One way to try and find the winner of the big Aintree race on Saturday is to use the key 2026 Grand National trends that have built up over the years.
Yes, many will say these stats have changed a tad in more recent years due to the alterations of the race – shorter trip, less runners and the fences.
However, there are still many key pointers that will help put history on your side and help find the best profiles based on past winners.
Just apply these to the final 2026 Grand National runners and this will help whittle down the 34 horses to a more manageable size.
Read on, as we’ll also highlight which horses tick the most of these key Grand National trends – like AGE and WEIGHT.
🚨For Example: DID YOU KNOW? Only TWO Grand National winners since 1940 have been aged 7
Aintree Grand National Trends 2026: Key Aintree Stats To Help Put History On Your Side 📈
- 33/34 – Officially rated 137 or higher
- 32/34 – Ran no more than 55 days ago
- 30/34 – Had won no more than 6 times over fences before
- 30/34 – Had won over at least 3m (chase) before
- 26/34 – Returned a double-figure price
- 25/34 – Ran no more than 34 days ago
- 25/34 – Carried 10-13 OR LESS
- 25/34 – Aged 9 or older
- 24/34 – Came from outside the top 3 in the betting
- 23/34 – Aged 10 years-old or younger
- 21/34 – Had won between 4-6 times over fences before
- 22/34 – Finished in the top 4 last time out (8 of the last 9)
- 20/34 – Won by an Irish-bred horse
- 20/34 – Placed favourites
- 18/34 – Carried 10-8 OR LESS
- 16/34 – Aged 9 or 10 years-old
- 14/34 – Trained in Ireland (inc 7 of the last 9 years)
- 13/34 – Ran at Cheltenham last time out
- 10/34 – Won last time out
- 8/34 – Won by the favourite or joint favourite
- 7/34 – Ran in a previous Grand National (but 15 of the last 17 were having their debuts)
- 3/34 – Trained by Gordon Elliott
- 3/34 – Trained by Willie Mullins (last 2)
- 2/34 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies
- 2/34 – Trained by Lucinda Russell (2 of the last 8)
- 1/34 – Won by a horse aged 7 years-old OR LESS
Positive Grand National Pointers ✅
- Horses that have won or placed in any kind of National-style race
- Irish-trained runners (7 of the last 9 winners)
- Irish-bred horses
- Proven winners over 3 miles – an absolute must
- Note horses that won (or ran) in the Bobbyjo, Cross Country or Ultima Chases
- Those wearing a tongue-tie (5 of the last 8 winners)
- Aged 8-10 – notably, the last 10 winners were 9 or younger
- Horses that ran over hurdles earlier in the same season
- Prominent racers – those ridden close to the pace (hold-up horses often struggle)
Negative Grand National Pointers ❎
- Horses aged 13+ (none have won since 1923)
- Horses absent for more than 56 days
- Those coming off hard races at Cheltenham (though Tiger Roll in 2019 and Corach Rambler in 2023 bucked that trend, so this stat may be softening)
- Runners with three or more falls or unseats on their record
- Previous National winners or placed horses – their return record isn’t great
Grand National Trends Guide 2026 – A More Detailed Look At The Aintree Stats 📊
Grand National stats 2026
👴🏻Age Concern
Experience matters hugely here. Horses nine or older have ruled the roost.
Before Noble Yeats bucked the trend as a seven-year-old in 2022, you’d have to dig back to 1940 and Bogskar for the last one that young.
Overall, 25 of the last 34 winners were nine or older.
That said, six of the last 10 were eights – including the most recent pair, I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett – which suggests the tide’s shifting just a touch.
While 9 of the last 10 winners were aged just 8 or 9!
Older? No problem. Teenager? Unlikely. Youngster? Forget it.
⚖️Weight Watchers
Recent winners prove you can carry 11st or a bit more – I Am Maximus, who is the Paul Townend Grand National ride, did it with 11st 6lbs in 2024.
Nick Rockett, who is out of the 2026 race, pulled it off last year at 11st 8lbs too.
Still, history whispers caution.
Only Red Rum (1974 and 1977) and Many Clouds have won with 11st 9lb or more in recent decades.
In fact, 25 of the last 34 winners carried 10st 13lb or less. So, you could make that a sharp cut-off.
But of the recent changes to the race – I feel the weight trend is the one under the most scrutiny.
Meaning horses with slightly bigger weights can go well – they have less distance to travel and are tackling easier fences.
Backed up with the last two winners carrying 11st 6lbs to 11st 8lbs.
🏇Best Trial Races
Lately, the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse has been a golden ticket in terms of the best Grand National trial races.
Supported with the last two winners – I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett both winning that race before landing the National.
This year’s winner was Grangeclare West, who was also third in the 2025 National.
And the Willie Mullins Grand National jockey bookings tell us Patrick Mullins (last year’s winning rider) will do the steering.
The Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival a solid pointer too – Tiger Roll aced that before his ‘back-to-back’ Nationals.
Final Orders won that race this season.
And don’t sleep on the Ultima Chase: Noble Yeats (2022) and Corach Rambler (2023) ran there before their big days.
Johnnywho took that Cheltenham race last month and is back on the same rating.
💪Staying Power
Stamina is everything in the National – it’s non-negotiable.
Every year, talented, trendy horses show up, but the real question boils down to this: can they stay the 4m 1/4f around Aintree?
Thirty of the last 34 winners had already won over 3m or further.
The one outlier was Minella Times, who’d only won over 2m6f before his 2021 triumph.
Generally, though, if they haven’t proven it, they’re fighting an uphill battle.
☘️Luck of the Irish
Irish yards have been raiding this prize hard – seven of the last nine winners hailed from there. The only British-winning Grand National trainer since 2016?
Lucinda Russell, with Corach Rambler in 2023 and One For Arthur in 2017.
Oliver Sherwood’s Many Clouds in 2015 was the last England-based victor.
Bottom line: it’s Ireland-or Russell-owning the honors roll lately.
🌳Fencing Master and Experience
Thirty one-of-a-kind fences. Nothing else comes close.
Prior runs over National-style obstacles are gold-think Topham Chase, Foxhunters, Becher Chase, or even the National itself.
They dish out priceless experience.
However, that said, there’s a huge Grand National stat that tells us 15 of the last 17 winners were running in the race for the first time.
💰Who’s Your Favourite?
The market explodes in the final weeks, especially Saturday when the casuals flood in.
Weights drop in February, so a strong run post-mark can flip the ante-post odds.
Eight of the last 34 went to the Grand National favourite (24%), and 20 of those favourites hit the top four (59%).
Two of the last three-and three of the last six-were favourites or joint-favourites. Market leaders are punching their weight.
The 2024 winner I Am Maximus looks the likely 2026 Grand National favourite.
👅Tongue-Tie Trend
Here’s an intriguing one: five of the last eight winners wore a tongue-tie, with Corach Rambler joining the club in 2023.
It won’t pick the winner solo, but it’s a handy way to narrow the field.
The horses this year with tongue-ties are – Jagwar, Iroko, Stellar Story, Spanish Harlem, Mr Vango, Firefox and Beauport.
⬆️Market Toppers
Look closer: most recent winners kicked off in the top eight in betting.
Sure, Mon Mome stunned at 100/1 in 2009, but punters usually nail it.
Thirteen of the last 22 came from the top eight, and six of the last eight were 14/1 or shorter.
Nick Rockett bucked that at 33/1 from Willie Mullins’ yard.
Noble Yeats at 50/1 in 2022 is the real recent outlier that saved the bookies.
🏃Fitness First
One quick field-trimmer: look when your fancy last ran.
Most winners raced within 48 days of the big one-32 of the last 34 within 55 days, 25 within 34.
Minella Times stretched it to 62 days in 2021. Corach Rambler came off 32 days after the Ultima. I Am Maximus waited 49 post-Bobbyjo, and Nick Rockett just 44.
These runners are heading into the race off 50+day breaks – I Am Maximus (68), Monty’s Star (68), Spillane’s Tower (77), Perceval Legallois (100) and Champ Kiely (68).
Good luck stat lovers!
Which 2026 Grand National Runners Fit The Most Trends?
| Horse | Age (8 or 9) | Weight (11st 8lbs or less) | Debut Run | Last Race – 55 Days (or less) | Irish-Trained | 5 Or Less Wins (fences) | Won 3m+ (fences) | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I AM MAXIMUS |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 3 |
BANBRIDGE |
❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | 4 |
GRANGECLARE WEST |
❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 4 |
GERRI COLOMBE |
❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | 4 |
HAITI COULEURS |
✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | 4 |
SPILLANE’S TOWER |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 6 |
FIREFOX |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | 6 |
MONTY’S STAR |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 6 |
SPANISH HARLEM |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 7 🌟 |
LECKY WATSON |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 7 🌟 |
CHAMP KIELY |
❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 5 |
IROKO |
✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | 4 |
FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU |
❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 6 |
THREE CARD BRAG |
✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 6 |
OSCARS BROTHER |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 7 🌟 |
MR VANGO |
❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 5 |
HIGH CLASS HERO |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | 6 |
STELLAR STORY |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 7 🌟 |
BEAUPORT |
❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 3 |
CAPTAIN CODY |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 7 🌟 |
JAGWAR |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | 5 |
PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS |
✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 5 |
GORGEOUS TOM |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | 6 |
THE REAL WHACKER |
❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 4 |
QUAI DE BOURBON |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | 6 |
ANSWER TO KAYF |
❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 6 |
JORDANS |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | 6 |
FINAL ORDERS |
❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | 5 |
MARBLE SANDS |
❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 4 |
PANIC ATTACK |
❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 5 |
TOP OF THE BILL |
❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 4 |
JOHNNYWHO |
✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | 6 |
TWIG |
❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | 4 |
| PIED PIPER | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | 6 |
Aintree Grand National Facts ⁉️
- No horse aged 13 or older has won since 1923 or placed since 1969
- 3 of the last 16 winners ran in the Scottish National the previous season
- Since 1978, 151 horses have tried to win with more than 11-5 – with just four winners – Nick Rockett (2025), I Am Maximus (2024), Many Clouds (11-9) in 2015 & Neptune Collonges (11-6) in 2012
- 10 of the last 22 winners had run over hurdles at some stage earlier in the season
- 5 of the last 23 winners had been unplaced in the National last year
- Just two past winners or placed horse from the previous year’s race has won for 39 years (88 have attempted)
- 26 of the last 28 winners had fallen or unseated no more than twice in their careers
- Just two back-to-back winners since 1974 Red Rum (1974) and Tiger Roll (2019)
- 20 of the last 26 winners were bred in Ireland
- 6 of the last 7 winners ran in the Bobbyjo Chase, Cross Country Chase or Ultima Chase earlier that season
- 5 of the last 8 winners wore a tongue tie
- 23 of the last 31 winners aged between 8-10
- Only 4 horses that won at the Cheltenham Festival that same season has won since 1961 (Corach Rambler did the double in 2023)
- 15 of the last 17 Grand National winners were having their first run in the race
- Just one 7 year-old or younger to win after 1940 (Noble Yeats, 2022)
- 15 of the last 28 winners had won or been placed in a National-type race before
2026 Aintree Grand National – Race Details 🗓️
📅 Date: Saturday, April 11th 2026
⌚ Time: 4:00pm
🏇 Racecourse: Aintree
🔄 Trip: 4m 2½f
💷 Winner: £500,000
📺 TV: ITV Racing / Racing TV
You can also see the full 2026 Aintree Grand National Festival schedule, including race times, running order and TV coverage.
Recent Grand National Winners 🏆
- 2025 – Nick Rockett (33/1)
- 2024 – I Am Maximus (7/1 jfav)
- 2023 – Corach Rambler (8/1 fav)
- 2022 – Noble Yeats (50/1)
- 2020 – Cancelled (Covid)
- 2019 – Tiger Roll (4/1 fav)
- 2018 – Tiger Roll (10/1)
- 2017 – One For Arthur (14/1)
- 2016 – Rule The World 33/1
- 2015 – Many Clouds 25/1
WATCH: Nick Rockett Winning The 2025 Grand National
