Who is the 2026 Grand National favourite? That’s the question that many will be asking with the Aintree spectacle just two weeks away.
The world’s most famous steeplechase will take place on Saturday 11th April and it looks sure to be another hugely competitive heat on Merseyside. And no matter what, you’ll be able to follow all of the action live on the ITV Racing schedule, with the main event getting underway at 4:00pm.
I Am Maximus Is The 2026 Grand National Favourite
Markets can change from now up until the big race on April 11th, but at the time of writing, the 2026 Grand National favourite is I AM MAXIMUS.
Willie Mullins has has the last two Grand National winners with Nick Rockett last year and current 2026 favourite I Am Maximus in 2024.
I Am Maximus was a runaway winner of the race two years ago when he dominated the field by 7 1/2 lengths. He also returned last year finishing a brilliant second and he could be primed to win it for a second time this time around.
If the classy 10-year-old was successful, he would become just the third double winner of the race since 1974. He would join Red Rum and Tiger Roll in the record books and he could be one of Paul Townend’s rides at the meeting.
He will carry top weight for a second year in a row and he’s only rated 1lb higher at 168 (ran last year off 167). And that rise might not be able to stop him, as I Am Maximus has looked better than ever this season. And of course, JP McManus Grand National runners are always worth looking out for.
Away from his two stellar efforts in the last two renewals of the Aintree Grand National, I Am Maximus produced one of his best performances in recent memory over Christmas at Leopardstown.
He finished second behind Affordale Fury in the Savills Chase, beating stablemate Galopin Des Champs in the process.
All roads lead back to Aintree and he could be one of the Grand National favourites to win, but their record hasn’t been great in recent memory.
I Am Maximus is currently around an 8/1 shot to win the race.
WATCH: I Am Maximus Wins 2024 Grand National
Current Grand National Betting (2nd April)
Check out the current market for the 2026 Aintree Grand National as of Thursday 2nd April.
- I Am Maximus 8/1 (Willie Mullins)
- Grangeclare West 10/1 (Willie Mullins)
- Jagwar 10/1 (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
- Iroko 12/1 (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
- Haiti Couleurs 16/1 (Rebecca Curtis)
- Johnnywho 16/1 (Jonjo & AJ O’Neill)
- Monty’s Star 16/1 (Henry De Bromhead)
- Oscars Brother 16/1 (Connor King)
- Panic Attack 16/1 (Dan Skelton)
- Captain Cody 20/1 (Willie Mullins)
- Favori De Champdou 20/1 (Gordon Elliott)
- Gerri Colombe 20/1 (Gordon Elliott)
- Nick Rockett 20/1 (Willie Mullins)
- Spillane’s Tower 20/1 (Jimmy Mangan)
- 25/1 BAR
How Many Grand National Favourites Have Won Since 1990?
There has been just eight Grand National favourites that have won since 1990, with two of them coming in the last three years.
I Am Maximus was the last market leader to be victorious in 2024 and Corach Rambler also won as favourite the year before that in 2023.
So with around 23% (8 in last 34 renewals) of favourites winning the Grand National since 1990, is it worth looking elsewhere when trying to find the winner?
It’s hard to say, but in the famous green and gold hoops of McManus and also being one of the Willie Mullins Grand National runners, I Am Maximus might be solid. Only time will tell.
Every Winning Grand National Favourite Since 1990 (8)
- I Am Maximus (7/1 jfav) – 2024
- Corach Rambler (8/1 fav) – 2023
- Tiger Roll (4/1 fav) – 2019
- Don’t Push It (10/1 jfav) – 2010
- Comply Or Die (7/1 jfav) – 2008
- Hedgehunter (7/1 fav) – 2005
- Earth Summit (7/1 fav) 1998
- Rough Quest (7/1 fav) – 1996
