With Aintree on the horizon, we’re taking a look at the big race in depth and for those looking to bet on the ‘marathon’ contest, how many Grand National favourites have won over the years?
How Many Grand National Favourites Have Been Successful Since 1839?
The first ever Grand National got off to a good start for favourite backers as Lottery dually obliged as the 5/1 market leader all those years ago.
But since then, there has only been 29 more winning Grand National favourites, showing how much of a ‘lottery’ the race can be for punters. Just 30 favourites have won the Grand National in 177 renewals.
More recently, since 1990 there has been just EIGHT winning market leaders of the Aintree spectacle, it just shows that Grand National winners can be ANY price.
Infact, the biggest SP of any Grand National winner was 100/1 and it’s happened five times.
Biggest Grand National Underdogs (100/1 Winners)
- Mon Mome @ 100/1 (2009)
- Foinavon @ 100/1 (1967)
- Caughoo @ 100/1 (1947)
- Gregalach @ 100/1 (1929)
- Tipperary Tim @ 100/1 (1928)
Who Was The Last Grand National Favourite To Win?
The last Grand National favourite to win was I Am Maximus in 2024, and this Willie Mullins-trained horse almost won the race in 2025 too. He was beaten just two-and-a-half lengths by stablemate Nick Rockett.
Being one of the seven JP McManus runners entered in the 2026 renewal, I Am Maximus will be back for more this year and has a big chance of running well again.
Interestingly, I Am Maximus was the second favourite to win the National in a row, with Corach Rambler winning the year before in 2023.
WATCH: I Am Maximus Wins 2024 Grand National
All Grand National Winning Favourites Since 1990 (8)
- 2024 – I Am Maximus (7/1 jfav)
- 2023 – Corach Rambler (8/1 fav)
- 2019 – Tiger Roll (4/1 fav)
- 2010 – Don’t Push It (10/1 jfav)
- 2008 – Comply Or Die (7/1 jfav)
- 2005 – Hedghunter (7/1 fav)
- 1998 – Earth Summit (7/1 fav)
- 1996 – Rough Quest (7/1 fav)
Who Is The 2026 Grand National Favourite?
With just three Grand National favourites winning in 177 renewals, that’s a staggering strike-rate of around just 17%. It could be worth treading carefully this year.
The current 2026 market leader at the time of writing is I Am Maximus, who as previously mentioned won the race in 2024 and finished second last year.
With multiple Willie Mullins Grand National runners expected this year, I Am Maximus is deemed the most fancied according to the ante post betting.
The popular 10-year-old has had pretty much the perfect preparation for this race and has ran with immense credit in two out of his three starts so far this season.
2026 Grand National Betting
- I Am Maximus 8/1 (Willie Mullins)
- Grangeclare West 10/1 (Willie Mullins)
- Jagwar 12/1 (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
- Iroko 12/1 (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
- Haiti Couleurs 12/1 (Rebecca Curtis)
- Johnnywho 16/1 (Jonjo & AJ O’Neill)
- Montys Star 20/1 (Henry De Bromhead)
- Nick Rockett 20/1 (Willie Mullins)
- Oscars Brother 20/1 (Connor King)
- 25/1 BAR
All 30 Winning Grand National Favourites Since 1839
Now it’s time to take a look at all of the favourites that have won the National over the years. The first was Lottery in 1839 and the last was I Am Maximus in 2024.
You may notice in earlier renewals that the SPs were much shorter, whereas nowadays there’s a good chance the favourite of the race will be no shorter than 7/1 – this shows just how competitive the contest is.
- 1839 – Lottery 5/1
- 1844 – Discount 5/1
- 1854 – Bouton 4/1
- 1860 – Anatis 7/2
- 1862 – The Huntsman
- 1870 – The Colonel
- 1874 – Reugny 5/1
- 1881 – Woodbrook 11/2
- 1885 – Roquefort 10/3
- 1890 – Ilex 4/1
- 1891 – Come Away 4/1
- 1893 – Cloister 9/2
- 1894 – Why Not 5/1
- 1897 – Manifesto 6/1
- 1903 – Drumcree 13/2
- 1912 – Jerry M 4/1
- 1919 – Poethyln 11/4
- 1927 – Sprig 8/1
- 1950 – Freebooter 10/1
- 1960 – MerryMan II 13/2
- 1973 – Red Rum 9/1
- 1982 – Grittar 7/1
- 1996 – Rough Quest 7/1
- 1998 – Earth Summit 7/1
- 2005 – Hedgehunter 7/1
- 2008 – Comply Or Die 7/1
- 2010 – Don’t Push It 10/1
- 2019 – Tiger Roll 4/1
- 2023 – Corach Rambler 8/1
- 2024 – I Am Maximus 7/1
Note: 2026 Grand National will be live on ITV Racing, as well as all three days of action from Aintree.
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