JP McManus goes into the 2026 Grand National with seven horses declared. It is the deepest hand he has held at Aintree in years. As of April 2026, with the 178th running set for Saturday 11th April at 4:00pm, attention turns to how that squad will shape up on the day.
The JP McManus Grand National runners for 2026 reflect an owner who prizes patience and keeps a deep reserve of quality jumpers. McManus already has three National wins to his name and is chasing a fourth, a landmark that would rank him among the most successful owners in the race’s history. Our original JP McManus Grand National report traces how this story first developed.
McManus seeking to build on illustrious Grand National record
McManus has won the Grand National three times as an owner: with Don’t Push It in 2010, Minella Times in 2021, and I Am Maximus in 2024. Each success arrived more than a decade apart from the last. That gap shows just how hard this race is to win, even for an operation of McManus’s scale.
A fourth win in 2026 would put him level with the race’s most decorated owners. Few have managed that twice, let alone four times. History like that adds real weight to this year’s entries for McManus’s supporters.
Rachael Blackmore and Minella Times’ historic success
Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National when she rode Minella Times to victory in 2021. That win sits alongside Don’t Push It and I Am Maximus as one of McManus’s three Grand National triumphs as an owner.
Her ride on Minella Times remains one of the defining moments in the race’s recent history. It changed how many people saw the sport. It also gave McManus one of his most celebrated days at Aintree.
JP McManus Grand National runners confirmed for 2026
JP McManus has seven horses entered for the 2026 Grand National. That answers the question most readers are asking as the 178th running approaches.
The headline name among them is I Am Maximus, who won the race in 2024 and finished runner-up in 2025. His record over the Aintree fences makes him the one to watch among the seven. He already has a win and a near miss behind him.
McManus has also added Oscars Brother to his string. The eight-year-old was bought after a Grade 2 win at Punchestown in November, a result that persuaded McManus to bring him into the operation ahead of this year’s National. The remaining entries have not been detailed, so readers should treat any further names as unconfirmed until they are declared.
What happens next
Final declarations will narrow McManus’s seven entries down to those confirmed to run on the day. Only then will the full picture of his challenge become clear, including which horses make the cut and what weights they carry.
Until declarations are made, speculation on jockey bookings or final team selection should be treated with caution. Supporters can follow our daily horse racing tips cheat sheet for wider coverage in the build up, alongside our latest Lucky 15 selections.
For those weighing up the market before race day, our each-way betting advice and our racing stats and lay tips cover the wider card as the National builds towards Saturday 11th April.
