As the Grand National buzz keeps building, it’s worth taking a closer look at which horses will be lining up in the big Aintree race for the very FIRST time. With a huge Grand National stat that can’t be overlooked.
The reason?
It’s a big one — 15 of the last 17 winners (88%) were having their FIRST RUN in the world-famous race.
Meaning – if you’re trying to narrow down the likely winner, that’s one of the best Grand National stats to take into the 2026 contest.
Grand National Stats: 88% of the Last 17 Winners Were Having First Run In The Race
We hear the phrase “horses for courses” all the time in racing, and more often than not, experience of a track is a real advantage.
But the Grand National doesn’t quite play by those rules.
In fact, recent trends suggest previous experience in the race counts for very little.
Since 2008, a striking 15 of the last 17 winners were having their first run in the National — that’s a massive 88% strike rate.
With that in mind, it makes perfect sense to focus on the 2026 runners who’ll be tackling the Merseyside Marathon for the first time.
Only Two Winners Since 2008 Had Run in the Grand National Previously
Just two horses in that period bucked the Grand National stat — TIGER ROLL and MON MOME.
Tiger Roll famously won ‘back-to-back’ renewals in 2018 and 2019, returning to Aintree to defend his crown after scoring the year before.
In doing so, he became the first horse since Red Rum in the 1970s to win the Grand National prize money in consecutive seasons.
WATCH: Tiger Roll Winning The 2019 Grand National
Mon Mome, meanwhile, caused a huge shock in 2009 when winning at 100/1.
Unlike most recent winners, he did have prior experience, having finished 10th in the 2008 race.
That previous run didn’t exactly hint at what was to come — he was beaten 58 lengths by the 2008 winner Comply Or Die.
Hover, he turned the form on its head 12 months later, winning off a mark 7lbs higher, with the current champ Comply Or Die trailing 12 lengths behind in second.
WATCH: Mon Mome Winning The 2009 Grand National
Most Winners Had Never Tackled the Grand National Fences
It’s not just National experience that seems overrated — familiarity with the famous fences hasn’t been much of a factor either.
Around 75% of the last 17 winners had never jumped the Aintree fences in any race before.
That’s despite several opportunities throughout the season, with races like the Topham Chase, Foxhunters’, Becher Chase and Grand Sefton all run over the same course.
Since 2008, only four winners had prior experience over those fences.
Tiger Roll, Mon Mome, One For Arthur (2017) and Pineau De Re (2014).
The latter two both ran in the Becher Chase earlier in their winning seasons.
In other words, three-quarters of recent winners arrived at Aintree without any previous experience of the unique test — another trend that’s hard to overlook.
Backed Up Again In 2025 – With Nick Rockett Running In The Grand National For First Time
This key Grand National trend was also backed up in 2025 when the 33/1 winner Nick Rockett was having his first run in the race.
The Willie Mullins-trained 8 year-old game the top Irish trainer his third success in the race.
Plus provided son Patrick Mullins with his first Grand National victory.
Before winning the race – he had, however, run in one of the best Grand National trial races recently – when winning the 2025 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.
The same race the 2024 winner I Am Maximus before this big day in the Aintree sun.
Grand National Winners Since 2008
- 2025 Nick Rockett – 1st Run In Race
- 2024 I Am Maximus – 1st Run In Race
- 2023 Corach Rambler – 1st Run In Race
2022 Noble Yeats – 1st Run In Race - 2021 Minella Times – 1st Run In Race
- 2020 Cancelled (Covid) – –
- 2019 Tiger Roll – No (won 2018)
- 2018 Tiger Roll – 1st Run In Race
- 2017 One For Arthur – 1st Run In Race
- 2016 Rule The World – 1st Run In Race
- 2015 Many Clouds – 1st Run In Race
- 2014 Pineau De Re – 1st Run In Race
- 2013 Auroras Encore – 1st Run In Race
- 2012 Neptune Collonges – 1st Run In Race
- 2011 Ballabriggs – 1st Run In Race
- 2010 Don’t Push It – 1st Run In Race
- 2009 Mon Mome – No (10th in 2008)
- 2008 Comply Or Die- 1st Run In Race
2026 Grand National: First-Time Runners
Here’s the full list of horses set to make their Grand National debut in 2026:
As it stands there are 27 Grand National runners that are running in the race for the first time.
With seven horses that have run in the race before – I Am Maximus, Nick Rockett, Grangeclare West, Iroko, Three Bard Brag, Beauport and Perceval Legallois.
- BANBRIDGE
- GERRI COLOMBE
- HAITI COULEURS
- FIREFOX
- MONTY’S STAR
- SPANISH HARLEM
- LECKY WATSON
- CHAMP KIELY
- FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU
- OSCARS BROTHER
- MR VANGO
- HIGH CLASS HERO
- STELLAR STORY
- CAPTAIN CODY
- JAGWAR
- GORGEOUS TOM
- THE REAL WHACKER
- QUAI DE BOURBON
- ANSWER TO KAYF
- JORDANS
- FINAL ORDERS
- MARBLE SANDS
- PANIC ATTACK
- TOP OF THE BILL
- JOHNNYWHO
- TWIG
- PIED PIPER
Also see the Read Horse Racing Grand National colours guide – including jockey silks, runners profiles and our star-ratings.
2026 Aintree Grand National Date
📅 Date: Saturday, April 11th 2026
⌚ Time: 4:00pm
🏇 Racecourse: Aintree
🔄 Trip: 4m 2½f
💷 Winner: £500,000
📺 TV: ITV Racing / Racing TV
You can also check the full 2026 Aintree Grand National Festival schedule, including race times, running order and TV coverage.
