I Am Maximum will start as favourite in the 2026 Grand National when the Willie Mullins horse competes in the most high-profile event of the three-day festival at Aintree Racecourse.

Willie Mullins’ Nick Rockett won last year but has pulled out because of coughing, replaced by first reserve Pied Piper.

“It’s rare that the reality is better than the dream, but that’s what it was,” Mullins’ son, Patrick, told The Jockey Club about riding Nick Rockett to glory in 2025.

101GreatGoals.com has the details on when the 2026 Grand National will start, including how to watch live and the weather forecast.

When is the 2026 Grand National?

The 2026 Grand National takes place on Saturday, April 11 2026.

Mullins will be riding Grangeclare West this time and says his horse “has to have a shout”.

What time is the 2026 Grand National?

The race will start at 16:00 BST and usually takes between nine and 11 minutes to complete.

I Am Maximus is also trained by Mullins, heading the field and aiming to become the eighth runner to win the Grand National more than once.

“He ran a blinder last year off top weight, but he missed his third run that year and maybe that told in the final furlong or so,” said Patrick Mullins.

How to watch the Grand National 2026: TV channel, live stream

In the UK, the Grand National 2026 will be shown live on ITV 1 and Racing TV. Coverage on ITV starts at 12:45 and runs until 17:00.

Viewers can stream the action on the go on a vast variety of devices via the ITVX app and ITV.com.

BBC Radio 5 Live will carry radio commentary of the race.

Grand National prize money

The total prize money for the race is £1 million. Here’s how that breaks down.

• 1st place – £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

Grand National weather forecast

Aintree could see sunshine for the race, according to the Met Office, which projects a temperature of around six degrees and a 30% chance of rain at the time of the race.

Visibility will be very good and the going will be good to soft.

2026 Grand National runners

	Name	Age	Weight
1	I Am Maximus	10	11st 12lb
2	Pied Piper	8	10st 3lb
3	Banbridge	10	11st 11lb
4	Grangeclare West	10	11st 10lb
5	Gerri Colombe	10	11st 10lb
6	Haiti Couleurs	9	11st 10lb
7	Spillane’s Tower	8	11st 8lb
8	Firefox	8	11st 4lb
9	Monty’s Star	9	11st 3lb
10	Spanish Harlem	8	11st 3lb
11	Lecky Watson	8	11st 2lb
12	Champ Kiely	10	11st 1lb
13	Iroko	8	11st 1lb
14	Favori De Champdou	11	11st 1lb
15	Three Card Brag	9	11st 0lb
16	Oscars Brother	8	10st 13lb
17	Mr Vango	10	10st 12lb
18	High Class Hero	9	10st 11lb
19	Stellar Story	9	10st 11lb
20	Beauport	10	10st 11lb
21	Captain Cody	8	10st 10lb
22	Jagwar	7	10st 10lb
23	Perceval Legallois	9	10st 9lb
24	Gorgeous Tom	8	10st 9lb
25	The Real Whacker	10	10st 9lb
26	Quai De Bourbon	7	10st 9lb
27	Answer To Kayf	10	10st 8lb
28	Jordans	7	10st 8lb
29	Final Orders	10	10st 5lb
30	Marble Sands	10	10st 5lb
31	Panic Attack	10	10st 5lb
32	Top Of The Bill	10	10st 5lb
33	Jonnywho	9	10st 4lb
34	Twig	11	10st 4lb

Grand national reserves

1. Imperial saint (8yo, 10st 2lb)
2. Amirite (10st 2lb)
3. Ain’t that a shame (12yo, 10st 2lb)
4. Soul icon (9yo, 10st 1lb)
5. Hyland (9yo, 10st 1lb)