase 2m 5f
4.40 p.m: Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m ½f
5.15 p.m: Hallgarten and Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle 2m ½f
Day 3: Grand National Day (Saturday, April 11)
1.20 p.m: William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle 3m ½f
1.55 p.m: Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f
2.30 p.m: William Hill Freebooter Handicap Chase 3m 1f
3.05 p.m: Liverpool Hurdle 3m ½f
4 p.m: Randox Grand National 4m 2½f
5 p.m: Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 2m
5.35 p.m: Weatherbys NHStallion.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race 2m 1f
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How to watch the Grand National
You can follow ESPN's Grand National live blog on the day of the big race.
The entire three-day festival will be shown on ITVX and Racing TV, while Saturday's Grand National race which starts at 4 p.m. will be shown on ITV1.
Grand National 2026 odds
The following 34 runners have been declared for the Grand National.
Note: Odds are courtesy of Bet365 and appear as of Thursday, April 9. They are subject to change.
I Am Maximus, 13/2
(J: Paul Townend, T: Willie Mullins, O: Claudio Michael Grech)
Grangeclare West, 8/1
(J: Patrick Mullins, T: Willie Mullins, O: Cheveley Park Stud)
Panic Attack, 17/2
(J: Harry Skelton, T: Dan Skelton, O: Bryan Drew)
Jagwar, 9/1
(J: Mark Walsh, T: Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, O: JP McManus)
Iroko, 11/1
(J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr., T: Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, O: JP McManus)
Johnnywho, 11/1
(J: Richie McLernon, T: Jonjo and AJ O'Neill, O: JP McManus)
Haiti Couleurs, 14/1
(J: Sean Bowen, T: Rebecca Curtis, O: Conyers, McDermott And Prowting)
Oscars Brother, 14/1
(J: Daniel King, T: Connor King, O: JP McManus)
Captain Cody, 14/1
(J: Jonathan Burke, T: Willie Mullins, O: Vincent Caldwell and Angela Shamoon and Mrs A Shamoon Ibgi)
Monty's Star, 18/1
(J: Darragh O'Keeffe, T: Henry De Bromhead, O: Barry Maloney)
Gerri Colombe, 22/1
(J: Jack Kennedy, T: Gordon Elliott, O: Robcour)
Stellar Story, 22/1
(J: Robert Dunne, T: Gordon Elliott, O: Gigginstown House Stud)
Gorgeous Tom, 22/1
(J: Sean Flanagan, T: Henry De Bromhead, O: Envirogreen Housing Services Ltd)
Final Orders, 22/1
(J: Conor Stone-Walsh, T: Gavin Cromwell, O: C M D Syndicate)
Jordans, 25/1
(J: Ben Jones, T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, O: Cheeky Pups Syndicate)
Spillane's Tower, 28/1
(J: Simon Torrens, T: James Joseph Mangan, O: JP McManus)
Champ Kiely, 28/1
(J: Danny Mullins, T: Willie Mullins, O: Miss M A Masterson)
Favori De Champdou, 28/1
(J: Danny Gilligan, T: Gordon Elliott, O: Gigginstown House Stud)
Perceval Legallois, 28/1
(J: Harry Cobden, T: Gavin Cromwell, O: JP McManus)
Quai De Bourbon, 28/1
(J: Donagh Meyler, T: Willie Mullins, O: Gigginstown House Stud)
Spanish Harlem, 33/1
(J: Brian Hayes, T: Willie Mullins, O: Dr S P Fitzgerald)
Lecky Watson, 33/1
(J: Sean O'Keeffe, T: Willie Mullins, O: Slaneyville Syndicate)
Banbridge, 40/1
(J: JJ Slevin, T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, O: R A Bartlett)
Twig, 40/1
(J: Beau Morgan, T: Ben Pauling, O: Mrs Georgia Morgan)
Firefox, 50/1
(J: Keith Donoghue, T: Gordon Elliott, O: Bective Stud)
Three Card Brag, 50/1
(J: Jordan Gainford, T: Gordon Elliott, O: McNeill Family & Patrick and Scott Bryceland)
High Class Hero, 501
(J: James Bowen, T: Willie Mullins, O: Sullivan Group Limited and P Crowley and Neill Hughes)
Answer To Kayf, 50/1
(J: John Shinnick T: Terence O'Brien, O: Denis A O'Connor)
Mr Vango, 66/1
(J: Jack Tudor, T: Mrs Sara V Bradstock, O: Cracker And Smodge Partnership)
The Real Whacker, 80/1
(J: Gavin Sheehan, T: Patrick Neville, O: Neville, Mann, Duffus, Dennis-Price)
Top of The Bill, 80/1
(J: Toby McCain-Mitchell, T: Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, O: Charles C Walker)
Beauport, 100/1
(J: Sam Twiston-Davies, T: Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, O: Bryan & Philippa Burrough)
Marble Sands, 100/1
(J: Kielan Woods, T: David Killahena and Graeme McPherson, O: DL Adams, JA Adams and G McPherson)
Pied Piper, 100/1
(J: TBC, T: Gordon Elliott, O: Mrs M Roden and Mrs R Nolan)
Reserves:
Imperial Saint, 66/1
(J: Callum Pritchard, T: Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, O: Richard Johnson Racing Imperial Saint)
Amirite, 80/1
(J: TBC, T: Henry De Bromhead, O: Patrick Hale)
Deep Cave, 100/1
(J: TBC, T: Christian Williams, O: Sue Howell)
Ain't That A Shame, 125/1
(J: Jack Andrews, T: Tom Ellis, O: Eventmasters Racing)
Buddy One, 125/1
(J: TBC, T: Paul John Gilligan, O: E Lynch and T C Quinn and John J McGrath)
Non-runners
Nick Rockett (self certificate, coughing)
(J: Tom Bellamy, T: Willie Mullins, O: Stewart & Sadie Andrew)
Who are the favourites?
It comes as little surprise that Willie Mullins' I am Maximus is once again regarded as the favourite. The 10-year-old bay gelding was champion in 2014 but came up just short last time out under a big weight. He looked good but not great at the Irish Gold Cup in February but a horse aged 10 or older has not won the Grand National since 2014 and he will run with the top weight of 11st 12lb for the second year in a row. No horse since Red Rum in 1974 (the second of the legendary horse's three Grand National victories) has won carrying top weight.
Another under Mullins' guidance, Grangeclare West is a popular pick having finished three lengths behind Nick Rockett in last year's race. A mistake at the last -- proving something of a habit for the 10-year-old -- cost him then, but he got away with it when winning the Bobbyjo Chase in February.
Jagwar has shown plenty of promise but whether he has the staying power to win this marathon is anyone's guess. Mark Walsh is set to ride the gelding in his last Grand National.
Coming from the back of the field at the first fence to finish fourth in last year's renewal, Iroko is back to stake his claim. He looked the favourite for this year's race after coming in second behind King George winner The Jukebox Man at Haydock and then getting the better of Firefox at Ascot before Christmas, but a disappointing showing in the Ultima has seen JP McManus' horse drift in the market.
Elsewhere, Haiti Couleurs is looking to become the first Welsh-trained Grand National winner since Kirkland in 1905 and looks to have the tools to do so. Johnnywho beat Jagwar to the Ultima at Cheltenham in what was his first outing since a wind operation and represents a tempting comeback story.
Nick Rockett will not defend his Grand National crown after being declared a non-runner on Thursday morning.
Mullins' horse has only been seen once since when reappearing at Down Royal last month and there was a shock at declarations on Wednesday when last year's winning jockey switched allegiance to Grangeclare West, leaving Tom Bellamy to receive the surprise call-up aboard the defending champion.
However, Bellamy's dream National story would barely last 24 hours, with Nick Rockett ruled out of the race having been reported to be coughing.
His absence means the first reserve, Gordon Elliott's Pied Piper, will now come into the race.
What is the prize money?
There is a total prize fund of £1 million for the Grand National. Owners typically take around 80% of any winnings with the remainder shared between trainers, jockeys and other staff back at the winner's stables.
Winner: £500,000
Second: £200,000
Third: £100,000
Fourth: £65,000
Fifth: £40,000
Sixth: £30,000
Seventh: £20,000
Eighth: £ 15,000
Ninth: £10,000
10th: £5,000
Recent Grand National winners:
A version of the Grand National has been officially run since 1839 when Lottery was victorious.
2025: Nick Rockett, 33/1
T: Willie Mullins, J: Patrick Mullins, O: Steward and Sadie Andrew
2024: I Am Maximus, 7/1
T: Willie Mullins, J: Paul Townend, O: JP McManus
2023: Corach Rambler, 8/1
T: Lucinda Russell, J: Derek Fox, O: The Ramblers
2022: Noble Yeats, 50/1
T: Emmet Mullins, J: Sam Waley-Cohen, O: Robert Waley-Cohen
2021: Minella Times, 11/1
T: Henry De Bromhead, J: Rachael Blackmore, O: JP McManus
2020: Cancelled (Covid-19)
2019: Tiger Roll, 4/1
T: Gordon Elliott, J: Davy Russell, O: Gigginstown House Stud
2018: Tiger Roll, 14/1
T: Gordon Elliott, J: Davy Russell, O: Gigginstown House Stud
2017: One For Arthur, 14/1
T: Lucinda Russell, J: Derek Fox, O: Deborah Thomson & Belinda McClung
2016: Rule The World, 33/1
T: Mouse Morris, J: David Mullins, O: Gigginstown House Stud
2015: Many Clouds, 25/1
T: Oliver Sherwood, J: Leighton Aspell, O: Trevor Hemmings
Information from PA contributed to this story.