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